THE DAILY TARGUM
Volume 142, Number 9
S E R V I N G
T H E
R U T G E R S
C O M M U N I T Y
S I N C E
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
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Today: Mostly sunny
THE ANSWER
High: 77 • Low: 52
UFC lightweight champion of the world Frankie Edgar’s journey to stardom included proving his doubters wrong his whole life and a close relationship with Rutgers wrestling.
GPA program gives students second chance BY DEVIN SIKORSKI ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
For students who are dismissed from college because of a low grade point average, RutgersCamden is offering a program to help those students finish their higher education. The academic forgiveness program is a new initiative looking to motivate these students by erasing their previous cumulative GPA, providing a fresh start. Clinical Assistant Professor Joseph Schiavo of Rutgers-Camden said this program began in the spring of 2009 and focuses on providing an education lost because of a low GPA. “Essentially, it is a mechanism for mature non-traditional or undergraduate students to return to school after they were academically dismissed for poor performance,” he said. To register for the program, the student must be out of school for five years or 10 consecutive semesters, Schiavo said. He added many applicants are of an older generation, but the age of the applicant is not the primar y focus. “It is more the fact that they were dismissed,” said Schiavo, who also chairs the Scholastic Standing Committee at RutgersCamden. “They’re at a stage in their life where they are mature and want to return to school, so we are giving them a vehicle to do this.” He said the program would remove a maximum of twelve credits with the lowest grades in the student’s transcript, providing a seemingly lost opportunity for the applicant to improve their GPA. “We are providing a mechanism to facilitate their return and giving them an opportunity to start with a [better] cumulative average so they can actually succeed and
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JEFFREY LAZARO
There are 195 more sections of undergraduate classes this fall, but students cite transportation as an issue with the increase in enrollment.
U. adjusts to increased student enrollment BY COLLEEN ROACHE ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
More students plus less money equals a few challenges for administrators at the University. But with some changes, they are doing what they can to overcome them. Enrollment reached a record high this fall, and administrators are taking steps to manage class scheduling, transportation and other services appropriately. The University added more sections as necessar y to meet demand for select courses, said Arun Mukherjee, director of scheduling and space management, via email correspondence.
“We are facing challenges to find larger classrooms and lecture halls to accommodate the growth in enrollment,” Mukherjee said. “However, by scheduling courses efficiently, we are making the most use of the available classrooms and lecture halls.” For example, the University added 12 sections of “General Biology,” a 15 percent increase from last fall, he said. There are also 24 percent more available sections in “General Chemistry” when compared to this time last year. Overall, as of the first day of classes, the total number of undergraduate sections increased by 195 from last fall, which represents a 4 percent total increase in available sections across the New Brunswick campus, Mukherjee said. Also,
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Candidate envisions institute expansion
INDEX UNIVERSITY A University almunus brings his love of film and music to Atlantic City.
BY PAIGE TATULLI CONTRIBUTING WRITER
OPINIONS An organization uses Justin Bieber with hopes to increase voter participation.
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the number of students in some lecture courses increased to meet student demand. The expansion of hybrid courses and online courses at the University is also helping reduce demand for classrooms to some extent, Mukherjee said. With more students on campus, making sure classes are available is futile unless there are adequate means of traveling to them. Although there has not been a significant increase in the number of on-campus students who require parking passes, there are more commuters who need places to park while they go to class, Director of Transportation Services Jack Molenaar said.
JEFFREY LAZARO
DAILYTARGUM.COM Rachael Pine, candidate for director of the Institute for Women’s Leadership, believes the University offers potential partnerships with other schools.
In the continuing search for a new Institute for Women’s Leadership director, candidate Rachael Pine spoke yesterday as part of the institute’s “Public Talk” held at the Ruth Dill Johnson Crockett Building on Douglass campus. Pine addressed an assembly about her background, what she had to offer the institute, as well as her goals and her objectives for the leadership if chosen to fill the position. “The central premise is that the Institute for Women’s Leadership can and should be a larger tent,” Pine said. The University is a gold mine in terms of schools with an abundance of growth for programs and opportunities pertaining to gender, she said. There are many connections within the University that have yet to be tapped, Pine said. The University provides a great opportunity to explore partnerships with other schools.
If elected, Pine plans to take hold of these relationships. To Pine, the IWL seemed like home for the study and advancement of women. Viewing the institution as a valuable referral for media outlets that might be in need of information on gender policy or data, she said these are opportunities to take advantage of. Enhancing fundraising potential is another way to educate and inform outsiders about the IWL, Pine said. “Fundraisers are looking for impact, which Rutgers has,” she said. When asked what she would bring to the table as far as qualities were concerned, Pine said she could offer growth and transformation. “I’ve lived the version of leadership that involves activism,” she said. She also cited her desire to seize whatever opportunities and challenges may come her way. In her speech, Pine was very passionate that advancements will and can
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