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FRIDAY APRIL 8, 2011
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The Rutgers softball team rebounded from a previously poor showing at home to sweep Iona in dominant fashion yesterday at the RU Softball Complex.
RUSA stands against credit union move
Membership minimum to apply to greeks
BY ANASTASIA MILLICKER
BY CAMILLIA SHANKS
CORRESPONDENT
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA) members met last night to voice their disagreement over the closing of the Rutgers University Student and Alumni Credit Union (RUSACU) on campus. RUSACU signed a contract to merge with Af finity Federal Credit Union in July 2010, consequently consolidating their board of directors with Af finity, said Kristen Clarke, University Af fairs Committee chair. Their lease for their operating location in the Rutgers Student Center on the College Avenue campus, which ends on May 20, was not renewed. Instead, they plan to move to an Affinity location in New Brunswick, she said. Clarke highlighted a resolution that calls for RUSA to oppose the move.
close to New York City, that included some ver y attractive possibilities,” he said. “Many of the faculty members have worked with or know the individuals and began the process of contacting people and feeling out if they were interested.” The committee decided the speaker should have a background in either dance or visual ar ts since the last two convocation speakers were actress Kristin Davis and musician Paquito D’Rivera, Minucci said. Mason Gross School of the Arts senior Maria Giancola said she is looking
Student Life’s student group policy could pose a threat to some fraternities and sororities next fall when the requirement for a minimum of 10 members is set to take effect. The policy was implemented after the Transformation of Undergraduate Education (TUE) in 2007, when individual colleges were eliminated and the Department of Student Life was established, said Kerri Willson, associate director of Student Involvement. Before, each undergraduate college had its own minimum number of members to be recognized as a student group. For greek organizations, the minimum was five people before they joined with Student Life, said JoAnn Arnholt, dean of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. “Now, for a number of different reasons, like budget and strengthening the chapter and the ability to participate in the community, we knew we would eventually move to the 10 number,” she said. But Dalmar Mohamod of the historically black fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, finds the policy unfair. “After graduation our chapter will have six members,” said Mohamod, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. “We do a lot for the University, and it’s not right that we might be discharged due to this policy. It’s going to place a lot of strain on us to recruit people every year.” Bryan Wilson, Interfraternity Council president, said the chapters with less than minimum requirement of members should not be overly concerned. “There are about six [chapters] that have under 10 members currently, and they were notified this past fall,” said Willson, a School of Arts and Sciences senior. “The policy goes into effect in Fall 2012, and we will provide ongoing support and resources to make sure they meet the member requirement.” Arnholt said despite this change, the TUE had a positive effect on greek life, doubling total membership of
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SEE MINIMUM ON PAGE 4
SEE RUSA ON PAGE 4
NICHOLAS BRASOWSKI / SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kristen Clarke, RUSA University Affairs Committee chair, stresses the importance of having the student credit union remain on campus.
Critic to speak at Mason Gross ceremony BY RASHMEE KUMAR ASSOCIATE COPY EDITOR
Even as the Mason Gross School of the Arts Class of 2011 walks across the stage this May, it will still receive advice from a critic. The Mason Gross School of the Ar ts convocation, which will take place May 14 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, will feature keynote speaker Peter Schjeldahl, the head ar t critic for The New Yorker, said George Stauf fer, dean of the Mason Gross School of the Ar ts. “I think as an art critic, he will bring an insightful viewpoint on the field and
be able to give our emerging artists some sound advice for their careers and their lives as artists,” said Tom Minucci, president of the Mason Gross Student Government Association, in an email correspondence. After compiling a list of possible candidates, the convocation speaker committee — comprised of Minucci, Mason Gross School of the Ar ts Associate Dean Dennis Benson and one faculty member from each depar tment — narrowed down the names, said Minucci, a Mason Gross School of the Ar ts junior. “[The choices were] notable people in their respective fields. Being so
Douglass celebrates Dean Jaquelyn Litt BY ANASTASIA MILLICKER CORRESPONDENT
For this year’s Douglass Founder’s Day, the Douglass Residential College (DRC) officially welcomed Dean Jacquelyn Litt into its family after she was appointed last summer to the position. The Voorhees Chapel on Douglass campus filled Wednesday morning with distinguished University officials like President Richard L. McCormick and representatives from women’s colleges throughout the countr y as they gathered for the celebration of Litt’s convocation. George H. Cook Campus Dean Richard Ludescher opened the event with a small speech about Litt’s positive attributes.
“As you all know, a wellknown sense of humor is not required of a dean. … There are few better ways to nurture and encourage the trust, affection and respect of undergraduates,” Ludescher said. McCormick took the stage after Ludescher and said he was delighted to welcome Litt as the new Douglass College dean. “She is a scholar of achievement, a leader of vision and conviction,” he said. “While each day she was here, we become more delighted and excited about the choice we made in asking her ser vice.” Douglass Gover ning Council President Pamela Chin agreed with McCormick and
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INDEX METRO At a City Council meeting, residents discuss the Remsen Avenue Firehouse construction.
OPINIONS A study shows that Congress members taunt each other a quarter of the time in session. See if we gave them a laurel or dart.
UNIVERSITY . . . . . . . 3 METRO . . . . . . . . . . 6 OPINIONS . . . . . . . . 8 SEAN MACDONALD
Eddy Portnoy, left, a Yiddish language instructor at the University, joins Robert Mankoff, cartoon editor of The New Yorker, for an evening of “Cartooning Jewish New York” last night at the Cook Campus Center.
Students with 30 or more degree credits can register for classes from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
DIVERSIONS . . . . . . 10 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . 12 SPORTS . . . . . . BACK
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