UConn Dining Jumps on the Food Truck Bandwagon

The University of Connecticut’s Dining Services are taking on a long-awaited project that is anticipated to create quite a stir on campus – university food trucks.

Dining Services Executive Director Dennis Pierce said the idea has been in discussion for the past three years, and everything is finally in order to move forward with the process.

University-run food trucks have been popping up at college campuses across the nation, according to thelance.net.

“We’re probably one of the last major schools without a vending truck,” Pierce said.

Two food trucks will be introduced, employed with student labor; the first one serving just ice cream, as an extension of the Blue Cow shop located in the Student Union. All ice cream served will be products of UConn’s own Dairy Bar. Pierce anticipates the truck to have different routes for day and night, depending on the season.

“The ice cream truck was specifically an idea that came from President Herbst,” Pierce said.

The location of The Dairy Bar is also a long hike for many students, so Pierce hopes the ice cream truck will make up for the limited access.

The second truck will just serve meals, and the menu is sure to be anything but ordinary.

“A food truck is literally a kitchen on wheels,” Pierce said. “It will first start off as a taco truck, but not Mexican food…more like off-the-wall tacos.”

Dining staff recently sat down to taste test about 14 different kinds of tacos, with a variety of meat, vegetable, vegetarian and gluten free options, Pierce said.

Many of the menu options will change with popularity and with the time of year. Dining Services plans to utilize UConn’s Spring Valley Student Farm in order to incorporate locally grown in-season produce in the recipes. There’s even talk of “meals in a field,” a spinoff of Dining Services annual Pop-Up Dinners, where the trucks would park in the field and set up tables for students.

A couple of different ideas are going around about where the food truck will make regular stops. Dining Services is looking at different schedules, as well as a possible permanent lunch location on Fairfield Way, but that would include some type of construction, Pierce said.

“The questions that cannot be answered right now are ‘where’ and ‘when.’ But I see both trucks having multi-schedules,” Pierce said.

There’s no telling where the best location and when the best time will be as far as scheduling the trucks, so that part will take a bit of experimentation. Dining Services plans to use various social media to promote the schedules, and will decide upon the best scheduling option based on popularity.

Pierce said he anticipates that the trucks will be in high demand, and expects a positive turnout. Dining Services is also planning to book the trucks for events around campus, possibly including events such as Family Weekend and Spring Weekend. As far as off campus events go, though, Dining Services is making UConn’s students and staff its main priority.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we were asked to do off campus,” Pierce said. “But first and foremost we want to serve the university community.”

Both trucks should be up and running by the time the upcoming school year begins. The trucks are currently being wired with wireless transaction systems, so that they are able to take credit and debit cards. Neither truck will take UConn meal plan points.

While Pierce said he understands the inconvenience of not being able to use points, the value of one point is not equal to the value of one dollar. After reviewing the expenses, Dining Services just wouldn’t be able to pay the trucks back on points.

“I know it’s not going to go over well, but this is a business,” Pierce said.

If the trucks go over well and it becomes financially feasible, Pierce said the university would consider introducing more food trucks, though he noted that he wanted to be careful in competing with different eating options around campus.

“We’re really excited about it; it’s definitely going to be a learning experience for us,” Pierce said.

2015-2016 UConn Reads Theme Announced: Race in America

For the 2015-2016 academic year the UConn Reads Steering Committee selected “Race in America.”

The decision to choose a race related topic is especially interesting following race related incidents on the UConn Storrs campus during the 2014-2015 academic year.

Two highly publicized incidents at UConn’s now infamous “Spirit Rock” sparked a dialogue about racism on campus last year. The first occurred last fall, when members of Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) were accused of racism and harassment by the cultural sorority Alpha Kappa Kappa (AKK).

UConn President Susan Herbst responded in a letter to the Storrs community, “These events did not reflect the community we strive to be — one that is welcoming, civil, inclusive, and that celebrates the great achievements that can be realized through our diversity”.

Five months later, students painted over the black and white rock that read “Black Lives Matter,” leaving only, “Lives Matter.”

UConn student Julian Rose called the incident “an outrage,” in his April interview with the Hartford Courant.

“There are people that actively deny there’s an issue, there are people that simply don’t care and there are the people that realize there’s a problem and want to change it,” Rose said.

In a December letter, Vice President of Student affairs Michael Gilbert said he believes “it is important for our campus to seize upon the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful and honest dialogue on the significance of the issues presented to our campus and their local, national, and global relevance.”

UConn Reads Steering Committee would not say if their choice was a direct result of last year’s issues on campus. Their focus is on the United States as a whole.

“In trying to understand the contemporary moment, I find that I turn to literature, which is uniquely suited to reflect upon the complex terrain of race in America,” said director of the Institute of Asian American Studies and chair of the UConn Reads Steering Committee Cathy Schlund-Vials.

“The UConn Reads program was created to bring together the University community – from students, faculty, and staff to alumni and friends of UConn, as well as citizens of Connecticut – for a far-reaching and engaging dialogue centered on a book suggested by the community.”

Recent events in Texas, Baltimore, South Carolina, and Ferguson give students plenty to discuss. Students can submit nominations for the 2015-2016 UConn Reads selection online through August 1, 2015.

“The most recent events at UConn and in the rest of the US only highlight issues that people of color have been clamoring about for centuries,” Rose said earlier this week. “Due to social media and the ubiquity of cell phones, people are now able to syndicate real stories to the masses, which has provided our communities with a great deal of connectedness and therefore strength, in a common voice.”

Last year, UConn Reads selected “food” as its theme and The Omnivore’s Dilemma as the “book to read.” The selected book will be offered at the UConn Co-Op for a discounted price.

State Funding Drops To Lowest In University History

With the new fiscal year set to begin midnight Wednesday, UConn is facing a minimum $28.2 million reduction in state funding from the previous year, dropping the rate of funding the state lends to its flagship university to an all-time low.

Gov. Dannel Malloy has the power to additionally reduce the amount appropriated to UConn by 5 percent before midnight tonight, which could become 6.5 percent depending on a vote by the legislature, which  is currently in special session.

Any further reductions would force the University’s Board of Trustees to revise the new fiscal year’s spending plan, which was finalized on June 24 and divvied up a total of $1.3 billion – $243.2 million from the state – for UConn Storrs and its branch campuses.

“We are waiting and watching and hoping,” UConn Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.

The state will now fund only 30 percent of the university’s budget, an appreciable decrease from 43 percent in 2000, and roughly 50 percent in the early 90’s, Reitz said.

State lawmakers originally proposed to cut UConn’s funding by $40 million, but later scaled that back to $28.2 million upon hearing pleas from those who would be most impacted.

”I think it was helpful for legislators to hear student voices (in February). It had an impact in how law makers made their cuts and I believe and I hope it will continue to,” Retiz said.

UConn is not alone in receiving less state higher-education funding.

From 2003 to 2012 the national average for public university funding from their respective state dropped from 32 to 23 percent, according to a report to the Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate in 2014.

“We are grateful for what we receive,” Reitz said. “We are in better shape than other universities.”

The state’s support is not only being used to fund the day-to-day operations of the school, but infrastructure for the future as well.

Nineteen million of the $243.2 million grant is designated for the Next Generation Connecticut project, which Reitz said the university is obligated to put towards NextGren as a part of an agreement made in spring 2013.

The state funding reductions resulted in $14.6 million less than requested specifically for Next Generations, making UConn unable to proceed with all of the hiring and student scholarships that were planned for this year. The school’s employment of 50 faculty members across all campuses reaches only half of their original goal for this year.

“The hardest thing will now be to get the student to faculty ratio to the 15:1 that we have been striving for,” Reitz said. “We were at 16:1 last year, but it is going to increase now.”

UConn has already enrolled 250 additional freshman in the class of 2019, and despite funding cuts to basic operations and Next Gen – which has resulted in a significant slowing of the planned faculty hiring – the University will continue to increase class sizes each year, Reitz said.

“We are committed to bringing in more (students) because of the dorms under construction and the promise to the state,” Reitz said. “The Next Gen building projects will not be affected. The money for them comes from a capitol bond. The STEM and honors dorms are coming along fine and will finish on schedule.”

The growing student to faculty ratio will force current professors to teach more sections, as well as faculty who have completed research projects to take on more undergraduate classes, Reitz said.

Although faculty will be increasing at UConn, staff and mid-level administrative positions will be seeing rounds of layoffs in order to compensate for the decreased funding.

For example, the Bursar’s offices at all branches have been merged into a single office based in Storrs. The maintenance crews – which used to be separated into residential and non-residential departments – will now merge as one department.

“A lot of empty positions will just be eliminated instead of refilled,” Reitz said. “When people leave throughout the whole year (2015-2016) there will not be a new hire in their place. There is no guarantee that any position that comes open will be filled.”

 

Obit: Legacy of poly-sci professor extends beyond classroom

With the passing away of Professor Emeritus George Cole on June 10, the University of Connecticut lost one of its most notable luminaries in the field of political science.  Cole, who was 80 years old, died at his home in Mansfield.

“I loved George’s laughter and was impressed (and at times was intimidated) by the breadth of his knowledge, from shepherding to historiography,” Professor of Political Science Cyrus Zirakzadeh said.

Cole was born to Canadian immigrant parents on March 18, 1935 in Plainville, Massachusetts.  Following his graduation from the University of Massachusetts in 1956, he began serving in the United States Air Force, and a year later he married his life long partner Joan Washburn.

After serving in the military, Cole continued his educational pursuit, ultimately receiving his Ph. D from the University of Washington. After initially teaching at Allegheny College, he joined the UConn Political Science Department in 1969.

“Within the department, George’s devotion to all graduate students was legendary,” Zirakzadeh said. “His patient, nurturing, and joyful relationship with his doctoral students became a model for younger members of the faculty, like me.”

Throughout his career Cole had been the recipient of many honors such as two Fulbright-Hays awards, becoming a Fellow at the National Institute of Justice and serving as the chairman of the UConn Political Science Department.

Zirakzadeh recalls a particular incident, which demonstrated to him just how indelible of a mark Cole had left in the field of criminal justice.

“When I first arrived at UConn, I visited Cambridge and had dinner with an assistant professor of public law at Harvard University,” Zirakzadeh said.

“He told me that George’s text on criminal justice was famous throughout the nation and was considered the standard treatment of the field at major law schools, including the University of Michigan, where the professor had earned his JD and PhD.”

Cole was an avid traveler and through the Fulbright-Hays Program was able to conduct criminal justice research in England and the former nation of Yugoslavia.

He eventually retired from the University of Connecticut in 1997.

During his memorial service on June 20, Cole’s family requested that instead of receiving flowers, donations be made to the UConn Foundation to support the George F. Cole Dissertation Fellowship. This award is bestowed on a political science graduate student who is working on a dissertation in public law.

“I know of no one more committed (than Cole) to the future of the political science department at UConn.” Zirakzadeh said.

International Entrepreneurship Program Seeks to Form Connections Between Future World Leaders

For the sixth year in a row, the University of Connecticut will host an international leadership exchange program for North and Sub-Saharan African students, which includes a weekend homestay with an American family; and program coordinators are looking for interested participants.

The Global Training and Development Institute (GTDI) is able to conduct this Summer Institute for Student Leaders in Social Entrepreneurship through U.S. Department of State grant funds. African student leaders from 40 universities are selected by a rigorous application process, and attend the five–week program that consists of classes and workshops centered on entrepreneurship, business, finance and marketing in order to help make a difference in their homeland communities. The international students live in on-campus apartments during the program, with the exception of the weekend homestay, according to UConn’s Daily Digest.

UConn’s weekend homestay program will run from July 24th to July 26th, benefitting both African students and American families due to the exposure of differing cultures. Host families are sought out throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, GTDI Director Roy Pietro, said.

“Over 200 American families have hosted in the past five years, and the consensus opinion is that (it) can be an extremely rewarding cross–cultural experience,” Pietro said.

Interested families are interviewed ahead of time and provide references for the U.S. Department of State. UConn staff also visit their homes to inspect the bedroom and living spaces to ensure that they meet the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) guidelines.

“This experience provides our visiting international students a glimpse into the everyday life of an American family, as they attend community events, meet with other Americans and have meals with family members and friends,” Pietro said.

The two – way cultural connections obtained through this experience also allows Americans to learn about life in Africa, from local policies, to socioeconomic hardship. This learning process builds understanding and relationships between the United States and countries throughout Africa, Pietro said.

In a UConn Today article about the program run in 2014, Pietro said making an impact on African societies starts with just a few people. He stated that even if a portion of the 40 international student leaders take productive measures back home, an impact has been established.

UConn is the only institution in the state that offers this kind of international partnership. Due to the success of the program, the U.S. Department of State recently granted the GTDI the privilege to replicate this program for 40 student leaders from 10 countries in Southeast Asia. The program will aim to enhance future leader relations with the United States and Southeast Asia. UConn will host the program in the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters, allowing interested families another opportunity to provide weekend homestays for the visiting students, Pietro said.

To participate or ask questions about becoming a host family for one or two visiting students, contact Program Coordinator Danielle DeRosa at: danielle.derosa@uconn.edu or 860-486-6305.

Following report, UConn students and alum react to Herbst’s salary

The Hartford Courant reports that University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst made $575,000 in 2014, nearly 135% of the national median of $428,000. Students and alum took to the internet to express their thoughts.

President Herbst is “overpaid and underachieving,” said seventh semester pharmacy major Aaron Zheng.

“Many services of the school function independently and communicate poorly,” Zheng continued, “A lot of money is wasted on hiring more staff, instead of quality staff.”

Herbst received a $70,000 raise in 2014, roughly equivalent to the average annual salary of a Connecticut teacher. UConn Board of Trustees Chairman Larry McHugh believes Herbst deserves her salary and says she has “excelled” as president.

“This contract is reflection of that and offers compensation that is in line with that of many other presidents at large public research universities across the nation,” McHugh said in December shortly after Herbst’s contract was renewed.

“President Herbst heads an institution with a budget of $2 billion, more than 30,000 students, seven campuses, an academic medical center and hospital, and more than 9,000 employees,” university spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said, “The compensation for the president of a company of that size would be many multiples of what the president of UConn is paid.”

Reitz also believes that median salary is misleading statistic.

“Comparing the UConn president’s salary against the median nationwide is an apples-to-oranges proposition because that includes many small and very dissimilar institutions,” said Reitz.

“The most appropriate comparisons are against peer institutions which, like UConn, are large and have a complex research enterprise, wide-ranging academic scope, and robust outreach and service missions in their states.”

UConn alum and journalism major, Joe Klar suggests that no university president should receive such pay.

“Justifying her pay because it’s on par with others leaves out the fact that the president of a public institution, taking public money, and constantly raising tuition should not get paid a ‘million’ a year with two houses and a driver,” Klar said.

A post in UConn’s “Buy or Sell” page, started the discussion.

 

 

Search Begins for New Student Health Services Director

In April, Elly Daughterty, the University of Connecticut’s Dean of Students, announced the retirement of Michael Kurland as the Director of Student Health Services. SHS is now looking to recruit a suitable replacement for the highly regarded position.

“(As the director), Michael Kurland performed with skill and commitment for so many years before his retirement,” University Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.

Dr. Elizabeth Cracco, UConn’s Director of Counseling and Mental Health Services (CMHS), has been serving as interim upon Kurland’s leave, and she will continue to do so as the search goes on. Once the position is filled, Dr. Cracco will remain as the CMHS Director.

“A search for a position of this significance provides us all an opportunity to reflect and discuss this new position and its impact upon the UConn community,” Daughterty said in a recent email.

UConn is working closely with Keeling Associates, a search firm, in order to find highly qualified applicants for the position. The firm visited campus on June 3rd and 4th to speak to a variety of people

in the UConn community. The firm looked to gather more information about the position that would lead to the development of a description, candidate profile, and recruitment strategy, Daughterty said.

Keeling Associates has been working with colleges and universities since 1984, aiming to strengthen health-related programs and services on campuses. The firm takes on clientele projects such as fulfilling faculty positions, collaborates with national organizations and develops their own scholarship and writing, according to their website.

“Every project we undertake – from academic strategic planning to strengthening student services – is intended to support higher learning in higher education,” their website said.

So far, Keeling Associates officials have met with Student Affairs administration and staff, students, SHS and CMHS members, directors from UConn’s cultural centers, the UConn Health Urgent Care facility manager, and others in order to gain valued perspectives regarding the position, Reitz said.

The search is in a very early stage, as no definite timeline has been established as to when the positionwill be filled. With that said, the search is expected to take several months once it is fully under way, Reitz said.

UConn to Hire Nurses Specifically for Sexual Assault

The University of Connecticut will receive permission and means to hire nurses specialized in the treatment of sexual assault, thanks to legislation signed into law by Gov. Dannel Malloy on Tuesday. UConn Spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said the bill will go into effect July 1 and “the services will be in place and available for the start of the new academic year.”

Proponents of the legislation, which the state senate passed unanimously in April, say having these services on campus will soften the trauma of sexual assault by making specialized treatment more accessible, reducing the number of times victims must relate their experience to medical staff and allowing them to stay on campus while being treated.

Connecticut currently has nurses trained as Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE) in six hospitals throughout the state. The one nearest to the Storrs campus is Windham Hospital, 8 miles away in Willimantic. This requires the many students without access to a car on campus to take an ambulance in order to receive the fullest treatment.

Sen. Mae Flexer, a primary supporter of the bill from Danielson, said these measures would “slightly reduce the trauma that survivors of sexual assault experience.”

The Campus Sexual Assault Study, conducted in 2007 for the Justice Department’s National Institute of Justice, found that one in five of female college seniors surveyed had been sexually assaulted during their college years.

The legislation comes after UConn has received media attention in recent years concerning sexual assaults on campus. Last year, UConn agreed to a $1.3 million dollar out of court settlement in a federal lawsuit brought by five students who said the university had mishandled their claims of sexual assault and harassment. UConn admitted no fault as part of the settlement.

The university was not required to make any institutional changes as a result of the settlement, but has since created a new assistant dean of students for victim support services, a Special Victims Unit in the UConn Police Department, and two staff investigator positions.

“This is an issue that is dear to President Herbst and all of us at UConn,” Dean of Students Elly Daugherty said of the recent law, “and we’re grateful that legislators heard our students’ concerns and acted quickly and decisively to give us more tools to help them.”

Students spoken to about the legislation appear to come to the general consensus that it’s a positive change but is by no means a definitive solution to what are perceived as broader inadequacies in how sexual assault is treated at universities.

“It makes me a little uncomfortable that there are enough rapes on campus for a specialized nurse to be cost effective,” said Kimberly Armstrong, 5^th-semester journalism and environmental studies major (and staff writer for the Daily Campus), “but I assume that would only be part of their job. Paired with preventative measures this will definitely make a difference on campus.”

“I think that having a nurse at UConn that is specifically trained to help victims of sexual assault is a step in the right direction,” said Lauren Colburn, 5^th-semester biology and psychology double major, “there is still a lot that needs to be done but I’m happy to see advances like this.” Colburn is also chief financial officer of on campus activist group Revolution Against Rape.

Zoë Esponda, 5^th-semester environmental science major, expressed more general concern about current costs of medical treatments for students. “I know friends that avoid the Health Center when they are sick because they get ninety dollar copays with their insurance,” she said, “I hope this won’t be the case with the new staff.”

The Health Center, as stated on its website, “uses a fee-for-service model… for office visits, laboratory services, x-rays, pharmacy items, as well as specialty clinics.” Fees for office visits alone range from “$25 to $250, depending on the type and complexity of the visit.” The fees are added to the student fee bill, sometimes weeks after the appointment.

Still, the move can be viewed, at the very least, as part of a broadening concern for victims of sexual assault and efforts on the part of the state government to alleviate the problems.

“I’m really glad that this is happening,” said Allie Prince, 5^th-semester Allied Health Sciences major and secretary of RAR, “and I think that it definitely should have been sooner but I’m glad that they’re really taking action now.”

“I really hope that other colleges and universities follow in UConn’s footsteps,” Prince continued, “I also think that there’s a lot more that needs to be done but for now this is a good step.”

Patient at Health Center Confirmed Negative for Ebola

After 24 hours of public anxiety, a patient at John Dempsey Hospital at the UConn Health Center in Farmington has been confirmed to not the Ebola virus. He was instead diagnosed with malaria, a disease generally completely curable with proper treatment.

The patient is in “good condition and is comfortable,” according to a press release from UConn Deputy Spokesperson Tom Breen.

The patient was admitted to the hospital Tuesday night exhibiting some symptoms consistent with the virus and had been in Liberia, one of the West African countries that had been suffering from the Ebola virus, from November 2014 to the end of April 2015.

As an aid worker, the patient had helped the effort in Liberia in an administrative role and had not come into direct contact with any patients of the disease.

Additionally, statement from the World Health Organization determined Liberia to be “free of Ebola virus transmission” as of May 9. At that time it had been 42 days since the last case of Ebola in, a timespan over twice that of the virus’s incubation period.

“The patient is at very low risk for Ebola virus,” Paul Richard Skolnik, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the UConn School of Medicine, said before the diagnosis was clear, “But, out of an abundance of caution, we activated our Ebola virus disease protocol.”

“The patient,” said Breen, “was isolated in a negative pressure room in the Emergency Department.” Both the state Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control were notified.

Last October, the Health Center’s Vice President Frank M. Torti said, “UConn Health, together with hospitals throughout Connecticut, is taking steps to be fully prepared to detect, treat and respond to cases of Ebola.” The center formed “a multidisciplinary Ebola team” and “comprehensive action plan” to ensure that all proper safety precautions were met.

“Please keep in mind,” Torti continued, “the Ebola virus is not an airborne disease.” The virus cannot be transmitted through air, water or food, and only from the bodily fluids of a person or animal infected with Ebola or from contaminated objects such as needles.

As of now, the only two countries to be exhibiting serious outbreaks of the disease are Guinea and Sierra Leone.

UConn’s Big Year

By Sten Spinella

This year at the University of Connecticut was characterized by accomplishment and turmoil, civility and incivility, action and inaction.

 

There are, of course, the forces of inevitability. Midterms, finals, break-ups, make-ups, late night calls to Wings Over Storrs, and social maneuvering. Here is what UConn couldn’t account for, though, at the start of the year. Here is UConn’s year in review.

 

The Spirit Rock

 

On Sept. 29, the fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike) and the sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) argued over the painting of the Spirit Rock. The incident was heavily covered by the Daily Campus, as well as discussed on social media and various meetings/classes on campus. The racism and sexism espoused by members of Pike that night towards the historically black sorority of AKA, including the phrases “fat black bitch” and “black whores” sparked campus-wide activism and reaction, as well as administration members attempting to put out a controversial fire.

 

There was zero administrative response to the event except for investigations, which yielded nothing, and putting Pike on probation for bullying (which they broke with violations of hazing and partying and ultimately had their recognition revoked from the university for four years). On Nov. 10, there was a town hall forum where students from UConn’s black community, and anyone interested in the topic, challenged university inaction and wondered why President Susan Herbst, members of Pike, and non-African-American sororities were not present. On Nov. 18, there was a march for equality and justice from a diverse group of students, demanding university action against Pike.

 

On Apr. 7, the RAs for Social Justice message on the Spirit Rock – “Black lives matter” and “Racism: In Storrs Now” – had the words “black” and “racism” painted over by unknown perpetrators soon after.

 

Greek Life

 

UConn’s Greek community continues to come under fire, especially from the university, with recent suspensions and recognition taken away from sororities Kappa Kappa Gamma, Delta Gamma, and Delta Zeta over the past two years, as well as Sigma Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and the aforementioned Pike. This does not mean that these organizations are not still actively throwing parties (quite the opposite). It does mean they cannot hold university-recognized philanthropy efforts.

 

There are more than 2,000 UConn students who are affiliated with Greek life. UConn’s 34 Greek chapters (the original number, which has since dwindled) as well as the four Greek councils have racked up 30,000 hours of service as well as more than $100,000 in money for charity. While some Greek members have acknowledged the reason for public backlash towards their organizations, others ask why the good of Greek life isn’t exposed more often.

 

“I’m sick and tired of people belittling Greek life. I know so many people in our organizations who do great things every day,” Goetti Francois, a seventh semester nursing and sociology student as well as the Greek Community Affairs Board co-director of recruitment said. “Stop advertising your parties, and start advertising the great things you do. Until we choose what we do, and we keep our members accountable, nothing’s going to change.”

 

HuskyTHON was wildly successful at UConn this year, with 2,400 students dancing for 18 hours and gathering $560,105 dollars to donate to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

 

President Herbst

 

University President is a very public position, one that often comes with misplaced criticism. Still, Herbst’s main role as a fundraiser has been called into question when considering her reactions to the Title IX suits of last year and the Spirit Rock incident this year. With Herbst as president, the university has attempted to downplay these issues to the public. When Herbst’s salary increased, so did anger with Herbst, especially when taking into account rising tuition costs. Herbst’s new contract will keep her on as president through 2019, and will raise her salary from $585,000 a year to $758,000 a year. This does not account for bonuses or Herbst’s two expensive homes.

 

While Herbst has undoubtedly been doing a fantastic job with fundraising for the university, and UConn is ranked #19 in public universities in the country, this raise came at the wrong time – in a storm of criticism towards Herbst and the administration. Herbst has taken some measures to combat a negative image of her among students, putting together a program to have students shadow her for a day.

 

“It will hopefully make me understand students more,” said Herbst. “At all the big universities I’ve seen, there’s an automatic distrust of the president, or the vice president or anyone in authority.”

 

Protests and Demonstrations

 

“Claim our bodies, claim our rights, take a stand, take back the night!” demonstrators yelled at UConn’s Take Back the Night rally On Apr. 15 in an effort to raise awareness about sexual and domestic violence, before filing into the Student Union for a period of testimony. This was one of many demonstrations on campus this year.

 

About 100 UConn male students took part in the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event, literally walking a mile in high-heels. The event was meant to be in solidarity with victims of sexual violence and to promote gender equality. It took place during Spring Weekend.

 

On Apr. 22, 150 graduate students staged a sit-in at the Student Union in order to hopefully acquire the best possible terms in a university contract agreement. That same day, President Herbst released a letter with the terms of the agreement the administration had agreed to with the UConn Graduate Employee Union, including a nine percent pay increase over the next three years.

 

In yet another event of discrimination on campus, an exhibit for mixed identities was targeted, with the word “faggg” written in the guest book, which had many comments. The LGBTQ community was also assaulted when an art exhibit was vandalized with comments and disrespectful drawings.

 

In response to these events, on Apr. 7, about 200 students, faculty and those interested came together in the Student Union for an event entitled UConn Speak OUT. Speakers included State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, as well as State Senator Mae Flexer and Pastor of Storrs Congregational Church Matt Emery.

 

USG

 

There was little election drama this year in UConn’s Undergraduate Student Government, mostly because the office of the president was won unopposed by Rachel Conboy and Adam Kuegler. Conboy is the first female president of USG in ten years. There was some anger from members of USG at Greek life’s campaigning for USG positions, although no rules were broken. In addition, a contentious senate meeting which caused a rift between Speaker of the Senate Kevin Alvarez and members of USG ended in a much-publicized call for a vote of no confidence by Alvarez, which he didn’t receive.

 

USG passed legislation in support of legalizing marijuana, and are also involved with a helpful Open Source textbook initiative. USG members are also looking forward to next year’s Wall Street Journal program.

 

Under the Weather

 

UConn’s roads, sidewalks, parking lots and staircases are in bad condition after a particularly lengthy and intense winter. There was 63.8 inches of snow this year, compared to the average of 38.4 inches.

 

Spring Weekend, Concerts, and Events

 

Schoolboy Q and A$AP Ferg ripped a set in front of thousands of UConn students at Gampel for this year’s Spring Concert. There were two arrests that night, and fifteen students were taken to the hospital, all after Schoolboy Q came on stage and said to the crowd that he had just recently been bailed out of jail in Hartford before playing the show.

 

Adam Devine came to UConn for a delightful stand-up comedy performance, and was very active interacting with students during his short stay.

 

EDM group Cash Cash performed in February to dancing students in the Jorgensen. Matt and Kim also visited for a performance. UConn students willing to travel saw Flo Rida for free.

 

Overall, Spring Weekend remained its uneventful self (since 2010), other than university-sanctioned events.

 

Current Gov. Dannel Malloy and challenger Tom Foley came to UConn during the gubernatorial race to debate in the Jorgensen. The debate was considered their most prickly and personal to date.

 

The UConn Women’s basketball team, by far the most dominant in the country, won the national title for a third year in a row in humdrum fashion.

 

This Year, in Things that Didn’t Change

 

The UConn Foundation is still not exempt to the Freedom of Information Act, despite public pressure. UConn’s professional bus drivers continue to be exploited by a legal loophole, disqualifying them from receiving unemployment benefits by being hired, fired then re-hired.

 

The Daily Campus

 

The Daily Campus, similar to the university at large, faced its own bit of tumult. The three section leaders of Life, News and Sports did not last the entire year, and were replaced by Associate Editors. Facing university financial pressure to conform to other Tier III organizations, the newspaper opted to become entirely student-run, dismissing faculty and alumni advisors.

 

Some may hope for a less chaotic academic year come 2015-2016, yet it always seems to hold true that the zeitgeist of college life is movement.