UMass Dartmouth Torch -- News


Thursday, March 8, 2007	The online edition of UMass Dartmouth's weekly newspaper	Issue 20, Volume 53
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Fees to take effect next fall

Open forum held to discuss implementation of parking charges

By Chris Donovan

This past Tuesday, an open forum was held in regards to the parking fees that will be instated for the 2007-2008 academic year. Turnout included approximately 30 students; most of whom are members of either Student Senate or Resident Halls Congress. The forum was held by the Colonel of UMass Dartmouth Public Safety Emil Fioravanti, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs David Milstone. Fioravanti and Milstone are part of a five person committee whose job is to decide how the fees are implemented. The other members of the committee are Associate Vice Chancellor for Finance Bill Mitchell, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor Ismael Ramirez-Soto, and Associate Chancellor LaVerne Cawthorne .

The current plan is to have commuter students pay $50 a semester, resident students pay $75 a semester, part time students pay $25 a semester, and students who take summer session would pay $20. According to Fioravanti, these are not definite prices, and “As of this afternoon [March 6th], those fees have still not been set.” The prices were decided after the committee looked at a number of similar institutions including Bridgewater State, and Worcester State, and then found a price “somewhere in the middle” according to Milstone. Faculty and staff fees have not yet been estimated as the committee needs to work out prices with the faculty and staff’s unions.

Visitors to the campus will also be charged a fee; however it is still unclear as to how this would be implemented. Fioravanti brought up some ideas which included having visitors pick up day passes from the gate at the front of campus, or having visitors go to the public safety office to pick up their pass.

One benefit of the fees is the fact that they will generate just under half of a million dollars to fund public safety related improvements around campus. Milstone explained that “Students don’t pay a public safety fee. So there is no money that goes specifically for this type of stuff.” The money that the university currently provides to public safety goes towards things such as paying salaries.

Fioravanti explained that the money will go towards a “four pronged improvement strategy which will cover, closed circuit television (CCTV), lighting, infrastructure, and transportation. Fioravanti continues by saying, “It’s our goal to have cameras at every entrance and every exit.” Transportation could potentially be improved by getting larger and/or more Dart Vans so that there will be a very short wait time for students who need transportation around campus. The increase in number of Dart Vans could also potentially bring the option of the Dart Vans traveling to off campus locations such as Target and Wal-Mart.

Another benefit to the fees is an increased knowledge of the number of students who have cars on campus and of when they’re on campus. Fioravanti explained that “The registrar can give us a fairly accurate number of how many people are here, but we don’t know how many people have cars. We need a bigger sense of who has cars, who is in class, who are residents, who are commuters, who is staying over the weekend.” Once these numbers are known, it can provide more insight into if more parking lots are needed, and where they are needed.

There are a couple of different ways that people can sign up for the parking passes for next year. Residents will sign up when they sign up for housing. New students will be able to sign up during orientation. Finally faculty and staff will be able to sign up before they leave this semester.

Both Fioravanti and Milstone realize that the system won’t be perfect when it is first implemented. Milstone states, “There will be nuances that as people think about things, they won’t make sense.” Fioravanti elaborates that “This is going to be the first time. Anytime you do something for the first time, you take an estimated guess.” Student, faculty, and staff are the blood of this institution, and they’re needed to make decisions.”

Students can contact their Senate representatives if they have any opinions on how the new fees should be approached. The Student Senate office is located on the second floor of the Campus center, near the Student Affairs offices (Where the sunset room used to be). Senate meetings are open to the public and held every Monday at 6 p.m. at the Board of Trustees room in the Foster administration building.

Two events — one movement

The world from a vagina’s point of view

Teri Hatcher, Whoopi Goldberg, Calista Flockhart, Phylicia Rashad, Michelle Rodriguez, Melanie Griffith, Viola Davis, Cate Blanchett, Kim Coles, Julia Stiles, Kate Winslet, Lauren Velez, Goldi Hawn, Susan Sarandon, Nell Carter, and Brooke Shields. What do all these celebrities have in common?

Every single one of them has performed in Eve Ensler’s Obie Award Winning The Vagina Monologues. In fact, these are only a few of the numerous famous actresses who have enjoyed being part of this international production. The Vagina Monologues is performed from Russia to Albania to France, Israel to South Korea and Japan, and Brazil to Canada.

The play is a number of monologues read by numerous women, each relating to the vagina, be it through sex, menstruation, rape, mutilation, masturbation, or giving birth. A major theme is the ending of violence against women and speaking of a previously unspoken topic: the vagina as female empowerment and the ultimate embodiment of individuality. The proceeds of each performance go to programs and organizations that seek to end violence against women and girls, such as women’s shelters. The play itself is a backbone of V-day. The V in V-day stands for Valentine, Vagina, and Victory, three words that ultimately connect love and respect to empowering women and ending violence against women.

The Vagina Monologues, written by Eve Ensler, originally was performed as a one-woman show starring the author. It was then performed by three women. To prepare for this, she interviewed nearly 200 women about their opinions on sex, relationships, and violence against women. Eve Ensler has been quoted as saying, “Women’s empowerment is deeply connected to their sexuality.”

So far, in 2007, more than 3000 V-day events have occurred in 1150 colleges and communities all over the world. To date, these performances have raised more than $40 million, educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and PSA campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 5000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

This year, Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues will be performed at our campus on March 9. Our production is directed and cast by students. All proceeds will benefit the Greater New Bedford Women’s shelter and the UMass Dartmouth Women’s Resource Center. In the five times we have produced this play at UMass Dartmouth, the Women’s Resource Center has raised over $60,000 to end violence against women and girls in the SouthCoast community. Continue this valiant effort by joining us on March 9 to help empower women, put an end to violence against them, shed some tears and laugh out loud at the amazing experiences of women throughout the world.

For more information, contact Kim Sylvia at ksylvia@umassd.edu or at 508-910-4584. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for everyone else. To learn more about the play or about V-day, visit www.vday.org.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

Today is a day that commemorates women around the world. On this day women look back at how much our gender has managed to advance over the years, and we look forward to the difficult path ahead of us. Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day.

International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and remember the women who fought for equality, freedom, and everything women have today. March 8 is a day celebrated world wide to open people’s eyes to all the major achievements women have made since the beginning of time.

The concept of this day was proposed at the beginning of the 20th century during the Industrial Revolution, a time when industry was growing as working conditions grew poorer. The first International Women’s Day observed in the United States was on February 28 1909. For Americans, this day commemorates the tragic events of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in which over 140 women lost their lives. Women who protested poor working conditions were often attacked by the police, but they eventually managed to establish their own labor unions. In 1910, the first international women’s conference was held in Copenhagen, establishing International Women’s Day. In the United States, this great day was commemorated during the 1910s and 1920s, but dwindled. It was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s.

In many countries such as Russia, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Mongolia, Ukraine, Vietnam, Romania, Hungary, and India March 8 is a very important day, signified through national holiday. It is a holiday for men to show their appreciation, love, and thanks to women. Women receive gifts from men, children, and co-workers. It just shows how powerful women are and is a big thanks to all their contributions. Many organizations support IWD, giving women a day off from work, and interest in it is increasing.

To commemorate this day, the Women’s Resource Center and the International Student Center have collaborated by hosting Dr. Marcellete Williams, Senior Vice President, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and International Relations, for the five-campus UMass system. She will be discussing women and global education today.

This is a timely subject, as two thirds of the world’s 876 million illiterates are women. Two thirds of the 113 million children who are not attending school are female. Fewer girls than boys finish primary school, so by the age of 18, girls have almost 4.4 years less education than boys.

Educated women usually have an increased income and can better support their families. UN data shows that educated women have smaller families and wait more years between having children. Also, literate mothers are more likely to send their children (including girls) to school than illiterate ones. Educated women can also take better care of their health and the health of their children than uneducated women.

The Women’s Resource Center will present the 7th annual Outstanding Women Awards. This year three awards, including a special first ever award, will be given. The recipients are individuals who have done at least one of the following: demonstrated commitment to women students and/or employees; demonstrated record of enhancing the quality of opportunity for women at UMass Dartmouth; a consistent advocate for issues that have a special impact on women; or a dedication to mentoring women students and/or employees.

This award ceremony was established in 2000 at the 30th Anniversary of the Women’s Resource Center. Previous winners include: Dr. Janet Freedman, former Dean of the Library Services; Carol Spencer, Director of College Now and UMD Alum; Catherine L. Graham, UMD Alum and Lawyer for employee rights; Dr. Barbara Jacobskind, the campus founder of Women’s Studies; Dr. Susan Costa, Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and UMD Alum; Jamielee Croteau, former student; Dr. Renate Crawford, Professor; Dr. Phyllis Currier, Professor; Dr. Susan Krumholz, Professor; Tracy Bisaillon, student; Tanya Teixeira, UMD Alum; Dr. Jen Riley, Professor; Dr. Marguerite Zarrillo, Professor; Diane Hitchcock, UMD Alum; and Carol Pimentel, UMD Internal Auditor.

Please come and hear Dr. Williams and celebrate this year’s nominees and awardees. And take some time away from the office to celebrate women! For more information, contact Kim Sylvia at

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Atria closed for evaluation

E-mail from Lee Nason

Effective immediately, the two atria in the Science and Engineering Building (Group II) are closed to all occupancy.

Based on an observation of movement in one of the balconies, Facilities Planning Design and Construction hired a registered structural engineer to review the condition of the cantilevered balconies in the Science and Engineering Building. The structural engineers recommended immediate closure of the atria until we can assure the community of safe occupancy.

Because these spaces are well-used and important study areas for our science and engineering students, we plan to shore up the balconies on a temporary basis and re-open the atria as soon as possible. The temporary shoring will remain in place until permanent structural corrections are completed. A schedule for doing the temporary and permanent work has not been determined at this time, but we will keep the community informed of progress.

We are working with the College of Engineering to identify alternative study areas.

Thank you for your cooperation.


Left taken in 1979	Right taken March 6, 2007

THIS WEEK IN UMASSD HISTORY

Jacobs delays decision on access to police logs

Original Article By Maureen McMahon
Friday, March 5, 1982

“As soon as we get information that will enable us to know whether we’re breaking any law,” a decision will be made on whether to open campus police logs to the Torch, said Foster Jacobs, SMU’s director of planning and plant.

Based on previous decisions made at Salem State College and Boston College, the Torch has requested that police logs be open.

The problem, said Jacobs, is that in responding to the Torch’s request, he “doesn’t want to get the university in trouble. Laws are not as precise as we’d like them to be,” he said, referring to the fact that some laws may conflict in their directives.

Jacobs cited two laws that might conflict with the directive to open the logs. One is the Buckley Amendment, which protects the family and education privacy rights of individuals. The second is a privacy act that governs state agencies. Jacobs said he wants their possible conflicts resolved before any decision is made.

The Torch maintains that since the BC decision said the Buckley Amendment isn’t applicable in campus police log cases, and since Salem State was directed to open its logs last May, SMU should follow suit.

Jacobs, however, said he must wait for legal advice from Walter Smith, lawyer to SMU’s Board of Trustees. Once he receives Smith’s recommendation, Jacobs said that if Smith “advises us to do something and it seems reasonable, I’ll do it, [and] if there’s something that doesn’t sound reasonable, I won’t.” He also said he might have to ask Smith to go back for further information, and therefore couldn’t put an approximate date on when he’d reach a decision.

Smith said he has not yet received the BC decision, although he has received copies of the letter directing Salem State College to open its logs. He said that once he receives the BC decision, a recommendation will be sent to SMU within a few days.

Responding to Torch allegations that he is delaying making the decision in spite of overwhelming precedents already set, Jacobs said that there is “no attempt on anyone’s part to back out of this.”

The Torch has “asked for something that’s never been made public,” Jacobs said. “I don’t care what [the Torch] puts in the paper, but I don’t want to get the university in trouble. As long as were sure there’s nothing that’s going to get us into any legal trouble, I’ll give [the Torch] anything [they] want.”

Students storm statehouse

Original Article By Timothy M. Hill
Thursday, March 9, 1989

On Tuesday morning, six busses of SMU students bearing signs and wearing pins, inscribed “SAVE SMU,” stormed the statehouse in Boston with a dual purpose in mind.

Richard Gallagher, chairman of the Board of Governors, stated these purposes as follows: “First was to make the legislators aware that we don’t want to see a cut in the educational budget, which would directly effect the quality of education available to us. Second was to let our representatives know that we are not in favor of a plan to merge all the state universities under one board of trustees making the separate state universities become one big state university.”

The students went to show their support for the Rosenberg amendment, which, if passed, will restore $15.7 million cut from college budgets in the past 18 months. Dean of Students Donald Howard feels that a tax increase is inevitable. However, this sentiment was not explicitly stated by the legislators, Howard said, because “they are afraid of repercussions that might come from their constituents.”

The legislators, however, insisted that they would not raise taxes. At least that is the impression that student Kelly McLaughlin received: “The situation is such that the only alternative is to tax people in support of education, but that is not going to happen, they said.”

The opportunity to participate in the rally attracted a mass of students. The urgency of the situation was not lost on the students. They were reminded that “if the proposed budget is passed, you will have to pay higher fees, have fewer course offerings and overcrowded classrooms, and that SMU will have no money for library books and will have to turn even more people away who apply for school.”

Student Trustee Angie Lopes said, “The student turnout shows that even though SMU is the smallest state university, we have the most to lose.”

Student Amy Ippolito added, “This proves that SMU is not the apathetic school everybody thinks we are. Out of 6000 students, we had about 400 students that went, compared to UMass, which has a student body of 40,000 — out of which only about 150 showed up. We had the most support in the whole state.”

Megan Flynn agrees, “SMU dominated.... Nobody will forget SMU was there, we definitely got the point across.”

Dean Howard summed up the strong SMU showing, saying, “Today’s turnout is another proof that students will respond to a crisis that affects them and the university.”

The merging of the five state university, UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Worcester, the University of Lowell and SMU, was the other topic of discussion. David Saxon, chairperson of the 19-member commission reviewing the situation, says the merger will give UMass a stronger voice with the legislature and week out duplicated services.

Students, however, are strongly opposed to the potential merger. Said Student Senate Vice President Kathleen Faron, “There has been talk that if SMU merged, UMass Dartmouth would receive greater funding. Unfortunately, SMU, alias ‘UMass Dartmouth,’ would more likely be lowed to the mere status as a satellite campus, unable to stand strong independently.”

Support for the merger has been weak amongst legislators, report the students. A final decision on the matter is still pending.

Networking problems continue

Original Article By Jeff Reed
March 9, 2000

Many students got their Internet-wish granted when about two weeks ago the filter on the UMass Dartmouth network was removed. However, anyone accessing the Internet should immediately notice the downside to this, which is a very noticeable slowdown of the network.

CITS Networking Manager Andrew Darling felt the removal of the filter was necessary due to a large number of complaints that necessary programs were not working.

“There were a lot of complaints that legitimate applications were being filtered,” he said. “It was getting to be too much, so we’ve taken the filters off. The problem now is there’s much less bandwidth.”

“We decided to take a step back. Now we’re filtering as problem sites arise. We’re trying to reach a balance between filters and bandwidth.”

This doesn’t mean everything is accessible again, however. Sites where legality is questionable are still blocked, such as the mp3 download site Napster. However, the removal of the filter means that many of the activities that were eating up the school’s bandwidth are once again being used by students, which is the reason for the slowdown of the Internet.

Before, Darling was receiving many complaints about the filter. The complaints are still coming in to his office, though now for different reasons.

“I have just as many, if not more complaints. Before, people were complaining about the filter. Now they’re complaining about the overload of the network.”

Darling hopes getting more bandwidth for the school will solve the problem.

“We’re still using several times what we’re paying for. What we want is a lot more bandwidth than what we’re using right now. This resource needs to grow with the university.”

According to Darling, the networking problem could possible be solved before the end of the year.

“We’ve gotten a quotation for six or seven megs, which will cost us a few thousand dollars more a month. The problem right now is just getting someone to fund it.”

He continued, “This wasn’t budgeted for 1999, since the networking problem came up quickly and was unexpected. Hopefully we’ll get the funds this year. It’s not really a question of if we’ll get the money, but when.”

“Until funds are secured, however, we have to do our best to balance between filters and a network overload.”