Make a difference next week

Frederick Douglas Unity House to host a series of multi-cultural events

By Chris Donovan

Next week there will be a series of events that will give students of all different backgrounds a chance to not only express themselves, but also meet people from other cultures. Sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Unity House, the week’s focus will be on making a difference on campus, through five nights of activities. Assistant Director of the FDUH Renee Lopes said “There’s so much going on in this day and age, that we tend to not be aware of things unless we’re close to it. I see that mentality in a lot of people.”

The first event will be a multi-cultural potluck lunch held in the FDUH, Monday afternoon from noon until 2 p.m. People of all different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to make a dish that is representative of themselves to share with everyone else. Pocknett feels that this event will be an easy way for people to bond because “food is for everyone.”

Tuesday will have two showings of the movie “Blood Diamond.” The first showing will be in the FDUH at noon, the second will be in Dion 115 at 7 p.m. Discussions will follow both showings.

The next day, Sociology professor Viviana Saleh-Hanna will be hosing a presentation on crime resistance at 3 p.m. in the FDUH. That night, a discussion titled “Got issues? Talk it out!” will be held in the commuter cafe at 7 p.m.

Thursday, labeled “Day to make a difference”, will mark one of the larger days of the weeklong event. From 2 until 4p.m. a variety of student organizations including the social change society, united brothers and sisters, and the Portuguese club, will be out in the quad offering information on a variety of world issues. Clubs and organizations that want to participate in this event can contact Lopes at the FDUH. Later that night Sigma Phi Rho will be holding a three on three-basketball tournament in the basketball courts near Ivy.

The week will close off with a concert held by world-renowned musician Toby Foyeh and his orchestra. His website describes their music as a “melting pot created out of a unique fusion of traditional Nigerian Yoruba music including Highlife, Afrobeat, folklore with jazz, rock, pop, and Latin music.” The concert will be held at 6 p.m. in the main auditorium. Tickets will be on sale in the FDUH starting today, and will be $3 for UMD students, and $5 general admission.

Virginia Tech endures largest campus massacre in U.S. history

By Katie Bresnahan

(Blacksburg, VA)—Tragedy struck Virginia Tech when 23-year-old, senior English major Cho Seung-Hui opened fire on the Blacksburg, VA campus on Monday morning killing 33 and wounding many more.

The shooting began in West Ambler Jonston, a VT dormitory, at 7:15 a.m. Two hours later Cho continued his reign of terror in Norris Hall, a classroom building on the opposite side of the campus.

Police were still investigating the first shooting when the second one started.

Cho killed two in the dormitory and 30 in the classroom building. He then took his own life, bringing the total fatality count to 33.

When police arrived at Norris Hall they found the front doors chained closed from the inside.

VT students complained that they were not properly notified of the shootings. Most did not even hear word of the first shooting until the second had begun. When students were notified it was through a campus-wide e-mail. Students were then told to stay inside, away from windows.

It was not discovered until much later that Cho had committed either of the shootings. It was thought that whoever had committed the first fled campus and someone else had opened fire in the classroom building.

Witnesses described students jumping out of classroom windows to avoid being shot.

Classes at VT have been cancelled for the rest of the week, but the campus will remain open.

It has been reported that Cho purchased the guns and ammunition used in Monday’s shooting from a gun shop in Roanoke, VA five weeks ago. He paid $571 for the 9-millimeter and the 22-caliber handguns.

Cho, a South Korean native who lived in Centerville, VA was described as a quiet loner. His writing disturbed his professors and fellow students. His creative writing was twisted and violent. He also left a rambling note in his dorm room which showed his derogatory views of women and “rich kids.”

Virginia governor Tim Kaine (D) has declared a state of emergency in Virginia and has ordered all state flags to be lowered in memory of those killed at the university.

Virginia’s Chief Medical Examiner and additional medical personnel were sent to Blacksburg to assist with the injured.

On Tuesday afternoon VT President Charles W. Steger and the university held a memorial service in memory of those who died on campus the day before. Prominent Virginia government officials attended including state senators John Warner (R) and Jim Webb (D). Governor Kaine also attended. He returned early from a trip to India because of the incident. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush were also present.

A candle-light vigil was held Tuesday night in memory of the students and faculty killed on Monday.

For more information about the incident: Visit Virginia Tech's student newspaper at www.collegemedia.com

Many students biting pencils at the sight of math

By Janet Barbosa

“The most extreme example of math anxiety I experienced was in Australia. When the instructor came around to talking about fractions, a woman actually had to leave the room, go to the bathroom and vomit,” says UMass Dartmouth math professor Gary Davis. Worrying about a math exam may be a natural response for many students, but it also impedes math progress, according to a recent study.

The University of Las Vegas Nevada has recently conducted a study proving that math anxiety is a contributor to poor test grades. Research conducted by psychologist Mark Ashcroft, shows that worrying about a test takes up a large portion of the working memory, the same area of the brain used to solve difficult math problems.

“Math is a problem in all developed countries,” says Professor Davis. “It’s making sense of symbolic issues. The way math is expressed is a little peculiar, and it takes time to get used to. Unfortunately, a lot of students don’t get used to it.”

Agrees junior Andrew Ouellette, “Math makes no sense to me. I was a business major and once I found out I had to take statistics, I changed my major to English.”

Professor Davis notes that math anxiety often begins at the lower levels, especially with elementary school teachers who often don’t understand the subject well enough to teach it properly.

“Elementary school teachers have to teach everything, and math is generally the subject they like the least,” says Professor Davis.

The problem of math anxiety continues in high school, leaving some students completely unprepared for their standardized testing. “I didn’t understand math at all in high school, and it totally killed my SAT scores,” says junior Stephanie Carvalho. “Knowing that I only had a certain amount of time to answer questions really freaked me out.”

Inadequate math education at the high school level has proven to be a huge problem for students as UMass. “The biggest problem in this school is algebra. I’m teaching calculus at the sophomore level, and there are a lot of students who can’t do basic algebra,” says Professor Davis.

And while Professor Davis acknowledges that students can’t do much on their own to improve their understanding, teachers can do plenty. “To be a good math teacher, you have to understand the psychology of students,” he says.

Those teachers who don’t understand that type of anxiety often inadvertently use math to make their students feel even worse. Professor Davis recalls a story of a professor who had a paper-mache “stupid rock” in his classroom. “Whoever gave the answer he liked the least got the stupid rock,” says Professor Davis.

Some students have similar horror stories. “In junior high school, I had a teacher who would just write a problem on the board and leave you to figure it out on your own. He wouldn’t explain anything, so people just stopped asking him questions,” says Carvalho.

Professor Davis recommends that teachers place more of an emphasis on listening rather than speaking. “A lot of teachers think teaching is about talking. Professors need to spend less time talking, and more time listening, because that’s when you realize what your students are going through,” he says.

Teachers failing to recognize when their students need help is a huge factor in math anxiety, a problem that even exists at the college level. “Many math instructors, certainly at the college level, focus more on the content than the students,” says Professor Davis.

The results from poor teaching and also limited math capabilities are more and more students enrolled in MTH 100 ñ a course that doesn’t even count toward a student’s GPA.

“I had to take MTH 100 and it screwed up my schedule because it didn’t count for anything. In the end, I didn’t learn much, and I had to make up a class,” says sophomore Steve Rooney.

Agrees Ouellette, “I haven’t taken a math class in 13 years. Adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing is useful, but everything else I can’t handle. I tried to test out of math at UMass and the test looked like Chinese to me. I completely freaked out and scored a 37.”

Professor Davis is working to make the math gen ed courses more interesting to students to help their understanding. One course is focused solely on quantitative reasoning in the environment. He believes that relating math to a more interesting topic to students will help them grasp the concepts. “We’ve created a course about the environment, because it’s something that students can understand,” says Professor Davis.

And he makes sure that the teachers are well prepared to deal with the possibility of anxious students. “I pick teachers for this very carefully. They’re gentle teachers who are very experienced. They don’t rush ahead to make sure everyone understands and feels okay,” says Professor Davis.

Another thing the math department is doing to help students is experimenting with online homework. “Students need to do their homework. Currently we’re experimenting with online homework. It allows students to do homework in non intimidating ways because it gives them feedback. They need to feel successful in small ways,” says Professor Davis.

And for students who are still suffering from math anxiety, there is the Math and Business Tutoring Center in the basement of Group 1. Run by Director Sokratis Koumas, it employs a slew of math and business students who are willing to help those struggling. “We have a very, very excellent tutoring center,” says Professor Davis.

“The students there not only have a deep understanding of math, but they know how to communicate with people one on one,” continued Professor Davis.

And although a lot of students are intimidated to approach the center at first, many have found the experience math tutors useful. “A lot of students use it and we should probably expand,” says Professor Davis.

THIS WEEK IN UMASSD HISTORY

TORCH ARCHIVES: April 17, 1984, This photo shows the completion of the construction to the observatory in 1984.

Accreditation member meets with students

Original article by; Donna Harris
Friday April 18, 1980

Last Tuesday, Kathelleen Bouchard, a member of the Accreditation Team, met with approximately fifteen SMU students to discuss such issues as the role of student organizations, student participation at SMU, and the all important issue of funding.

Citing a participation problem, Dave Shore (one of the 15 students in attendance) said, “these individuals are of a very selective group; they are representative of a very active minority at SMU.”

Of the students that attended the meeting, four were Student Senators, two were SAP co-directors, three were Torch representatives, two represented WUSM, and one spoke for RHC. The remaining three individuals were independent of organization affiliations.

The students agreed unanimously that if a student wanted to get involved all the opportunities were there. Bill McGowan, Senate President, stated that the rewards for getting involved are immense. He commented, “You meet a lot of people that you wouldn’t meet academically.”

Karen Dorshimer, co-director of SAP (Student advisor program), commented on commuters’ involvement with organizations, stating that “She didn’t feel alienated by not being on campus, but after all, it is up to the individual student.”

Dorshimer stated that of the 90 students in SAP, approximately 1/4 live off campus, with the remaining 3/4 listed as dorm residents. Just the opposite situation was noted by Torch Representative, Dan MacAlpine, who stated that 4/5 of the editorial positions are held by off-campus students. MacAlpine, Torch News Editor, added that “the potential for student involvement is immense. However, I feel students don’t take full advantage of this involvement. The fault lies with the students, not with the university.”

The group continued the meeting with a discussion of the biggest concerns of every student. The main problem that everyone agreed upon was the lack of funding. All other problems seemed to stem from this one.

The trend to get rid of upper level courses appeared to be a big problem that stemmed from the inadequate funding problem. MacAlpine stated that this was especially the case in upper level english courses.

Another major issue that was recognized by the group was the availability of both the professors and the administration. Jodi Baum, RHC President, emphasized the walk-in office hours of President Walker, enabling anyone to approach him, while Mac Alpine stressed the continuing availability of the professors. The group stated that the professors were also very open about talking to the students on a personal level, not just the strict career counseling.

Of all the topics discussed by the group, the only one that emphasized discontent was the health Services Program. Students voiced a unanimous disapproval with the way in which Health Services are conducted.

Karen Dorshimer summed up the group’s feelings by stating, “The Health Services are inadequate, and sometimes incompetent.” She addressed the situation of over-prescription of drugs by the SMU personnel.

Baum also added that the manner of certain personnel appeared to be condescending, especially in the case of one individual who was universally singled out by the group. Students stressed the need for re-evaluation of the Health Services and staffed weekend hours.

The meeting concluded with Bouchard adding her positive opinions emphasizing the positions of the student views presented at this discussion.

Trustees vote in favor of HECC Proposal despite student protest

Original article by Laura Stout

April 19, 1996

“If you do not reject these proposed restrictions” said Tyson Rose, “you will be denying the people of Massachusetts their right to quality education, denying the principles of diversity, and submitting control of our public University to the independent agency that is HECC.”

Rose. A senior Civil Engineering major and College Now student addressed the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees last their meeting last Thursday April 11. The Trustees had assembled at UMass Dartmouth’s residents’ cafeteria in order to vote on several issues, including the acceptance or rejection of the Higher Education Coordinating Council’s [HECC] proposal to raise admission standards at UMass. [See “Student’s say HECC no!” in last week’s issue of the Torch.]

If the HECC standards were implemented, an estimated 18.5% of the total incoming freshmen class would be denied access to the University. But on closer inspection, of those 18.5% of students declined by the University, 63.5% of incoming students of color would be denied equal access. The result: about one out of every five incoming freshmen could be rejected, while a disproportionate 2 out of every 3 incoming students of color could be affected.

In order to prevent this seeming contradiction of UMass Dartmouth’s admission policy, which states its intention to “pursue and graduate a student body that reflects the increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the college eligible population of the common-wealth,” a group of concerned students picketed the Board of Trustees, voicing their concerns.

Approximately sixty students, members of the Progressive Student Alliance (PSA), the Womens’ Center and United Brothers and Sisters (UBS), along with representatives from the Frederick Douglass Unity House joined forces to combat the proposed changes. Rallying outside the residents’ café with picket signs reading, “Support Diversity” and “HECC standards support elitism,” the students joined the Trustees’ meeting in order to address the Board.

After Chancellor Cressy gave a preliminary welcome address, newly instated UMass System President, William Bulger (on his first visit to UMass Dartmouth since his appointment) extended a few words of congratulations to the winning UMass basketball team. The board then accommodated the student picketers by moving the HECC vote to the top of the agenda. Student Trustee, Matthew Morrissey asked that Tyson Rose be recognized by the Board in order to speak on behalf of UMass students.

Rose clearly and concisely voiced the students’ concerns about the HECC proposal in his speech. Students’ concerns were trifold.

First, students were concerned with the impact that HECC’s proposal would have on the University’s ability to provide access and live up to its own mission statement to “Encour[age] and support [...] the educational aspirations of under represented student populations, thereby increasing the diversity of the campus community.” Rose claimed that the HECC proposal would hinder the University’s efforts to increase diversity by “locking out” students of color and students with low socio-economic backgrounds.

The second concern that rose addressed was that “The SAT has not proven to be an accurate determinate of success, but has proven time and time again to be culturally, economically, and gender biased.” He assured the board that “We are all for higher standards but we support standards that are a true determinate of the drive, motivation, and ability of a student.”

The third and final problem Rose addressed was the method by which these standards being administered. “Any changes that are made to admissions standards ust be arrived at through a democratic process involving students, faculty and administration, rather than being handed down by a committee which not accountable to those whom its decisions will affect most,” said Rose, who then presented to the Board a petition, signed by seven-hundred and fifty students who oppose the HECC changes.

The conclusion of Rose’s speech was met with cheers of approval by the assembled students. However, the cheers soon turned to jeers when the Board voted to approve the HECC standards despite student efforts. The final vote was 10 votes in favor of the HECC changes, 3 votes opposed, and two abstentions.

Though the outcome was disappointing to many students, they were not ready to give up. Senior history major and organizer of the PSA, Brian Sherry said, “We understood that it would be a hard fight going in,...the fact that we changed some peoples’ minds is a good sign.”

Sherry continued, “I think many of the Trustees aren’t informed as to what impact the standards would have on the student body.”

“The students took some solace in the fact that the Board agreed to review the HECC standards again next year and take another vote based on the affect the standards would have on this years’ freshmen.

Sherry gave voice to the larger implications of the student protest, “Regardless of the result, the coalition that was formed between the PSA, the Women’s Center, and UBS is unprecedented...we intend to continue the effort together. More than anything else,” said Sherry, “that was the biggest victory.”