UMass Amherst SGA Meets Education Czar
Education secretary Peter Nessen met with officials from UMass Amherst’s Student Government Association, reports UMass Amherst’s Daily Collegian. Dan Saunders, speaker for the senate, and Jared Nokes recently came to Boston’s State House to discuss Governor Mitt Romney’s higher education proposal, many aspects of which favor UMass Amherst. Specifically, the campus would be spun off on its own, in a plan to make it Massachusetts’ flagship university, with a $26 million dollar increase in revenues, and its own board of trustees. Chancellor John Lombardi would become president. However, tuition would rise by $838 for in-state students and more than $3,000 for out-of-state students.
The SGA voted weeks ago 31-10 in support of Nessen. Earlier this week, a press conference was held where Romney accepted a petition in support of his higher education reform plan from the UMass Amherst Republicans Club. Nessen, in an apparent effort to reach out to students and bypass administrators, has been meeting with student journalists and student government officials for quite some time.
Dakota State Profits from PeopleSoft
Dakota State University has become the first university to utilize PeopleSoft software, a complex administrative software used for managing university business, as an educational tool. The software is being used by Dakota State to teach courses in business and information systems, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.
In return for offering these services, PeopleSoft has given Dakota State approximately $3 million worth of complete software applications. In addition to receiving free products, Dakota State is also profiting through its large server of PeopleSoft set up on its Madison, S.D. campus, which is used by other colleges. The college charges an undisclosed fee to other campuses wishing to offer courses utilizing Dakota State University’s software system.
UMass Student Dies
Katya Yerozolimsky, a 21-year-old UMass Amherst student, died in a fire on Saturday, April 5. Four others were evacuated from the building and taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital for counseling, along with another occupant who arrived at the location while the fire was in progress.
The fire occurred at approximately 7am on 98 Sand Hill Road. Investigators have determined that the fire was accidental. While investigators cannot say for certain, evidence suggests the fire may have been caused by improperly disposed of smoking materials.
Massachusetts Soldiers Casualties of War
The United States Army announced on Friday, April 4 that two soldiers with parents living in Massachusetts have died in service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The soldiers’ names are Specialist Matthew G. Boule and Chief Warrant Officer Four Erick A. Halvorsen.
For more information regarding these soldiers, or to read Senator John F. Kerry’s statement, visit www.senate.gov/~kerry.
Students to Rally for Financial Aid
On April 10, students will be participating in a protest against need-based financial aid being denied to students as a result of the Higher Education Act Drug Provision. The provision has caused over 100,000 students to be denied financial aid due to minor drug convictions, such as possession of a marijuana cigarette. The protest is entitled Day of Action on the Higher Education Act Drug Provision and is being organized by Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the United States Student Association. The protest is taking place Thursday, April 10 at 1pm EST at Room HC-5, United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. Students attending are asked to use the South Entrance of the Capitol Building.