Facing the crisis

The economic recession has left many colleges and universities reeling. Forced to contend with a steep drop in funds and lowered returns on investments, administrators across the country have been searching for ways to cut costs without detracting from students’ experiences.

Girl Talk

Girl Talk, the stage name of mash-up artist Gregg Gillis, will perform at the Bacon Field House this Saturday, in a combined campus effort to raise money for financial aid. The proceeds for the event, for which tickets are $5 apiece, will be quadrupled, raising approximately $30,000 toward financial aid.

Trustees, Roth suggest proposals to balance budget

After meeting with the Board of Trustees, President Michael Roth sent a campus-wide community update e-mail on Nov. 25, laying out the University’s course of action in the difficult financial climate.

Mo(u)rning in America

If you’ve gotten bored with the main attraction in our economic “crisis” (the apparent collapse and resurrection of our financial institutions), we have the apparent collapse of our auto-making industry.

Support WESU

Since 1939, WESU has been serving the Wesleyan community and the greater central Connecticut region with a diverse schedule of music and public affairs programming. Now, on the eve of our 70th birthday, we are asking for your support during our fourth annual holiday pledge drive, which started on Dec. 1 and will last until Dec. 14.

COCo hopes to open old WSA offices to as many as 30 student organizations

Beginning next semester, the Community Outreach Committee (COCo) of the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) will encourage more student groups to use space in the old WSA building, located at 190 High St. Additionally, COCo will perform maintenance on the building over winter break.

Univ. STD testing should be FREE

Why do we charge money for STD testing?

Hasson ’98 connects rich and poor through internet

When Amir Hasson ’98 graduated from Wesleyan, he could not have predicted where his college education would take him. Following his intuitions and using the problem-solving tools he had acquired, his path led him to jumpstart his own company, United Villages, which seeks to empower people in rural areas of the world by delivering information and services.

Univ. community wary of proposed class size increase

When the University’s endowment rapidly declined during the economic recession of the 1970s, the administration’s solution to raising revenue was simple: increase the size of the student body.

SAMSARA!

The intoxicating, harmonious high-pitched tones and energetic yet subtle movements of traditional Hindi music and dance filled Crowell Concert Hall on Friday, Nov. 21 during Samsara, the University’s annual South Asian cultural showcase.

Accomplished conductor readies himself for sabbatical

As the director of multiple orchestras and ensembles on the East Coast, Wesleyan Conductor Angel Gil-Ordoñez is no stranger to juggling responsibilities. After all, Gil-Ordonez, who flies between jobs in Washington D.C. and Hartford every week, is a Spanish Knight—an honor bestowed upon him in October of 2006.

Do it in the Dark calls out energy use at senior houses

One glimpse at the Do It In The Dark competition website, with its difficult-to-read black writing and dark gray background, might put off the average Wesleyan student.

Fink ’08.5 delights Usdan with ‘kinetic photography’ display

For the past semester, Alexander Fink’s photos have covered the walls near the information desk, captivating onlookers with their innovative use of motion and scenery.

Eisner ’77 breaks glass ceiling at Argus, The Forward

Jane Eisner ’77 is a woman of firsts. This past June, she was named the first female editor of The Forward, one of the country’s most prominent independent Jewish newspapers. Eisner was also the first female editor-in-chief of The Argus.

Atom bomb dance-lecture class returns in spring

“Through dance, we present archaic landscapes, eons older than the world we occupy, in which we, humans, can rediscover our essential selves.” So reads the entrance page to the website of Eiko and Koma Otake, a dance partnership that has performed across the globe and is known for pushing the limits of their bodies by posing in snow and freezing water.

Movie Review - Twilight

Director Catherine Hardwicke (“Thirteen”) offers up a fairly loyal adaptation of the much-beloved “Twilight” series’ first book, which chronicles the epic romance between a shy high school girl and her vampire beau.

“Songs for a New World” visually minimalist, emotionally evocative

I feel really, truly sorry for anyone who missed Second Stage’s production of “Songs for a New World,” which played Nov. 20-22 in WestCo Café. Directed and choreographed by Elizabeth Trammell ’10, with music direction by Stephanie Ross ’09, the show was an incredible display of creativity, talent and heart.

Men's hockey makes history with Amherst shut-out

Two weeks ago, the men’s hockey team accomplished something they hadn’t in six years: they beat Amherst. It was a hard fought battle, one that culminated in an early third period goal by stud defensemen and captain Dallas Bossort ’09.

Cards dominate St. Joseph, improve record to 4-1

The women’s basketball team continued its hot start to the season with a blowout 94-41 win against St. Joseph (Conn.) on Tuesday, Dec. 2. With the win, Wes improved its record to 4-1.

Wesleyan ranked 13th most expensive in America

Campusgrotto.com, a website billing itself as “the inside source at college,” has ranked Wesleyan University as the 13th most expensive school in America in terms of total cost. When considering tuition alone, the University drops to the rank of 19th most expensive.

Community Advisors to replace RAs in jr. housing

Beginning next fall, Residential Life (ResLife) will replace the five resident advisors (RAs) of High and Low Rise with four community advisors (CAs), placing two CAs in each residential area.

Despite recession, ED apps see dramatic increase

According to the Office of Admission, the number of Early Decision (ED) I applications increased by 36 percent since 2007. ED numbers are up at many schools across the country, despite the current economic climate--but the University’s spike is one of the highest.

Dear Wesleyan Transportation

There is NO reason why the RIDE driver should not have a hands-free headset.

WestCo Café policies rethought after recent closings

Residential Life (ResLife) has decided to allow WestCo Café to remain open for the remainder of the year despite recent fire safety and alcohol violations.

Activist groups aim for relevance in an Obama world

With the election over, activist groups on campus are transitioning from the pre-election political fervor—with its flurry of voter registration drives, out of state canvassing trips and phone banks—to new endeavors.

Movie Review - “Rachel Getting Married"

When the credits finished, it was enough; I could leave the beautiful and difficult people in the movie to their unresolved lives and be satisfied.

Faculty feel left out of salary freeze debate

Among the many proposals that the Roth administration is considering to deal with the endowment’s 20 percent plunge, a one year salary freeze for faculty, staff and librarians has proved to be a particularly controversial one.

Impressive “Threepenny Opera” bursts through fourth wall

In this visually and aurally stunning production, Professor Nascimiento doesn’t just brush against the fourth wall—she bursts through it flamboyantly and triumphantly (think Berlin circa 1989, minus David Hasselhoff).

Role of Roth’s new hire unclear

Charles Salas sits at President Michael Roth’s conference table, which is cluttered with old internal University documents and past issues of the Argus. The new Director of Strategic Initiatives, as of Dec. 1, is reading up on the University’s history as much as he can while his new office in South College is being prepared.

Online evaluation system met with mixed feelings

As students get ready to grade their professors this year, the University hopes that the new online format of teaching evaluations will improve the convenience of the system and augment the quality of responses.

Cards take down Fisher for first win of '08-'09 season

Men’s Basketball put up a strong game at home against Fisher College this Wednesday, coming away with a 79-71 win.

Sports Short: Men’s Swimming Sinks Trinity and Bates

The men’s swimming team opened its season with a pair of victories over NESCAC rivals Trinity, 194-106, and Bates, 198-96, on Sat., Nov. 22

Sports Short: Women’s Swimming Also Sinks Trinity and Bates

Like the men, the women’s swimming team earned a pair of season-opening victories over Trinity and Bates on Nov. 22.

Sports Short: Bloom ’10 Goes 9-0 in Pair of Tournaments

The wrestling team opened its season with a fifth-place finish, out of 12 teams, in the Roger Williams Invitational Sat., Nov. 15.

Sports Short: Neville ’10, Wheatley ’09 run at NCAAs

Ravenna Neville ’10 and Liz Wheatley ’09 placed 52nd and 101st of 279 runners, respectively, in the NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind on Nov. 22.

33 Wes Athletes Named to NESCAC All-Academic Squad

On Nov. 21, the NESCAC announced its 2008 Fall All-Academic selections—374 NESCAC student-athletes earned All-Academic recognition.