Alison Cies

38 Articles

Roth on Presidency: Plans for the Year Ahead

by Alison Cies, Rob Wohl, Executive Editors. 5 Comments

If President Michael Roth were a student, he would be graduating in the coming weeks after coming to Wesleyan in 2007. Instead, he has signed a seven-year contract with the University.

Three Years In, Roth Looks Back

by Jae Aron, Alison Cies, Editors-in-Chief. 9 Comments

Critically Acclaimed Writer Amy Bloom ’75 To Join Wesleyan Faculty

by Alison Cies, Editor-in-Chief. 3 Comments

Critically acclaimed writer Amy Bloom ’75 has been appointed as the Kim-Frank Family University Writer in Residence.

The Numbers Are In: Class of 2014 Even More Selective

by Alison Cies, Editor-in-Chief. 21 Comments

Admission for the Class of 2014 was the most selective it has been in the University’s history.

Univ. Begins Vaccinating Students Against H1N1

by Alison Cies, Editor-in-Chief. Leave a Comment

The University announced last week that it had received approval from the Connecticut Department of Public Health to extend the H1N1 vaccine to high-risk students 17-24 years old.

The Swine of the Times: University Remains Cautious as H1N1 Challenge Mounts

by Alison Cies, Editor-in-Chief. 2 Comments

Despite efforts to contain the spread of the H1N1 virus at colleges and universities nationwide, symptoms of the virus have begun to make the rounds on campus.

Student Fatally Shot Inside Broad Street Books

by Suzanna Hirsch, Alison Cies, Managing Editor and News Editor. 7 Comments

The campus community was saddened to hear of Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a Wesleyan student in Red and Black Café, located in Broad Street Books, the University’s campus bookstore.

Suspect Identified in University Shooting

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 13 Comments

The campus community is mourning the loss of Johanna Justin-Jinich ’10, who was fatally shot around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in Red and Black Café, located on the corner of William Street and Broad Street.

Alleged Gunman Threatens Wesleyan, Jewish Students

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 5 Comments

The campus community has taken further precautions today after the Middletown Police Department (MPD) notified the campus that Stephen Morgan, the alleged gunman in Wednesday’s fatal shooting of Johanna Justin-Jinich ’10, may be targeting Wesleyan, as well as its Jewish community.

Gunman Apprehended in Murder of Justin-Jinich ’10

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 9 Comments

On Thursday night, Stephen Morgan, the alleged gunman in Wednesday’s fatal shooting of Johanna Justin-Jinich ’10, turned himself in to authorities.

Health Dept. Targets Local “Food Not Bombs”

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 1 Comment

On March 5, Jean Pockrus ’08 was checking her e-mail account when she discovered an unexpected notice—a cease and desist order issued by the City of Middletown Health Department to Middletown’s chapter of Food Not Bombs.

Tuition Hike Down to 3.8%

by Alison Cies, News Editor. Leave a Comment

Although the University’s endowment now sits around $488 million, next year’s tuition increase will be substantially lower than originally proposed.

Early Retirement: Staff offered Incentives to Leave

by Alison Cies, News Editor. Leave a Comment

As Wesleyan’s endowment continues to decline and its budget deficit worsens, the administration is devising new strategies to strengthen its finances.

Financial Woes: Annual Deficit Rises to $19 Million

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 2 Comments

In December, President Roth announced plans for significant across-the-board budget cuts to mitigate the University’s $15.5 million budget shortfall.

Ceasefire: Fire Safety Inspections Halted for Semester

by Alison Cies, News Editor. 1 Comment

For three years, the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) and University administrators have been negotiating over Fire Safety policies regarding campus-wide inspections of student housing

Univ. community wary of proposed class size increase

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. 2 Comments

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.

Wall Street cuts campus recruiting

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

Universities across the country are facing budget cuts, hiring freezes, and now, significant declines in on-campus job recruiting by Wall Street firms, as the effects of the financial crisis continue to ripple through the economy.

Students invest Univ. funds with success

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

With the ongoing financial crisis, even the most experienced investors are uncertain about the economy’s future. For several students, however, a little bit of research and time goes a long way—in the month of October, the student-run Wesleyan Investment Group (WIG) made returns of nearly 50 percent on its stocks and options, drastically outpacing the national market.

University’s first quarter proves dismal

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

With the start of the second quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, the University has only now begun to grasp the full impact of the economy’s recent downturn. The endowment declined by 3.9 percent for FY 2008—which spanned from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008—and the performance of the first quarter of FY 2009, which ended Sept. 30, was anything but positive.

Wachovia freeze limits Univ. funds

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. 1 Comment

Last week, 900 colleges and 100 private schools were closed off from the nearly nn9.3 billion that Wachovia Bank was holding for them in the Commonfund Short Term Fund, a short-term investment fund. Wesleyan University, one of the 900 colleges affected by Wachovia’s move, had nn20 million in the fund at the time of this decision. Within the past two weeks, the University has been able to take nn8 million out of the fund; however, nn12 million remains frozen.

Economy woes worry Trustees

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) officially released a report this past Sunday from the September 2008 Board of Trustees retreat. While the primary function of these retreats is to provide an opportunity for Board members and faculty/student representatives to discuss current priorities and long-term goals for the University, the board spent considerable time reviewing the University’s current financial situation.

Endowment shrinks by 3.9 percent

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

In early October of last year, President Michael Roth spoke to the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) about his plans for the future of the University—most notably, his goal of doubling the endowment within five to eight years.

Costs constrict campus green efforts

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. Leave a Comment

While most students base their college decisions on academic and social factors, 63 percent of students polled by The Princeton Review’s most recent “College Hopes and Worries Survey” cited environmental friendliness as criteria for applying to college.

Found in translation

by Alison Cies, Features Editor. 1 Comment

While most new students worry about getting along with roommates or devising course schedules, approximately 84 international students last weekend faced anxieties ranging from getting immunization shots to making sure the University had received their immigration papers.

WesFest: Meet the prefrosh

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. Leave a Comment

Before accepted students decide whether to attend, they have the opportunity to experience campus life firsthand during the University’s Wesfest celebration. The University’s tradition of hosting prefrosh for three days sets it apart from other schools, which commonly have one-day events for their accepted students.

War at home: Students face impact of Iraq

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. 1 Comment

For many students, the Iraq War is a distant tragedy. For others, the war has hit close to home, with friends and family serving overseas. On a campus where the vast majority of students are personally disconnected from the war, those who have been affected by it harbor conflicting views of patriotism, duty, and sacrifice.

Questioning the Honor Code’s value in the wake of websites

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. Leave a Comment

Since 2001, the University has invested $3,200 per year to subscribe to a plagiarism detection online program called Turnitin.com. Started almost 11 years ago, Turnitin now supports 6,000 institutions of higher learning across the United States, according to Turnitin support staff.

Facebook: Networking with professors yields mixed results

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. 1 Comment

While you may not see professors shopping in Weshop or studying in Olin, they are now popping up in a different student-oriented environment. Facebook’s “Wesleyan Faculty” network currently boasts 16 members.

Lack of minors: a major issue?

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. Leave a Comment

According to an ongoing Wesleying poll, as of Feb. 21, 85 percent of 255 students wish the University offered the option to minor. As major declaration descends upon the Class of 2010, students of all years are voicing concern over the University’s lack of minors.

Student votes may shift Democratic primary results

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. Leave a Comment

When Saul Carlin ’09, Campus Organizer of Democracy Matters, began registering students to vote in Connecticut’s Feb. 5 primary, he was skeptical about the outcome. “We began as a coalition of student groups with two goals in mind: to educate the campus and give its students the opportunity to register and vote,” Carlin said.

Jewish identity, Israeli history examined during Birthright, while some question trip’s agenda

by Alison Cies, Assistant Features Editor. Leave a Comment

When Alex Gold ’10 traveled to Israel this winter break, he never expected to feel any connection with an unknown country halfway across the world.

Faculty band plays Irish tunes

by Alison Cies, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

When Thomas Morgan, Professor of Physics, went on sabbatical to Dublin, Ireland 10 years ago, he found himself intrigued by more than just his intellectual pursuits. During his two years teaching at Queens University in Belfast, Morgan developed an interest in Irish music.

WIS at Wes: Pushing for equality in the sciences

by Alison Cies, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

From 2001 to 2006, the University hired 17 new professors in the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division. None of them were women. “We were doing a great job of hiring women before, but people took their eyes off of the problem,” said Ishita Mukerji, professor and chair of molecular biology and biochemistry (MB&B). “It was just another incident of unconscious bias.”

Alumni network provides groups with guest speakers

by Alison Cies, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

When members of Ujamaa wanted to host an event focusing on the takeover of Fisk Hall in the late 1960’s, they used the Alumni and Parents Speakers Network (APSN) to get Evans Jacobs ’73 to speak on his role in the takeover.

New chaplain Burnett sheds light on religion at Wesleyan

by Alison Cies, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

After her car stalled on I-91 and her replacement rental was rear-ended by a Wesleyan freshman on High Street later that day, some would guess that Reverend Joan Cooper Burnett would be overwhelmed by her bad luck. Instead, she remained optimistic, refusing to let the incident put a damper on her day.

Brown: A shot well worth taking

by Alison Cies, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

As the lights dim, a single body walks on stage. Within seconds, a photograph dances its way across the projected backdrop; immediately light and sound bring the figure to life.

Union rep. accuses Dean of neglecting sushi issue, contract

by Alison Cies, Ezra Silk, Contributing Writer and News Editor. 1 Comment

As of late, the issues surrounding the sushi employees at the new Usdan University Center have been largely regarded as a result of Bon Appétit’s policy practices. But according to Wesleyan Dining Union Representative Len Nalencz, that may not be the case. Nalencz is now accusing the Wesleyan administration, namely University Center Director Rick Culliton, of shirking responsibility in investigating the Advanced Fresh Concepts’ (AFC) sushi franchise.

“Helicopter parents” buzz online

by Alison Cies, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

In an e-mail to the Wesleyan Parent Listserv, one mother complained about her son’s adjustment to college, and then added that his girlfriend back home was going to make the situation even harder. In true listserv fashion, another parent added her two cents.

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