Erin Newport

46 Articles

WesCeleb: Claire Dougherty ’13

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. 3 Comments

Sun Services Wins Custodial Contract

by Erin Newport, Consulting Editor. 4 Comments

ABM Contract Up for Grabs: Custodians Report Increased Workloads, Students React

by Erin Newport, Executive Editor. 4 Comments

Students Voice Concerns that Staff Were Left in the Dark

by Erin Newport, Editor-in-Chief. Leave a Comment

As patches of campus regained electricity on Tuesday evening, 100 students gathered in the Exley Science Center lobby to discuss resources for staff whose homes remain without power.

How I Ended Up in Handcuffs on the Brooklyn Bridge

by Erin Newport, Editor-in-Chief. 5 Comments

When I drove to New York on Saturday morning with Argus photographer Andy Ribner ’14, videographer Reid Hildebrand ’15, and fellow reporter Pei Xiong Liu ’12, I couldn’t have guessed that I would be spending Saturday night in jail.

Health Insurance Subsidies to be Implemented

by Erin Newport, Editor-in-Chief . Leave a Comment

…over 200 University employees received news over the summer that they will be granted annual subsidies to help alleviate the financial burden. The subsidy will go into effect Jan. 1 and will be awarded to all employees earning $50,000 or less annually.

Malter, Sumariwalla Take WSA Election

by Erin Newport, News Editor. 3 Comments

On Saturday, the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) announced that Zachary Malter ’13 won the WSA Presidential election for the 2011-2012 academic year with 659 votes.

WSA Candidates Debate Top Issues

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

Students crammed into the Usdan Café on Monday evening to listen to Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) presidential candidates Joe O’Donnell ’13, Melody Oliphant ’13 and Zachary Malter ’13 debate their qualifications for the position.

Concert Committee Bylaws Reevaluated After Matisyahu

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

On Thursday, Concert Committee Members Sky Stallbaumver ’12 and Mickey Capper ’13 led an open forum for students to discuss the process of booking concerts on campus.

Health Insurance Forum

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

The administration is currently discussing potential changes to the structure of health insurance premium payments with faculty and staff. Many University employees, particularly members of Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, voiced concerns after an Oct. 27 announcement that healthcare premiums would increase for employees.

A New Side to Wes Greek Life

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

On Thursday night, over 70 female students crowded into Shapiro 311, to express interest in a type of student organization with a very limited campus presence in recent years––a sorority.

Program to Allow Students to Visit New York City for Less

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

On April 2, 49 students will have the opportunity to participate in the Wesleyan Student Assembly’s (WSA) first ever Saturday in the City program.

Trial Halal Food Program Found Fiscally Unsustainable

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

At the start of the spring semester, Bon Appétit administrators discontinued the Usdan Marketplace Halal food program, which had been running on a trial basis since Oct. 25, citing the program’s financial impracticality. The announcement frustrated many Muslim students, who can no longer purchase Halal meat under the meal plan.

Student Wakes Up to Intruder in Room

by Erin Newport, News Editor. 3 Comments

At 6:30 a.m. on Friday morning, Enobong Etteh ’13 woke up suddenly to see an intruder standing in his bedroom in West College (Westco).

WESU Broadcasts Al Jazeera English

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

This spring, WESU is scheduled to broadcast Al Jazeera English (AJE), the English version of the Arabic-language news network headquartered in Doha, Qatar. The 60-minute broadcast has replaced the second hour of the Diane Rehm show.

Four Laptops Vanish from Exley

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

Four laptops were stolen from room 405 in Exley Science Center last Tuesday when the Dynamic Earth class left the room for 15 minutes to conduct a scientific experiment. According to Grace Smith ’14, whose laptop was taken, the classroom door was left unlocked.

Sexual Violence Report Released

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

On Monday, President Roth released a summary of the Sexual Violence Task Force report, compiled by a group of students, faculty members, administrators, and representatives from Public Safety and the Middletown Police Department.

Farmer to Speak at Graduation

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

President Michael Roth announced on Monday afternoon that Partners in Health co-founder Dr. Paul Farmer will deliver the commencement address at the 179th Commencement on May 22.

City Remembers Plant Explosion

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

Middletown Mayor Sebastian Guilano announced Monday that Kleen Energy and O&G industries will create a Commemorative Park to honor workers who were killed or injured in the Feb. 7 gas explosion at the Kleen Energy Plant in Middletown last year.

Freeze! City of Middletown Declares State of Emergency

by Pei Xiong Liu, Erin Newport, News Editors. Leave a Comment

It was in anticipation of Wednesday’s storm that Public Safety (PSafe) issued a weather and safety advisory on the Wesleyan campus and Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano declared a state of emergency in Middletown.

Search for a New Financial Aid Director

by Erin Newport, News Editor. 1 Comment

On Jan. 7, Director of Financial Aid Jennifer Lawton stepped down from her position to accept the position of Director of Financial Aid at Hampshire College, closer to her home in Northampton, Massachusetts. Sean Martin has been named Acting Director in the interim period.

Geoffrey Canada Leaves Audience Awed

by Erin Newport, News Editor. Leave a Comment

“Education in our country is the social service equivalent of Katrina,” proclaimed renowned education activist Geoffrey Canada to the assembled crowd in the Memorial Chapel on Friday evening. “Part of the challenge that we face in this nation is that we have to confront the fact that we have [created] systems that are designed essentially to fail kids.”

Health Care Protests: Administration Says Tiered System a Possibility

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 10 Comments

In the wake of recent United Student Labor Action Coalition (USLAC) organized protests, President Michael Roth said that next semester the administration will explore the possibility of decreasing health care insurance costs for University employees on the lower end of the salary scale.

Students Fight Staff Healthcare Cost Rise

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 20 Comments

Chants of “make the right choices, hear the worker’s voices!” erupted in the Usdan University Center at noon on Wednesday, as part of a rally organized by United Student Labor Action Coalition (USLAC).

Health Care Cost Rise Burdens Employees

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 6 Comments

On Oct. 27, the administration announced that effective Jan. 1, medical insurance premiums for faculty and staff are set to increase by 26.7 percent, and that after the University absorbs 12.2 percent of the increase, staff and faculty premiums will rise by 14.5 percent.

P-Plant Negotiations Conclude

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. Leave a Comment

After nearly four months of negotiations, University Administrators and members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 came to a contract agreement on Oct. 14, with the assistance of a federal mediator

Political “Bake Sale” Sparks Debate

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 13 Comments

At first glance, students walking past the Cardinal Conservatives’ bake sale in Usdan on Tuesday might not have thought there was anything unusual about their table, covered with rows of cookies and brownies.

WSA Endowment on the Rise: Review of Third Quarter Growth

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 1 Comment

According to Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) Endowment Committee Chair Andrew Huynh ‘11, the WSA’s endowment rose by 6.00 percent in the third quarter to a total balance of $223,588.

Phys. Plant Struggles in Union Negotiations

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. Leave a Comment

Recent negotiations between the union representing the 49 Physical Plant workers on campus and the University have been causing controversy. On Wednesday, a federal mediator facilitated contract negotiations between University administrators and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153, a branch of the AFL-CIO.

Directory Expanded

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. Leave a Comment

The online directory, a little-known and oft-forgotten feature of the University website that allows students to search for contact information of staff, faculty, and other students, got a facelift earlier this week when Information Technology Services (ITS) launched an enhanced version, available through the University homepage.

Broad Street Offers Book Rental Program

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 1 Comment

Starting this fall, students will be able to rent many of their textbooks from Broad Street Books, rather than purchase them. According to Bookstore Manager Nancy Healy, rental prices are usually 50 to 55 percent less than purchase prices.

News to Know: Headlines from 2009-2010

by Erin Newport, Assistant News Editor. 1 Comment

Stories From the Wesleyan Community and Around Middletown

Students Assaulted: Suspect Still Unknown

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer . Leave a Comment

n two separate but likely connected incidents on Wednesday evening, [two] students were confronted by a man who, after exiting a running car filled with at least three or four individuals, proceeded to shove the students as they were walking on campus.

Open-Cup On Table: WSA Works on Drinking Policy

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. 1 Comment

Last week, members of the WSA and administration began discussing the creation of an open container policy that would determine whether students who are over 21 are permitted to consume alcohol in public areas on campus.

Bukiet ’11 Teaches the Art of Charisma and Clubbing

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

On the first evening of Spring Break, Miles Bukiet ’11 was enjoying a birthday dinner with his friends and family in their Upper West Side apartment. Everyone was glad to see him back from school, and he would have loved to relax with them into the night.

Tortoise Rigor Mortis: Usdan Vendor’s Illegal Turtles Jump Hurdles to Survive

by Erin Newport, Staff Writers. 4 Comments

According to the University Events Calendar, Usdan University Center vendor Randy “The Plant Guy” Skolnick “brings all things green to Usdan.”

Green Fund Takes Root: Plans for Committee Laid Out

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

The WSA passed a set of by-laws on Sunday night that will govern the newly-created, student-financed Green Fund’s implementation when it goes into effect next fall.

In Wake of Criticism, Ride Modifies Service

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) has implemented the first phase of changes to The Ride service, including the permanent addition of an extra van on the three of the busiest nights of the week and stricter guidelines for adhering to scheduled routes.

Climate Action Plan: Delayed But on Deadline

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer . Leave a Comment

Due to complications encountered while calculating the University’s greenhouse gas emissions for the Action Plan component of the President’s Climate Commitment, the Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship (SAGES) has received a one-time extension for submitting the University’s Action Plan.

WSA, PSafe Discuss Reforming The Ride

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer . Leave a Comment

In response to student criticism of The Ride, the Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) recently began working with Public Safety (PSafe) to discuss redrawing the routes, providing contact information for transportation services to prevent conflict between students and drivers, and more clearly designating stops and schedules.

Along for The Ride: Students Express Concerns Over Transportation Services

by Erin Newport, Staff Writer. Leave a Comment

Due to a change to mandatory 10-digit dialing that was implemented across the state on Saturday, students were unable to reach The Ride’s phone line this weekend. The lack of service prompted some students to voice their concerns about The Ride’s role on campus and issues of student safety.

Staff Cuts Implemented Despite Voluntary Retirement Program

by Erin Newport, Contributing Writer. 2 Comments

Last spring, in response to the University’s budget crisis, the Administration implemented the Voluntary Retirement Program, a plan to encourage early retirement of senior staff by offering Voluntary Separation Packages. Eight employees accepted, while an undisclosed number lost their jobs as a result of involuntary layoffs.

Green Fee Considered

by Erin Newport, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

Wesleyan may soon join the ranks of a growing number of universities that have begun charging students an optional $15 per-semester “Green” fee to fund sustainability initiatives on campus.

Hard Times, Hard Choices: Budget Shortfall Limits Transfer Aid

by Erin Newport, Contributing Writer . Leave a Comment

In response to the administration’s identification of financial aid as a potential area for budget reductions to mitigate the University’s $5 million budget deficit for next year, the Wesleyan Student Assembly passed a resolution on Sunday night in opposition to any reduction or moderation of the financial aid budget.

Going Celibate: Sexual Health Expo Affected by Currie’s Departure

by Erin Newport, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

Students accustomed to Exley Science Center’s annual transformation into a one-day Sexual Health Exposition may be disappointed to learn that the upcoming February event will be taking place in a smaller, less centralized capacity.

WSA Endowment Dodges Disaster in ’09

by Erin Newport, Contributing Writer. Leave a Comment

The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA)’s student-run endowment has performed unusually well, surpassing the S&P 500, an indicator of the health of the stock market, by 25.5 percent since October 2008.

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