NEW MOVE-IN PROCEDURES SHORTEN LINES, HEADACHES
By Laura Hutton, News Co-Editor
For returning students, the beginning of freshman move in day is remembered for its long lines. This year, however, with the help of the new longer loop road, a smaller freshman class, and many volunteers, the average wait was only 30 minutes. In previous years, students had to wait in their cars for over an hour before moving in.
While the number of freshman students moving in this year decreased, the amount of help provided for them increased.
“We had more upper-class students helping to move the new students into the residence halls,” Liz Towle, Associate Dean of Student Affairs states. “So, the entire process just moved more quickly because there were more students helping to unload cars.”
The new residents picked up their keys in Gill Gym and moved into their residence halls before checking in at Ensor Lounge, a process that used to be done entirely in Ensor before move in began.
CAMPUS SAFETY BIKE PATROL GAINS NEW MEMBERS
By Laura Hutton, News Co-Editor
The bike patrol has been a part of McDaniel College campus safety since 1995. In recent years, their numbers decreased and only 2 patrolled in the spring. This year, 5 more officers joined.
The trainees took 32 hours of classes to learn how to handle the bike in various situations. “At first, I was skeptical,” reflects Mike Webster, Department of Campus Safety Director, “but it’s a very intense and rigorous course.”
The bikers were taught how to ride up and down stairs, between cars without damaging them, and to manage a bike in an assault situation. Conveniently, bike and foot patrol are considered the same. So, in the case of rainy or snowy weather, the officers can revert back to foot duty.
Webster’s goal of “putting officers in closer contact with the students” is easily accomplished since the bike patrol covers more ground than officers on foot and has better access to the campus than those driving.
ROBBINS, NEW DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE
By Laura Hutton, News Co-Editor
As of July 2, 2007, McDaniel College has a new Residence Life Director, Michael Robbins. Before coming to the Hill, Robbins oversaw a ten story tower at the College of New Jersey for three years before being promoted to area director of first year students.
Robbins spent four years in that position and managed 1,200 beds. He was looking for a college where he would be able to interact with a similar number of students. McDaniel offered that opportunity.
After meeting the staff and seeing the campus, McDaniel “seemed like a good fit,” Robbins recalls.
At McDaniel, Robbins wants to work on improving the distribution of information, starting with the website and then moving to room lottery. He wants “processes to be more transparent with the students.”
NEW CIRRICULUM INTRODUCED FOR INCOMING CLASS
By Laura Hutton, News Co-Editor
A new curriculum has been developed and is in effect starting with this year’s freshman class. According to Dr. Mary Bendel-Simso, associate professor of English, three important changes have been made to the old curriculum.
They include: the inter sophomore experience, junior year writing, and the option of pass or fail gyms.
The inter sophomore experience will be phased in. It offers a variety of classes, for example: Jurassic Park, the possible and the impossible. Junior year writing will replace English 1102. Its job is to acquaint students with writing in their field. By junior year, most students have settled on a major. So, the goal of this new course is to prepare students for the writing their senior seminar and after college.
The pass or fail gym option is at the discretion of the student unless their major requires gym credits.
Bendel-Simso adds that the students will be more likely to notice requirements that have been increased. Foreign language, now called a second language, went up from 2 to 3 semesters and ASL is now an option.
A quantitative math comparison class has been added. Students will no longer be able to graduate and avoid taking math altogether. A lab science has also been added. It will require 14 hours of total lab time for a semester.
“Part of the problem in attempting to quantify the new curriculum is that it allows many courses to double count,” Bendel-Simso adds, but, “students can completely test out of some requirements” and will have many alternative options including psychology classes that will fill the new lab science requirement.
GILL CENTER TURNS ON THE JUICE IN NEW FOOD COURT
By Katelynn McGinley
Fitness on the Hill has never looked as stylish as it does now as the final touches are being added to the construction of the Gill Fitness Center. In addition to the freshly built gym that opened this past spring, coming soon will be a healthy alternative to the pub and GLAR – in the form of a new food court, to be located directly by the gym in
Gill Center.
“I think it will offer a nice opportunity for students…after a workout, it’s a nice place to relax and hang out,” says John Moreau, a Gill staff member. Typical fare at the Gill food court would include health conscious choices like veggie wraps, smoothies, and a fruit juice bar.
“I’d definitely check it out,” says sophomore Kathryn Harlow. “It would be nice if we could use our fourth meal options at the pub. That would be an extra incentive to go.”
So would this new food court be just for gym regulars? Not necessarily. As sophomore Zoe Ubaldo explains, “I’m a vegetarian, and sometimes you do run out of options for things to eat. Anything would be a nice break from the mozzarella sticks they serve in the pub.” Keep your eyes on the Free Press for more details on the Gill food court as we get them.
–FP