The Becker Blog

While many schools are trying to advance into the 21st century, others are, … well, … I really don’t know how to describe this. Words fail me. I’m not surprized though. Clearly, a university that claims to cherish the undergraduate experience can’t go around making their lives easier…

I think it would be fun to see the university handle having EVERY student pay their fees with loonies – all at the same time – with the press watching….. Or maybe, they could go to a school that actually cares about them.

From the Gautlet: http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/story/12288

U of C to disallow payments via credit
Sara Hanson
Gauntlet News

March 20, 2008

Earlier this week, a notice was posted on the University of Calgary’s enrollment services webpage notifying students of the change; however, the university has yet to publicly announce the reasons behind the decision.

In 2004, the nearly $1 million in credit card processing fees was raised as an issue of concern, as the university noted the money could be better spent on other services for students. At the time, however, the Students’ Union stressed that credit card payment was a necessity for those students who need extra time to earn enough money to cover their fees.

SU president Julie Bogle stated that while the SU was notified of the decision two weeks ago, they were not adequately consulted in the process.

“It is really unfortunate that after the SU has worked in collaboration with the university successfully on so many other projects that there was not any appropriate consolation on a policy of this magnitude,” said Bogle. “We really would have like to see something like a one year time line which would have allowed students to prepare and make the appropriate financial commendations.”

The policy change comes into effect Jul. 1, 2008.

University administration could not be reached for comment before press time.

I just love this:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8342 

This is from the University of British Columbia 

 To effectively resist the commercialization of public space and the corporatization and militarization of education, students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) created a political group in the summer of 2007 called Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). SDS-UBC consists of students who are unafraid to use direct-action to enact radical social change.  We actively resist the corporate and military funding of our education, and we believe that students should have a meaningful role in the decision-making processes at the university.

Some concrete issues that came out of Resisting the University which SDS-UBC hopes to realize:

• Banning military recruitment at UBC.

• Banning military funding for the Arts and Sciences (eg from the Security and Defence Forum of the Canadian military).

• Stopping the rise of sessional teachers by changing the university’s hiring policies.

• Changing the tenure process so that it breeds less fear, conservatism and complacency.

• Stopping commercial development on campus: affordable student, staff and faculty housing only!

• Equalizing the allocation of funds so that departments that don’t exist to generate a profit secure adequate funding for quality research and permanent staff.

• Pressuring the provincial government to better fund post-secondary education.

• No more Tuition Fees! Zero student debt and zero fees to ensure the university is accessible to all.

• Transforming UBC’s governance structures into more transparent, representative and accountable bodies by empowering the Senate; jettisoning appointed seats; allowing students to easily place an item on the Board of Governors agenda; and eliminating corporate presence on the Board.

• An official acknowledgement that UBC is built on stolen land and that the Coast Salish, and the Musqueam people in particular, have a right to it.

• Coalition building among sessionals, faculty, and other activists organizations to realize these goals.

does NOT necessarily cause violence, according to a new study: Grand Theft Childhood, by Lawrence Kutner & Cheryl B. Olson (more here: http://www.gamecouch.com/2008/02/interview-dr-cheryl-olson-co-author-of-grand-theft-childhood/)

In 2007, results from a breakthrough Harvard video game study found that children used video games to manage their feelings, the stereotype of the socially stunted gamer was a myth, and there was no obvious connection between violent games and youth crime.

Well, cool.

It’s so nice to see real evidence for something many of us who are researching games already thought was true.

OpenEducation.net did an in depth review of the topic of violent video games that included an interview with one of the authors of the book. They broke the topic out into three posts:

1. http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/16/shoot-em-up-video-games-the-cause-of-greater-anti-social-behaviors-in-teens/
2. http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/17/author-reveals-the-surprising-truth-about-violent-video-games/
3. http://www.openeducation.net/2008/03/18/experts-state-do-not-banish-instead-manage-violent-video-game-play/

 So much for the importance of team work in this modern world…..

From TheStar.com: ”

Study groups may be a virtual trademark of the Ivory Tower – but a virtual study group has been slammed as cheating by Ryerson University.

First-year student Chris Avenir is fighting charges of academic misconduct for helping run an online chemistry study group via Facebook last term, where 146 classmates swapped tips on homework questions that counted for 10 per cent of their mark.

The computer engineering student has been charged with one count of academic misconduct for helping run the group – called Dungeons/Mastering Chemistry Solutions after the popular Ryerson basement study room engineering students dub The Dungeon – and another 146 counts, one for each classmate who used the site.”

So, of course, I checked the university site to see what kind of pixy-dust they would try to throw on me if I were a prospective student. Well, I didn’t find any (granted, I didn’t look very hard, but most places who want to recruit students spend at least some time telling you how wonderful they are. Amongst other things, Ryerson says this: “If you’re looking for quality, career-ready learning – that combines academic rigour with relevant practical experience – you’ve come to the right place.”

Perhaps they meant to say “academic rigor mortis”?