VOLUME 85, ISSUE 2 www.theticker.org FEBRUARY 9, 2004 INSIDE Vertical Campus Scaffolding Cell Phones and AIM Causes Campus Disruption Among Computer Lab Complaints By JANA SCHIOWITZ The computer lab, located on the 6th floor of the library building has posted a list of rules that patrons are required to follow once in the lab. Most of these rules concern the usage of Internet messaging programs, mobile phones and the viewing of pornography, all of which are prohibited. However, in spite of these rules, which are visibly displayed on the walls and other high traffic areas of the lab, there still lies some confusion as to the do’s and don’ts of the Meet A Baruch Beauty lab. Who Skillfully Combines “The rules in the computer lab are devised from the students themselves,” said Arthur Talent With Brains 7 Since the snow season began, the entrances to the Vertical Campus have been surrounded by scaffolding intended to protect students from falling ice. (Photo/Aaron Siegel) Downing, acting Assistant Vice-President for Information Technology/CIO, professor and One Student Questions If By KARAH WOODWARD ing extension to the 25th St. entrance as well. chief librarian. The blue scaffolding bridge covered with “[We’re] not against chatting, but when the Student Gov’t Promises The return of another snowy winter has res- angularly placed wooden planks, makes a busy lab is crowded and there are students waiting on urrected the need for a scaffolding bridge plaza even more crowded as students dodge Really Get FulFilled 9 line, it’s not fair to them,” said Downing. “If around Baruch’s Vertical Campus for the sec- one another in addition to the metal grid. there isn’t a line, we let it go.” However, he ond year in a row. The record-breaking cold and “When it gets crowded all these metal things wet weather meant that during the last week of do not allow people to stand and you keep added that, “[We] do push the issue when there classes, the main entrance at 24th St. and bumping into each other,” said Yanni is a shortage of space and [we] are courteous Lexington Ave. had to be closed to protect Michailidis a senior majoring in Marketing. “I about it.” entrants from falling snow and ice. When the Baruch community returned late last month, finishing touches were being put on a scaffold- See PLANS, Page 5 See STUDENTS, Page 5 Colum McCann, Baruch’s Fifth Students Voice Harman Writer-in-Residence Opinions in BY MARCIA BARRAN want them [students] to read and write stories that take on issues of gender, race and class,” Scheduling Survey Accomplished journalist and novelist, Colum said McCann. “For example, I’d like to see McCann, is the Spring 2004 Sidney Harman white, male, working-class students trying to By JENNIFER BLECHER Writer-in-Residence. Utilizing his experience write a story that has nothing whatsoever to do in the literary world, McCann is currently teach with their upbringing – to break borders and In response to student complaints about Incubus Pumps Out A inga fiction-writing workshop. barriers. In many ways I would like the students scheduling problems, Assistant Vice President “[McCann’s] work is bold and beautiful and I in the class surprised at themselves when they of Admissions James Murphy initiated Baruch Healthy Dose of Power am sure that he will inspire his students,” said read their own words.” College’s first survey to find out what time stu- And Politics On A Crow Roslyn Bernstein, director of the Sidney For his work on Dancer, McCann received dents want to attend classes. Harman program and an English professor at the Irish Novel of the Year Award. His numer- The survey was posted on Blackboard from Left Of The Murder Baruch. ous other awards include the Writer of the Year June through late September and was filled out 15 Award from Esquire Magazine, the Rooney Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1965, McCann has by 4,643 undergraduate and 623 graduate stu- Prize for Irish Literature, a Pushcart Prize, the traveled to and lived in many countries includ- dents. “We found out some interesting things ing the United States and Japan. His first novel, Hennessy Award for Irish Writing, the Butler about our students,” Murphy said. Among them Song Dogs (1995) tells the story of seven days Literary Award, the inaugural Princess Grace was the fact that only 7.9 percent of Baruch stu- in the life of a young Irishman, who was aban- Memorial Award 2002, and the Grace Kelly dents do not work. Of those that do, more than doned by his mother at age 12. This was fol- Memorial Foundation Award. lowed by This Side of Brightness (1998), which In addition to his short stories and novels, 30 percent work more than 30 hours per week. chronicles the life of a sandhog who built tun- McCann has also been a contributor to the New Because part-time jobs rarely occupy the nels under New York City. In 2000, McCann Yorker, Atlantic Monthly, GQ, The Times of standard 9-5 time frame, students requested published Everything In This Country Must, London and The New York Times. He has also morning to early-afternoon hours most often. which is comprised of a novella and two sto- written for the Evening Press, the Herald, Graduate students continue to prefer to attend ries. His most recent book, Dancer, based on Connaught Telegraph in Ireland and for United school on evenings and weekends, while less the life of Russian dancer Rudolf Nureyev, was Press International in New York City. than a quarter of undergrads want evening published last year. McCann will read from his work in a free and classes and less than one percent want weekend “Some of this country’s great writers – includ- public event on March 16 at 5:45 p.m. in the classes. ing Paul Auster, John Edgar Wideman, Anita Engelman Recital Hall located in the Vertical “Traditionally Baruch was a school that was Desai and others – have held the position Campus, level B2. He will also be teaching a dominated by students who worked full-time [writer-in-residence] before me, so I’ve some Master Class in Fiction Writing to high school and wanted to go to class at night,” he said. rather spacious shoes to fill,” said McCann. “So students enrolled in the College Now Program. “These past few years we changed our At Baruch he will be visiting individual classes it’s an honor and a pleasure, not to mention a approach and now we have more traditional throughout the semester, including journalism challenge.” students.” This means more students trying to Bearcats Plunder John Jay Over the course of the semester, McCann’s students enrolled in Feature Article Writing, lit- schedule classes early so they can work after- students will read from a variety of works erature students in a Great Works session, and To Climb Back To Top Of wards. According to the survey, the majority of aimed at promoting a newfound awareness and Russian History students to speak about his undergrads want classes before 2 p.m. CUNYAC Standings 19 appreciation for other cultures. Students will novel, Dancer. read pieces by Edwidge Dandicat, Nathan The Sidney Harman Writer-in-Residence To take part-time jobs into consideration, Englander, Roddy Doyle, Ben Okri, Ken Saro- Visiting Professorship is funded by Baruch Murphy is also working on a revised scheduling Wiwa, Edward Abbey, Martin Amis, Michael alumnus Sidney Harman (’39). Each semester, grid which would shorten breaks to 20 minutes Features 7 Ondaatje, Luisa Valenzuela, Gabriel Garcia the program invites a writer, poet, journalist, and stagger class times to lessen the traffic that Op-Ed 9 Marquez, William Gass, Bharti Mukherjee and essayist or playwright to teach a course at plagues Baruch’s elevators. The new grid Toni Morrison. Students will also be required to Baruch. The program “is now in its sixth year should be finalized by next week. He hopes that Arts 15 write two short stories of their own, on topics of and we are thriving,” said Bernstein. “Writing these two projects will shorten the amount of Sports BACK their choice. workshops are fully enrolled, readings are “I hope to break down some of the more Next Issue: February 23, 2004 tedious stereotypes about writing and writers. I See WRITER, Page 5 See NEW, Page 5 2 THE TICKER NEWS FEBRUARY 9, 2004 THE TICKER NEWS FEBRUARY 9, 2004 3 Wide Array of Foods New Card Swiping Policy Creates Sampled at “Kosher Fest” Slowdown at Student Service Offices By AARON SIEGEL the purpose for the requests. BY JENNIE GETZLER AND tributed at the fest. Some of the questions The survey is used to analyze when the office included were: “Which hot meal was your JANA SCHIOWITZ In a recent effort to track the usage of student favorite,” “Would you prefer the cafeteria to is busy, who is using it and what services are services, S.E.E.K. and the Office of Student requested at a certain time. On February 5, many students gathered for provide both meat and dairy” and “Which four Life have been followed the CDC, SACC “Student satisfaction is as important as stu- “Kosher Fest” sponsored by Hillel in conjunc- items would you like to see sold in our cafete- Center and Academic Advisement in installing tion with Metropolitan Food Service. The ria.” dent services are constantly being evaluated,” event took place in the multipurpose room and Students expressed the importance of holding student ID card readers to track which students said Carl Aylman, director of Student Life.