Where You AM Rain Read It First 59/47 THE TUFTS DAILY Est. 1980 VOLUME LXVIV, NUMBER 49 FRiday, APRIL 10, 2015 TUFTSDAILY.COM New SIS update After months of delay, Jumbo statue installed on campus improves registration by Roy Yang icy. Now that the project [has] Assistant News Editor ended, we continue to support and improve the system.” Tufts’ Student Information Benjamin Thai, a biology and System (SIS) was recently updat- community health major, said he ed for the Fall 2015 semester is supportive of the changes. He registration period, which is said the updated search function currently underway, in order to provides a “bird’s eye view of the improve how students search for various course requirements.” classes. “I think this new system is very “We do an annual survey with intuitive and comprehensive, as satisfaction with SIS, and class you can actually visually com- search was hands down the most pare classes with the new course confusing and least user-friendly descriptions and sections’ lay- function that both faculty doing out,” Thai, a junior, explained. advising and students registering “It’s very easy for me to see how for classes identified,” Snell said. certain classes are fulfilled, and Students can now search for the interface itself is user-friend- key words, filter classes based ly; … it’s so much easier to scroll on preferred days of the week through and read all the classes and time of day and find class- I may want to take. This [new es according to the distribution update] definitely changes the requirements, Snell said. selectability of the classes I want NICHOLAS PFOSI / THE TUFTS DAILY According to Snell, the update to take as, now, I don’t have to The new Jumbo statue arrived on campus on Wednesday, and was installed yesterday morning. An also includes lists of course sub- constantly go back and check unveiling ceremony will take place on April 17. jects and course numbers rele- everything.” vant to particular career paths, in Tufts is currently develop- addition to visual improvements. ing another SIS update for next “Our goal is always to make semester, Snell said. According Kids' Day to provide activities, products seamless, [so] that you to Snell, the next update, Phase don’t have to understand how 2, will provide further improve- we design something to be able ments to the class search func- to use it,” Snell said. “We tried tion by integrating a new calen- performances for local children to design something that is sim- dar view with the shopping cart. by Meagan Adler Day, according to Kronish. them to show our apprecia- ple enough to use, but provides “In observing the incoming Assistant News Editor The kids are organized into tion,” Rathman said. “It really enough information without the freshmen, the first thing I noticed groups of 10 and led by two brings our campus together.” need to go through some sort of every person do was to make a The Leonard Carmichael student volunteers from Tufts, During the event, the groups training to really utilize it all.” visual calendar, because people Society (LCS) will be host- he added. Kronish also said of kids will have four differ- The class search function like the visual of a calendar when ing Kids’ Day for children in that they are expecting more ent rotations, he explained. At update comes after Tufts’ imple- trying to register,” Snell said. the Medford, Somerville and kids this year than last year, the end of the day, all of the mentation of the SIS Project from Snell said she is also attempt- Chinatown communities tomor- when fewer than 250 attended. groups will go to the Gantcher 2011 to 2014, according to Senior ing to visually connect informa- row, April 11. The event will be Many different groups on Center, where there will be a Communications Specialist at tion from the shopping cart and for kindergartners through third campus come together for performance and a carnival Tufts Technology Services (TTS) the enrolled classes tab with col- graders. this event, Kronish said. The for the kids. Christine Fitzgerald. In an email or-coding, for example, mak- Kids’ Day has been an annu- Department of Chemistry will The three co-coordinators to the Daily, Fitzgerald said that ing the shopping cart blue and al event for 52 years, accord- put on a show in Barnum Hall, worked with LCS to plan this the SIS Project was an initiative the enrolled courses purple so ing to Co-Coordinator Adam and the student children’s the- year’s Kids’ Day that replaced the old SIS with that students know when they Kronish, a senior. This year’s ater troupe Traveling Treasure “It’s been something that I a new system — initially called have enrolled successfully. theme is “Jumbo Makin’ Trunk will perform in the have been invested in since I iSIS — that allowed for contin- Phase 2 will lay out instruc- Waves,” senior Tara Mount, a Paige Hall Terrace Room. In came to Tufts,” Kronish said. ued change. tion steps for registration, Snell fellow co-coordinator, added. addition, many campus Greek Mount explained that in “Portions of [the origi- said. The last round of feedback Kids’ Day is an all-day event organizations will help out organizing the event, the coor- nal] SIS were 25 to 30 years showed that many students that lasts from 8:30 a.m. until with the activities planned dinators visited various ele- old,” Fitzgerald said. “It was found the enrollment process 3:30 p.m., Co-Coordinator Jason for the day, he said. Activities mentary schools and handed cumbersome and inefficient to confusing. Though these new Rathman, a sophomore, said. will take place all around the out flyers to students who are use, did not interface well with functions are under develop- Approximately 350 children Academic Quad. eligible to participate. They related, modern applications ment, Snell hopes for further will be dropped off at Tufts’ “I think it’s important for the also promoted the event to the and challenged us to provide feedback from students. Medford/Somerville cam- outside communities to come Tufts faculty. needed cyber-security. In addi- “We are hoping that the survey pus on Saturday for Kids’ in and for us to have a day for Kronish added that the coor- tion, it was difficult and risky that is going out right now is pro- dinators also worked with the to make changes to SIS, includ- viding some more feedback so Office of Community Relations to ing modification needed to sup- we know how to further improve publicize the event. port changes in academic pol- the system,” Snell said. Kronish said that the plan- ning committee for Kids’ Day consists of 11 people. They organized the entire event, which included tasks such as setting up volunteers, recruit- ing groups for booth activities, organizing Greek life, publi- cizing the event and reaching out to organizations for perfor- mances. Two buses are provided for the 50 kids coming from Chinatown on Saturday, Rathman explained. Mount and Kronish added that they have made a lot of changes this year to improve the event’s organization. They started plan- ning for this year’s Kids’ Day soon NICHOLAS PFOSI FOR TUFTS UNIVERSITY after last year’s Kids’ Day ended. NICHAOLAS PFOSI / THE TUFTS DAILY “I am looking forward to it SIS underwent several changes to make searching for classes more user-friendly. Tufts student leaders and their groups enjoy a ride during Kid’s Day outside Gantcher Gym on April 19, 2014. running smoothly,” Mount said. Inside this issue Today’s sections On its latest studio The men’s lacrosse News 1 Comics 6 album release, All team fell to confer- Time Low return to the ence foe Bates on Arts & Living 5 Sports Back limelight with deeper, Wednesday night. nuanced lyrics. see ARTS, page 5 see SPORTS, back 2 THE TUFTS DAILY ADVERTISEMENT Friday, April 10, 2015 DIM SUM CAFE 283 Boston Ave - Medford 781-874-2450 CATERING AVAILABLE - CHECK MENU ONLINE 25% OFF ALL ORDERS OVER $100 Business Hours OPEN UNTIL 2AM ON FRIDAY’S & SATURDAY’S Mon - Wed: 11:00 am—10:00 pm WWW.LISASFAMILYPIZZERIA.COM Call or order online to get some Thurs - Sat: 11:00 am—11:00 pm delicious Chinese food! Sun: 11:00am— 9:30 pm Dim Sum Cafe 679 Fellsway W Medford, MA 02155 Phone: (781) 396-2888 Friday, April 10, 2015 THE TUFTS DAILY ADVERTISEMENT 3 Halls Close @ 12pm on Saturday, 5/9 ALL STUDENTS: Return your keys to for all non-graduating one of the following locations students! before you leave campus: Halls Close @ 12pm on Monday, 5/18 Carmichael Hall Room 158 for all graduating and remaining Hill Hall Lobby Key Box South Hall Lobby Key Box students! TPD, Dowling Garage (24/7) Make sure all furniture is accounted for Residential Facilities, 520 Boston in your room. Ave (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm Defrost and clean out Microfridge and ONLY) contact TSR for pick up instructions. Throw away/take home all food. Empty and clean all closets, desks, drawers, etc. The earliest continuing undergraduates Remove all personal trash and dispose in can return to campus is Friday, the dumpsters outside your building. September 4, 2015 at 9:00am Sweep and vacuum your room. Remove any tape residue from doors Important Dates and walls. - Classes End Remember to take home your bike! Wednesday, 4/29 Remove any non-Tufts furniture from Thursday, 4/30 - Reading Day your room/suite before you leave. 5/1 - 5/8 - Final Exams Complete the Room Condition Card with your RA, ARD, ORLL or Facilities staff Saturday, 5/9 - Halls close at 12pm for member and sign it before you leave.