Page Protect yourself from HPV Rodents make unwelcome visitors Page Learn some common misconceptions about the Human Papillomavirus Students have noticted that rats and mice are being seen more 13 and how to keep yourself safe. frequently on the residence campus. 3 THE SIMMON S VOICE SINCE 1922 SEP T EMBER 20, 2007 VOLUME 88 Iss UE 1 Nursing students charged $1,200 for clinicals By Beth Maclin but students were not informed of STAFF WRITER it until they received their bills at the end of July, according to Beal. Nursing students learned by e-mail “When I saw the increase on on Monday that they would re- my tuition bill I did a double-take. ceive a one-time $400 credit to the I was shocked and angry,” said ju- bookstore in a further attempt by nior Hannah Desrochers. “Many the Nursing program and Financial nursing students are self-sufficient Aid to lessen the blow of a $1,200 and pay for education while taking fee each student will pay for her classes. I know I don’t have an ex- clinical classes. tra $1,200 floating around. $1,200 The letter from Gerry Kooch- is rent for two months, food for six er, the dean of the School of Health months.” Studies (SHS), and Judy Beal, the Yvonne Chan, a second de- associate dean of SHS and the gree Dix Scholar, also thinks stu- chair of the Nursing program, said dents should have been given more that the credit was added because time to plan for the fee. it made more sense “to get $400 “I think the Administration CATALINA ROJO directly into the pocket of every should have given students at least From a Back Bay Manor balcony, students can see part of the Boston skyline. student rather than work one at a six months notice prior to imple- time.” menting this fee. Many students “Combined with the $135 budget and manage their finances Simmons finds new housing at elimination of the software fee and strategically. Giving students ear- the grants to students through the lier notice would help them better Back Bay Manor modification to their financial aid prepare for such a financial bur- package, our intention is to buffer den,” she said. By Traci Farrell said is “not substantially different compromise to be independent the effect of these fees for this aca- Diane Hallisey, director of STAFF WRITER than walking to Wentworth.” An about their food options because demic year.” Student Financial Services, said employee in the Office of Public Wentworth had kitchens. She The decision to charge nurs- Safety confirmed that there is a said that “nine times out of ten” a Simmons has housed residence ing students the fee was determined walking escort service between student’s choice to move to hous- Nursing see page 2 students in off-site locations like by the Board of Trustees in March, Beacon Street and Wentworth In- the two locations, just as there is ing off of the residence campus is stitute of Technology for several between the academic campus and about preparing her own food. years, but this year Simmons made the residence campus. Back Bay Manor “emerged a changeover from Wentworth to The search for new housing quickly,” according to Murphy, Back Bay Manor at Longwood. arrangements began immediately who took part in evaluating the Simmons has a lease agree- after learning Wentworth was un- property while the Office of Busi- ment with Back Bay Manor for available. The offices of Business ness Affairs handled furniture the duration of the school year, Affairs, Student Life, and Finan- rentals. Murphy described Back for which there is no discount; the cial Affairs brainstormed options, Bay Manor as “among the best school is paying the same price as and came up with several plausible rental properties around,” calling other tenants. At Wentworth, Sim- leads “while simultaneously gener- it “an exceedingly well-run opera- mons paid an annual fee depending ating any option that might be out tion.” on the number of rooms its students there,” according to Murphy. Simmons has housed stu- used. Some of the options included dents at Back Bay Manor before. In early July, Wentworth renting a wing at the Howard John- Vietnamese exchange students notified Simmons that they were son Inn near Fenway Park, which studying in a program through the expecting a larger first-year class Emmanuel College has done, and Graduate School of Library and than usual and would not have any the YMCA on Huntington Avenue, Information Science were housed surplus housing available. Sheila where Northeastern University at Back Bay Manor by semester, an Murphy, Dean for Student Life, used to house some of their stu- arrangement that lasted for three said she “knows of almost no col- dents. Murphy said they were on years. lege around the country that doesn’t the phone and visiting places non- Murphy said it was “too soon have more first-year students” this stop for two weeks. to predict” if Simmons would con- year. She said there has been a Murphy said there was never tinue housing students at Back pattern in the last few years of stu- a point where she thought Simmons Bay Manor in the coming years, dents applying to several colleges, would not find alternative housing, but said that “housing Simmons and then waiting until the last min- although there was an initial shock residence students in property not ute to decide where to go. of “we have forty people to house owned by Simmons will be with Murphy said Simmons no- . we have to call and tell them us for a while.” She said Simmons tified students of the residence to commute.” Murphy, believing will always have too many stu- change in the second or third week that all problems have a solution, dents, which means having to alle- of July. She called the change said it was a matter of finding the viate overcrowding. It was a “stra- a “monumental upgrade” from right option of “quality standard” tegic priority” to solve the housing Wentworth, and that students re- for Simmons. problem this year, but Simmons BETH MA C LIN sponded with e-mails saying they Back Bay Manor was the is in a “constant state of shopping Gerry Koocher, dean of the School of Health Studies (SHS), and Judy Beal, felt like they won the lottery. most appealing option because of around.” associate dean of SHS, have come under fire for not informing students Back Bay Manor is a 10 to 12 the kitchens. Murphy said that about a $1,200 fee for clinicals. Housing see page 2 minute walk from the main aca- while the space at Wentworth was demic campus; a walk that Murphy not great, people were willing to Inside This Week Problems moving in Reporting from France Simmons’ lack of spirit Out-of-state students are faced with unexpected chal- Shannon Brown, abroad in Aix-en-Provence, shares her ad- Nikki Chenard wonders if students will become more sup- lenges when moving back onto campus. ventures with us. portive of the sports teams at Simmons. 6 . .14 . 12 2 THE SIMMON S VOICE NEWS SEP T EMBER 20, 2007 The Simmons Voice SIMMON S IN BRIEF Coalition works against violence SGA proposes changes to the Senate Editor-in-Chief The launching of the Multicultural Immigrant Coalition Against Violence The first Student Government Association (SGA) meeting was held on Beth Maclin took place at Simmons on Sept. 11, 2007. The coalition emerged from Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007. The meeting covered introductions of the ex- [email protected] two regional forums, one of which Simmons hosted in 2006, and is a ecutive board (E-board), upcoming elections, budget training, and chang- state-wide initiative against immigrant domestic violence and sexual as- es for the year. Focusing on the importance of building unity within the Managing Editor sault. The coalition conducted a needs assessment on cultural competen- community, this year’s SGA will have a Superhero theme. A Superhero Renee Frojo cy, immigrant rights, domestic rights, and assault prevention. According senator will be chosen each week by the E-board, and she will receive a [email protected] to Diane Hammer of the Simmons Institute for Leadership and Change, cape that will be hers for the week. Senators will also work to follow the which hosted the event, the response was “disgust.” She continued to say eight keys of excellence that were defined at the meeting: commitment, that over 90 people from all over Massachusetts came, representing both integrity, “this is it,” failure leads to success, speak with good purpose, News Editor individuals and agencies. Mary Gilfus, professor in the School of Social ownership, flexibility, and balance. Traci Farrell [email protected] Work, gave the welcome speech. Hammer called it a “very successful event.” Assistant News Editor Students network with community organi- Lucia Cordon zations [email protected] The Community Service/Service Learning Fair was held on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Over 35 community partners attended the fair, and students were Opinions Editor encouraged to speak with representatives from organizations, schools, Nora Levy and nonprofit groups. The fair, organized by the Scott/Ross Center for [email protected] Community Service, allowed Simmons students to network with promi- nent community partners like Jumpstart, Roxbury Youth Programs, Spe- cial Olympics, and Women’s Lunch Place. The fair was intended to help Features Editor Kristin Pitts students find placement for service learning classes and to get involved with the community outside of Simmons. [email protected] DIANE HA mm E R Participants at the launch of the Multicultural Immigrant Coalition Against Violence joined together against domestic violence.