Welcome back! What RUr goals this semester? Tweet us @RUTorch January 21, 2014 @RUTorch www.rutorch.com /RooseveltTorchNews Volume 70 Issue 16 What did you do for MLK Day? he Illinois Indiana Regional Organizing Network (IIRON) held Hope in the Age of Crisis Sunday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and Tcarry on his work of organizing for justice. Mass incarceration, environmental justice, corporate accountability and worker justice were discussed at the event. Roosevelt student Dylan Amlin, part of the IIRON Student Network, advocated for students to attend. Torch staff members and contributers attended the event. The multimedia and full story they gathered from the event can be found at: www.rutorch.com Roosevelt partners with Gardner Institute to study student experience By Samantha Reid increasing retention rates and and educational philosophies. It don’t have much of a say in cur- year’s budget. [email protected] building up the student body of is then up to the committees to riculum or student services, but The Gardner Institute’s work the university. study student surveys and data, these student surveys give them doesn’t end at the end of this Along with nine other uni- Foundations of Excellence fo- coming to conclusions and mak- the power to influence major year when the committees have versities nationwide, Roosevelt cuses on nine specific principles ing recommendations based off change. given their final reports, however. University has partnered with in determining the improvements of the available information. Part of analyzing the effective- Consultants from Foundations the John N. Gardner Institute to be made. The Gardner Institute Course surveys at the conclu- ness of the first year experience of Excellence will be helping for Excellence in Undergraduate works in conjunction with Roos- sion of each semester greatly involves looking at foundational Roosevelt go forward in success- Education for their Foundations evelt to put together committees influence studies such as Foun- courses such as ACP 101, MATH fully implementing the new ideas of Excellence Program for the comprised of professors, staff dations of Excellence. Without 095, and ENG 101, to name a on campus. While a premium is 2013-2014 school year. The pro- members from various depart- sufficient student feedback, it’s few. placed on improving the aca- gram closely studies the first year ments as well as students. These difficult for students and faculty Once the study has been com- demics for first year students, experience for both freshmen committees are assigned a differ- on the Foundations committees pleted and the committees have the Gardner Institute will also and transfer students to create ent area of study, encompassing to judge what is working for given their recommendations, the help implement changes for the a more positive experience for everything from student transi- students and what needs to be university will work on includ- future incoming students, thereby tions, overall learning, diversity, changed. Students may think they ing these improvements in next See ‘Gardner Institute’ page 2 Time spent on Facebook The Local Focal ‘Her’ explores technological future page 4 page 6 page 9 Page 2 www.rutorch.com January 21, 2014 NEWS ‘Gardner Institute’ cont. from page 1 campus as a whole, including student life The study also includes other aspects and activities. of the student experience, like campus Students seem eager to get work under- life and student engagement. Junior Erin way to improve certain fields, specifically O’Malley is a transfer student from West- the layout of the ACP courses. Freshman ern Illinois University who is currently a Shelby Steele suggests that Roosevelt al- first year student at Roosevelt. Her sug- ter the ACP 101 course that all freshmen gestions for the committees focus mainly are required to take by “[making] a class on student involvement and creating a you only have to attend once a week, greater feeling of campus community. New Schaumburg Institute because there was not much material to “I think [the university] really just cover in the time we had.” needs to announce more events that are for Literacy Enrichment to Steele also expressed that the school happening on campus, like sporting should try to make the class more inter- events or even fraternity life, which are esting for a wider variety of students. two big things that are part of a college offer K-8 reading courses “[Roosevelt should] make it more topic campus,” O’Malley suggested. based rather than just placing students Improvements like these could go far By Syeda Ali students as it provides a hands-on experi- in ACP classes with topics or books that in retaining new students, making them [email protected] ence and exposure to updated technology. might not even engage their interests,” feel at home in the Roosevelt and Chi- “We’ve learned that being in school Steele said. cago communities. In an effort to provide a community isn’t always enough for our kids to actually This is a sentiment reflected across the Regardless of the conclusions the where education can reach as an oppor- achieve the goal of their going to college board by many other freshmen as well. Foundations of Excellence committees tunity to students in kindergarten through and building successful careers,” said This past semester, every new student come to, students can expect a number eighth grade, Roosevelt University is Thomas Philion, interim dean of Roos- in the course read the same book — of changes to the student experience starting a reading enrichment program. The evelt’s College of Education. “This program “The Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel within the next few years. With the help series will take place at the Schaumburg will enable kids to expand their creative and Wilkerson. Foundations of Excellence of the Gardner Institute, the university Campus, starting on January 25th, from 9 critical thinking in reading and writing so committees could potentially have a role intends to further enhance the experience AM to noon on Saturdays. This reading they can excel in both college and career. in changing the ACP 101 curriculum to of all students as they enter the Laker enrichment will provide more opportunities Students who will be enrolled in the pro- reflect the suggestions of students like community, better enabling students to for children to gain the skills they need to gram will be coached by recent graduates of Steele. grow as leaders. excel and improvise in reading and writ- Roosevelt University, whose expertise and ing. The program will offer an eight-week skills will not only provide these children course which will focus on the following with vast knowledge, but also give them a areas: Accelerated Literacy, which allows community outside of a school environment above average children to continue to grow where they can utilize their learning abili- and explore their performance level in ties and socialize and share success stories reading and writing. This program is for with each other. children in kindergarten through the sixth In addition, The Schaumburg Institute for grade. Literacy Enrichment will be led by Becky The second program that the series has McTague, who is the associate profes- to offer is the Literacy Enhancement, which sor of language and literacy at Roosevelt. ORCH will offer customized support individual McTague believes those students who STAFF students in kindergarten through eighth outperform an average report should be grade. This program is specially designed provided additional resources, which can Editor-in-Chief Faculty Advisor for the young adults who are either average, lead them towards advanced levels of read- Meredith Dobes Billy Montgomery or are struggling in reading and writing. ing and writing skills. Moreover, students This program will help students to develop who need enrichment in areas of reading Managing Editor Business Manager and better understand the basics of reading and writing should also be offered the same Heather Dougherty Madeline Moss and writing. opportunities. “We will be taking a bal- The third program is the Digital Literacy, anced approach to literacy and our goal will Layout Editor (Interim) Staff Reporter which will emphasize on third through fifth be to provide opportunities for reading and Meredith Dobes Shawn Gakhal graders and educate them on literacy skills writing that are both fun and instructive,” using computer programming/technology. said McTague. Copy Editor Contributing Reporters This program will prove to be helpful to Samantha Gualito Syeda Ali Web Editor Courtney Clark Tom Cicero Daniel Johanson Eight-week courses on Samantha Reid Photo Editor Dominic Segatti Saturdays for grades K-8 Steve Deku Editor-at-Large Graphics Editor Aurora Lucas Madelyn Olsen Winter session begins Jan. 25 Views expressed are those of the authors and are not an expression of Roosevelt University policy. The Torch prides itself in its dedication to addressing news that affects the Roos- evelt community while uncovering stories that both enlighten and entertain. Alll courses meet from All advertising is subject to acceptance. The business department can be reached at [email protected]. Please send mail to the Torch, 430 S. Michigan Ave., room 9 a.m.-12 p.m. 515 or e-mail [email protected]. Letters to the editor may be shortened to fit available space. January 21, 2014 www.rutorch.com Page 3 OP/ED Sexual assault on college campuses: a national issue By Samantha Reid were also upset with the way the situation tempts are being made by administration, is just as important than response, if not [email protected] was handled, which prompted President but there is clearly more work to be done more. Universities should not be simply Charles Middleton’s inundation with letters going forward. dealing with sexual assaults after the fact We’ve all heard the scary statistic that from concerned parties wondering how we Roosevelt can look to other institutions, on a case-by-case basis.