03.15.2013
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March 3, 15 2013 issue of Reporter Magazine.TRANSCRIPT
03.15.13 reportermag.com
WHY STUDENTS LEAVE AND WHAT MAKES THEM STAY
rit exit
4 News | 03.15.13
Reporter Magazine is published weekly during the academic year by a staff comprised of students at Rochester Institute of Technology. Business, Editorial and Design facilities are located in Room A-730, in the lower level of the Campus Center. Our phone number is 1.585.475.2212. The Advertising Department can be reached at 1.585.475.2213. The opinions expressed in Reporter do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute. Letters to the Editor may also be sent to [email protected]. Reporter is not responsible for materials presented in advertising areas. No letters will be printed unless signed. All letters received become the property of Reporter. Reporter takes pride in its membership in the Associated Collegiate Press and American Civil Liberties Union. Copyright © 2013 Reporter Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this Magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission.Please
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Amber Wilson-Daeschlein EDITOR IN CHIEF
EDITOR IN CHIEF Amber Wilson-Daeschlein
MANAGING EDITOR Michelle Spoto
COPY EDITOR Nathaniel Mathews
NEWS EDITORS William Hirsh, Angela Freeman
LEISURE EDITORS Michelle Spoto, William Hirsh
FEATURES EDITOR Nicole Howley
SPORTS EDITOR Kayla Emerson
VIEWS EDITOR Steven Markowitz
WRITERS Justin Claire, Kayla Emerson, Gino
Fanelli, Angela Freeman, David Gasser, Nicole
Howley, Alyssa Jackson, Eric Rivera, Juan
Lachapelle, Michelle Spoto
ARTART DIRECTOR Jon Lavalley
SENIOR STAFF DESIGNER Emily Levine
STAFF DESIGNERS Michaela Jebb, Sarah Bono
PHOTO EDITOR Juan Madrid
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Josh Barber,
William Palmer, Jonathan Foster
STAFF ILLUSTRATOR Erica Landers
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Corinne Newbegin
CARTOONIST Ethan Thornton
BUSINESSPUBLICITY MANAGER Nicholas Gawreluk
AD MANAGER Julia Morrow
BUSINESS MANAGER Christina Harawa
PRODUCTION MANAGER Nicholas Gawreluk
ONLINE PRODUCTION MANAGER Jake DeBoer
ADVISOR Rudy Pugliese
PRINTING Printing Applications Lab
CONTACT 585.475.2212
THE GENDER REVOLUTION NEEDS SOME FUELThe other week, I asked my boyfriend a question that not many college men like to hear: “Do you
consider yourself a feminist?” He seemed a bit taken aback and after a few quiet minutes, said that he didn’t know enough about feminism to give a definitive answer. Even though my question was successfully avoided, he is not alone in this disposition.
“I, myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is,” stated author and journalist, Rebecca West in 1913, “I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat.”
Despite some ambiguity, there has been significant progress in terms of achieving social and economic equality. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, women fought to attend higher-education universities, own property and vote. Even in the early seventies, my mother stubbornly defended her right to educational equality and was the first girl in middle school to take wood-shop and wear pants. Recently, however, the movement has lost some steam with many young adults seemingly indifferent towards current gender inequalities.
According to USA Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that women earn about 20 percent less than men with similar positions and qualifications. Furthermore, only about three percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are female. “The advancement of key women in business is stalled,” remarked CEO of women’s business newsletter, Little PINK Book, Cynthia Good.
Gender inequalities can also be found flowing through our various social and news media outlets. Reported by Ms. magazine, a study of news sources during the 2012 presidential election conducted by Fourth Estate found that “men were four to seven times more likely to be quoted in stories about women’s issues and rights.” More specifically: 67 percent of quotes about Planned Parenthood, 75 percent of quotes about birth control and 81 percent of quotes about abortion were from men. Additionally, only 31 percent of quotes about women’s rights were from women.
Although gender inequality seems more subtle now than in earlier centuries, it remains ubiquitous throughout our education system, the media and corporate America. Today’s feminists must identify and draw attention to such issues. As society evolves, it is necessary for the gender revolution to evolve with it.
4. News DeskNew York State Budget Proposal may cut funding for programs serving people with disabilities.
6. Final Steps to Semester EnrollmentUpdate on the semester conversion.
7. People’s PowerGrassroots broadcast encourages discussion of community issues.
8. ReviewsA heavy-metal album and an old-style beer.
9. At Your LeisureSpring outside!
11. Animals With HatsSee what a recent RIT graduate is up to.
12. The More the MerrierRIT’s efforts to keep students here.
19. Men’s Hockey Beats AIC in Two GamesAction-packed postseason play.
20. Word On The StreetWhat should RIT do to increase the retention rate?
21. The New MinimumShould the minimum wage be raised?
22. RingsGetting jacked: one heavy door at a time.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 03.15.13 | VOLUME 62 | ISSUE 22
Cover illustration by Jon Lavalley
RIT’s Anthony Hamburg, a second year Business Management major, fights AIC’s Jeff Ceccacci for the puck during the last period of the second game of the AHA Tournament’s first round at Ritter Arena on March 9, 2013. | photograph by Juan Madrid
Girl with Congenital HIV Declared ‘Functionally Cured’
n a historic scientific moment, a two year old Mississippi resident has successfully ended an aggressive three-drug treatment of HIV, according to the LA Times. As a result, the virus’ presence has been substantially reduced within her bloodstream. AIDS is no longer at risk of
developing due to her HIV infection, and the girl no longer requires medication. There is, however, some speculation surrounding the girl’s state of infection prior to treatment, but researchers who have studied the case say that the virus was discovered in its early stages, before becoming entrenched within the immune system.
Although the second patient in the world to be functionally cured of HIV, she is the first infant to be rid of the infection. Timothy Brown underwent a successful bone marrow transplant in 2007, receiving donor marrow containing a rare genetic mutation that works to blocks HIV’s entrance into cells.
According to the LA Times, trends noted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that in 2010 that fewer than 200 babies were born in the United States were infected with HIV. However, developing countries are still at risk. Scientists say their next step is to replicate the results in other HIV-positive infants.
Beyond the Bricksby Angela Freeman
New Budget Cuts Impact Services for people with DisabilitiesGovernor Andrew Cuomo’s current budget proposal may severely impact programs serving people with disabilities within New York State. According to News 10, while state-run providers would not be affected, private, voluntary and non-for profit providers may sustain a loss of $120 million in funding, reports the New York Times. This substantial reduction could begin to take effect as soon as April and is projected to leave a multitude of citizens with developmental disabilities without adequate services or support.
CP Rochester, a local disability services provider, would lose approximately $700,000 to $750,000 annually, leaving agency employees facing layoffs and hundreds of Rochester-area citizens without services.
Voting is expected to take place within the next few weeks. Countless caregivers and recipients of the services in question, including members of the Developmental Disabilities Alliance of Western New York, have begun to stage protests and encourage members of their communities to contact state legislators.
Three-Day Egyptian Protest Leaves Fifty WoundedA conflict between Egyptian security officers and hundreds of protesters at Port Said, near the northern entrance to the Suez Canal, led to violence on Tuesday, March 6. Rioting took place as youths congregated around government buildings, chanting and hurling projectiles. The protests are a result of the decision to jail 39 individuals following a soccer riot that killed 70 people last year. According to Reuters, protestors’ chants included, “The police are thugs” and, “We’ll give our blood and souls for you, Port Said.”
Approximately 50 people on both sides of the conflict were harmed by tear gas, rocks, Molotov cocktails, gunshots and stab wounds. According to United Press International, two police officers were hospitalized and in critical condition at the Port Said military hospital. Reuters reported that over 60 people have died in the protests since January 25. This ongoing political turmoil is rooted in the forcible ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, and the unsuccessful attempts of his successor, Mohamed Morsi, to achieve stability amidst unemployment, police violence and rising fuel costs.
4 News | 03.15.13
Age in the Age of Technology: Are Professors Obsolete?Gosnell Hall 3365 12 – 1 p.m. Explore topics related to higher education at the monthly discussion series, Gray Matter. This month’s focus is the role and age of professors in an increasingly technological education system. Cost: Free
St. Patty’s Day Bingo Grace Watson Hall. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Event from 9 – 11:30 p.m.Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Gracie’s with a game of bingo and be eligible to win $750 in St. Patty’s Day prizes. Cost: Free
St. Patty’s Day Dance PartyThe Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave. 8 p.m.DJ Richie Salvaggio hosts a St. Patrick’s Day-themed dance extravaganza at The Bug Jar. Cost: Free to get in (21+)
lovin’cup Idol300 Park Point Drive Suite #101 8 p.m.The final three contestants of lovin’ cup Idol perform! Guest judges include “Daughtry” member and Rochester local, Elvio Fernandes. Cost: Free to get in.
Rainbow Week BeginsKate Gleason Hall (A055). 8 – 10 p.m.Join the RIT Gay Alliance and help raise awareness of LGBT issues on campus and in the community. Cost: Free
Musical WednesdayWebb Auditorium 8 – 10 p.m.Learn the craft of improvisation with music. Apply your newfound skills with music-related improvisation gamesfollowing the lesson. Cost: Free
Pitch Perfect Ingle Auditorium Doors open at 9:30pm, 10 – 11:30 p.m.Nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Comedic Movie, Pitch Perfect is sure to have you laughing — maybe even singing — all night long. Cost: Free
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Forecast Compiled by Eric Rivera
At the March 8 Student Government (SG) meeting Associate Director of the Center for Women and Gender Cha Ron Sattler, RIT’s General Counsel Bobby Colón and Director of RIT Libraries Shriley Bower presented to the assembly.
Men’s Leadership CertificateMarch 8 was International Women’s day but Sattler emphasized the center’s openness to all genders. In addition to listing off many of the center’s services and upcoming events, Sattler introduced the new Men’s Leadership Certificate as a program to encourage more men to step into leadership roles. The Women’s Leadership Certificate is already in place.
Clarifications on RIT DebitColón presented more information on the legal scope of
RIT’s debit plan. He explained that the law did not allow for debit to be used on non food items, to be refunded to students or to be transferred to Tiger Bucks.
Copyright Policy ChangeBower then presented RIT’s new copyright policy for SG’s approval. In order for RIT students and staff to qualify for exceptions available to academic institutions in the copyright laws, RIT must have a copyright policy in place. Faculty Advisor for SG Karey Pine clarified most campus operations would not be affected. The policy will simply qualify RIT for these educational exceptions and provide students and staff with information on what material they are allowed to use and for what purposes.
Generally, SG must table their decision on proposed policy changes for a week before voting but the council decided to go against this section of their bylaws in order to vote on the matter at this meeting. The new policy proposal was passed.
Bower ended the meeting with an announcement that the Link, a new website for club information, would be replacing the current clubs page by June 1.
SG Update: 3.15.13by Nicole Howley
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CorrectionsLast week’s views article “Checks and Balances” by Robert Clifford was printed as an unfinished draft. The complete article can be viewed online at reportermag.com.
BY JUAN LACHAPELLE
FINAL STEPS TO THE SEMESTER CONVERSION
he countdown to the semester conversion is ticking away as enrollment, scheduled to begin April 15, draws near. Strong involvement from RIT’s colleges, students and faculty have contributed to the final version of the SIS system and class conversion. Additionally, student feedback and var ious test ing phases have helped the system evolve to its current state.
According to Assistant Vice President and Registrar Joe Loffredo, one of the main sources of student feedback was the “Pilot Enrollment.” Conducted with over 600 students, it allowed the participants to use an updated version of the SIS system to register for classes as if they were registering for fall 2013. Updated features include replacing the class number system with letters and names for easier class searching and the addition of automatic prerequisite verification. To participate, students only needed to have completed an Individual Advising Plan (IAP).
The feedback from the test proved helpful in finding possible conflicts and errors that could appear during enrollment, such as conflicting class times between colleges. J. Fernando Naveda, director of the semester conversion, was pleased with the feedback and data collected from the test. “These kinds of things need to done because when you create a new schedule you don’t know the kinds of problems you may encounter as we move forward,” he stated.
One of the main tools for students looking for a smooth transition is their IAP. Lynne Mazadoorian, Director of the Institute Advising Office, stressed the importance for students to not only follow their IAPs but to get them done as early as possible. “The IAPs are really meant to be a tool to help students understand how they will complete their degrees once they transition into the semester calendar and requirements,” said Mazadoorian. “The ‘Individual’ in IAP is really important for students to remember.”
Sarah Thomas, third year Finance major and current Student Government vice president has worked with the semester conversion leaders to gather more student feedback and inform them about the upcoming changes. “We’ve surveyed students in regard to what changes they would like to see, what additions and improvements,” said Thomas. The data from the surveys will be available on the SG website after it is presented to the conversion committee.
Though the conversion might come with its fair share of problems, most of the individuals involved believe the colleges are well-prepared and students will be able to adapt to the system quickly. “I’m very confident that we are going to do well,” remarked Naveda. “In the end if you guys [the students] are happy with the conversion and everything is working, then everybody is happy.”
WITR 89.7, RIT’s college radio station, has recently introduced a news broadcast entitled “People’s Power.” The show focuses on issues presented and talked about by groups from RIT and currently includes the International Socialist Organization (ISO), Outspoken and the Center for Women and Gender.
“People’s Power” was the brainchild of Arun Blatchley, the general manager of WITR and fourth year International Studies major. Since being named program director a few years ago, broadcasting news at WITR has been one of his goals. Once Elisapeta Santoro, a first year Mechanical Engineering major and current news director joined WITR, the goal became more concrete. Blatchley explained that he and Santoro worked to gain enthusiasm from groups on campus who wanted to discuss key issues and advocate for their respective organizations.
“I wanted our news show to be focused around community issues, community advocacy, social justice and activism; the kinds of things that have value to the Rochester community,” said Blatchley. “That’s why I reached out to the Rochester chapter of the ISO. The first thing they’re about is community building.” Blatchley explained that the groups were chosen strategically, believing that the ISO, Outspoken and the Center for Women and Gender would have plenty to say on important issues.
“You get so absorbed in your schoolwork that you can forget all the worldly issues that are going on around you,” explained Santoro. “The discussions that take place are very interesting and thought provoking. They allow you to think outside of your major.”
Santoro explained that each of the episodes are recorded ahead of time so she can spend the week editing the broadcast and preparing it for its debut on Saturdays and Sundays at noon. She said she hopes the broadcasts, which are modeled after National Public Radio (NPR), will eventually branch out beyond the three original clubs to include other groups on campus who are interested.
So far WITR has produced three broadcasts: two hosted by the ISO that focused on rape culture and the meaning of consent, and the most recent being an educational discussion of the LGBT community hosted by Outspoken on March 9.
Raj ib Debnath, a second year Photo Technology major, seemed excited about the idea of “People’s Power” after learning more about it. Debnath said that the groups chosen by Blatchley to begin the first few broadcasts of People’s Power were smart choices that will exhibit a diversity of subjects.
“I think the idea is genius. It’s exactly what this school needs,” Debnath stated. “We have so many voices that need to be heard.”
People’s Power is broadcasted Saturdays and Sundays at 12 p.m. on WITR.
PEO
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When a beer’s label depicts an old salt who looks like he would drag Moby Dick up from the darkest depths just to spit in his eye, it creates certain expectations. If that beer doesn’t taste hale and hearty, it will seem too superficial: It must be strong and full of bite, or else be written off as too thin; too soft. Most importantly, it has to taste like something you’d expect to find sailors swilling in the briniest ports of call — ale brimming with smoke and malt, flavored by the timber it was born in. By these standards, Founder’s Curmudgeon Old Ale can only be called a thumping success. It moves into the glass with a leisurely, unhurried pour, its tint a rich russet tone. Only a small white head presents itself, a tell of the ale’s imposing 9.8% ABV. The smell is impressive, to say the least — the odor of malt is unmistakable and is flanked by strong overtones of smoke and oak, while a distinct scent of caramel is a welcome surprise that helps balance the otherwise bitter nose. As the first taste is taken, the alcohol content becomes obvious with a sharp bite; the texture of the beer itself is quite thick and almost syrupy. There’s a hoppy crispness that saves it from being a glass of molasses, but more would definitely have improved things; the ale’s texture does linger on the palate rather like a bad guest.Regardless, that flaw can be overlooked in favor of the amazing and robust flavors packed into this bottle: honey, brown sugar and vanilla provide subtle support to the caramel while oak, malt and smoke which take most of the foreground. Curmudgeon Old, like its namesake, might be overbearing to some, but it has a winning old-world charm that follows from its unabashed gusto, and is a treasure to those who can appreciate it.
Curmudgeon Old Ale by Justin Claire
OLD ALE | 4pk | $15 METAL | 41mins
Following their Sophomore release, “Planetary Duality,” The Faceless have undergone a facelift, with only the core musical visionary, clean vocalist and lead guitarist Michael Keene and drummer Lyle Cooper sticking around. Joining the line-up for “Autotheism” are bass prodigy Evan Brewer and first-album guitarist Wes Hauch. Seeing such a rampant and sudden shift in membership from a band is typically a tell-tale sign to have low-expectations for a new release. However, what was released instead was shining evidence of Keene’s genius as both a songwriter and guitarist.
“Autotheism” is the sort of album that beats you bloody and then lifts you up to whisper sweet nothings in your ear, just to grab you by the throat and beat you to the ground all over again. Opening with an intense classical arrangement, featuring wavering string arpeggios coupled with blasting industrial drumbeats, “Autotheism” doesn’t take its time assuring the listener that things are about to get intense. The break into distortion comes as a perfect transition into Keene’s singing, which can best be described as a far more coherent Eddie Vedder. Vocalist Geoffrey Ficco hisses in the background as the guitars and basses build into a beautiful transition for the growls — the genre’s signature — to take over while maintaining a solid harmony between the clean and dirty vocals. It’s a technique that shows the obvious creative influence of Progressive Death Metal pioneer Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth.
A heavy Opeth influence is found throughout “Autotheism”, “In Solitude” opens with an acoustic guitar arpeggio that almost suspiciously resembles “Dirge for November” off of Opeth’s “Blackwater Park” LP. That soon changes. Following a sing-songy post-intro, “In Solitude” gives a unique and jarring transition that will leave you with goose bumps as the growls and screams take over to create a powerful, brutal yet somehow thoughtful piece of technical prowess. This is how much of “Autotheism” plays out, as a constant musical development with each song carrying a crescendo climaxing in coldly calculated metal madness.
What separates The Faceless from their Prog Metal contemporaries like Between the Buried and Me is that even though most songs clock in around six minutes on “Autotheism,” there is never a break in the flow. Each song, though spanning different techniques, experimentations and genres, isn’t broken up into “beginning, middle and end” portions. If a song starts with a soft acoustic segment, the riff is coming up later in the song, maybe even later in the album, as it plays out as one long, metal masterpiece.
Album: AutotheismArtist: The Facelessby Gino Fanelli
REVIEWS
FOR FANS OF: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine
FOR FANS OF: Opeth, Obscura, Necrophagist, Between the Buried and Me
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While it may be too early to break out your favorite pair of shorts (you know, the ones that have been collecting dust in the back of your closet for the last six months), Rochester’s wonky weather patterns ensure that we’ll have at least a few random beautiful days coming up. Make an effort to get out and enjoy the sunny weather or surprisingly warm breeze while you still appreciate a break from the cold.
The warming weather brings another outdoor opportunity: getting active outside. As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time to start an outdoor hobby that you can carry through the fall. Whether it’s training for a half marathon or going for a walk through the park, brining your exercise outside can help clear those nasty “cooped up inside all winter” feelings. Think of it as spring cleaning for your body and mind.
AT YOUR LEISURE
A Y L
Adj: Concerned with the interests of others more than one’s own.
Jonny was truly allocentric when he helped organize a fundraiser for swamp preservation.
GOING OUTSIDEContrary to popular belief, the U.S. treasury prints more MONEY each year than Parker House prints for Monopoly. In 2009, the US printed $2.1 trillion dollars while only $46 billion was printed for Monopoly.
According to the Guinness World Records, the smallest recorded paper MONEY was the 10-bani note issued by the MINISTRY of Finance of Romania in 1917. It was roughly one tenth the size of a U.S. dollar.
In 2010, the German Environment MINISTRY paid hunters $555,000 to recoup the unsellable RADIOACTIVE boar meat found from contaminated populations affected by Chernobyl.
Marie Curie’s notes are so RADIOACTIVE that they are kept in lead lined boxes and people must sign waivers to access them.
“Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.”
WORD OF THE WEEK
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
REPORTER RECOMMENDSSTREAM OF FACTS
COMIC
-Henry Ward Beecher
by Michelle Spoto and William Hirsh
by Ethan Thornton
Definition taken from merriam-webster.com
ALLOCENTRIC
10 Leisure | 03.15.13
CAREER FAIRS P R I N G 2 0 1 3March 20th11 am – 4 pmGordon Field House
Talk with recruiters from over200 companies, and you maybe selected for interviewsthe next day!
Visit RIT Job Zone for a list ofcompanies and what they’relooking for.
www.rit.edu/careerfair @RITCareerFair
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ANIMALS WITH HATSby David Keith Gasser
The name says it all when it comes to the offerings of Animals With Hats, a company created by RIT alumnus Matt Wolff. Located in the Rochester area, the company designs, creates and sells t-shirts with images of animals wearing hats of various sorts. Wolff is the first to admit that the concept of online t-shirt sales is nothing new, but the images featured on Animals With Hats merchandise are goofy, loveable and distinct.
photo by Juan Madrid
Wolff is adamant that the message and lifestyle of a brand, like Animals With Hats, can represent a wider community. In this regard, he has pledged to donate 10 percent of the proceeds to animal shelters. Along those same lines, Animals With Hats sponsors various athletes who choose to “express him or herself in a positive manner.” Wolff elaborates, saying that he loves the lifestyle of those involved with action sports such as mountain biking and motocross, and he wants to be able to associate his brand with that active community.
Art, Wolff says, has always been a hobby. The company started with some of the sketches Wolff drew of his basset hound, Kirby. The dog would often be matched up with imagery including shoes, clothing and at times, hats. Wolff says, “I always loved the clothing industry, in terms of creating my own brand … [Animals With Hats] is all about representing a positive lifestyle, getting a good laugh and just having fun.” Thus was born the logo and inspiration for the designs and images to come.
Wolff states, “I really took all the things I learned and did at RIT and brought it together when I started this company,” which began as an independent study during his final quarter at RIT last spring. Wolff not only built the website on his own, but also manages all of the finances and orders for the company, as well the code that runs the backend of both the website and ecommerce storefront. The artwork for all of the shirts is now handled by RIT student and Illustration major Emily Gage.
Much more than just a monetary venture, Wolff really finds a lot to love in the expression of his own brand and the entrepreneurial spirit of it all. “It’s something I’m really proud to be a part of — it represents the creativity that has always been a part of my life.”
A n i m a l s W i t h H a t s c a n b e f o u n d a t www.animalswithhats.com.
Editor’s Note: Emily Gage is an illustrator currently employed by the Reporter.
12 Features | 03.15.13
“It’s almost inevitable that a point will come in your four or
five years where you say, ‘Gosh, maybe I should transfer,’” says
Vice President for Strategic Planning and Special Initiatives Kit
Mayberry. “And some students do. But I would say the majority
don’t.” RIT’s freshmen retention rate provides some evidence;
89 percent of the students who entered RIT in 2011 stayed for
a second year — something of a record for RIT. RIT’s freshmen
retention rate has been steadily climbing for at least five years.
Since 2007, it has increased by 4.5 percent.
This climb in retention rate is no accident. It is the result of a
major effort to improve the graduation and freshmen retention
rates by the Student Success Steering Committee (SSSC).
by Nicole Howley
infographics by Jon Lavalley, Michaela Jebb and Emily Levine
The More the Merrier: RIT’s Efforts to Keep
Students Here
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Student Success Steering CommitteeSoon after President Destler and Provost
Jeremy Haefner arrived at RIT in 2007 and 2008 respectively, they decided that something needed to be done about student retention. “[They] had identified student success as one of the key priorities for the University,” explains Senior Associate Provost Christine Licota, “[They] wanted to be sure that we had a student success agenda that would support the goals we had for student retention and graduation.” The goals were a 92 percent first year retention rate and a 73 percent six-year graduation rate by 2012.
In the fall of 2008, Haefner formed two Student Success Tiger Teams; both teams focused on coming up with a plan to improve student retention. One of these teams focused exclusively on African American, Latin American, and Native American (AALANA) students. “The Tiger Team was looking at the literature and research around student success, looking at what we were doing at that time and looking at our strengths and gaps in an attempt to better understand why students leave and to ultimately improve our graduation rate,” explained Assistant Vice President of Institutional Research and Policy Studies Joan Graham, former Tiger Team member.
Now Graham is a member of the SSSC; a committee that resulted from the combination of the two Tiger teams in the fall of 2011. “The Student Success Steering Committee … [is] less focused on the research and literature view because that has been done,” explains Graham. Instead, the new team focuses more on implementing plans to help improve the freshman retention and graduation rates.
Licota is now the chair of this committee which is made up of representatives from divisions at RIT that are most involved with students: Academic Affairs, Finance and Administration, Diversity, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
Despite having a student representative in the 2009 Tiger Team, the committee does not currently have any student representatives. Instead, they try to take student input into account through surveys of the student population. These surveys include the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which is filled out by freshman and seniors in the spring of every other year, and the Noel Levitz Student Satisfaction Inventory (SSI), which goes out to all students every year.
In addition to gathering information on student opinion and engagement in the school, the committee gathers information on which students are most likely to leave RIT. They hope that they can use this information to help keep these students engaged and address their needs. “When you look at a freshman cohort of over 2,000 students, trying to find just that 10 percent or so that don’t come back can be kind of challenging,” says Graham, who also plays a major role in the data gathering and processing done by the SSSC. Once certain factors can be linked to students who choose not to re-enroll, the SSSC starts making plans for how to change these patterns.
Why Students LeaveIn 2009, Mayberry and Associate of the University Rebecca Johnson started conducting
phone interviews with students that had chosen to leave RIT. Since then, Mayberry has continued the interviews annually, reaching between 73 and 79 students each year. Only students with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.2 are included.
In the interviews, students are asked two questions: why they did not return to RIT and if there was anything that RIT could have done to keep the student at the school. “There hasn’t been a huge change over time in the three years we’ve done this,” explained Mayberry.
Dissatisfaction with the majors at RIT is a consistently high contributor to students leaving. However, the number of students who left RIT for financial reasons is one of the few categories that has noticeably decreased. “We did the first study in the fall of 2009 which was right after the recession hit and I think that students were feeling the pain … financial aid wasn’t able to turn on the dime and offer additional aid to these students,” Mayberry elaborated.
Justin Mulvaney, former RIT Biochemistry major, transferred to Binghamton University (BU) for similar reasons to the students surveyed. After attending RIT, he realized that he was more interested in liberal arts than biochemistry and did not want to continue paying RIT’s tuition for a degree that the school is not well known for. He also wanted more opportunities to engage in the music scene, which he believes to be nonexistent at RIT.
Mulvaney stated that at the beginning of the year it was easy to make the decision to transfer but his final few weeks at RIT involved some second-guessing. “I miss that great group of friends that I made,” he said. Upon arriving at BU, it was more difficult to make new friends then it had been the year before because most upperclassmen lack “that same excitement to meet new people.” But within two weeks he had started a band that led to greater musical opportunities and friendships.
“I definitely made the right decision,” said Mulvaney. In addition to finding music, “I’m starting to figure out a direction here.” Now a third year Economic Analysis and Mathematics major, Mulvaney is still graduating on time, with a lot less debt.
There is not always something that RIT can do to influence a student’s decision, especially a student leaving for personal or health reasons. Of the students who took the survey, between 30.1 and 34 percent say there was nothing RIT could have done to convince them to stay. However, these students only make up a little more than one percent of students from their year. Still, over 30 percent of students do not graduate from each class and the SSSC is actively making an effort to decrease this number.
However, little effort has been made to retain students after their first year which is problematic due to differences in the freshman retention and graduation rates. Although 84.5 percent of freshman who entered RIT in 2007 stayed for the next quarter, only 52.1 percent graduated within five years. On average, about ten percent more students will graduate within six years but even so, the graduation rate is much lower than the freshmen retention rate.
“That’s not unlike universities; we are just seeing it here as well,” reassures Graham. Actually, RIT had a slightly higher graduation rate within six years than the national average in 2004. However, RIT still has lower rates than University of Rochester, one of the top-ranking colleges for freshmen retention rate with 96 percent first year retention in 2013.
Even with the efforts of the SSSC, some students continue to struggle academically, putting them at risk of suspension and of leaving the university. This is where the College Restoration Program (CRP) comes in. Program coordinator Dawn Herman describes the CRP as “a one term opportunity for students to get back on track.” The program accepts students referred by their academic department who’s GPAs are generally around a 2.0 or below. The students must apply to the program and upon acceptance, spend a quarter taking courses on topics such as time management and academic strategies.
“Our success rate is between 70 and 75 percent in terms of our students going back to an academic department after [the] CRP,” says Herman. However, even if a student does well in the CRP, they may still decide to leave RIT. “That’s a success story for me too because it makes sense for the student at that time,” Herman says. “It’s all about the student and what’s going to be best for the student.”
Efforts to ImproveThe SSSC has suggested and implemented
numerous changes across RIT and its many divisions based on the data collected. The Tiger Teams made a list of recommendations in 2009 and since then, “Almost all of them have been implemented,” states Licota.
O n e s u c h r e c o m m e n d a t i o n w a s a modification of the orientation program. The program was shortened to five days and the orientation groups changed to include students from many different colleges instead of the college-specific groups assigned in past years. Another implemented recommendation was the addition of Pathways and Discovery classes required of every first year student.
Other Tiger Team recommendations included changes to the advising model such as requiring first year students to speak with their advisor before winter quarter registration. Although many students complain about this hold on their accounts, the rule was put in place to provide students with increased academic support.
To c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e T i g e r Te a m recommendations, the SSSC has attempted to improve implementation of the Early Alert System and increase student access to opportunities for academic improvement. This involves providing programs at the Academic Support Center within Student Affairs including tutoring, supplemental instruction and the Writing Center.
The SSSC is also encouraging individual colleges to get involved by providing a more in-depth analysis of student survey data from the NSSE and SSI. “[The Institutional Research Office] takes the results from these surveys and breaks them down by college ... If a college sees that their score is lower than the bench mark in a particular area, they can do something about it,” says Licota. “The idea behind this recommendation was to find a way to make sure that the people who can do something about what the students are saying have the information at their fingertips.”
Most of the SSSC’s efforts have been aimed at first year students, since one main focus is the freshmen retention rate. The data seems to support that their efforts are having some effect: the first year students in 2011 had an 89 percent retention rate — only three percent below their goal for 2012.
14 Features | 03.15.13
15
What the Team Plans to Tackle NextEven though most of the SSSC goals have been met, the
team continues to look into improving RIT’s freshman retention and graduation rates. In addition to improving retention rates after the second year, the team hopes to help close the gender gap in graduation rate. In 2005, 60 percent of male RIT students graduated within six years compared to 73 percent of female students.
“Among peer institutions, there’s a similar phenomenon going on. That, in our mind, doesn’t make it acceptable,” said Edward A. Lincoln, Assistant to the Senior Vice President and representative of the Admission and Financial Aid Division on the SSS. “We still want to drill down a little further. Maybe try some different things that might improve those gaps, close those gaps. But at least we’re learning that it’s not just something within RIT.”
Graham has also found data that suggests a strong correlation between students taking a leave of absence (LOA) and their eventual graduation; less than one in five freshmen on an LOA return and graduate. “That was a trigger for the committee to see what kind of students are taking these leaves of absence. Are there other factors that we can or cannot influence?” says Graham. “And what should we be looking at in terms of our LOA policy and procedures in an effort to make these students as successful as we can?”
“Now we’ve got a [proposed] new student leave of absence policy that’s going to be going before the governance groups this year,” explains Licota. “We really need to sit down and have a conversation with [the student] to really have an exit strategy if they are going to leave.” By helping students plan their LOA, the team hopes to also help the student plan their return to the university.
Progress in freshman retention rate has been made each year since the Tiger Team was founded and, as the freshmen from 2009 and beyond start to graduate, the committee will be able to see the effect it has had on graduation.
“Now there are some [former students] that are not as positive about their [RIT] experience,” Mayberry admits. But she has found that that is not how most students respond: “I have been surprised every year by how positive so many students are about RIT even thought they left … I had not expected to hear that: ‘If there’s any way I could be back, I’d be back.’” With the SSSC’s help, RIT continues to search for ways to help students like these stay.
is there anything rit could
have done to keep you here?
information taken from
students who have left rit
FINANCIAL
ATHLETICS
STUDENT LIFE
MAJOR
NOTHING RIT COULD DO
HOUSING
ACADEMIC
CAMPUS
17
9 9
45
2
2
1
0
0
1 123 23
27
0
13 12
14
1112 10
11 11
2009OUT OF 73 STUDENTS
OUT OF 75 STUDENTS
OUT OF 79 STUDENTS
2010 2011
GRADUATION RATE AT RIT
20012000
RITStart 2005 Start 2004
Start 2004
PUBLIC PRIVATE NONPROFIT
50
50
55
60
65
702007
2008
2009
2010
2011
52
54
56
58
60
62
64
NU
MB
ER
OF
ST
UD
EN
TS
IN
%
NU
MB
ER
OF
ST
UD
EN
TS
IN
%
YE
AR
FR
ES
HM
AN
EN
TE
RE
D C
OL
LE
GE
RETENTION RATE
YEAR ENTERED COLLEGE
66
68
70
20022003
20042005
20062007
5 YEARS AFTER ENTRY
6 YEARS AFTER ENTRY
7 YEARS AFTER ENTRY
7.5 YEARS AFTER ENTRY
FRESHMAN RETENTION RATEAT RIT
MALE/FEMALE GRADUATION RATE WITHIN SIX YEARS
GRADUATION RATE WITHIN SIX YEARS
(STUDENTS WHO STARTED DEGREE IN 2004)
84.5%
85.2%
87.7%
86.3%
89%
RIT
PUBLIC COLLEGES
PRIVATE NONPROFIT COLLEGES
AVERAGE
65.8%
56%
65%
58%
1717
WHY DIDn't you To come back to rit?fin
ancia
l
EXPENSE
NOT WHAT I EXPECTED
PROBLEMS WITH FACULTY
CULTURAL
ROCHESTER AS CITY
COMMUNITY/FRIENDS
COST: MAJOR
MAJOR NOT OFFERED
LACK OF SUPPORT
SECLUSION FOR CITY
WEATHER
ACTIVITIES
COST: GRADES
HARD TO TRANSFER INTERNALLY
POOR PERFORMANCE
BLEAK
DISTANCE FROM HOUSE
NOT ENOUGH WOMEN
QUALITY
CO-OP PROBLEMS
FIT
PROXIMITY TO HOME
RACISM
“DREAM SCHOOL”
SIZE
CURRICULAR INFLEXIBILITY
UNSPECIFIED
MAJOR
academ
iclocatio
nstudent l
ife
cam
pus
2009OUT OF 73 STUDENTS
OUT OF 75 STUDENTS
OUT OF 79 STUDENTS
29
11
5
3
7
45
7 1
1 1 32
23
11
7
1
5
1
1 11 1
3
0
0 0
0 00 0
0 0
2
0
4 10 2
1
0
3
22
7
4
11
45
43
63
2
5 4
0 0 0
2
211
2427
2326 14
14 14
3
4 5 5
1
2
1
22
8
1
12
2010 2011
18
W&W_RochMagHalf_Group Ad.indd 1 9/24/07 2:54:20 PM
19
A playoff series with two closely ranked teams made for an exciting weekend for RIT hockey fans. The number eight seed Men’s Hockey team faced the number nine seed American International College (AIC) Yellow Jackets in the first round of the American Hockey playoffs on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9 at Ritter Arena.
At Friday’s game, the Tigers did not have decisive possession of the puck during the opening minutes. Play remained matched until the Yellow Jackets received two minor penalties, just over a minute apart, giving RIT a five-on-three power play. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tigers captain and fourth year Business major Chris Saracino scored the first goal of the game.
The Yellow Jackets nearly caught up six minutes later in a tense penalty kill situation, where the Tigers had two penalties and only three men on the ice. The penalty kill lasted until the end of the first period, but the Tigers prevailed and held the score at 1-0. The roaring applause at the end of the period validated their efforts.
The second period started with a heart-stopping rebound around the Tigers’ net, but the own goal was narrowly avoided. RIT recovered both men from the penalty box and shots between the two teams were once again evenly matched.
Three minutes into the period, the Yellow Jackets scored on a breakaway. With about a minute left, it appeared that the Yellow Jackets would score another breakaway goal, but Tigers goalie and second year Psychology major Jordan Ruby made a big save. Then, with just 13 seconds left in the period, first year Biomedical Sciences major Josh Mitchell scored for the Tigers, bringing the score to 2-1.
The intensity of play picked up in the last half of the third period as the Yellow Jackets swarmed the Tigers’ net. Ruby came through and stopped the puck, along with the Yellow Jackets’ momentum. With about a minute left, the Yellow Jackets pulled their goalie out to gain a one-man advantage and the pressure mounted both on the ice and in the stands. RIT called a timeout with 32 seconds left to break the pace of the game. Once play resumed, the Tigers were able to keep the lead and win the game.
The second game of the series was marked by some close shots that were deflected by the Tigers’ goalpoasts as well as a remarkable seven goals for the Tigers. The second goal for RIT was scored with 41 seconds left in the first period and one Tiger in the penalty box and was made by first year Biomedical Sciences major Dan Schuler. According to RIT hockey fan and first year Computer Engineering major Eric Tevelson, this goal “sparked” all of the remaining goals in the game. It was a decisive 7-1 victory.
Tigers head coach Wayne Wilson explained the disparate scores: “When you’ve got nothing to lose, you can take a lot of chances, and that can either hurt you or help you. In our case, they took a lot of chances and we were able to get more goals from it, so it helped us.”
The game scorers were not the only big contributors to the win. Wilson said, “I thought Jordan Ruby in net made very timely saves.” This included another breakaway save in the second period of Saturday’s game. Wilson added, “Chris Saracino was, I thought, a warrior all weekend; he played really, really hard on defense.”
Wilson felt good about the win, saying, “We were very patient, so I thought that was good for us. Even though we scored a lot of goals, our focus was on playing good team defense, and that worked out well for us.”
The Tigers’ next matchup will be against the number one seed team in Atlantic Hockey, Niagara University. The games will be played at Niagara on Friday March 15 through Sunday March 17. Wilson said, “I’m looking forward to trying to knock Niagara off. You know, it’s a great challenge for our team…They don’t ‘wow’ us. We respect them, for sure, but it’s not something that we feel like we’re going in overwhelmed or anything. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The RIT men’s hockey team raise their sticks to the Corner Crew after a resounding 7-1 victory over AIC during the second game of the AHA Tournament on March 9.
MEN’S HOCKEY BEATS AIC IN TWO GAMES
BY KAYLA EMERSON | PHOTO BY JUAN MADRID
WORDWhat should RIT do to increase the rentention rate?
STREETON THE
photos by Mackenzie Harris
EMILY MOORE
“RIT should provide better housing because a lot of people don’t want to come here because there aren’t enough housing options”
“RIT should have more activites for their students to do in the winter time or easier ways for students to get to Bristol Mountain to go skiing or tubing”
“Be more flexible about courses and
allow students to have more time to find out
what they excel in and what they could improve “
“Encorporate a plus/minus system
because your GPA will improve so you’ll be more likely to come
back in the fall.”
PRAVEEN IYENGAR
AUSTIN MALERBA
ALEX MIHILL
FIRST YEAR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
COMPUTER SCIENCE GRADUATE STUDENT
FIRST YEAR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
THIRD YEAR CHEMISTRY
20 Views | 03.15.13
21
On March 5, the New York State Assembly decided to raise the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $9.00 per hour ($6.21 for workers earning tips). The bill passed by the State Assembly would raise wages beginning in January 2014 and would account for increases in the cost of living starting in 2015. It is now sitting at the State Senate, awaiting a decision from representatives earning more than an aspiring journalist could dream of making.
This decision should be a no-brainer. Raising the minimum wage would be beneficial for both the employers and the employees struggling in the recent economy with wages incomparable to New York State’s cost of living.
Talk of raising the minimum wage occurred at a national level with President Obama’s State of the Union speech on February 12. At the address Obama explained: “Even with the tax relief we’ve put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That’s wrong.”
Obama also pointed out that since Congress last decided to raise the minimum wage to $7.25, 19 states have increased their minimum wage to greater than the national minimum. Locally, Governor Cuomo of New York has proposed raising the minimum wage to $8.75 in his budget plan.
The debate behind raising the minimum wage deals largely with how the economy and businesses
will be affected by the change. Those against an increased minimum wage argue that businesses will be forced to downsize in order to compensate for the added employee expenses. However, the more money an individual has to spend, the higher the demand for product will be from businesses within New York.
Henry Ford, Founder of the Ford Motor Company, put this philosophy to practice in 1914 when he raised his factory’s minimum hourly wage to $5.00, even though the average wage at other companies was $2.94. Ford’s reasoning was practical: if he paid his employees more, they would be able to buy the product he was selling. The experiment was successful and he found that the wage increase lead to a lower turnover rate, requiring fewer resources to be spent training new employees.
This system worked wonders for Ford, so why are members of the New York Senate debating a bill that would aid hundreds of poverty-stricken families? State Senators are elected to act as a channel for us to voice our desires and concerns, representing New York State citizens. They are relatively accessible; we are able to reach their offices through phone or email simply by finding that information on the internet. This should be encouragement enough to take a stand on the issue, tell your representatives what you want and help better the lives of the people of New York.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of REPORTER.
BY ALYSSA JACKSON ILLUSTRATION BY ERICA LANDERS
THE NEWMINIMUM
22
R I N G S5 8 5 . 6 7 2 . 4 8 4 0All calls subject to editing and truncation. Not all calls wil l run. REPORTER reserves the right to publish all calls in any format.
I L L US TRAT ION BY COR INNE NEWBEG IN
COMPI LED BY M ICHELLE SPO T O
Thursday, 5:12 p.m.
I THINK THE GIRLS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CAMPUS CENTER MAY BE HIGH, OR THEY JUST LIKE THE FEEL OF GLASS.
Monday 7:12 p.m.I CHOOSE TO OPEN THE HANDICAP DOOR CAUSE IT’S HEAVIER. WORKING OUT, LAZY COLLEGE KID STYLE.
Thursday, 9 p.m.DEAR RINGS, IS IT WEIRD THAT MY ROOMMATE IS FASCINATED WITH THE BALD SPOT ON MY BEARD?
Friday, 10:39 a.m. I’M REALLY EXCITED THAT MACKLEMORE IS COMING TO RIT. I JUST HOPE TICKETS ARE CHEAP BECAUSE I ONLY GOT TWENTY DOLLARS IN MY POCKET.
Saturday, 12:02 p.m. RINGS, I DISCOVERED SOMETHING ABOUT MYSELF THE OTHER DAY. AS A FEMALE AT RIT, I DON’T FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE , OR LIKE I’M AT A DISADVANTAGE. WHEN I LOOK AROUND AND SEE THAT I AM THE ONLY FEMALE IN MY CLASS, I FEEL...SPECIAL. PROUD. DO ANY OF THE OTHER WOMEN FEEL THIS WAY?
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