College Shorts

Author: Andrea Gissing

Cell phones not welcome at Mississippi State University

The Mississippi State University (MSU) faculty senate is moving towards banning cellular phones from all classrooms. They are working on a policy that, if implemented, would justify removing students from classrooms for possessing a cell phone. If the ban is added, any student even seen with a phone in class will be asked to leave. The MSU faculty senate will discuss the meeting later this semester.

According to administrators, the largest concerns with cell phones are the possibility of them ringing and the ability to use them to cheat.
Many syllabi for classes at MSU include pleas to students to turn their phones on silent or completely off when in the classroom, however professors have been complaining about the prevalence of phones in the classroom. If the policy for cell phones to be banned from classrooms is university-wide, then professors would have more authority to enforce the rule.

Source: U-Wire


Colleges seek donations from undergrads

In an effort to come up with creative fundraising ideas to combat state budget cuts and to remain competitive, public universities are beginning to focus on current student as potential sources of money.
California State Polytechnic University has a students-only fund, which is designed to have undergraduates donate money for scholarships. Other schools, such as the University of Georgia, solicit seniors to donate between $35-50 for campus improvement.

Now, however, younger students are being approached for donations. The University of Alabama has started a campaign asking every one of the 21,000 students to donate $2 that would go towards a scholarship for someone who will be the first in his family to go to college.

Fundraising consultants say this is where the trends are heading. Previously, students would not be approached until at least five years after graduation. Then the trend moved until the norm was that students would be approached as soon as they graduated. Now it has moved even younger.

Source: The Associated Press



Costumes incite investigation at Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute has requested its student governing body to investigate and recommend discipline against cadets who wore controversial costumes to a Halloween party. The costumes parodied Nazis, Africans and homosexuals.

The costumes became known when photographs of the party were posted on Web sites, first on one featuring amateur photographs, but then on an independent media Web site.School officials said they were "disappointed" in the behavior of the eight cadets pictured and the judgment they showed. However, they say that the behavior was not mean-spirited but more of a bad attempt at humor.

It is unclear if any rules were broken, however the school had let the Halloween party take place in the barracks under the condition that costumes be appropriate. Cadets can be disciplined for "conduct unbecoming," behavior that brings disrespect to the Institute.

Source: The Washington Post