University News

Canadians give thanks for not-quite-international identity

Correction appended.

U. restricts Oxford, Cambridge study abroad

The University will offer only full-year study abroad programs at Oxford University and Cambridge University beginning next year. Students will no longer have the option to study abroad for one semester at those universities, and petitions for one-semester programs will not be approved.

Fall 2011 faculty poll results

Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ruth Simmons is handling her job as president of the University? Strongly approve: 41.1% Somewhat approve: 31.4% Somewhat disapprove: 11.4% Strongly disapprove: 6.9% Not familiar enough to answer: 7.4% No opinion: 1.7%   Do you approve or disapprove ...

Faculty satisfied with Simmons

President Ruth Simmons' approval rate among faculty is about 10 points above the most recent student approval rate, according to a Herald poll conducted among the faculty. About 73 percent of faculty members stated they either "strongly" or "somewhat" approve of how she handles her job. About 41 percent ...

McCormick to get donation records

A federal judge ordered the University Friday to hand over to William McCormick all records of donations and fundraising by the father of the woman who accused McCormick of rape in 2006.

Pembroke Center beats fundraising goal

As the window of opportunity to be part of the Campaign for Academic Enrichment was closing in the fall of 2010, Kay Warren knew she had to act fast to launch a fundraising effort for the Pembroke Center. Warren, who had been named director of the center that October, had only two months to come up ...

Simmons reflects on themes of presidency

"A lot of the things that have happened that seemed to be important to people, I missed," said President Ruth Simmons of her accomplishments at Brown. "I was here, I was doing it — and now somebody defines it as having been important."

Medical corporation funds engineering research

Since committing $400,000 to University research in January, Medtronic — Fortune 500's top medical product and equipment company — has provided support for three engineering research projects, according to Brian Sheldon, a professor of engineering who has been directing the collaboration. ...

All-night construction on Thayer 'unbearable' for students

All-night construction on Thayer Street to complete renovations to the Metcalf Chemistry and Research Laboratory Sept. 29 left angry and tired students in its wake. "At the completion of the Metcalf renovation project, Thayer Street was cold planed and re-paved," Stephen Maiorisi, vice president of ...

Simmons defends Goldman ties

Four years after signing off on a $68 million executive bonus at the height of the economic boom and two years after parting ways with Goldman Sachs amid a recession, President Ruth Simmons said she does not feel her decade-long tenure on Goldman's board has negatively impacted the University.

Campus crimes decreased in 2010

Crime on or near campus decreased in 2010, according to the 2011 Annual Security Report released this month. Robbery and motor vehicle theft on and near campus were the only crimes to increase last year, and all other categories decreased or remained the same. The report includes statistics for nine ...

Ground vapors may pose health risk

Most homeowners don't worry about their houses' foundations unless their basements flood.

Hay exhibit extracts chemistry's secrets

When the United Nations designated 2011 the International Year of Chemistry, Lee Pedersen immediately posted the news to the bulletin board in her office. Pedersen, a physical sciences librarian with a background in chemistry, set out with Holly Snyder, curator of the History of Science Collections ...

With altered genes, plants adjust to climate

Newly discovered links between a plant's genetic variations and climate change may­ reduce the agriculture industry's reliance on pesticide use, according to a paper by researchers in the University's Schmitt Lab published yesterday in the journal Nature.

Facilities negotiates off-campus staffing

Yesterday's negotiations between Facilities Management and the University on a new labor contract ended with a promise of a "good faith effort" from the University to maintain Facilities Management workers' jobs in buildings that are only used by the University, said Karen McAninch '74, business agent ...

Med professors teaching in Ghana

Timothy Flanigan, professor of medicine, recalled the enthusiasm of a Ghanian priest he met at the Sept. 20 launch of the University's new HIV education initiative, which was born from a partnership between three American universities and the University of Ghana.

New methods hatched for egg research

A new method for testing the genetic makeup of an egg may provide clues as to why some develop after fertilization and others do not, a finding with possible implications for in vitro fertilization, according to a paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Classes take on rooms their own size

Though shopping period was riddled with overcrowding and classroom shuffling, the Office of the Registrar has now solved all known space constraint problems.

Occupy College Hill enters second day

For the second day in row, the Occupy College Hill movement mustered a presence on the Main Green. Roughly 40 supporters of the movement assembled at noon to discuss how to ensure that the interests of 99 percent of Americans will no longer be subverted by the interests of the wealthiest 1 percent.

Student 'melt' creates surplus in available housing