-
-
Robotic Arm Lends A Hand
Discovery-News.com: Discovery's Tracy Staedter and Matt Danzico visit University of Massachusetts Amherst to meet a robot that interacts with foreign environments. Discovery-News.com: Discovery's Tracy Staedter and Matt Danzico visit University of Massachusetts Amherst to meet a robot that in... more
-
Shocking initiation rituals at UK universities
A secretly-filmed BBC video shows students taking part in a bizarre initiation rite, wearing bags over their heads, drinking and vomiting.
The University of Gloucestershire says it will launch a formal inquiry into alleged "bullying and intimidation" during initiation ceremonies after the BBC obtained the shocking footage
The video obtained by the BBC shows a group of University of Gloucestershire students lined up against a wall with white plastic bags over their heads. Another student, dressed in a Nazi-style uniform, is seen to encourage them to drink. Several students then vomit onto the ground before being paraded though the streets.
University of Gloucestershire students told the BBC that during the ceremonies, first-year students are made to do "anything you are told" by the senior students. One, 20-year-old Natalie Sutton, said that during her hockey initiation ceremony she was forced to put fish in her bra and then eat it. She added: "I had to go to the toilet in a bucket in a dark basement, which was full of other people's urine. People were crying and vomiting."
Another, Nick Levy, said that during his ceremony he was told to drink excessively and then run naked through Cheltenham. He added: "We had to put matches in private, inappropriate areas and set them on fire whilst drinking more beer. I did it to be accepted by the older guys at the time. It was a bit tormenting, but if you didn't do it you would get called a wuss".
NUS President Wes Streeting told BBC News: "We are totally opposed to student initiations. They put students at serious risk and exclude students who don't want to take part in that binge-drinking culture." A secretly-filmed BBC video shows students taking part in a bizarre initiation rite, wearing bags over their heads, drinking and vomit... more -
'De-gendered' toilets at the University of Manchester spark row
A row has broken out at the University of Manchester after its students' union toilets were "de-gendered".
Temporary signs have made the "ladies" simply "toilets", while the "gents" have become "toilets with urinals".
The changes are in response to an unspecified number of complaints from trans students who are uncomfortable using the men's toilets.
A university newspaper criticised the move but the student union said it was needed to tackle transphobia.
There are no figures on the number of transsexual and transgender students believed to be among the university's population of more than 35,000 students.
The students' union welfare office declined to reveal the number of complaints, but said it was an important issue. A row has broken out at the University of Manchester after its students' union toilets were "de-gendered". ... more -
Harvard removes calorie info
After students and parents raised concerns about displayed calorie counts leading to or worsening eating disorders, Harvard University Dining Services removed the index cards detailing nutritional information from dining halls this year.
Dining Services spokeswoman Crista Martin said several students and families asked the university to consider the effect of making detailed nutritional information known to students.
"The feeling was that for people who have eating disorders or who struggle with issues around the literal value of food, the emphasis on nutrition information does not always lead people to eat in a healthy manner," Martin said.
A committee of representatives from Dining Services, the Bureau of Study Counsel, Harvard University Health Services, and the College met over the summer to discuss the issue.
"The decision was made that we needed to review the policy based on some of the inquiries from students, the concerns about eating disorders, and what we were doing to support those students in the dining hall," Martin said.
Executive director Ted A. Mayer said on the Dining Services blog this week that the office needs to address "the challenge a quiet and surprisingly large contingent of our community faces with eating disorders."
Though the nutritional information -- which included number of calories, serving size, grams of fat and grams of carbohydrates -- is no longer displayed alongside the food, students can still look up the nutritive analysis on the Internet or in kiosks in the dining halls.
In addition to making nutritional information available at the kiosks, Dining Services will continue to promote healthy eating among students through forums and information session, Martin said.
"We are talking about the benefits of foods as opposed to talking about their literal caloric breakdown," she said. After students and parents raised concerns about displayed calorie counts leading to or worsening eating disorders, Harvard University... more -
Young Indian Suicides
As the pressures on students to over-perform and competition for admission to the top universities increases, so do the suicide rates of young adults across India. As the pressures on students to over-perform and competition for admission to the top universities increases, so do the suicide rates ... more
-
A shaving ceremony makes freshmen men
Five hundred 18-year-old freshmen men at Shanghai's Fudan University had their first shave yesterday in a ceremony celebrating their entrance to manhood. After shaving, the students also wrote statements on an "announcement wall." Their visions of manhood reportedly included things like "Let me choose my own life" and "Nobody can tell me what to do anymore." The ceremony marks part of a recent trend in reviving traditional coming of age ceremonies in China.
Imagine having a ceremonial shave along with the usual boozing and partying that goes on in your average UK Fresher's week... Five hundred 18-year-old freshmen men at Shanghai's Fudan University had their first shave yesterday in a ceremony celebrating th... more -
9 Universities working to ensure bright students from poorer homes take degree cou...
Nine English universities are to work together to ensure bright pupils from poorer homes take up degree courses.
Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, King's College London, Leeds, Warwick, Newcastle, Southampton and Exeter universities will be "pooling" talent.
Under the scheme, students identified as able by one university's access programme would be able to apply to the other institutions taking part.
The initiative will begin for students applying to start degrees in 2010.
The institutions will continue with their own widening participation programmes, but will be formally able to recommend students to the other universities in the scheme.
Lesley Braiden, director of marketing and communications at Newcastle University, said the pooling scheme built on what was being done already.
"We're happy to be involved in this scheme - we're only too conscious of the fact that there are young people who have the potential for higher education study but have problems in their context," she said.
The scheme formalised universities' work to try to ensure these people did not "fall through the net", she added.
Professor Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University, said the initiative reached out to students from the state school sector who got good A-level results but did not apply to the most selective universities.
"What this is about is universities as a group trying to work together to recognise each other's compact schemes," said Professor Smith.
Compact schemes are initiatives in which universities work with schools to provide master classes, summer schools or visits for students.
"If a student was on a compact scheme with Exeter and wanted to apply to another university, it could mean that university treating the student as if they had been involved in their own compact scheme."
Universities Secretary John Denham highlighted the initiative at the Labour Party conference in Manchester.
"No-ne should feel their ambitions are blocked," he told delegates.
"Ten year ago too many of our kids though 'university - not for me' now more than half say 'I want to go to university'.
"I am delighted that some of our most selective institutions are working together to make progress in widening participation."
The Russell Group, which represents the top research-intensive institutions, said it was fully committed to working with the government on these proposals.
The National Union of Students said they were "fantastic".
President Wes Streeting said there were too many universities "at the higher end of the market" that did not seem a realistic prospect for students from non-traditional backgrounds. Nine English universities are to work together to ensure bright pupils from poorer homes take up degree courses. ... more -
New students live in hotel due to accommodation crisis
New students starting courses at Aberdeen University, Scotland, have been moved to a hotel because there is nowhere else for them to stay.
A severe lack of space in halls of residence and a shortage of private accommodation has sparked the crisis, which has resulted in about 100 students living at a Premier Travel Inn as staff try to find somewhere for them to live.
Mike Davis, 18, received a letter at the end of August telling him he would have to stay in the hotel. He said: "I was surprised and gutted. I was really looking forward to living in halls. Now I've got a week until classes start and I don't know what's going to happen."
A spokesman for Aberdeen University said work was under way to expand existing accommodation, as well as create new rooms. New students starting courses at Aberdeen University, Scotland, have been moved to a hotel because there is nowhere else for them to s... more -
Leaps Summer School (2007)
LEAPS stands for Lothian Equal Access Program for Schools. It is designed for young people who don't have a parent or guardian already in higher education. It is a two month course which teaches you the skills required for surviving university. I took part hoping to learned the skills I need and it has helped greatly with my study at College as taking notes is second nature to me. The school was also lots of fun with social events taking place at one part of the week which was great. The school was based at Edinburgh University and we had tutors for every ten people which were third year students; they were great and really helped us. There was a fun cook section of the week where students presented a recipe; it gave us a bit of light relief during the week. LEAPS stands for Lothian Equal Access Program for Schools. It is designed for young people who don't have a parent or guardian al... more
-
Male students barred from using dorm elevator in Nanjing
Male students at a university in Nanjing have been banned from using the lifts in their 11-storey dorms due to fears over safety concerns, given that most of the students living in the dormitory are "at a special age." Female students still have a choice over stairs or lifts, but the boys will have to walk it. This new rule has come alongside earlier regulations not allowing students to visit the dorm rooms of those of the opposite sex.
Come on, they're uni students. They're adults. No wonder there're worries in China that uni graduates are coming out of uni unable to cope with normal life. Male students at a university in Nanjing have been banned from using the lifts in their 11-storey dorms due to fears over safety conce... more -
Student Survey Shows Students Study?
This year's National Student Survey is out and it appears students have swapped hard drink for hard study. Maybe it's something to do with having to pay three grand in top-up fees? This year's National Student Survey is out and it appears students have swapped hard drink for hard study. Maybe it's someth... more
-
Students 'could hold the keys' to power in the White House
We hear this every election: the youth hold the swing vote! If young people get out and vote, their candidate will win! Numbers are up and up for young people intending to vote! Politics have finally become important to young voters!
"Facebook tells the story. As of last night, Obama had 1,847,187 Facebook friends. McCain had 335,528. On top of that, the campaign has created platforms across numerous internet-networking sites, from Twitter to Faithbase and BlackPlanet. The beauty of the approach is that it is bottom up rather than top down, allowing young people to run their own Obama-supporting groups unfettered by central control."
Alas, in the last three elections, the youth have failed to deliver on all these predictions. Why? We hear this every election: the youth hold the swing vote! If young people get out and vote, their candidate will win! Numbers are up... more -
Viral Video Film School: Dorm Room Tours
Hot young coeds across the nation are heading are breaking out their webcams
and showing off their newly decorated dorm rooms. Break out the bong and
get ready for some classic rock posters.
Viral Video Film School is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of VVFS, Professor Brett Erlich teaches you valuable skills in the discipline of Viral Video making. So sit down, take notes, and try not to piss him off.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at current.com/infomania. Hot young coeds across the nation are heading are breaking out their webcams ... more -
Woman auctions virginity to pay for education
The woman, who has earned a bachelor degree in women's studies and now wants to start a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, is hoping the bidding will hit $1 million. The woman, who has earned a bachelor degree in women's studies and now wants to start a master's degree in marriage and fami... more
-
18 Year Old Recalls 911
Norfolk Virginia-18 year old Alan Berg is a Freshman at Old Dominion University, majoring in communications. He's originally from New Jersey.He takes a moment to tell us what he remembers about 911. Norfolk Virginia-18 year old Alan Berg is a Freshman at Old Dominion University, majoring in communications. He's originally from... more
-
A.L.A.N.Y. Moves To Extinguish College Smoking in NY
Although the America Lung Association of New York has succeeded in stamping out cigarette smoking in college dorms, the clean air junkies aren't stopping there and are now jockeying for a 'curb to curb' ban on smokeable tobacco for every college/university state wide. As of right now, there's 14 campuses that are entirely smokefree and only 5 holdouts that still sell tobacco products: Bard College, Culinary Institute of America, Iona College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY Fredonia, and SUNY Potsdam. Although the America Lung Association of New York has succeeded in stamping out cigarette smoking in college dorms, the clean air junk... more
-
Scientists discover object that orbits sun backwards
A University of B.C. astronomer is among an international team of scientists who have discovered an unusual object that orbits the sun backwards on a unique tilt, a find that could lead to a better understanding of how our solar system was formed. A University of B.C. astronomer is among an international team of scientists who have discovered an unusual object that orbits the sun... more
-
Food for thought more than an empty saying
Intellectual work -- such as reading, writing or working on a computer -- prompts people to overeat and that might be a cause of obesity, a new university study suggests. Intellectual work -- such as reading, writing or working on a computer -- prompts people to overeat and that might be a cause of obesi... more
-
Give us a plug: Cambridge Uni asks TV soaps for help
Cambridge University has asked script-writers of popular soaps such as Coronation Street and EastEnders to give it a plug to help dissolve its elitist image. They hope that being featured in the soaps' plotlines will incourage more state-educated students to apply to the uni and show they are "contemporary and modern ... and interested in the best students,"
Other programmes that have been approached include Emmerdale, Top Gear and Doctor Who. Cambridge University has asked script-writers of popular soaps such as Coronation Street and EastEnders to give it a plug to help diss... more -
5 things you must have in your college fridge
Their list says: beer, Ramen Noodles, salsa, Velveeta, Brita and Redbull.
Mine: Ramen Noodles, salsa, whipped cream, Otter pops, left over dining hall food
What was / is the top 5 in your fridge? Their list says: beer, Ramen Noodles, salsa, Velveeta, Brita and Redbull. ... more
-
related topics
University
Contributors (570)
University
