Monday, March 24, 2003

by Josh Hausman
Gazette Weatherman

Summary:  Swarthmore will enjoy continued warm spring weather this week.
Highs will range from the upper 50s to the upper 60s, with lows generally
around 40.  Much of the week will be very nice, but showers and thunderstorms

are possible on Wednesday into Wednesday night.

by Evelyn Khoo
Living/Arts Editor

The Deans’ Advisory Council has standardized the College’s parental
notification policy. Previously, there had been no official guidelines as
to when the college would inform parents of their children’s activities on
campus.

The policy noted that the college has a commitment towards protecting their
students’ privacy and as such, the majority of their communications are
done through students rather than directly to parents. However, it also
indicates that there are certain situations in which prompt notification is
crucial, and the proposal seeks to standardize this by detailing certain
instances in which the college will directly inform parents.

The college will notify parents immediately if a student is placed on
probation, suspended or expelled, hospitalized for critical conditions,
arrested on campus, or is absent inexplicably from campus for a prolonged
period of time.

Tedd Goundie, Associate Dean for Student Life, notes that this policy is
not new: “It is our policy as it has been for years. The only difference is
that we put it in writing.”

Goundie further explained that the reasons for making the policy official
are not due to any particular incident on campus, but rather several
external factors. One main reason is the recent suicide case at MIT, in
which the parents are now suing the college for not informing them of their
daughter’s emotional state. Says Goundie: “This caused us, as it probably
did all colleges, to review the way we communicate with the parents of
students.”

Goundie also made clear that federal legislation, which made it legal for
colleges to inform parents of any alcohol-related activities that their
children participate in, prompted them to review their policy but did not
change their stance on the issue.

However, the policy also explicitly states that its right to notify parents
will not be restricted to merely the above situations. The deans will
notify parents based on their judgment of what is in the best interests for
the students and the college.

by Mary Harrison
Gazette Reporter

It’s spring, and while most Swatties are tossing Frisbees and working on
their theses, a group of students are busy building “Digital Bridges” to
the Chester community.

Twice a week, Swarthmore students travel to Chester to teach basic computer
skills to Chester adults, specifically the use of Microsoft Word. Each
class involves a previously elaborated lesson plan and hands-on exercises,
geared towards people who have almost no experience with computers.
Participants might learn how to change margins, format documents, or copy
and paste.

According to Melkizedeck Okudo ’03, the program’s initiator, the curriculum
allows the Chester participants to focus on the skills they are interested
in mastering. Encouraging each participant to develop his or her personal
initiative is the program’s founding aspiration. According to Okudo, the
goal of Digital Bridges, as articulated by Gene Foehl, the local lawyer who
created the program, is to “create a space for the community so people can
get together and do things for themselves.”

Digital Bridges originated last spring when Pat James, Director of
Community Services at the college, was contacted by Gene Foehl, who needed
teachers for computer labs he had established in Chester. Upon learning of
the opportunity, Okudo, Ignatius Immonje ’04 and Yubraj Acharya ’05 quickly
became interested, and applied for a Lang grant in order to fund the
program. During the summer, Immonje and Acharya held workshops that proved
to be a great success. A committed group of Chester adults participated in
an intense course in Microsoft Word, working on projects such as designing
resumes and developing fliers to publicize the program.

“During the summer, people didn’t miss a single class,” said Acharya. Upon
completing the program, participants were awarded a certificate of graduation.

During this year’s fall semester, Digital Bridges encountered problems.
Attendance fell. “It was not a constant crowd. People would come for two or
three weeks, then fall off the radar screen,” said Okudo. “They had
families and jobs, and other commitments.”

Organization and communication problems also emerged on the Chester side of
the program. The Chester community group overseeing the program
disintegrated. In order to meet this challenge, the Swarthmore tutors
developed greater flexibility. They restructured the program to accommodate
all levels of computer experience, each week juggling brand new learners
with returning participants.

While Digital Bridges still encountered a lukewarm response from the
community this semester, tutors are focusing on ways to increase community
participation. “We could move to a different neighborhood,” said Okudo. “We
could change our target audience, and teach kids instead. We could change
the format of the program, and allow a more intense program with more
consecutive classes.”

Because of the high level of commitment on the part of the volunteers,
Okudo and Acharya feel the future of Digital Bridges is secure. Eight
members, including several freshmen, regularly make the trip to Chester.
“We are hoping to teach another program this summer,” said Acharya, “maybe
doing HTML and web design.”

* In what one US officer called the “sharpest engagement” of the Iraq war
so far, US marines were embroiled in fighting around the city of Nasiriya
on Sunday. Though the marines were able to repel the Iraqi troops, American
casualties were reported. Though the exact numbers are unclear, up to 10
marines could have been killed, and more wounded, when a troop carrier
capable of holding 24 people was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. In
addition, soldiers from a maintenance unit were captured as prisoners.
These prisoners were shown on Iraqi television, though that is a violation
of the Geneva Convention.

* US Sgt. Asan Akbar is suspected in a grenade and small arms attack that
took place in Kuwait on Sunday morning. Akbar killed one person and wounded
15, all fellow members of the 101st Airborne Division. The army reported
that he had attitude problems and pointed to retribution as a possible
motive. It is also believed that Akbar was a Muslim convert, though it is
not clear when or why he converted. If convicted, he could face the death
penalty.

* President Bush reported on Saturday that the war on Iraq could last
longer than was previously expected. The announcement reflected US
officials’ concerns that the American public may interpret the forces’
quick movement through southern Iraq as a sign that the war would be over
quickly. However, on a more encouraging note, there do continue to be
reports of negotiations between Iraqi and American commanders over
unit-to-unit surrenders.

* “Chicago” was the big winner at the Academy Awards last night, taking
home six trophies including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actress for
Catherine Zeta-Jones. Nicole Kidman and Chris Cooper won their first
Oscars, Kidman for her leading role in “The Hours” and Cooper for a
supporting part in “Adaptation.” Adrien Brody was a surprise winner for
Best Actor for “The Pianist,” while the upset of the night went to that
film’s director, Roman Polanski, who was rewarded over sentimental favorite
Martin Scorcese.

*****

SWAP Lunch
Sharples Room 6, 12:15 p.m.

Faculty Lecture: “Let Them Eat Sushi: 18th Century Rulers and Grain Markets
in Paris, Beijing and Edo (Tokyo)”
by Lillian Li, Professor of History
Scheuer Room, 4:00 p.m.

Cognitive Science Lecture: “Language as a Window on the Mind”
by Stephen Anderson, Yale University
Kirby Lecture Hall, 4:15 p.m.

Drama Board “Zombie movie” auditions
LPAC 301, 5:00 p.m.

SAC meeting
Trotter 301, 9:00 p.m.

SWIL Movie Night: “Transformers”
Kirby Lecture Hall, 10:00 p.m.

*****

SPORTS UPDATE

The women’s lacrosse team finished in fifth place at the Seven Sisters
Tournament this weekend. After falling in the first round 11-8 to Notre
Dame of Maryland, the Garnet bounced back by romping Smith 16-3 in the
second round and squeaking past Vassar 9-8 in overtime for the fifth place
finish. Junior Jackie Kahn scored six goals, while Heidi Fieselmann ’06
netted two, including the game-winner in overtime. Kahn scored 16 goals in
the tournament and was named to the all-tournament team along with senior
Meg Woodworth.

*****

The Garnet cleaned up easily at their weekend match at DeSales, jumping out
to a 9-0 lead and ultimately crushing DeSales 11-4. Senior Than Court led
the attack with three goals, and seven other players also scored, including
John Cleaver ’04, who scored twice.

*****

The women’s tennis team claimed all nine matches against Gettysburg this
weekend. Anjani Reddy ’04, Caroline Celano ’04, Elli Suzuki ’06, Emily
Townsend ’06, Sonia Vallabh ’06, and Jenna Adelberg ’06 were all victorious
in singles, while the first three doubles teams Reddy/Townsend, Kristina
Pao ’04/Suzuki, and Megan Speare ’05/Katherine Voll ’03 were also victorious.

*****

The Garnet had a strong showing at Ursinus over the weekend, with Matt
Williams ’04 winning the 110 and 400 hurdles, Adam Hunt ’06 claiming the
800, and Patrick Hart ’06 taking the 5000. For the women, Elizabeth Gardner
’05 won the 3000 and Njideka Akunyili ’04 took the 400.

*****

Today:
There are no contests scheduled for today.

Tomorrow:
Softball hosts Goldey Beacom, 3:00 p.m.
Women’s Tennis at Washington, 3:30 p.m.
Baseball at F&M, 3:00 p.m.

*****

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”
–Jerome K. Jerome

*****
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