The Hunter Envoy

CRAASH Wrap-Up: What Happened, What's to Come

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

About a year after its inception, the Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter has captivated the attention of students, politicians, activists and administrators nationwide.

While CRAASH has rallied many supporters around its cause, it has still faced decisive roadblocks.

CUNY Admissions Dip Garners Mixed Response

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Controversy continues to mount over the ever-rising bar for gaining admission to CUNY senior colleges.

The beginning of this year marked the implementation of the toughest admissions requirements since the 1998 termination of CUNY's open admissions. CUNY's 2007 decision to raise the required cutoff for SAT and New York State Regents math scores went into effect this past admissions season, with a higher cutoff for SAT and New York State Regents verbal scores soon to follow.

CUNY Launches Policy to Protect Confidential Information

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

In a response to federal and state laws as well as to staff and student security concerns, CUNY will soon be transforming the manner in which its academic and business transactions are handled. The new information system, titled CUNYfirst, will severely restrict Social Security number usage and integrate CUNY's various electronic systems.

Missing Hunter Student Case Reopened Five Years after Her Death

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Almost exactly five years ago, Romona Moore, 21, a Hunter College student and child of a Guyanese immigrant was raped and murdered. Moore spent four days locked in a basement only a few blocks from her home and was beaten to death by two men on the same day that the police began their search.

Teacher Evaluations in the Electronic Age

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Recently, the Teacher Evaluation Committee at Hunter proposed a pilot study for the electronic execution of teacher evaluations.

According to Margarett Silva, coordinator of the committee, the test-run "will be conducted during Summer Session II." The TEC believes the electronic execution of evaluations has the potential to overcome the flaws of in-class evaluations, such as non-response from absent students, incomplete questionnaires and a lack of incentive for students and instructors to review the results.

Traveling Through Time via The Red Leather Diary

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Lily Koppel, a talented New York Times journalist, was accustomed to delving into stories about the fascinating lives of New Yorkers and their beloved city. On a crisp October morning in 2003, the writer-usually hobnobbing with celebrities and glitterati-found herself a dumpster diver, excavating a cache of old steamer trunks that mysteriously appeared in the trash outside of her Upper Westside apartment.

War Abroad Means War at Home

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Students, faculty and staff gathered in front of the West building on May 1, also known as May Day or International Workers day, in a composed, yet strong rally and teach-in against the war and the affects that it is having on U.S. citizens. The rally and teach-in, initiated by the Hunter Chapter of the Professional Staff Congress, the union that represents CUNY's faculty and staff, was part of an historic event.

Becoming Visible

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

What happens to a dream deferred? Ask Lamar Hanuman, who reads Langston Hughes poetry in the library on his breaks. But, who is Lamar Hanuman? You know him. I know him. Maybe not by name, but who could miss this giant of a man with his ready smile? Lamar Hanuman is one of the 90 full-time civil service custodians at Hunter-one of the "invisible" housekeepers, without whom the college would most likely turn into more of a contaminant zone than a well-kept campus.

Calling All Trend-Setters!

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Here at Hunter, fashion plays as much of a role in students' lives as academics, work and extracurricular activities. In a random sample of Hunter matriculates, you can expect to find a thrift store junkie, a Juicy Couture fanatic, a goth with green hair, a 72-year old in Ralph Lauren, a girl sporting spandex, a boy sporting spandex, a 72-year-old sporting spandex � and so on.

Dining Out With Casey

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

For a New Yorker, dining out is more than an occasional option. It becomes an inevitable lifestyle, and rightly so. In a city with more than 20,000 restaurants, many tucked away in hundreds of ethnic neighborhoods, exploring the culinary world is absolutely essential.

Familiar Face: William, the Book Guy

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

William, the one-named phenomenon á la Prince, is known around Hunter as "The Book Guy." Armed only with his table of books, William sets up on 68th St. next to the cheese steak cart and proceeds to excite the many bookworms across Hunter College with his offerings.

Go Green, Get Green

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

It seems like a no-brainer: sell back your books at the end of the semester, make money; enable your peers to purchase your gently used books at a lower cost than a new book would command, they save money; purchase the books your peers returned for your new classes, you save money; reduce the amount of paper needed to satisfy your textbook requirements, save the environment.

Catching Up With the Roots

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Another act that's played at Hunter in recent years-Philadelphia's own the Roots-have a new album out, Rising Down. The album, which also features Talib Kweli, follows up their '06 masterpiece, Game Theory. The bar for the Roots is high, but they remain consistent with the release of their eighth studio album.

How to Plan Your Summer Vacation: At the Movies

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

MAY The One Movie to See: Iron Man (May 2). It's out already, so we already know it surpassed all the high expectations we had. Long live Robert Downey Jr. The One I'm Sorta Embarrassed to Be Excited For: Sex and the City (May 30). If Big fucks over Carrie one more time, I'm, like, totally gonna scream.

Kweli & Company Barely Get By

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

There was a moment in Talib Kweli's much-hyped performance at Hunter where he paused to let the crowd recite his lyrics for him. His gesture left most of the crowd confused over the words to Kanye West's verse on "Get'm High," and left the rest of the crowd in silence, since they simply didn't know the words.

The Legendary Bob Dylan

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After a glass of Pinot Grigio, I was all set to listen to Professor Eric Lott's lecture on Bob Dylan, hardly able to anticipate just how fun it would be. The lecture was given by the Graduate English Club, sponsored by the Office of the President, Graduate Investment Funding, and the Graduate Student Association.

What to Buy on Your Summer Vacation?

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

MAY The Record You Have to Buy: Narrow Stairs, by Death Cab for Cutie (May 13). Dark and magical, with new guitar textures and earnestly earnest lyrics. The DVD You Have to Buy: Absolutely Fabulous: Absolutely Everything (May 27). A complete series release for Patsy and Edina, my two favorite drunken fools.

A Platonic Love Letter to Ben Siegel

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

I, along with many members of the Hunter Women's Rights Coalition, would like to give my sincerest thanks to outgoing Vice President Ben Siegel for his dedication and service. Unfortunately for us, he is graduating and cannot remain an officer. His hard work and commitment to the club, its members and feminism are exemplary for women and men alike.

Hunter Voices: Summer Fun?

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Most students are patiently awaiting the end of the semester and much-needed relaxation. However, for those of you who are interested in expanding your educational and leisure opportunities, CUNY has much to offer. The Summer in the City initiative, sponsored by CUNY, lists all leisure, educational and career opportunities going on throughout all CUNY college campuses.

Letters from the Editors

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

By the time most of you read this, the term will probably be over, and the time for me to relinquish my post as Editor in Chief of The Envoy will have come and gone. Working for this paper has been a powerful and profoundly enlightening experience, which, more than any class or internship, has primed me for a life beyond this two-block radius in the heart of the Upper East Side.

Letters to the Editor

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Dear Editor, The core members at the Coalition for the Revitalization of Asian American Studies at Hunter (CRAASH) wholeheartedly thank you and The Envoy staff for keeping the Hunter community updated on CRAASH's initiatives. Your publication first featured us a year ago when we began our campaign to improve the under funded Asian American Studies Program (AASP) and we are grateful that you continue to keep us in mind.

RateMyProfessors.com Garners Very Similar Results to Formal Teacher Evaluations

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

A recent study showed that the ratings obtained from formal teacher evaluations are remarkably similar to the ones found through informal surveys like those found on RateMyProfessors.com. Why is anyone surprised? Both RateMyProfessors and the evaluations have the same goal: determining if a professor is a good teacher.

The Ming Dynasty

Wed, 14 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Two weeks ago, my brother appeared to have worn himself ragged, mulling over the daunting decision of what to do with his life over the next four years. The worry ate at him as he wondered whether to choose a college that would cost him $190,000 by the time he graduated in 2012, or a college that would more or less pay him to attend, and give him a free MacBook to boot.