Sam Urann

The Student Senate recently approved a special allocations request, proposed by Ian Cramer, April 8 for $10,000 to implement a bicycle lending program here on the AU campus.

“This program, which starts this fall, will benefit the entire campus and any student, faculty, staff or administration member at AU is eligible for the program,” Cramer said.

Many members of the AU community may be familiar with a bike-sharing program, although this is not what AU will be receiving. There are fundamental differences between the costs and benefits, Cramer specified.

A special allocations request for a bike-lending program presented by Ian Cramer passed on April 8 at Student Senate.

“Alfred will not have a specific sharing program, it will have a lending program,” Cramer specified.

The key difference is that with a sharing program the bikes are integrated throughout the campus and students use one when they see it. Alfred will have a system similar to a video rental store, where the borrower will go to McLane Fitness center and acquire a bike for a set period of time.

A revised special allocations request for student-funded bowling nights at Maple City Bowl in Hornell was passed on April 15, despite the original request turned down at the Student Senate meeting a week prior.

The initial request, on April 8, asked for student funding of a $150 trial budget to lower the current $2.75 price of a game to $1.50.

This price-lowering was proposed for 6 nights a week, so that students could come and play provided they that they supplied their own transportation.

Have you received an e-mail from “the University” lately requesting your username, e-mail and password?

“ITS will never ask you for your username and password. No one ever should,” Manager of Network Services at ITS Adrian Morling said.

These communications are known as phishing e-mails where individuals attempt to gain sensitive information by masquerading as a trustworthy entity.

Phishing e-mails are a method used to gain access to the AU network for the purpose of making money through internet scams, Morling explained.

The newly elected members of the student government recently oversaw the Student Senate passing a request by the Robot Club for a special allocations grant during the March 19 meeting.

The Student Senate, having recently had presidential and vice presidential elections, has elected President Amos Mainville and Vice President Kevin Kostyck.

The Robot Club is attempting to host a competition in the Knight Club of Powell Campus Center through the Robot Fighting League.

Gender-role stereotypes can alter how we view and react to nearly identical behavior based simply upon the sex of the individual, Dr. Jeonghee Choi explained to the Nevins Theater audience.

“Troubling Gender-Role Stereotypes” was the title of Choi’s lecture to the Bergren forum on March 19, 2009.

Choi is an assistant professor of education here at AU. Choi is a literacy specialist with particular expertise in an understanding of socio-cultural perspectives on how students’ literacy development is shaped by their home, community and cultural values.

The Student Senate Presidential elections are here again, and Amos Mainville has made his bide for President, while Kevin Kostyk made his for Vice President.
The two students are the only nominees running although both positions will have a spot for a write in online.

Mainville is a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major and remains active in student organizations: being the President of Robot Club, Student Representative and active member of AU Rescue Squad as well as the Outdoor Club. Mainville had no comment about the upcoming election.

The Herrick Library Café was closed indefinitely Jan. 23 due to a lack of use, but the café may have been doomed to a short business life after a long planning period.

“It wasn’t getting used, and it’s closed pending discussion about the space,” Library Director and Collection Management Coordinator Stephen Crandall said.

The Herrick Library Café opened in the fall 2007 semester and remained open during the spring as well as fall 2008 semesters. The café served cappuccino, lattes, espresso, Taylor and Byrnes coffee, cold beverages and pastries.

While trekking around campus, students may have noticed a small, white work truck with the words “All Electric” and “Zero Emissions” written on it. This truck is another example of AU's efforts to go "green."

The University vehicle was purchased due to a need for a new truck in combination with the goal of trying to be more environmentally friendly, Director of the Physical Plant David Peckham said.

The employment of alternative energy in this continually globalizing world is fast becoming a reality, and Alfred University is directly involved.

This was the topic of Dr. Doreen Edwards’ lecture titled “Alternative Energy Science, Technology and Policy” that was delivered at the Feb. 5 Bergren Forum.

Edwards is a professor of materials science and engineering in the Kazuo Inamori School of Engineering. Edwards’ areas of concentration are oxides for electronic, optical, energy and environmental applications.