News

News & Notes: Among top 20 schools, U. ranks first in return on investment

The University ranks the first in return on investment among the top 20 private universities in the United States, according to a new report released by Lexington Law, a law firm specializing in credit repair services. According to the report, thelifetime earnings estimate for University graduates is $4,935,817, compared to the University's four-year cost of $223,328. The University’s return on investment is 2,110 percent, slightly higher than MIT’s 2,004 percent. Lexington Law researched the top 20 public and private universities using data from the most recent U.S.

Students to no longer apply to journalism courses

Students no longer need to apply to enroll in journalism courses starting this semester.The Ferris McGraw Seminars in Journalism, administered by the University’s Council of the Humanities, are taught by distinguished professional writers and journalists and cover topics ranging from magazine writing to investigative reporting.

U. partners with local company to compost food waste

The Office of Sustainability, Building Services and Campus Dining have partnered so that food scraps from the dining hall are now handled by a local company, AgriArk, which will process them into fertilizer at a local facility. Director of the Office of Sustainability Shana Weber explained that, for a long period of time, local options for composting food scraps were unavailable, with the closest facility located in Wilmington, Del.

Neuroscience concentrators express concerns about curriculum

While members of the first class of concentrators in the new neuroscience program appreciate the concentration’s tutorial-based system and the chance to pursue their passion, some students expressed concern about heavy requirements and the lack of information regarding independent work.Alice Tao ’17, a neuroscience major, said that she was initially planning to major in chemistry but was more interested in the required courses listed on the website for the neuroscience concentration.“I just like the classes and I was thinking of about doing research at [the Princeton Neuroscience Institute] anyway and so it was just a better fit,” Tao said.Dominique Fahmy ’17 said she came in already interested in neuroscience and the introduction of the program was an opportune moment to pursue the concentration.“It was like a godsend because it was right when I was like ‘What am I going to do with myself?’ ” Fahmy said.Nicole Katchur ’17, who started in chemical and biological engineering before switching to molecular biology, said she knew she wanted to concentrate in neuroscience when she was around pediatric neurologists after her older sister had a traumatic brain injury.However, students have also expressed concern about the major’s heavy requirements and prerequisites.Neuroscience departmental representative and professor of psychology Asif Ghazanfar and co-director of the PNI Jonathan Cohen did not respond to multiple requests for comment.According to the neuroscience concentration’s website, the concentration lists a minimum of 16 courses required for the course of study.

News & Notes: 31 percent of Harvard senior women report having experienced sexual assault

Thirty-one percent of Harvard’s female undergraduate students in their senior year reported experiencing some form of sexual assault over their college career, theHarvard Crimsonreported. The results come from a sexual climate survey conducted by the Association of American Universities in spring 2015. Among the institutions surveyed in the 27 AAU schools, Harvard had the highest response rate, and the number of respondents who said they experienced “nonconsensual penetration and sexual touching” was above the average.

U. found not guilty of discriminating against Asians in admissions

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights found that the University did not discriminate against Asians in its admission process, following two complaints filed by applicants. The finding was announced in a report that came in the form of a letter addressed to University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83. “OCR initiated this review under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” the report reads.

COS now most popular major

The computer science departmentis now themost popular major with135 students in the Class of 2017 declaring the concentration, according to department chair Jennifer Rexford ’91. The departmenthas displaced the Wilson School, which has in recent years been the most popular concentration on campus. Rexford attributed the rising interest in computer science to recent changes in the job market. “The growth in computer science as a major reflects a national trend, and we are no exception,” Rexford said.

Gilbert Jr. ’09 found mentally unfit to stand trial for alleged murder of father

Thomas Gilbert, Jr., ’09 has been found by two court-appointed psychiatrists to be mentally unfit to stand trial, but a judge on Sept.

News & Notes: Cotsen Childrens Library named Carle Honors Award recipient

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art named the University's Cotsen Children's Library a 2015 Carle Honors Award recipient, according to a press release from the library. There will be a ceremony this Thursday in New York City at which representatives for the Cotsen Children's Library will accept the "Angel Award." The award commends individuals and organizations who have worked to improve literacy among children.

Colautti triumphs at Ivy Plus as men’s tennis rolls on

One week after competing at the Penn Invitational, the men’s tennis team returned to Princeton at the Lenz Tennis Center to compete in the Ivy Plus Tournament as it hosted 21 other tennis teams in the three-day tournament.

Dean of the College Dolan: pioneer of feminist theater criticism

Jill Dolan, the Annan Professor in English, Professor of Theater in the Lewis Center for the Arts and Director of the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies, was named Dean of the College this June.

Cruz '92, Christie remain top 10 Republican candidates

U.S. Senator for Texas Ted Cruz ’92 and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have support from six percent and three percent of the party, respectively, according to a recent CNN national poll. These ratings keep both Cruz and Christie ranked in the top 10 Republican presidential hopefuls, although they trail behind several other candidates. Donald Trump is the party’s front-runner with 24 percent, followed by Carly Fiorina with 15 percent and Ben Carson with 14 percent. Both Cruz and Christie have significant ties to the University.

U. has lowest "annual cost" of Ivy League, according to College Scorecard

The University has the lowest average annual cost of $8,413 out of the eight Ivy League schools, according to The College Scorecard. Annual cost is defined by the College Scorecard website asthe average annual net price for federal financial aid recipients after aid from the school, state or federal government is taken into account.

Community Action, Outdoor Action trips shortened by one day

Both Community Action and Outdoor Action trips were shortened by a day this year, running from Saturday, Sept.

First Whig-Clio debate discusses presidential race

The first Whig-Cliosophic Senate Debate of the year took place on Monday, with candidates from the opposing sides debating whether the Republican presidential field will produce a better candidate than the Democratic presidential field.The Clio, or conservative, side won the debate by a vote of 15 to 13.The debate opened with arguments from Allison Berger ’18, representing Clio, and Ethan Marcus ’18, representing Whig.

Changes to FAFSA facilitate application process

Students around the country will soon benefit from what U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called an earlier and easier Free Application for Federal Student Aid, according to a Sept.

News & Notes: U. of Pennsylvania approves framework for mental health reforms

The Hamlett-Reed Mental Health Initiative and University of Pennsylvania administrators met and agreed upon a framework for reform Friday, the Daily Pennsylvanian reported. Administrators agreed to look into a new program for incoming freshmen that would involve wellness counselors and evaluating counseling appointment scheduling so that visits can be scheduled online and over the phone. They did not agree to make the scheduling of visits to counseling services anonymous, nor did they agree for counseling services to send out emails once a month containing mental health updates. The Initiative had sent a letter to Penn president Amy Gutmann the week before asking her and the administration to reform student mental health policies at Penn.

Schorske, professor emeritus of history, dies at 100

Updated: Second fondling incident reported on campus

The second fondling incident in four days was reported Sunday at around 4:20 p.m. between Whig Hall and Murray-Dodge Hall. The case follows afondling incident reported on Thursday night outside the Friend Center. "The incidents are still under investigation but at this time there is no indication that they are related," University spokesperson Martin Mbugua said. In the more recent scenario, according to an email from the Department of Public Safety, a female student reported that an unidentified man struck her buttocks as she was walking north.

U. professor develops new technique to study infant brains

Psychology professorLauren Emberson has developed a new technique to study how the portions of babies’ brains that respond to visual stimuli are the same portions of babies’ brains that respond to the expectation of a visual stimulus. The research in “Top-down modulation in the infant brain: Learning-induced expectations rapidly affect the sensory cortex at 6 months,” published June 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was conducted by Emberson, Richard Aslin and John Richards. Aslin is a professor at Rochester University for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Center for Visual Science, and Richards is a professor at the University of South Carolina department of psychology. Emberson, who joined the University psychology department on September 1 as an assistant professor of psychology, was previously a postdoctoral associate at Rochester University for the department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences. Emberson explained that in the study, parents go into a room where there is a screen that will display a video to the baby.