Friday, November 20, 1998
Community Briefs
Value of Pell grants falls
BOSTON, Mass. — Pell grants cover about half as much of the
cost of college as they did 20 years ago, according to a study
released yesterday.
The Daily Free Press at Boston University reported that in the
1996-1997 school year, the average Pell grant covered 9 percent of
the cost of a private four-year school.
During the 1976-77 academic year, the grant covered 19 percent,
according to a study conducted by the Institute for Higher
Education Policy and the Education Resources.
At public schools, the average grant now covers 22 percent of
the cost, compared to 39 percent 20 years ago.
The study also found that the average Pell grant is down 23
percent since 1976, while the price of college is up 49 percent.
The figures adjust for inflation.
Colleges may require laptops
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — By the year 2000, the computer screen may
replace the notebook.
Colleges and universities are drafting and passing proposals to
require students to own laptop computers, making technology an even
more integral part of student life, according to the Michigan
Daily.
Northern Michigan University will require students to lease one
of the school’s laptop computers by fall 2000, said Fred Joyal,
assistant for academic administration and planning at the
university. He said students will pay $600 a year for an IBM
laptop.
"We think in order to be a part of the 21st Century, those
people involved in the telecommunications world are those who have
had access to information," Joyal said.
Students should be as familiar with computers as they are with
televisions and telephones, Joyal said.
However, this kind of mandate could cause financial hardship to
many students, who already cannot afford to purchase computers,
Joyal said.
Student president set for trial
BELLEFONTE, Penn. — Jason Covener, former Undergraduate Student
Government Senate president, was ordered yesterday to stand trial
for computer tampering in the USG office, the Daily Collegian
reported.
Covener will be tried on charges of interception of electronic
or oral communications and unlawful use of a computer within the
USG office. A charge of criminal conspiracy was dismissed.
Assistant District Attorney Karen Kuebler said Covener’s trial
should begin in early February.
"There was another case (in which a wire tap law was applied to
e-mail) in Pittsburgh about six years ago, but this is the first in
Centre County," Kuebler said.
Covener is accused of obtaining USG members and other students’
e-mail messages and then distributing the information, according to
court documents.
Karen Muir, Covener’s attorney, motioned to dismiss several of
the charges on grounds of insufficient testimony and evidence.
Muir said the charge of criminal conspiracy should be dropped
because no one else has been charged in the matter.
Compiled from University Wire reports
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