Congratulations! You now possess what may well be the most important source book available to you as a graduate student at Wesleyan. Since 1982, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) has published this handbook as a compendium of useful information regarding how-to's, where-to's and who-to's at Wesleyan and in the local area. While much of the content of this edition has been gleaned (plagiarized) from existing sources, it has been assembled here with a subjective slant toward a graduate student's needs by graduate students.
Thanks are due to all those who contributed to the 1997 edition of the Handbook: Barbara Heiles updated Jon Kornacki's running section, Harriotte Hurie shared her expertise with the voicemail system, and Deborah Nassif Pugsley and Georg Adelberger attacked other severely out-of-date sections. Kevin McConnell, the previous editor, updated the computing section. Chip Beckwith, in one of his first acts as GSA President, revised the 1997 edition into the stunningly accurate handbook you hold today.
As in the past, we ask for your input, criticisms and revisions concerning this year's edition so that we can improve the handbook for next year. Please pass your suggestions along to your department representative, or better yet, come to a GSA meeting.
If you are a graduate student at Wesleyan University, you are a member of Wesleyan's Graduate Student Association (GSA). A copy of the GSA constitution outlining the purpose of the organization is included in the appendices of this handbook. The GSA is your organization and it is here to help you as graduate students in any way it can. If you have any problems, questions or suggestions about graduate student life, attend a GSA meeting or contact your GSA department representative.
GSA meetings are held once a month or so. The Graduate Student Association Lounge is located in Room 128 in the Science Tower, and is the site of many GSA meetings. It is open to all graduate students through your department representative.
In the past, GSA activities have included workshops on student tax liability and on grantsmanships for artists, humanists and scientists, as well as a range of social events including concerts, dances, a summer film series and a variety of house parties. Anyone can get involved, bring ideas to the meetings, or simply listen in on the issues which concern graduate students. Contact the Office of Graduate Student Services for a list of current officers and department representatives, or keep an eye on your mailbox for upcoming meetings and GSA sponsored activities.
Allison and Beth can handle almost any problem you may encounter, and if not, can direct you to the right place for help, whatever your questions or concerns. Don't be afraid to ask!
Department Secretaries: These wonderful people are the heart and soul of the University. They have accumulated a wealth of useful information about the department in which they work and about the University as a whole. Take advantage of their knowledge, and remember to say thank you.
Diplomas
If you complete the graduation requirements too late to graduate in May, Allison Insall will attach a certificate, in lieu of diploma, to your transcript. The certificate will state that you have completed requirements for your degree, and you will receive your diploma the following June.
Stipends You will receive your stipend check every two weeks. In the improbable event that a mistake has been made in your check, contact the Office of Graduate Student Services. You can arrange for direct deposit of your paycheck into your bank account, and you can also receive advances on your stipend, but you must arrange this well in advance. Note that graduate students do not pay Social Security taxes and that Connecticut state income tax is negligible at our end of the pay scale.
Interest You will receive a monthly student account statement which shows your balance with respect to tuition and bookstore charges. You will be charged interest on any overdue amount.
Loans Emergency Short-term ``Morganstern loans'' of up to $250 are available from the University on a week's notice, but only one loan can be made per year per student. The Office of Graduate Student Services has further information.
Long-term Loans Occasionally Wesleyan can provide longer-term loans. You must have a ``needs test'' student loan application on file. The interest rate is below that of commercial banks, and repayment need not begin until you leave Wesleyan. Again, contact the graduate office for information.
You will be issued a student photo identification card during registration. The photos will be taken by Public Safety during registration in the Science Tower. Photos can also be taken in the Public Safety office in room B-8 in the basement of North College. A lost ID card costs $25.00 to replace. (You have been warned.) Your ID card, with its validation sticker, is used for the following:
Points You can also pay to put ``points'' on your ID card which can then be spent at any Campus Dining Services location, including Wes Shop. The minimum initial investment is $150.00 and the food is expensive but convenient.
Wesleyan's graduate student housing is handled by Nancie Pepin, whose office is located at C.M. Burr Management Company on Warren Street. If you live in a Wesleyan rental, Nancie should be called about problems or repairs.
Lease Read it! There will be changes, possibly including fees to be charged for damages, moving out of an apartment without cleaning it, etc. Leases are distributed at registration.
Rent Payment Rent payments for new students will be deducted from stipend checks and the deduction will appear as such on the check stub. When you sign your lease you agree to sign a card authorizing this procedure. Those who receive little or no stipend should work out a payment schedule with Student Accounts through the graduate office.
High Rent Recent annual rent increases for graduate students have been between 4% and 12%. Rents for married students are reasonable, but for single students (in group housing) they are rather high. You might want to consider getting an off-campus apartment or getting married.
Repairs All repairs are authorized by Nancie Pepin who can be reached at x2675 or 346-5715. Call the latter number if you are locked out of your house.
Routine Maintenance Wesleyan's ground crews take care of mowing lawns during the summer and shoveling sidewalks in the winter. The latter, however, sometimes takes a day or two. Get your own shovel or be careful.
Formal Complaints For complaints regarding maintenance and complaints of upkeep of house and yard, a complaint form is available in the Office of Graduate Student Services. The completed form is then sent on to Ms. Pepin and will provide written documentation of the complaint. It also contains space for her response regarding course of action.
Pets The pet policy is that all pets must be registered with C.M. Burr. If you move into a ``pet-free'' house, you cannot continue living there if you get a pet. Upon registering each pet with C.M. Burr, you will pay a $250 pet deposit (per pet) which will be returned to you when you exit, providing there is no damage to the apartment.
There is a diverse group of international graduate students here at Wesleyan. Students come from all points on the globe, from Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and from across the border in Canada. There is an excellent information book for foreign students, which provides all the information you need about how-to's, where-to's and what-to's. You can get it at Allison Insall's Office, Science Tower 130.
Wesleyan has a health center (see below) which is free for all students regardless of your insurance plan. In addition, the University provides an accident and sickness insurance plan to all students receiving a stipend and/or tuition remission for a nominal fee which will be charged to your student account. This plan is limited, often covering only 80% of your bills or only providing for a few visits to a non-Wesleyan physician.
In lieu of the basic University plan, we also have the option of HMO coverage through Kaiser Permanente, MD Healthcare or ConnectiCARE. Although somewhat more expensive, the University subsidizes these plans and they provide much more complete healthcare coverage. Either sort of coverage for spouses and families is available at additional cost. As a graduate student, you are required to have some form of health insurance but not necessarily one of Wesleyan's plans. Information about your insurance options will be available at registration. For more information, call Allison or Beth at x2224.
The Davison Health Center is open in September and closes for the summer after commencement. It is also closed during Christmas break (most of January). For medical care during the months of June, July, August and January, graduate students covered by the basic insurance plan can go to the Community Health Center (for a $5 co-payment). For other facilities see the ``Off Campus'' section below.
The number of the Office of Student Mental Health is x2910.
For the budget-minded, graduate students suggest the following facilities:
Reporting Work-related Injuries Please report all work related injuries or illnesses to Human Resources as soon as possible - within 24 hours unless you are incapacitated (in which case, your department should notify Human Resources for you). Paul Auclair will complete an accident report based on your statement. If prompt medical attention is required, please arrange to report the accident to Human Resources as soon as possible.
Questions? Please call Human Resources, x2638, with any questions about work related injuries.
Accessing Voicemail To access your voice mail from any campus phone, dial x2222. If you are calling from your own phone, you will be prompted for your password immediately. Otherwise, you will hear the name of the person or the name of the office extention you might be using. At that point press star (*). You will then be prompted to enter your mailbox number, which is usually your own four digit phone extention, unless your extension is shared with other people. After you dial your mailbox number you will probably hear a recording of your name. (To change this recording see below.) Then enter your password.
Inside Your Voicemailbox The next prompt tells you how many new or old messages you have. If you have the odd habit that I do, of keeping a number of messages in the new messages catagory, you will find the next instruction a big time-saver. Press 1 1 and the newest unheard messages will be played first, which if one is rushing, can be a big help. Speaking of speed, you can skip messages by pressing pound (#); however, if you press pound twice in quick succession, you will skip all the new or current messages and bounce to your archived messages.
The Main Menu Press 1 to hear new messages and 2 to send a message. The second option is very useful for night-owls who need to communicate with friends and officials when the important thought, insight or critical bit of information occurs to him or her at 2 a.m. or whenever. If you don't know your friend's extention you can press pound for the dial-by-name directory.
While you are listening to a new message, you may want to reply immediately with some relevant piece of information; this too is possible. At the end of that message press 8 and you can reply then and there, unless the person called from a non-Wesleyan extention. When you finish your reply message then press pound and then the message is sent right away. If you press zero instead of pound you will hear the options of private, urgent delivery and one or two more.
Here are some helpful hints for listening to an annoying ``bulletin broadcast'' or a regular message:
Saving and Deleting When you are at the end of a message you can press 7 to erase it, or 9 to save it as an archived message. The average saving period is two weeks; this system has a nice feature that when your 14 days are up you receive a prompt asking if you want to resave or erase the old message. I must confess I have a message from my 11-year-old son when he called from the Czech republic in February 1996.
Changing Passwords and Greetings You can also change your name, anouncement and password. From the main menu (after entering your password) press 4 - personal options. This is not announced as part of the main menu, but it works. You will then hear a menu, the relevant parts of which are:
Forwarding Voicemail When you are at the end of a message and you would like to forward it to someone, press 6 and you can put your preliminary or intro annoucment. If you want to send it to more than one person that too is possible. When you finish your intro then press pound and the extention of the person to whom you are sending that message. (If you do not know their extention you can access the dial-by-name directory by pressing pound.) Once you have either dialed the name or the extention and pressed pound to send it then you will receive yet another prompt, to enter the next destination. At this point you could dial the new person's number or again use the dial-by-name directory. You also have the option to send your message as private or urgent. In order to hear that menu press zero instead of pound when you are done recording your message. If you are forwarding to only one number then press star when it prompts you to enter the next destination, and you will return to the main menu.
Notes There is also an option of having your voicemail messages forwarded to another number, but you are on your own to figure that one out. The technology exists for chaining your home and office voicemailboxes together and for getting rid of the pesky bulletin broadcasts, but to do such things you will have to call WesTel at x5000. Be sure to tell them you are a graduate student and ask them what sort of options there are for staff.
By the way, you cannot go to WesTel. They have no official physical location. This can be very annoying if you are trying to hook up your telephone or voicemail and you have no telephone or no voicemail with which to communicate with them. Pat Donahue has an office on the fifth floor of the Science Tower, but she's never there.
The long-distance service available through WesTel is relatively expensive, with the only advantage being that you can make your overpriced long-distance calls from any campus phone, not just from your home phone. One economical alternative to WesTel is using pre-paid calling cards, which are available at convenience stores and elsewhere. If you plan to make many long-distance or overseas calls, you may want to get a normal phone connection from SNET (Southern New England Telephone). Do not let the installation fee dissuade you. Split the cost with your roommates. This is the only way to take advantage of long-distance savings plans, since you cannot change long-distance carriers if you use WesTel. Even in campus housing, you are under no obligation to use WesTel. You have been warned.
Campus Center The Edith Andrus Davenport Campus Center is located in the renovated Scott Laboratory Building. During renovations, the original character of the building was preserved with a large sweeping staircase and the original lead windows and woodwork. Although small, the building is laid out nicely and is a pleasant place to have lunch or just get away from the lab or office.
The Campus Center houses an information center, an ATM, the campus box office, the ``Wes Station'' post office, a theater ticket office and a variety of food services including a cafeteria and grill, a pizza shop, and a coffee house and delicatessen. There are a number of lounges, meeting rooms, game rooms and a multi-purpose room with a wide screen TV with VCR and cable. Use of the Campus Center facilities is strongly encouraged.
For information on hours, reserving space, etc., contact the Information Center x2979 or the Coordinator's office x3010.
Student Organizations Wesleyan has the usual range of students organizations: newspapers, a radio station (WESU), service groups, as well as special-interest undergraduate residences - Malcolm X House, Asia House, Ecology House, Womanist House, etc. Many of these organizations and their events are open to graduate students with similar interests. It is possible, for instance, for a graduate student to do a program on WESU, audition for performance events, etc. Watch the Argus and the University Calendar for notices, or check the back of the student directory for phone numbers and addresses.
University Services & Publications The document you have in your hands is not to be confused with the Handbook/Directory published by the University, which is primarily the student telephone directory. The Handbook sections on student life, services, housing, etc., may pay little or no attention to graduate students. Other university publications forget about us too. For instance, some events or services are announced in letters from a dean's office to members of the senior class (such as one year's notice of Fulbright grant information meetings). Without a graduate dean's office making it a point to treat graduate students as a group, you will have to rely on your department and on information sources like the Campus Report or Wesleyan Events newsletters, and the calendar section of the Argus student newspaper.
When in doubt, assume you have a right to use University services and to join any organization that interests you. If you find out otherwise, come to a GSA meeting and tell us about it.
Career Planning Center Although undergraduates are its main concern, this office (next to Downey House) has resources that can be helpful to graduate students, including a library of college catalogs, career information, reference works on jobs, grants, fellowships, opportunities for videotaped mock interviews, cover letter and resumé-writing, etc. There is a newsletter you can subscribe to if you are interested. The director is Richard McLellan, x2180.
Phone numbers for Public Safety are included in the appendix. For non-emergencies, such as getting locked out of your office or the room where you're supposed to be holding a TA session, be sure to call x2345, rather than the emergency number.
Shuttle Service For the safety of Wesleyan students, the Office of Public Safety provides a shuttle/escort service. Its purpose is to provide safe conduct between designated locations on and off campus. The shuttle is a van that travels a regular route on campus in the evenings until approximately 2:00 a.m. Complimentary to the shuttle is an escort car whose purpose is to deliver people to locations the shuttle doesn't cover. The escort car is available by telephone (call x2789) through a dispatcher. Please keep in mind that these services are intended as a precaution, not as a convenience.
Gymnasium The Freeman Athletic Center is located on Cross Street near Warren. In addition to the hockey rink in the old gymnasium, this sports complex consists of a six-lane indoor track, basketball courts, indoor tennis, a 50-meter pool, a wrestling room, weight rooms, and locker rooms. Outside, there is an eight-lane artificial surface running track, surrounding a soccer-sized playing field.
The University gym facilities are available for recreational use, with scheduled events and classes taking first priority. Available facilities include, but are not limited to, tennis, squash and racquetball courts, indoor and outdoor tracks, basketball courts, swimming pool, weight rooms and physical therapy.
Hours for the school year are usually
Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 9:00 pm
Sat 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm
Be sure to double-check their hours. Vacation and summer hours are posted. The pool schedule is posted at the gym and may vary due to class and special use scheduling.
Lockers may be obtained for the year (including summer) for a $35 fee through Nancy Chesbro at the Physical Education Office (Ext. 2893). It may still be possible to get a locker for just the school year for $25.
The hockey rink is also available for recreational use, but check with the Physical Education Office as the hours vary through the school year.
YMCA Located at 99 Union Street in Middletown, the Y may appeal to some. It offers a wide variety of facilities and classes at low cost. Contact Herbert Mayo at 347-6907.
Gold's Gym Located on 70 Tuttle Road in Middletown, which is off Route 72 near the Cromwell Line. Gold's Gym offers everything in aerobics and fitness. Call 632-0082.
Middletown Kenpo Karate School The karate school is located on 695 S. Main Street and offers classes in self-defense, self-discipline and physical fitness. Call 347-9603.
During the summer months, the Middletown area has a number of inviting swimming holes, including Crystal Lake, Higganum Reservoir, Miller's Pond and Smith's Pond. As most of these are out of the way, it may be best to ask around and find someone who frequents them. In the winter, many of the facilities listed below have cross-country ski trails.
Herrington Lodge Wesleyan's White Mountain retreat in North Woodstock, NH, is a five hour drive from Wesleyan. Conveniently located near New England's best hiking, climbing and skiing areas, it is open year round to the Wesleyan community. The cabin includes heat, electricity, a stove, refrigerator, and cots, but don't expect luxury resort accomodations. Rates are $10 per person per night for Wes students, faculty and staff and $15 for alums and guests. Contact the Physical Education office x2893 for reservations.
Mattabasset Trail Stretches across the county, with a pick-up site off Rte. 66 past Guida's roadside restaurant, three miles west of campus.
Hurd State Park
Middle Haddam, on the Connecticut River. Trails, picnic areas, pavilion, and a baseball field are available; boat docking, but no swimming. Very good cross-country ski trails in season.
Wadsworth Falls State Park Middletown, on Wadsworth Street. Swimming, picnicing, hiking, cross-country skiing and a waterfall.
Hammonassett State Park Madison, about 20 miles from campus. Take Rte. 17S to Rte. 79S and follow signs. Two and one-half miles of Sound shoreline beach. Open from 8:00 am to sunset; parking fee from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Five hundred thirty-eight campsites available.
For complete information on Connecticut State Parks, call 860-424-3200 (including TDD). Many other beaches and villages worth exploring dot the shoreline.
Ski Areas The closest ski areas are Powder Ridge, Middlefield, (347-3454) and Mt. Southington, Southington (628-9054). These areas are essentially small and only challenge the beginner. For better skiing, the Herrington Lodge (see above) is ideally situated in the White Mountains, very close to Loon Mountain and Cannon ski areas, and fairly close (within an hour) of several others.
Intramural Sports Sports clubs open to all include Women's Volleyball, Men's and Women's Rugby, Ultimate Frisbee, Karate, Skiing and Biking.
Fall: soccer, floor hockey, cross-country running, tennis for individuals
Winter: basketball, ice hockey, squash, swimming
Spring: softball, volleyball, tennis doubles, triathlon in May.
There are usually graduate teams in most intramural sports.
Your daily run: The following is quoted directly from previous editions of the guide:
``The topographical diversity of the Middletown area makes it an excellent running location for both the novice and experienced runner. For the casual jogger there are short flat courses and for the avid runner there exist some of the best hills in Connecticut. Middletown also combines the best of city and country running within a relatively small area. The Wesleyan Campus, downtown Middletown, the boardwalk along the Connecticut River, rural country roads and wooded trails in Wadsworth State Park can all be incorporated into a scenic 8 to 10 mile run. Middletown has the distinction of being the training ground for Jeff Galloway (Olympian), Amby Burfoot (Boston Marathon winner), and Bill Rodgers (Olympian, four-time Boston Marathon winner) when they attended Wesleyan.''
As always, look out for traffic, especially at the many ``four-way'' stop signs. Be aware of the lighting conditions. And if you can't give up running in headphones (many authorities advise against it for safety reasons), make a special effort to be alert to what is going on around you and behind you.
Here are several suggested running loops, ranging from 2 to 7.1 miles. All mileages have been checked and double checked, but not by an official wheel. Hill letters refer to a map which is unfortunately no longer extant. All the loops start by going west on Cross Street from the front of the Freeman Athletic Center (FAC). You can add about three-tenths of a mile by starting and finishing at the back entrance of FAC. And no fair cutting down Pine Avenue - Fountain Avenue - Cross St. at the end!
This one still starts and ends in front of FAC, but isn't strictly a loop.
In addition, the indoor and outdoor tracks at FAC are open for running, although first priority goes to team sports, classes, and other scheduled activities. Here is a (very rough) table for the mile distances in each lane for both tracks. I do not offer this for those who are used to thinking of tracks in terms of speed workouts in multiples 100 meters. You certainly know what to do when faced with a track. No, this information is for those who turn to the track because it's bad weather and they want to run indoors, who don't have a hill workout scheduled today, who have a running partner with a much different pace and would like to see them every lap or so, who want to work up to a longer distance without getting too far from their sports drink... and we know who we are. Any number that seems strange on the table is due to rounding and interpolation error. Honest.
Indoors:
# laps: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 20 25
Lane
1 .50 .62 .74 .87 .99 1.11 1.24 1.86 2.48 3.09
2 .51 .64 .77 .89 1.02 1.15 1.28 1.92 2.55 3.19
3 .53 .66 .79 .92 1.06 1.19 1.32 1.98 2.64 3.30
4 .55 .68 .82 .96 1.09 1.23 1.37 2.05 2.74 3.42
5 .56 .70 .84 .98 1.13 1.27 1.41 2.11 2.81 3.52
6 .58 .72 .87 1.01 1.16 1.30 1.45 2.17 2.90 3.62
Outdoors:
# laps: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Lane
1 1.00 1.24 1.49 1.74 1.99 2.24 2.49 2.74 2.99 3.23
2 1.01 1.27 1.52 1.77 2.03 2.28 2.53 2.78 3.04 3.29
3 1.03 1.29 1.55 1.80 2.06 2.32 2.58 2.84 3.09 3.35
4 1.05 1.31 1.57 1.84 2.10 2.36 2.62 2.89 3.15 3.41
5 1.07 1.33 1.60 1.87 2.13 2.40 2.67 2.93 3.20 3.47
6 1.09 1.36 1.63 1.90 2.17 2.45 2.72 2.99 3.26 3.53
7 1.11 1.39 1.66 1.94 2.22 2.49 2.77 3.05 3.32 3.60
8 1.13 1.41 1.69 1.97 2.25 2.54 2.82 3.10 3.38 3.66
Races
In addition to offering a wide variety of running courses, the
Middletown area makes available many fine competitive races. The
Middletown Parks and Recreation Department (344-3468) used to sponsor
a series of running events, and may still be a useful source for
local race information. Also, there are many more excellent races
held in the surrounding cities and towns. Some of them (and races
farther afield, if you are willing to travel) are listed on the
internet at http://www.runnersworld.com/calendar/.
The Cardinal Loop Run is a very local race, sponsored by Wesleyan and
held more-or-less annually since 1980. It takes place in late April
or early May. In addition to individual awards at three different
distances, there is a team championship for teams of three with each
individual running a different distance.
Other sources of information about races are:
The Hartford Courant - Lists races in the weekend sports section.
The Run-In - Applications for many of the local races can be obtained here (address below).
Running Equipment
The closest store that deals exclusively in running equipment is The
Run-In, 1745 Silas Deane Highway, in Rocky Hill (about 15 minutes from
Middletown). Take Rte. 9N to Rte. 91N, exit 24, then left at the end
of the exit ramp. It is located about 200 yards on the right. Call
before going (860-563-6136) for current store hours.
Another pertinent store is Bob's on Main Street in Middletown. They
have great values in running shoes - usually cheaper than any other
store.
Central Computing Resources provide access to e-mail, uunet news,
a webserver, a unix server and Novell NetWare fileservers. Every incoming
Wesleyan undergraduate and graduate student has three accounts created for
them:
Mail, Netware and Condor. If you need to obtain your account information
go
to the help desk on the 5th floor of the Science Tower (just as you get off
the elevator).
Mail is the computer that handles Wesleyan's e-mail. This computer can be
directly accessed as a limited-shell Unix system for e-mail services. Mail
also controls the password for dial-up access if you use a modem.
NetWare gives you access to Wesleyan's file and print servers, as well as
a network folder to save your files in. This allows you to run
Wesleyan-owned
software such as specialized science and reference software, and allows
you to
print to any of the public printers on campus and in the dorms.
Condor is the new general-use Unix machine. In addition to standard
Unix uses such as programming and command-line internet applications,
Condor
is the home of the new Student Information System, which allows
students to access their academic and financial records over the internet.
Condor serves as a World Wide Web server so anyone with an account can
have
their own home page.
Public Computing Labs are located in 6 regions across campus.
These labs
are designed to meet the needs of the general Wesleyan comunity and the
special needs of the area which they serve. The labs provide networked PCs
and Macintoshes running the latest software and peripheral devices for almost
any computer-oriented project.
The Card Catalog and other library resources are located on the web:
The Helpdesk provies an online information of tip sheets,
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), and other helpful information:
If you need to get parts for you computer or need to get your computer
repaired there is a Computer Store/Repair shop located on the first
floor of the Science Center, down the hall and to the left of the STLab.
Hours are subject to change for holidays, summer and vacation periods.
Special hours are posted on library doors.
Pick up information about interlibrary loan, orientation tours, and database
services there.
Graduate students can borrow Wesleyan's books for the full school
year. Extended loan books can be recalled if someone needs them.
Open 24 hours during exams and reading periods. They may have called
overzealous students at your undergraduate alma mater ``bookworms,''
``grind'' or ``weenies.'' At Wesleyan the word is ``squid,'' and the aquarium
look of the glass-walled SciLi at night is said to be the
reason. (Couldn't ink-squirting have something to do with it?)
In the 1650's a small English settlement on the banks of the Connecticut
River incorporated as Middletown. The region had previously been known
by the Indian name of Mattabeseck. It was inhabited by a group of
Indians known as the Wangunks, whose name in Algonquin meant ``bend in the
river.'' The bend and the river are still here. The Wangunks, however,
were bought out, dispersed and otherwise disenfranchised by the early
1800's. At the time of the American Revolution, Middletown had become a
shipping center, second only in importance to New York. Its maritime
trade brought not only wealth but a reputation for elegance comparable to
what Boston once enjoyed.
Shipbuilding started here in about 1670, lead mining in the 1770's, rum
and gunpowder manufacturing in the 1790's. By the mid-nineteenth
century, when Middletown's activities as a port declined due to lower
shipping rates of the railroads, the city had become an industrial
center. Factories were turning out bricks, articles of fabrics, leather
and metals, marine hardware, guns and rubber. Industries have come and
gone, but the following were among Middletown's ``principal industries''
according to the 1976 Connecticut Register and Manual : agriculture,
textile printing, plastics, monuments, bricks, soap powder, switches,
paper boxes, patterns, manufacture of linings, clothing, marine hardware,
cotton webbing, rubber footwear, leather goods, auto accessories, tools
and dies, metal and wire goods, heat elements, gunsights, trailers, mica
mining, toys, silverware, furnace boilers, heaters, chemicals,
electronics, jet engines and nuclear experiments.
Middletown's population is approximately 37,000. At about 45 square
miles, it is the second largest city in the state in terms of land area.
It is approximately 65% undeveloped. Middletown's principal employer is
a Pratt and Whitney Aircraft plant a few miles south on the Connecticut
River. Other major employers are: Aetna Life & Casualty, Raymond
Engineering, Inc., Wesleyan University, and one of the major state mental
institutions, Connecticut Valley Hospital.
For the last several years, Middletown has been engaged in a renewal
program. Riverview Center, a new City Hall, downtown parking areas and
shopping malls are among the additions, as are new housing for the
elderly and additional hospital facilities. Many older and distinctive
Main Street buildings have been restored, including the Odd Fellows Hall,
which now houses businesses.
Middletown Transit District (346-0212) Local bus service
every 40 minutes or so Monday through Friday,
starting from the Middletown Area Transit (MAT) center at 340 Main Street.
Covers most of Middletown. The A bus goes to Stop & Shop and down Saybrook Road.
The C bus comes right by the Science Tower on its way to Washington Plaza
(Foodmart & Staples). It's $1.00 a pop, but transfers between lines are free.
Intercity Bus Peter Pan also stops at the MAT terminal.
For a price, you can get to New Haven, New York, Boston and other
hotspots; however, currently there is only one departure a day from
Middletown. Call (800)343-9999 for the latest fare and schedule
information.
It's cheaper but more annoying to take the CT bus (see below) to Union
Station in Hartford and pick up intercity
busses and trains there. Bonanza (800-556-3815) serves Rhode Island
and Southeastern Mass. from Hartford. Greyhound and Peter Pan also serve
Hartford.
Connecticut Transit (CT) to Hartford and the surrounding area
has several Middletown stops, mostly along Main Street, including one
by the former Clocktower Shops at 386 Main and one in front of
Peltons. The stops are usually marked on traffic poles and the like.
It costs $1.00 to get to downtown Hartford and it takes about 40
minutes. Transfers are free. The M-line runs about once an hour
on weekdays. For an exact schedule and free timetables, call
525-9181.
To get to Union Station, take the M-bus to Hartford and
either transfer to the A/E/F1/S1 or walk a few blocks down Asylum.
The bus driver can give you more details about this. See the
``Airports'' section for information on the bus to Bradley.
Train Stations There's an Amtrak station in Meriden.
Take Rte. 66W to the Downtown Meriden exit, turn left; the station is on the
right after about 1/3 of a mile, opposite Brooks Drug Store.
There's also a train station in on State St. in New Haven,
off I-91, Exit 1, take first extreme right exit, right off ramp, under the
coliseum via Church Street, right onto George Street, right onto
State Street. The number is (203)235-3402. From New Haven the Metro
North train to NYC is about $10 during off-peak hours.
Airports
CT Limousine Service, 1060 State St., New Haven, 1-800-922-6161
connects New Haven with JFK and LaGuardia airports in New
York City and also Newark, New Jersey. Convenient but pricey.
Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks I-91, Exit 40, just
follow the signs. (This is good to know if you have to meet a seminar
speaker, etc.) Also accessible by taking the M bus (see ``Connecticut
Transit'', above) to the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford and
transferring to the correct N bus. Allow lots and lots of time, and
remember the M bus doesn't run at night or on weekends.
Logan Internation Airport, Boston, Massachusetts - I know it sounds
like it's farther away, but not by much and it's nicer than New York.
Take a bus to Boston. Bus service from the Airport T-stop (Boston
subway Blue Line - 85 cents) to the terminals is free.
The Ride Board in the Campus Center is not just for rides anymore.
You can find people selling their plane tickets or looking for someone to drive
a car cross-country. Very active around breaks and holidays.
Wesleyan Services occur only when the undergraduates are around.
In the Wesleyan Chapel Catholic Mass is held Wednesdays and Thursdays
at 12:05pm and Sundays 7:00pm and 9:00pm. A Protestant nondenominational
service happens Sundays 4:30pm. Jewish services are held at the Bayit,
157 Church St. Fridays around sunset.
The following are within walking distance:
Other Middletown places of worship:
The weather in Connecticut is seasonal. The summer, June to August, can
be hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from 70 to over 90
degrees F. (The Fahrenheit scale is used here.) The fall, September to
November, and spring, March to May, are pleasant, with temperatures
of 50 to 70 degrees.
Winter, December to February, can be very cold and harsh. Snow could be
on the ground from November or earlier, to mid-March, after which snow
has still been known to fall. Temperatures often fall below freezing
(32 degrees), and sometimes dip below zero! So, make sure you
have warm clothing and adequate footwear. If you're looking for a good
value in clothing, try Bob's on Main Street.
As students, you can keep out-of-state car registration. If Connecticut is to
be considered your residence, however, you must register your car here.
The car will then be subject to local property taxes which may be higher
than what you pay at home. Check with the City of Middletown's Tax
Assessor's Office in the Municipal Building if you have any questions.
There is a license renewal
center in the former Clocktower Shops at 386 Main St., but you will
probably need to go to one of the larger DMV branches listed below to get
your first CT driver's license. It costs about $35 if you're trading in an out-of-state license, and more if you're starting
from scratch.
Cars brought into Connecticut from out-of-state are required to be
registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 30 days after
arrival. At registration, the car's brakes, lights, horn, etc. will
be inspected. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch offices are at 60
State St. in Wethersfield or 1185 W. Main St. in New Britain
(1-800-842-8222). Connecticut also has a state emissions program.
For information, call 1-800-842-2000.
Auto insurance is mandatory in Connecticut. You must obtain coverage before
registering your car. Look in the Yellow Pages for your favorite insurance
company. Call lots of agents as rates do vary from one to the other.
Failure to maintain your auto insurance will result in your
registration being confiscated by the police.
For a Notary Public, try
Lois Poissant, Registrar's Office, North College.
For Western Union, try Sullivan's Honda City, 392 Washington Street (next to
Dunkin' Donuts) and Waldbaums on Rte. 66. 1-800-257-2211 - Hours:
Mon-Fri - 9:00am-5:00pm; Sat - 9:00am-3:00pm
For Federal Express and United Parcel Service, try
The Mail Center, 400 Plaza Middlesex - 344-9339. UPS pick-up service
is also available at Wesleyan Station Post Office.
Post Offices:
There are quite a few banks in Middletown - most of them located on
Main Street. It's best to call around and see which offers the best
service to suit your needs. Get information about charges for using bank
cards on ATM's not at the bank you are using. All of the banks have 24
hour touch-tone phone access to personal accounts. Most of the banks
listed below not only have branch offices in Middletown, but in other
parts of the state as well. Mega-banks like Citizens and Fleet will
also have out-of-state branches.
On campus there is the Alumni Guest House, Davison House x2586, with
a limited number of single and double rooms (some with private
bath) which are available to alumni and parents.
The Campus Center houses a cafe/deli, a cafeteria-style grill and a
pizza place.
Wes Wings is located under the old Delta Tau house behind the Bayit. It
offers grill-style food and salads, as well as a comfortable social
environment with a large-screen TV.
A number of campus fraternities host ``eating clubs,'' they are Alpha Delta
Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, and Psi U. The number and type of meals you
want - breakfast, lunches or dinners - can sometimes be arranged to suit
your schedule. Early each year, you will have the opportunity to shop
around and find the eating club you most prefer. Keep an eye on the
campus paper!
Owing to the fact that everyone's taste is different, any comments are
intended as a guide from which you can begin to develop your own
favorites.
Restaurants:
Alfredo's Riverside, 141 Bridge St., 346-6714 -
Supposed to be one of the better Italian food places in Middletown,
despite a lack of ambiance.
Alpha Pizza House, 690 Washington St., 346-9653 -
Greek pizza, wine and beer.
America's Cup, 80 Harbor Drive Middletown, 347-9999 -
Extensive Sunday Brunch, seafood
Athenian Diner Restaurant, 864 Washington St., Middletown, 346-2272
Typical diner food, menu of everything under the sun, open 24
hours
Brass Rail Pub, 288 South Main St., 347-0599 -
Large portions, inconsistent food quality.
Cantina Cafe Ristorante, 74 Court St., Middletown, 704-0000 -
The best Italian food in Middletown, and it's good, too
China City, 749 Saybrook Road Middletown, 347-6899 - Mostly takeout
Cornerstones, 98 Washington St. Middletown, 344-0222
Cypress Restaurant & Grill, 1265 S. Main St., Middletown, 346-3367 -
Homey atmosphere, diner food, comfortable atmsophere.
Debbie Wong's, 852 Washington St., 346-7793 -
Chinese and American food. The food is so-so at best.
Enzos Restaurant & Pizza, 200 Main St., Middletown, 347-0211
Ford News Restaurant, 358 Main St., Middletown, 346-4655 - Diner
Farrell's Cafe, 121 Marlborough St., (Rte. 66), Portland, 342-4589 -
Slow, but good service. Lots of food at quite good prices.
First Wok, 560 Main St., 346-6672
Take out, pretty good, only 3 tables, BYOB.
It's Only Natural, Main Street Market, 386 Main St., Middletown, 346-1786 -
Well-known vegan restaurant
Imperial Caribbean Restaurant, 344 Main St., Middletown, 347-1557 -
Spicy, medium expensive caribbean and creole food.
Hall's Diner, 170 Main St., 344-1233 - For those who miss greasy diner
food
Hau Po, 695 South Main St. (Rte. 17), Middletown, 343-0612 -
Mostly take out.
Hunan Wok, 1960 Silas Dean Hwy., Rocky Hill, 721-1121 -
Very good Chinese food. 15 minute drive. BYOB
Jerry's Pizza, 885 Washington St., 346-5335 -
Thin-crust pizza.
Klekolo World Coffee, 181 Court - Espresso atmosphere, occasional
music
Marylu's Pizza Restaurant, 538 Newfield St., 347-1225 -
Good pizza, okay service, nice family atmosphere
Mazzotta's Italian Kitchen, South Main St., 346-4146 -
Okay pizza and Italian food. Slow service & pricey. *No smoking only.
Mikado's, 3 Columbus Plaza (off Washington St.), 346-6655 -
Slow service but the best sushi in Middletown.
Monte Green Inn, South Main St. Extension, 347-7241 -
Expensive and good.
Neon Deli, 130 Cross St., Middletown - Good sandwiches, expensive market
food.
O'Rourke's, 728 Main St., Middletown, 346-6101 - Famous for its
extensive Sunday Brunches, very tasty & cheap but small.
Pantry Shelf Deli, 232 William St.
Peking House, 200 Main St. (Metro Square), 344-1122 -
Decent sit-down Chinese food. Quite reasonable lunch specials.
Pepperchini's 300 Main St. - OK pizza, but they deliver.
Pizza Palace, 725 South Main St., 346-4887 -
Greek pizza, Italian food.
Randy's Wooster Street Pizza Shop, 30 Berlin Rd., Cromwell, 635-1176
Roberto's Pizzeria, 749 Saybrook Rd., Middletown, 347-5233
Ruby Tuesday's Cromwell Square, Cromwell 635-9970
Taj of India, 170 Main St., Middletown, 346-2050 -
Reasonable food, decent prices, 10% discount for Wesleyan students
Thai Gardens, 300 Plaza Middlesex, Middletown, 346-3322 - On
Main St. Some consider this the best Thai food in Middlesex County
(which it may very well be - see Mikado's above), and others refuse to eat there even if their
department is footing the bill
Tuscany Grill, College St., Middletown, 346-8686 -
Southern Italian food, a pricey but tasty.
Wing Yum, 158 Marlborough St., Portland, 342-4041 -
Good Chinese, mostly take out, half dozen tables. BYOB
Fast Food & Chains
Baskin Robbins, 170 Main St., Middletown, 347-6399
Burger King, 130 Main St.
Dairy Queen, Main St. Extension and Rte. 66, Portland - Seasonal
Domino's Pizza, 370 South Main St., 347-7775
Friendly's, 404 South Main St. and 851 Washington St.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, 382 South Main St.
McDonald's, 611 South Main St. and 914 Washington St.
Pizza Hut, 4 Hammerhead Place, Cromwell, 635-1858
Subway Subs, 200 Main St. (Metro Square) and Washington Plaza
Taco Bell, 19 Shunpike Road, Cromwell, 632-9868
Wendy's, 950 Washington St.
America's Cup, Harbor Drive, Middletown -
Very town-oriented; dance floor (small), and deck for summer
nights. Can be waiting line.
Dugout, Main Street Market, 386 Main St., Middletown
Eli Cannon's, 695 Main St., Middletown -
Humongous list of microbrews, pub food.
Farrell's, 121 Marlborough St., Portland -
Great munchies!
Red Dog Saloon, Meriden Road, Middlefield -
Pool (billiards) and biker crowd, for the bold and those that feel
at home in that atmosphere. Thick with cigarette smoke.
Brass Rail Pub, 288 South Main St., Middletown -
Occasional Wes crowd; Harp on tap.
Some area theaters have special student ``rush'' rates just
before showtime. Call for information.
Russell Library is the public library for the City of Middletown,
and it is also the largest public library in Middlesex County. It
boasts a 160,000 item collection which includes best sellers,
magazines, art prints, maps, video and audio cassettes, music CDs,
large print and genealogy collections, children's books, toys
and games. The computerized card catalog (the LION system) provides
listing of books, magazines and other materials at all 20+ LION
libraries. Dial-in capability is available - the telephone number is
(860) 343-8401. Call the information desk more details.
Russell Library is located on the corner of Court and Broad Streets.
It is a good place to find things Olin lacks, especially videos,
children's books and records. They have a whole wall of books on
tape, a Career Center with a collection of books and
materials to assist in job hunting and providing vocational
information, and interlibrary loan service through local, state and
nationwide library networks. The History Room provides primary and
secondary resources on local history.
Information (Reference): (860) 347-2520
Fax: (860) 347-4048
TDD: (860) 347-2520.
Hours (call 347-2528 to confirm): Mon-Thurs. 9am-9pm, Fri. 12pm-9pm, Sat. 9am-5pm (Summer 9am-1pm), Sun. 1pm-5pm (Oct. - May)
Children's Dept.: Mon-Wed. 9am-9pm, Thurs. 9am-5:30pm, Fri. 12pm-5:30pm, Sat.
9am-5pm (Summer 9-1), Sun. 1pm-5pm (Oct. - May)
Student Newspapers are distributed in bundles to the libraries and the
Campus Center as are a number of special interest papers published
from time to time by various campus groups. The University
administration publishes the Campus Report and the Wesleyan Weekly
events calendar. The latter is quite informative. The main Wesleyan
student newspapers are:
Main Street newsstands - one near each end and Ford News (which
is better as a diner) in the middle - carry local, New York, Boston, and
New Haven papers, racing forms, the National Enquirer and many other
things we won't go into here. Newcomers to Connecticut might look at
Connecticut magazine, Hartford magazine and other such
New England travel guides for tips on restaurants, sights to see, etc.
Of course, there are always The New Yorker and New York Magazine for those
inclined in that southwesterly direction.
FM Stations
College and public radio stations often vary their programming during the
week; for instance, Connecticut Public Radio is mostly classical music and
public affairs, but it features jazz on Fridays and folk music on
Saturdays. These stations publish program guides - sometimes free.
88.1 WESU(Wesleyan) College radio at its most Wesleyan
88.5 WFCR Five College (Amherst, MA Public Radio)
88.9 WJMJ Religious/Classical
89.1 WNPR Connecticut Public Radio (Norwich)
89.3 WRTC (Trinity) College radio at its most Trinity (?)
89.9 WQTQ Jazz/Gospel/Soul
90.1 WECS (Eastern CT State University) College Radio
90.5 WPKT CT Public Radio (Middlefield)
91.3 WWUH (University of Hartford) Classical, Jazz, Bluegrass
91.7 WHUS (Univ. of CT) College, Pacifica, Sunday folk
92.5 WWYZ Adult Contemporary
93.7 WLVH Spanish
95.5 WKSS Contemporary Hits
96.5 WTIC Contemporary Hits
97.9 WFCS (Central CT State University) . . .
98.3 WILI Contemporary Hits
99.1 WPLR Album-oriented Rock
100.5 WRCH Easy Listening
100.9 WTYD Easy Listening
101.3 WKCI Top 40
102.1 WAQY Contemporary Rock
102.9 WDRC Oldies
104.1 WIOF Adult Contemporary
104.9 WIHS Middletown Religious Station
105.9 WHCN Album-oriented Rock
106.9 WCCC Album-oriented Rock
AM Radio
Middletown is within receiving distance of Hartford, New Haven
and New York stations, of which there are many. You might want to know that
Middletown Station is WCNX-AM, 1150, for local news or public service
announcements. The music is allegedly ``easy listening.'' Hartford's
all-news station is WPOP-AM, 1410. WTIC-AM 1080 is the spot for Dr. Laura,
Rush Limbaugh and the Sunday Morning Tag Sale.
There are also some huge chain stores out towards Farmington, and an absolute
must-see is the The Strand on Broadway in New York City.
You needn't starve to death in Middletown if you don't have a car.
There are plenty of nice homey grocery stores on Main Street with
friendly staff. You'll never miss the chain stores' infrared scanners
that always seem to ring up the wrong price, their surly cashiers who
can't count, their underripe fruit or their limp veggies.
Yes, the soul of Connecticut, the plague that blighted downtown, the
habitation of teenagers, the Mall is waiting for you - if you have a car.
On the Cheap Side
If you're looking for household items and furnishings, and find you
have a thin wallet - as most of us do - try:
Also check out local tag sales, see newspaper classified ads,
Shoppers News, and ask around to see who's graduating soon.
Office Supplies
Young's Office Supply, 182 Court St., 347-8567, has just about
everything, but prices are relatively high. The stationary connoisseur might
want to splurge at Suburban Stationers in Metro Square. The bargain seeker
should look into the stationery counters of local drug and department stores.
Selection and prices are often very good at the larger drug stores,
notably: CVS at Washington Plaza
and Pelton's at the corner of Main and William Streets. New in
town is our very own Staples in Washington Plaza - a sure bet if you need
a hundred file folders or a ream of notepads.
You can do your laundry in any of the dormitories, but you probably
won't have hot water. The In-Town Apartments also have laundry
facilities available to the Wesleyan community.
For those in multiple person houses, C.M. Burr
may, at your request, have pay machines installed in your basement. More
likely they won't; if it hasn't been done already, pool your resources,
scrounge up a used washer and dryer, and install them in the basement.
The convenience is worth it, and C. M. Burr pays for the utilities so your
investment will pay itself off soon enough.
If you still need a laundromat, try
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be ``The Graduate Student Association
of Wesleyan University.''
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be to represent and to serve the
interests of the Graduate Student body as a whole and to transact the
business of the Graduate Student Association.
ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATION
The GSA shall be comprised of two governing bodies: the General Assembly
(GA) and the Executive Committee (EC).
ARTICLE IV: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Every person who is pursuing either the M.A. or Ph.D. degree and who is
either in residence of enrolled in one or more courses at Wesleyan
University shall be considered a member of the GSA General Assembly.
ARTICLE V: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The EC shall be comprised of a President, Secretary, Treasurer, graduate
representatives to University committees, graduate representatives from
each Department, and the previous year's President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. The President, Secretary, Treasurer and graduate
representatives to University committees shall be elected for a term of
one year running from June to June. Elections of these officers shall be
held at the last scheduled general meeting of the spring semester, by
secret ballot, with all GSA members eligible to vote and hold office.
The individual Departments are responsible for electing their
representatives to the GSA. These representatives must be chosen by June
when the incoming EC convenes. If, during a term of office, that office
becomes vacant, it shall be filled by a special election open to that
office's voting constituency.
A. The Officers
The President shall chair all EC and general meetings. These meetings
will be governed
by Robert's Rules of Order. The Secretary will be responsible for
keeping synoptic
minutes of the EC and general meetings, as well as distributing copies
of these minutes
and all other EC announcements to the Department Representatives. The
Department
Representatives are responsible for distributing these minutes and
announcements to all
GSA members in their respective Departments. The Treasurer will be
responsible for
finances of the GSA, both the distribution of moneys and financial
record keeping. All
members of the EC who are elected, except the President, are voting
members of the EC.
EC decisions are made by simple majority vote, with the President (or
Acting President)
voting only to break a tie. The previous year's President, Secretary,
and Treasurer, if
currently un-elected to any office, are non-voting members of the EC.
B. EC Duties
The EC shall convene in June, after its election, and establish whatever
rules and
procedures it deems necessary for conducting its business. It shall
also choose a
President Pro-Tem who will serve as Acting President in case the
President is absent.
In case both the President and President Pro-Tem are absent, the
remaining members will
elect an Acting President from among themselves.
ARTICLE VI: MEETINGS
The GSA will hold General Assembly meetings at least three times each
semester and at least once during the summer. These meetings will be
open to all members, and will be scheduled by the Executive Committee.
Each semester's meetings will be announced at the beginning of that
semester, and the summer meeting(s) will be announced at the beginning of
the summer. The EC may, in an emergency, call a GA meeting with a week's
notice.
ARTICLE VII: GOVERNING POLICIES
The EC will make decisions on written proposals submitted to it as well
as create its own proposals. These decisions must be ratified or
overturned by the GA.
Proposals submitted to the EC will be taken up at least 10 days prior to
the next GA meeting. When the EC meets to consider proposals, it shall
allow at least one sponsor for each proposal to attend at least a portion
of its meeting. The EC shall decide whether to accept or reject the
proposals it has considered. The EC may vote to modify proposals, but it
must present the original proposal along with any modified or alternate
proposals to the general assembly. The EC's decisions are binding
subject to a vote by the GA. Following the EC meeting, and at least
seven (7) days prior to the GA meeting, the Secretary will send copies of
the upcoming GA meeting's agenda to each Department Representative for
distribution. This agenda shall include a summary of, and the EC
decision on, each proposal to be considered by the GA.
The General Assembly shall make decisions according to the following
Protocol:
If there is a quorum of 15of those present may overturn an EC decision. All EC decisions
considered at a GA meeting with a quorum become GSA policy unless
overturned.
If no quorum is present, a simple majority vote may table a proposal to
the next GA meeting, otherwise the EC decision becomes policy. A
proposal may be tabled only once. At the next GA meeting, a tabled
proposal still needs a 2/3 vote of a quorum to overturn the EC decision.
However, the EC may change its decision on a tabled proposal before it is
taken up a second time at the next GA meeting.
Certain proposals may stimulate modified or alternate EC proposals, and
hence be rejected by the EC. When this is the case, the original
proposal shall precede the modified or alternate proposal on the GA
agenda. If a quorum is present and the original proposal is passed by a
2/3 majority, then the modified or alternate proposal shall no longer be
considered. If there is no quorum present and the original proposal is
tabled, then the modified or alternate proposal shall be tabled as well.
Proposals may be brought up directly at a GA meeting with a quorum. A
unanimous vote will pass the proposal and make it policy. A single
dissenting vote will require that the proposal be submitted in writing to
the EC for consideration at the next GA meeting.
Committees to investigate the merits of a proposal may be formed at the
meeting at which the proposal is presented, and the minutes of that
meeting will note the formation of any such committees so that all
members will be aware of their existence.
ARTICLE VIII: GUIDELINES FOR PROPOSALS
Proposals must be specifically worded and submitted to the EC in writing
at least 10 days prior to a general meeting in order to be considered at
that meeting. If a proposal includes monetary requests, the dollar
amounts and the intended uses of funds must be specifically stated.
ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES AND ORGANIZATIONS
The General Assembly shall be empowered to create any committee that may
be necessary to examine issues for, or conduct the business of, the GSA.
All committees created are fully answerable to the General Assembly and
can be dissolved at any time by the General Assembly. The membership of
such committees is open to all members and any persons previously
approved by the General Assembly. The EC has the same powers as the
General Assembly concerning committees as set forth above.
Any individual, committee, or organization (henceforth known as the
``Party''), receiving GSA funding shall keep an accurate record of income
and expenditures. Not more than 14 days after any financial transactions
by the Party, these records shall be submitted to the Treasurer. No
Party receiving GSA funds shall use those funds for any purposes other
than those specified in the Party's (enacted upon?) proposal. Failure to
comply with the regulations as provided above shall result in the
immediate stoppage by the GSA President of GSA funding to the non
complying Party, with the non-complying Party considered independently
responsible for all debts incurred. The EC, at its next meeting, will
vote to either approve or override the stoppage of funds. Appeals (by
any member of the GSA) of the President's decision shall be submitted and
considered in accordance with Articles VII and VIII. A request (by any
member of the GSA) for reasons of noncompliance (?) shall also be
submitted and considered in accordance with Articles VI and VII.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
An amendment to the Constitution must be submitted to the EC in
accordance with Articles VI and VII. An amendment shall be incorporated
into this Constitution only after a general election among the GSA
membership in which the following two criteria are satisfied:
A. A simple majority of all GSA (members) must vote in the affirmative.
B. Two thirds of all votes cast must be in the affirmative.
At least five days prior to the general election called for above, all
members of the GSA must be notified of the general election. The names
of all members voting in the general election must be recorded to insure
against the possibility of fraud. All members must be given a fair
chance to vote in such a general election. The general election must be
held in exactly one of two modes:
A. One or more staffed polling places, located in a known public location
on the campus of
Wesleyan University. Each polling place shall be open for a minimum of
six hours.
B. A ballot sent to all members which must be returned in a plain sealed
envelope in turn
sealed in an envelope signed by the voter.
It is the responsibility of the EC to observe the election process
outlined above and to determine the outcome of said elections. The EC is
empowered, through a majority vote, to invalidate elections deemed in
violation of this Article, or characterized by any other irregularities.
Appeals to this process shall be handled as in Articles VII and VIII.
A. Responsibilities
The Graduate Judicial Board (GJB) shall hear complaints against graduate
students involving alleged violations the ``Code of Non-Academic Conduct''
and ``The Honor Code.'' The proceedings of the GJB will be carried out in
conformity with the ``Guidelines for University Disciplinary Proceedings.''
B. Composition and Tenure
1. The voting membership of the GJB shall consist of five graduate
students, each serving a one-year term.
2. The advisory committee of the GJB shall consist of two faculty
members, each serving a two-year term, and the Director of the Graduate
Programs (referred hereafter as the Director), serving ex officio.
C. Jurisdiction
1. These rules are intended to cover both full-time and part-time
graduate students. Any under-graduate, graduate student, faculty member,
or member of the Administration may bring a complaint against a graduate
student through the GJB.
2. The GJB shall be responsible for primary adjudication of all alleged
violations by graduate students of the university's codes of conduct (see
Section A) except those that require extraordi-
nary administrative action according to criteria jointly established in
advance by the Director of Graduate Programs and the Graduate Council.*
Extraordinary cases are: those which occur during vacations and recesses
in which the person accused requests resolution prior to the time at
which the Board can next be convened; emergency cases in which the
Director, in consultation with the appropriate Academic Dean, determines
that an imminent and likely danger to persons or property requires the
immediate, temporary suspension of an individual, pending a full, formal
hearing of the Board to be held at the earliest opportunity; and cases in
which the defendant admits responsibility and requests administrative
disposition of the case, in which event the Director of Graduate Programs
shall consult the appropriate Divisional Dean or an officer of the GJB
prior to acting.
3. In judicial matters the Board shall receive evidence, hear witnesses,
determine guilt or innocence, and recommend sanctions to the Director of
Graduate Programs. The considered judgment of the GJB shall be taken by
the Director as a binding recommendation, to be modified only in
extraordinary circumstances and with the approval of the Graduate
Council.
4. Only the defendant may appeal an adverse decision of the GJB. Such
an appeal is directed to the President, who, in consultation with the
Graduate Council, shall establish such procedure for hearing appeals as
he/she deems appropriate.
5. The GJB may require the cooperation of any member of the University
community in furnishing testimony or evidence, except that no member of
the University staff with whom an accused has entered into a confidential
relationship can be required to give information arising from that
relationship with the permission of the accused. Furthermore, the GJB
shall excuse a witness if it concludes that by giving testimony the
witness may be endangered.
6. Whenever the GJB considers it desirable to change the standards,
structures, and procedures under which it operates, it shall propose such
changes to the Director and to the Graduate Council. Authority to enact
such changes is vested in the President, who acts in consultation with
the Graduate Council.
* By Trustee resolution, President is responsible for establishing and
implementing all policies governing student conduct ``in consultation with
the Faculty.'' For purposes of clarity, however, frequent reference will
be made in this document to the Director and the Graduate Council, since
each exercises much of the operational responsibility for implementing
the policies.
D. Selection
1. The voting members of the GJB shall be selected from among the
registered graduate students of the University, including students
currently enrolled in the graduate Liberal Studies Program.
2. Three voting members shall be selected to begin their terms in the
fall semester and two shall begin their terms in the spring semester.
Additional members may be selected to fill vacancies. They will serve
for the duration of the unexpired term. Members of the GJB will be
expected to participate in an orientation session.
3. Voting members shall be elected by the Graduate Student Association.
4. A voting member of the GJB may be removed from the Board, for cause,
by the Graduate Council, according to procedures established by the
Council. Complaints against a voting member of the GJB should be
submitted to the Director of the Office of Graduate Student Services for
forwarding to the Graduate Council.
5. No voting member of the GJB shall serve concurrently on the Graduate
Council.
6. The faculty advisory members of the GJB shall be selected according to
procedures established by the Graduate Council. No faculty advisory
member of the GJB shall serve concurrently on the Graduate Council.
Faculty advisory members will be expected to participate in an
orientation session.
7. No advisory member of the GJB shall sit in the appeal of any case in
which he/she participated in an earlier stage.
E. Officers
1. At the first meeting of the GJB each semester, the voting members
shall elect a Chair and a Secretary.
2. The Chair shall receive complaints forwarded by the Director of
Graduate Student Services and shall schedule them for mediation or
judicial appropriate. The Secretary shall maintain records in a form
approved by the Director and the Graduate Council and shall handle
correspondence for the GJB. The officers may request administrative
support in the performance of their duties from the Director of Graduate
Student Services and/or the Director of Graduate Programs.
F. Procedure
1. Complaints are to be submitted in writing to the Director of Graduate
Student Services for transmittal to the GJB. The student charged with a
violation will be notified promptly of the charge in writing, together
with a statement of his/her rights and the procedures to be followed by
the Board in addressing the charge.
2. Minor cases, defined as those which do not carry the potential for
severe sanctions, may not require elaborate process. The Chair of the
GJB, in consultation with the Director, will determine whether a given
case is minor when the charges are first submitted.
3. The GJB shall attempt to resolve cases by mediation prior to any
formal adjudication. In order to permit the expeditious handling of
cases in which mediation is feasible or of minor judicial matters, GJB
may, with approval of the Graduate Council, develop simplified procedures
and may delegate the responsibilities for mediation or adjudication to
one or more of its members.
4. Except as approved by the Director of Graduate Programs and the
Graduate Council, all members of the GJB shall have an absolute
obligation to treat as confidential all proceedings and decisions of the
Board.
5. Three voting members, at least one faculty advisor, and the Director
of Graduate Programs must be present for the hearing of a case.
6. Any voting member who feels partial in a given case shall disqualify
himself/herself and shall be replaced by another voting member. The
partiality of a voting member may be raised by the complainant of the
defendant prior to the hearing.
7. Decision as to guilt or innocence and the determination of sanctions
shall be by majority vote of the members voting.
8. All judicial hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the
standards of fair process (see Sec. VI of the ``Joint Statement on Rights
and Freedoms of Students''). (It should be noted that an elaborate
process is not necessary in minor cases-see Section F.1). The defendant
will not be compelled to testify against him or herself and no inference
of guilt or innocence will be drawn from a defendant's failure to
testify. The defendant will be given an opportunity testify and to
present evidence and witnesses. The defendant will also have an
opportunity to hear and question adverse witnesses. The complainant must
be established by a fair preponderance of the evidence. The defendant
may review documents and records concerning the case filed with the
Board, except for confidential educational and disciplinary records of
others. In the absence of a transcript, there should be both a digest
and a verbatim record, such as a tape recording of the hearing.
9. non-voting advisory members shall have full voice but no vote in all
judicial deliberations.
10. Sanctions employed by the GJB shall be drawn from a list of
established sanctions approved in advance by the Director of Graduate
Programs and the Graduate Council.
11. The GJB shall inform the Director of Graduate Programs (or the
faculty member, when a faculty member has brought a charge of violation
of academic standards) of the sanction it deems appropriate in a given
case. The Director of Graduate Programs shall implement the decision in
the mane of the University in cases involving the student's standing as a
member of the University. In cases of violation of the Honor System, the
faculty member shall implement the decision.
12. The GJB shall maintain records in a manner approved by the Director
of Graduate Programs and the Graduate Council, and shall adhere to such
other procedures as the Director and Graduate Council may, from time to
time, establish.
II: Rights Review Board
A. Composition and Tenure
1. The Rights Review Board (RRB) shall consist of two administrators and
two faculty members, with two student advisory members.
B. Responsibilities and Jurisdiction
1. The RRB shall be a non-judicial panel of inquiry easily available to
any student who believes that an administrative action or decision has
violated his/her rights as established in the Statement of Student
Rights, or to any other community member who wishes to subject an issue
to mediation.
2. The RRB shall have the task of receiving complaints concerning
administrative actions or decisions and of attempting to resolve them
through discussion or mediation or by suggesting appropriate solutions to
the parties involved.
3. In individual cases that cannot discreetly be resolved at the primary
level, the panel shall file a strictly confidential report to the
President suggesting further action as deemed appropriate.
4. Whenever the RRB believes that there is a need for a significant
change if University policy in a given area, it shall file a report,
separate and distinct from its recommendation in any individual case, to
the President and to the SAC.
5. The RRB may require the cooperation of any member of the University
community in furnishing information needed for its investigation of an
apparent conflict or for its examination of a policy or procedure.
6. In the spring of each year, the RRB shall file a general report to the
community on the nature and volume of cases encountered during the tear
and the manner n which they have been resolved, and shall offer any
general recommendations growing out of the year's experience.
C. Selection
1. The Student Affairs Committee shall annually designate two of its
members to serve as advisory members of the RRB.
2. In the spring of each year one faculty member shall be selected to
serve on the RRB according to procedures established by the Advisory
Committee.
3. The administrative members of the RRB shall be appointed by the
president.
D. Procedure
1. The RRB shall establish such minimal procedures as it finds useful and
necessary for its task. As the RRB functions as a panel of inquiry and
as an ombudsman, there is no need for formal due process, and the first
concern of the panel shall be to ensure its ready availability to
consider student complaints.
2. The RRB may wish to consider establishing abbreviated procedures in
order to resolve minor issues as speedily as possible. In the case of a
serious dispute, however, and when a formal report to the President is
required, the panels expected to sit en banc.
III: Offices of the Community Advocate, Counselor, and the Clerk
A. The Advocate
1. The Community Advocate shall be an individual designated by the
President, with the advice and consent of the SAC, for a part-time
administrative assignment.
2. The Advocate shall be available to advise and assist individual
complaints in the preparation of cases which they may wish to bring
before the SJB or the GJB.
B. The Counselor
1. The Community Counselor shall be an individual designated by the
President, with the advice and consent of the SAC, for the purpose of
guaranteeing adversarial balance in any adjudicatory hearing before the
SJB or the GJB.
2. In this capacity the Counselor shall be available to all students
accused of a violation of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct to advise them
of their rights and, if requested, accompany them in any adjudicatory
hearing. (A student has the right to be accompanied by an advisor of
his/her choice from within the Wesleyan community, and he/she need not
select the Counselor if he/she has another preference.)
C. The Clerk
1. The Clerk for the system shall take a formal statement from any member
of the community wishing to file a complaint and, under procedures to be
established by the SAC, may gather additional statements from others
including the person against whom the complaint was filed. The Clerk
shall exercise no discretionary powers, however, prior to forwarding the
file to the chair of the SJB, the GJB, or the RRB, or to such other
office as has been clearly identified by the administration, and the FCRR
as the appropriate point for raising questions concerning faculty
members.
2. The Clerk shall be completely dissociated from the Advocate and the
Counselor.
3. Honor Board procedures are not affected by the establishment of the
Clerk's office.
IV: Additional Procedures
A. Cross-complaints
When simultaneous cross-complaints are filed with the SJB or the GJB and
the RRB, a mediating panel, including at least one member of the RRB and
one voting member of the SJB, shall attempt to resolve the case. If
mediation fails, the case shall be heard by an extraordinary joint
session of both boards, meeting en banc. Any determination of
responsibility shall be made in joint session, but thereafter the two
boards shall meet separately for the purpose of formulating their
respective recommendations.
B. Internal Injunctions
One special power, which may be exercised by the SJB, the GJB, or the
RRB, shall be to determine the point at which free expression by one
individual or group crossed the like of tolerability and becomes an
invasion of the rights of other individuals. This judgment must always
be exercised in determining when verbal or physical expression can
reasonably be considered harassment or disruption. Immediately upon
receipt of a complaint that harassment or disruption is in process or
imminent, thereby threatening to deprive an individual of his/her rights,
the appropriate Board shall convene to consider the matter. In such a
case either board shall be authorized to deliver a statement to the
person or persons whose conduct is in question, specifying the conduct
that, if continued would constitute an invasion of the individual rights
of others. This warning shall contain an explicit and reasonable time
limit for compliance and shall carry the force of an internal injunction
that shall remain in effect until superseded by decision of the President
consultation with the SAC. If the SJB determines that its injunction has
been violated, it shall report the determination immediately to the Dean
of College, who, in consultation with an officer of the SJB, may impose
immediate, temporary sanctions on individual students pending a full,
formal hearing of the SJB to be held at the earliest opportunity. If the
RRB determines that its injunction has been violated, it shall report the
determination immediately to the President.
C. Major Revisions
Acting in consultation with the SAC, the President may approve changes to
structures, standards, procedures, and responsibilities relating to the
SJB, GJB, and RRB, but if, at some point in the future, extensive changes
appear warranted, the President and the SAC may jointly consider
establishment of a mechanism for broadly eliciting opinion and advice
from the community.
To call one campus phone from another, just dial the four-digit extension.
To call an off-campus number from on-campus, dial a '9' before the number.
To call an on-campus extension from off-campus, dial 685 before the extension.
2.3 Academic Resources
2.3.1 Computing
http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/wlibhome.htm
This web page will connect you to the Connecticut College - Trinity
College -
Wesleyan University (CTW) library consortium on-line card catalog and
other databases avaible at Wesleyan.
http://helpdesk.wesleyan.edu/
The help desk can also be reached during the day at x4000 to help
answer
your questions. For more resources, visit the ITS home page:
http://www.wesleyan.edu/its
2.3.2 Libraries
Chapter 3
Middletown, CT 06457
3.1 About the City of Middletown
3.1.1 A Brief History of Middletown
3.1.2 Public Transportation
3.1.3 Places of Worship
3.1.4 Weather
3.2 Officialdom
3.2.1 Motor Vehicles
3.2.2 Post Offices and More
Hours: Mon-Fri - 8:30am-5:00pm; Sat - 9:00am-12:00noon
Summer: Mon-Fri - 8:30am-3:30pm
Hours: M-W,F - 8:00am-5:00pm; Thu - 8:00am-7:30pm; Sat - 8:00am-12:00noon
Not the most convenient location, unless you are a mail truck.
Hours: Mon-Sat - 8:00am-9:00pm; Sun - 8:00am-6:00pm
3.2.3 Banking
Hours: M-Th 9:00-4:00, Fri 9:00-5:00, Sat 9:00-12:00
Comments: Offers no minimum checking and ATM usage with a limit of 8
transactions per month, after which the fee is 50 cents per trxn.
Hours: M-Th 9:30-4:30, Fri 9:30-5:30, Sat 9:00-12:00
Comments: Free checking ($5 Minimum), bank card, must be employed by Wesleyan, $12 per year ATM charge, $1 per withdrawal
after 15 in a month.
Hours: M-W 9:00-3:00, Thu-Fri 9:00-6:00, Sat 9:00-12:00
Comments: Basic Checking with no minimum balance; service fee waived with
direct deposit or at least 5 monetary ATM transactions per month;
no ATM charge except $1 after the fourth use on NYCE machines other than Webster; 1-800-325-2424 access to accounts.
Hours: M-Th 9:00-4:00, Fri 9:00-5:00
Offers free checking and 50 free checks with a $100 deposit and
constant minimum balance.
There isn't a charge for Liberty ATM's, but foreign ATM transactions
are $1.50 each.
Hours: M-W 9:00-4:00, Th 9:00-5:00, Fri 9:00-6:00
Comments: Offers two plans: the ``flat fee'' and another more limited
plan. The flat fee plan is $11 per month with no minimum
balance and unlimited transactions. The ``limited plan'' is $3 per
month, which entitles you to 12 transactions per month and charges $2
for each debit over that amount.
3.3 Hotels and Motels
In Middletown:
Outside Middletown:
A single is $45, a double $55, breakfast is included; however, Buckley's
is only open Sat and Sun.
Television, telephone, air conditioning in every room.
A single is $34, and a double $40.
Telephone and air conditioning in every room. Some efficiency
units, 42 units in all, swimming pool. A
single is $33, and a double $39.
At the intersection of Rte. 72 and I-91, seven miles from campus.
A single room is $64, a double $69 and $6 for each additional person. The Comfort Inn's sister hotel is the Radisson
across the street. As a guest they will make available to you the benefits
of the Radisson (i.e. pool, restaurant, fitness center).
During the week, a single room is $95, a double $99,
a single suite $119 and a double suite $129.
On the weekend rates may vary between prices of $59-$84.
Breakfast is included here. Rooms cost $45 for a single, $55 for
a double, and $75 suite.
Take exit 16 off I-91 N or Exit 17 off I-91 S.
A room with one king-sized bed goes for $74, with two $69. A free
continental breakfast is included.
Single and double $62, restaurant in hotel.
Rooms are $83 for both singles and doubles.
Rooms are $89 for a single and $99 for a double. There is also a
restaurant in the hotel.
Rooms go for $49 for a single and $69 for a double. There is also
a restaurant.
Rooms here are a little more expensive, but also a little nicer.
Singles go for $119, and doubles are $139.
The rates are $50 for a single, and $55 for a double.
The rates are $59.88 during the week and $69.88 on the weekend.
Chapter 4
The Lighter Side
4.1 Eating Out
4.1.1 On-Campus Dining
4.1.2 Middletown Area Eateries
4.1.3 Watering Holes
4.2 Entertainment
4.2.1 Cinema
That package store may look like a movie theater, but there are no
movies off-campus. For Connecticut-wide movie listings, call 549-flix
or check the listings in The Middletown Press, Hartford Courant and
Advocate for theaters and schedules. Some of the area
theaters are:
4.2.2 Concert Halls and Theater
4.2.3 The Public Library
4.2.4 Publications
4.2.5 Radio Stations
4.3 Shopping
4.3.1 Bookstores
4.3.2 Grocery Stores
4.3.3 Malls
4.3.4 Specialty Shops
4.3.5 Laundry
Appendix A
The GSA Constitution
I: GRADUATE JUDICIARY BOARD
Appendix B
Important Telephone Numbers
Emergency Non-emergency
(on-campus) (off-campus)
Public Safety x3333 685-3333 x2345
Police Department 9-911 911 347-2541
or 347-6941
Fire Department 9-911 911 346-8622
Health Center x2470 685-2470 x2470
Mental Health Center x2874 685-2874 x2910
Escort Service x2789
Important Offices and People Numbers Places
Director of Graduate Studies and Research:
Fred Cohan x3482
Office of Graduate Student Services:
Allison Insall, Director x2390 130 Science Tower
Beth Labriola x2390 132 Science Tower
C.M. Burr Management Company
Nancie Pepin x2675 2 Warren St.
For routine numbers and detailed instructions on using the Wesleyan phone
system, check the table of contents for the appropriate section.
For a map of Middletown, see the city telephone directory.