A 22-year-old Haverstraw man was charged with rape Monday after he was identified as a suspect in a sexual assault that was reported in December Town of Haverstraw Police Department Chief John Gould said Brahyan Cepin-Rodriguez was located and arrested Saturday following a months-long investigation that identified him as a suspect in a sexual assault that was reported in the village in late December 2024 Gould said Cepin-Rodriguez was arraigned in the Village of Haverstraw Justice Court and charged with two counts of first-degree rape $40,000 bond or $40,000 partially secured bond Police said the investigation remains active Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Directors of Student Life are the glue that helps hold Princeton’s residential colleges together, says senior Cecilia Kim. Directors of Student Life (DSLs) are advisers mentors and counselors whose job is to help students make their residential experience on campus meaningful and enjoyable “They help students make the transition to University look out for the health and wellbeing of students and support students as they navigate the different aspects of the college experience,” said Kim a proud member of Mathey College.   Princeton’s residential colleges are a community of dormitories where students live and eat on campus Each college has a faculty head of college director of student life and other support staff including new live-in staff called residential life coordinators.  DSLs are the primary point person in every residential college for discussions of health, wellness and campus resources They help cultivate a sense of belonging at Princeton; serve as a liaison between students and academic deans and other Campus Life offices; help students understand the value of living in a diverse community; help uphold community expectations for residential living; oversee the Residential College Advisers (juniors and seniors who mentor small groups of first-year students); and help plan educational and social programs for all undergraduates DSLs will also oversee the new Residential Life Coordinators (RLCs) who will live in each college and assist in building a welcoming and cohesive community by supporting the health On the University homepage Amy Ham Johnson and Momo Wolapaye — the three longest serving DSLs — talk about how they support student wellbeing and share their favorite parts about working with undergraduates this year’s directors of student life are Garrett Meggs Press Room University News Faculty-led trips took Montclair State University students to Arizona and abroad to Iceland Posted in: Communication and Media, Homepage News, Science and Technology From seeing the frigid beauty of glaciers and the Northern Lights in Iceland to visiting a harsh and sweltering migrant camp in Arizona Montclair State University students and their professors took part in spring break trips that both challenged their expectations and left them in awe Short study and volunteer opportunities helped students understand divisive issues facing the United States and abroad while also exposing them to the beauty of nature a senior Earth and Environmental Science major who explored geology and sustainability in Iceland “I’ve never left the country until this trip and I was sending photos to my parents and telling them the pictures don’t do it justice You can’t tell how big Iceland is and you can’t tell how many different cultures are involved from just a simple photo The trip reinforced everything I’ve learned in my classes: I live on Planet Earth and Earth is crazy big and has some really cool things going on here,” Cepin says “Just going into a different country and driving down the road and seeing how other people live it’s totally different from driving down the streets of Montclair a senior Fashion Design and Merchandising major Other destinations abroad were Austria and London separate groups of aspiring journalists and public servants traveled to Arizona “Travel experiences like this are the best form of education,” says Associate Professor Thomas E who accompanied School of Communication and Media students on a reporting trip to Arizona “Not only do they learn about the world we live in and encounter lives vastly different from their own but they also learn a great deal about themselves and their capabilities.” Franklin assisted in this year’s “On the Road: Reporting from the Field” trip to Arizona which was led by News Producer Steve McCarthy Students researched and chose stories to explore Native American culture and the legacy of Native American boarding schools “While this trip may seem like fun – and indeed it was one of the students tried his hand as a cowboy for the day and we made a brief stop in Sedona and at the Grand Canyon – it was also hard work as we navigated over 2,300 miles in six days in two vans packed with gear and weary students logging 12- to 16-hour days,” Franklin says The professors say it was inspiring to see the young journalists step out of their comfort zones and conduct themselves with professionalism and empathy “During our visit the Border Patrol raided the camp and detained a few dozen migrants The migrants actually gave themselves up to ask for asylum It was quite dramatic and emotional for our students particularly the students whose families have come into the U.S The faculty-led spring break programs are among the short-term study options offered by Montclair and more than 50 countries are offered for short trips The programs reflect a growing belief that students should learn more about the world “I can’t tell you how many times we were in the van and I heard students say things like this is the best thing they’ve ever done Or they will never forget meeting this person or that person,” Franklin says “It’s truly a life-changing experience.” The students were taking part in “embedded courses” that combine classroom work and credits at Montclair with travel experiences – many studying abroad. “We are thrilled that so many Red Hawks are stepping up to have a high-impact learning experience before they graduate,” says Tim White, director of International Academic Initiatives these students are honing their intercultural skills and gaining a competitive edge in their career.” “The Entrepreneurial Mindset and Innovation,” gained a greater appreciation and understanding of low-carbon technologies “We went everywhere, from far out in the countryside to meet radically innovative farmers, to the labs of scientists using biomimicry to develop new energy systems, to the City Hall to discuss regional initiatives,” says Iain Kerr, who along with Jason Frasca, is co-director of Montclair’s MIX Lab and program leader for the Transatlantic Entrepreneurship Academy a reciprocal exchange between Montclair and Karl Franzens University of Graz “Woven around these and many other visits was a complementary intensive program of study where the students developed their own radically transformative green innovations while learning key 21st-century skills in an immersive real-world context,” Kerr says English Department Chair Jonathan Greenberg English Associate Professor Lee Behlman and Theatre and Dance Clinical Specialist Mysti Stay led students on the trip to London to form a deeper understanding of the city’s theater scene The trip included backstage tours and meetings with theater leadership in community engagement Students learned not only how theater is made in London but also why it is made the way it is and human impacts on the landscape led by Earth and Environmental Studies Professors Josh Galster and Greg Pope is that an alluvial fan?’ I’ve seen [this geological formation] in my textbook but now I’ve seen it in person and have a better perspective on what it looks like,” says Onike Achee a senior Earth and Environmental Science major In the U.S., alternative spring break included volunteering opportunities for Next Generation Service Corps and the Bonner Leader Program to work side-by-side with students in the NextGen Service Corp at Arizona State and nail guns in a build for Habitat For Humanity Central Arizona “The trip was indeed transformative and life-changing for me,” says Mariana Luna Martinez a senior Biology major with a minor in Leadership Development through Civic Engagement we left with hearts full of pride and gratitude to be able to provide our service to a community many miles away.” Students say they appreciated the range of experiences of these non-traditional spring break destinations the lifelong friendships and connections developed “Iceland isn’t exactly where you picture going for spring break,” Cepin says joking she chose something completely different from a “traditional” warm and sunny destination “We’re wearing hats and we’re freezing But you almost forget that you’re cold because you’re seeing something amazing in front of you – the glaciers and the mountains and the different landscape features – and making connections with people with shared interests I’ll be keeping in touch with everybody for the rest of my life.” Learn more: International Academic Initiatives, studyabroad@montclair.edu; School of Communication and Media; Community Engagement and Partnerships Semester in LA Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Montclair Students Inspiring Tomorrow’s Public Service Leaders Business Trips Add Perspective on Global Economy Experiencing Scotland Wind Symphony Performs in Prague Montclair State University Policies Return to Top SMITHFIELD – Smithfield-Selma High School Principal David K Priscilla Nutt and Sophia Urzi have been named Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation was presented by the principal to these scholastically talented seniors About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise Although they will not continue in the 2023 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards Commended Students place among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2023 competition by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/ NMSQT “Those being named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” commented a spokesperson for the NMSC “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.” SSS Senior Named National Merit Semi-Finalist Smithfield-Selma High School Principal David K Allen announced that Jude Reece has been named a Semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship (NMS) Program Jude is one of only 16,000 NMS Semifinalists nationwide These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million offered in the spring To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award Semifinalists must write an essay and submit all academic records and a letter of recommendation to advance to the Finalist level of the competition Jude qualified for the National Merit Scholarship by earning the highest possible score on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) which is the first step for program entrants includes the highest scoring entrants in each state Jude will continue in the competition and will find out if he is a finalist in mid-February Scholarship winners will be notified between March and May 2023 “We offer our congratulations to Jude as he continues to demonstrate the highest levels of academic success,” commented the SSS Administrative Team Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in medicine Read the latest news stories about CUIMC faculty Columbia University Irving Medical Center celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month this year with a host of events throughout the month National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sept 15 and recognizes the contributions that generations of Hispanic Americans have made to positively influence and enrich the United States and beyond The theme of this year’s national celebration was “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” The month-long celebration kicked off on Sept 24 with the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Haven Plaza The event—organized by the Office of Academic and Community Partnerships and the LatinX Employee Resource Group—aimed to highlight accomplishments made by the Hispanic community as well as provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about the history of Hispanic Heritage Month The Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Latino Association held a networking reception in celebration of National Latino Physician Day on Oct and build relationships with colleagues across different fields “We were proud to host our first National Latino Physician Day event,” said Ana Cepin co-president of the VP&S Latino Association and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology “National Latino Physician Day was established to celebrate and inspire the next generation of Latino and Latina physicians in the United States Our association is committed to fostering the development and belonging of VP&S' Latino community to ultimately improve the health outcomes of the communities we serve.” the Department of Medicine hosted a panel discussion titled “Trailblazers Unidos: Health Care Leaders Shaping the Future at Columbia/NYP and Beyond” featuring health care leaders of Hispanic heritage representing multiple generations and disciplines panelists shared their contributions to health care excellence and the communities they serve The event included a special tribute to Rafael A associate dean for community service and professor of medicine at VP&S accompanied by vibrant cultural performances students at the medical center hosted their own celebration in the ballroom at 50 Haven Ave The Latino associations from all four schools at the medical center co-sponsored the event offering the chance for students from VP&S and College of Dental Medicine to mingle and enjoy but now we know that despite countless potential new hires saying the split kinda freaks them out the new recruits are so excited about Everest As the firm’s global partners prepare for a vote to advance the split EY staffers are contemplating their next career moves Their options include jumping to other firms or perhaps starting their own practices a principal in the professional services practice at Korn Ferry “There’s been a lot of back and forth and a lot of strains and stresses and sleep lost fewer than 10% of the EY staffers who’ve left the firm in recent months cited the planned split as a reason for quitting vice chair for talent with EY’s global arm The decoupling has helped the firm to recruit new hires and keep current workers with retention rates rising in the second half of 2022 “The brand potential that that has for people to work through a transaction like this is really exciting,” Henry said they’re really motivated by Everest,” he said a reference to the firm’s moniker for its restructuring strategy Poor kids probably think they’re going to get the cool NewCo clients and work at a fun startup fewer people are jumping ship so they don’t need to replace as many bodies This makes EY’s 2023 hiring target about the same as 2022 Henry talked to Bloomberg Law about the adjusted hiring target earlier this month he made similar comments about the split’s affect on retention Retention has also been helped by EY’s planned split of its consulting and assurance businesses they understand the value in it,” Henry said Because it’s not what we’re hearing on the streets Just like our waistlines over Thanksgiving weekend the tax practice at the Queen’s KPMG got […] Does anyone want a job helping socially awkward partners at E&Y? After last week’s inappropriate ice-breaker rumor we received another tip about a partner leaving a sensitive voicemail with all employees in the region: The voice mail says this is for partners only and then discusses the new model EY will be using to determine the # of admin staff in an office and gives the date when admin cuts will happen Also talks about how all partners will be required to do a mid year review in Jan 2009 (by the way we all heard the partners saying later how this had never been done in the past so clearly it was papering the files for upcoming partner cuts) From the mailbag: When are you going to start a compensation discussion for EY People interviewing for a job will say whatever they think you want them to say I doubt this is very exciting to anyone but also don’t see it putting anyone off applying either These corporate restructurings are never ending In 10 years the audit company will have started a new consulting firm and the consulting firm will have been bought by various private equity firms and gone public again or some such nonsense when I interviewed with the Big 4 in 2008 I was “really interested” in IFRS convergence Accountingfly connects you with remote accounting jobs in the public and private sectors Visit accountingfly.com to find a remote job or to hire remote talent Although this should have been on their radar already because PwC got sued by America First Legal over it two years ago conservative muckraking site Daily Wire has just now… Comment on "How are layoffs decisions really made?" via r/Big4 If it backfires so what I really hope this advice gets sucked… a recruiter told me a story about a job seeker who was already employed but looking to jump elsewhere She interviewed with a firm that really loved… The church identifies itself as a “neo-monastic mega house church,” and has a more casual style than many other churches Step into The Village Church for Sunday evening vespers and make yourself at home The front entrance leads into a kitchen where dinner is already cooking — Hawaiian food on an evening in early May Early arrivals lounge on couches in the sanctuary About 80 adults and 50 kids call this community home not just on Sundays but throughout the week Many live within a few miles of the church and scribble their names on a detailed sign-up sheet Fiona Williams prays during services at The Village Church and bases its doctrine around the Apostles’ Creed and values like truth “Our community is very flat,” says Eric Cepin “Almost everybody in our church has a key to the building but moved into its current building at 1926 N transitioning from a focus on college students and young adults to young families Beyond the hodgepodge of sofas and chairs in the sanctuary and the shared dinners following Sunday services The Village differs from many other churches in its identification on its website as a “neo-monastic mega house church.” That’s a fancy way of saying The Village doesn’t just talk about the values of the Bible but is serious about living them — even when it’s messy “God is not saying there aren’t going to be hard things in the world and everything is going to be great “Getting back to the monastic sense of things it’s not that everything is going to be great The kitchen is a hub of activity as church members gather for a meal following services on April 24 The Village emphasized hospitality and community long before adopting the label “neo-monastic.” Patrick had his monasteries inside the townships and invited people in,” Cepin said referring to a book he and co-pastor Rod Hugen drew inspiration from — “The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West .. New monasticism is a movement within American Christianity that has roots in the 1930s a leader in new monasticism and a 2003 founder of the Rutba House community in Durham The movement experienced a resurgence in the early 2000s “out of the sense that the established institutional churches in the culture became considerably compromised by their alliance with the powers that be be that business or political or whatever,” he says about 100 communities identified with new monasticism doesn’t share daily meals or economic resources in a formal sense It also differs theologically from communities that associate themselves with the emerging church movement and bases doctrine around the Apostles’ Creed and “values what Jesus is valuing,” including truth and Cepin are ordained ministers through the Christian Reformed Church The Village affiliates with no particular denomination and falls somewhere between evangelical and mainline Protestant traditions “I see a trend of post-denominationalism in these communities,” Wilson-Hartgrove said by phone from North Carolina “People are more concerned with how faith calls them to live than with the particular tradition they grew up in.” Congregants and friends gather for food and conversation following the service at the Village Church The kids at The Village squirm free during the opening and closing parts of the Sunday vespers service A group dances in a back corner to live music while others shake small maracas out of time Her oldest has Down syndrome and hasn’t always been well-received in other churches Ryan McCulley also has two children with special needs and his wife feel as though their 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son are treated like they have something to offer fellow churchgoers but really worked on empowering other people,” Brunson says “Because it’s an organic model rather than organizational model members might attend Pilgrim Groups (like Bible studies) and then monthly Monastic Communities “We have an autistic man on our leadership and he has preached several times,” Cepin says ‘OK,’ and brought him a chair and a glass of water Because The Village “offers relationship that is long-suffering and is willing to be in-depth with people” who are struggling Many in the church come from difficult backgrounds is the first year we’ll be fully self-sustaining as a community meaning we can pay reasonable salaries to our pastors and the mortgage on our building,” he says dealing with messy lives makes transparency essential Hugen says the church has encountered registered sex offenders wanting to join then we’re going to confront you and not let it go But if you’re here and repentant and sorrowful and honest then we can talk about it” and get parents involved perhaps restricting Sunday attendance or building access because it’s not one-on-one; it’s collective,” says John Cepin Eric’s father and a marriage and family therapist of more than 30 years have attended The Village for several years Eric Cepin estimates that just about everybody at the church volunteers which means just about everybody has been background-checked Pastor Rod Hugen lifts spirits at services at The Village which does not affiliate with any denomination When Cepin stands up to preach on the Apostles’ Creed in early May wandering out of the sanctuary to return with a mug of coffee or glass of water The casual atmosphere attracted Kristina Henry who first discovered the The Village while church shopping for her cousin “I came to The Village bringing someone else just trying to get her comfortable,” Henry says she has stopped using drugs and is making progress toward healing from a traumatic childhood Church members have picked her up from the hospital late at night after an MS flare-up and cared for her in the midst of guilt following a drug-use relapse but now that I have something to look forward to these people might love me and I might have a community Now I have a reason not to do this,” Henry says Sunday evening vespers end with a bellowing of “Happy Birthday” — provided the honorees brings treats to share The Village is liturgical with its commitment to certain rites — the singing of “Happy Birthday,” for example — yet casual in its style “The Village is traditional and liturgical in terms of following the Apostles’ Creed and having their own church rhythms but in a way that’s really open and inviting to creativity and open for discussion,” says Corey Gilchrist a 29-year-old member of the leadership team and musician in one of the church’s bands we are unhindered by quality control,” Cepin says “We really want people to have the opportunity to express themselves But there is this understanding that we are all in process.” Contact reporter Johanna Willett at jwillett@tucson.com or 573-4357 The Village Church, 1926 N. Cloverland Ave., starts around 5 or 5:10 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit villagersonline.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community A roundup of what's happening in Tucson's faith community A roundup of what's going on in Tucson's faith community Trinity Presbyterian members say development plan will help at a time of shrinking membership Has headstones and graves dating from early 1900s to 1960s The first of seven conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses begins this weekend Bible study sessions starting in the book of Genesis The Village Church doesn’t just talk about the values of the Bible 30-minute film chronicling Tucson’s Christian heritage will get its premiere The residents of Holy Trinity Monastery in St Arizona — some permanent and some snowbirds — participate in the prayer schedule and wor… Many have been coming to the quiet spot for years The ones who find it are those who need it most There they find a place to build relationships and work through doubts Arizona Daily Star staff photographer Dean Knuth set out to show religion in Tucson through a series of single images – one a week Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Connecting talented and ambitious people in the world's greatest cities our mission is to be a top quality institution Join our more than 40,000 students studying in hundreds of programs on six continents all around the globe and scholars expect high achievement in pursuit of engaging the world's diverse challenges we draw spirit from our cities and their famous cultural institutions and professional opportunities Being at the forefront of their disciplines our faculty shape the understanding of an enormous range of academic fields Five $10K Scholarships Will Support Training Underrepresented Bachelor’s Nursing Students   “The NICN scholarships provide opportunities for students from underrepresented groups in nursing to develop leadership skills through programs that are offered to them as well as opportunities to work with a mentor while they are in bachelor’s program,” said Ann Marie P “The NCIN scholarship program not only increases the number of nurses from these underrepresented groups but it also helps meet the nursing shortage more rapidly encouraging graduates to continue their nursing education and hopefully to become nurse faculty educators in the future,” she said The NCIN Scholarship Program was launched in 2008 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (NCIN) to address the national nursing shortage develop a diverse professional nursing workforce and fuel the pipeline of nurse faculty and leaders 400 students in accelerated baccalaureate programs and master’s programs will receive scholarship funding from NCIN “Through the NCIN program, we are challenging nursing schools across the country to expand nurse leadership and strengthen education, two clear goals of the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on The Future of Nursing “By diversifying the nursing profession through these scholarships we are also helping to create a health care workforce ready to meet the needs of the 21st century American patient.” “NYU College of Nursing has a proud history of preparing graduates for leadership roles in clinical practice “We are committed to cultivating leadership competencies in baccalaureate students from underrepresented groups who represent our hope for the future for making significant contributions to reducing health disparities and improving clinical outcomes in academic or clinical settings in which they choose to play a leadership role,” Dr The 2012 NYUCN NCIN scholars are: Maritess Cabrera recruited from the NYUCN Alumni Association and members of the Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International “The scholars will benefit from their mentoring relationship and strengthened advisement with further opportunities for advanced education,” said Dr   “They will receive expanded offerings for building leadership skills and engage in partnerships for professional development,” she said the NCIN scholarship program has supported 15 students (NCIN Round 1 Scholars) at NYUCN 27% of the Round 1 Scholars have returned to NYUCN to begin their MS program In response to the expected shortage of registered nurses (RNs) due to aging Baby Boomers and an increased need for health care (AACN NYUCN’s 15-Month Accelerated Baccalaureate Program has graduated over 1800 students since 1990; more than 1000 since 2005 47 of whom were Dual Degree BS/MS students NYUCN enrolled 201 Accelerated BS students in Fall 2011 and 121 this Spring 2012 NYUCN continues to develop culturally competent health professionals and future leaders of the profession The NCIN program addresses a number of the challenges confronting nursing education Accelerated programs like the ones supported by NCIN provide scholars with the most efficient route to licensure as a registered nurse (RN) and create opportunities for adults who have already completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree in a field other than nursing These programs prepare students to pass the licensure examine required for all RNs in as little as 12-18 months and provide quicker routes to workforce eligibility than traditional programs By bringing more nurses into the profession at the baccalaureate and master’s degree levels the NCIN program also helps to address the nation’s nurse faculty shortage Health Resources and Services Administration show that nurses entering the profession via baccalaureate programs are four times more likely than other nurses to pursue a graduate degree in nursing This trend is reflected in the NCIN scholars as 91 percent of the students receiving funding in the first three years of the program indicate a desire to advance their education to the master’s and doctoral levels For more information about NYUCN’s accelerated program, visit http://www.nyu.edu/nursing/academicprograms/futurestudents/acceleratedstudentstories.html To find learn more about the NCIN program, visit www.newcareersinnursing.org The New York University College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Master of Arts and Post-Master’s Certificate Programs; a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree; and a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development.  For more information, visit www.nyu.edu/nursing University’s labs provide research opportunities for undergraduates in everything from studying the climate crisis to keeping swimmers safe Posted in: Research, Science and Technology As temperatures soared in July to the hottest in Earth’s modern history Emily Cepin toiled inside a Montclair State University lab gaining insights into today’s climate crisis by extracting pollen fossils from rock sediment formed 56 million years ago it’s going to be that much harder to overcome and it’s going to lead to severe and consequential events,” she says Cepin’s research looks at how plants and vegetation are changing today compared to a long ago extreme climate event the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) a geologic period of intense global warming To analyze pollen from that period she removes minerals like carbonates and silicates from ancient rocks using a series of chemical reactions “Analyzing the pollen samples will allow me to understand how plants and vegetation responded to the PETM event and compare it to how plants are changing in response to the current climate crisis,” explains Cepin a senior Earth and Environmental Science major mentored by Assistant Professor Ying Cui Cepin’s research is among nearly 40 projects underway this summer conducted by Montclair undergraduate students The student researchers are tackling some of the world’s toughest scientific and engineering challenges everything from finding a cure for malaria to building technology for classrooms and protecting swimmers from jellyfish in the coastal bays of New Jersey “The commonality,” says Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Yvonne Gindt “is that these students have research mentors who care deeply about making them into the next generation of scientists.” The undergraduate research program is supported by a combination of funding More than half of the students receive stipend support from the National Science Foundation Garden State LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation) program an alliance of New Jersey universities to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in science and engineering research This support is matched by a New Jersey Opportunity Meets Innovation Challenge Grant and generous donations by alumni and friends of the University who support student experiential learning “The program focuses on teaching the students what it means to be a scientist understanding their professional obligations and understanding what scientists really do,” says Gindt Faculty members play a key role in identifying and training undergraduates “I encourage them to think on their own because that’s where the real creativity comes from,” says Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor David Rotella director of the Sokol Institute for Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences “Professors know that you’re new and that you’re learning,” adds Rachel Gushikem a junior Biochemistry major mentored by Rotella “They’re excited about being a part of your process which makes it easy to have the vulnerability to try new things in the lab and be unafraid to ask the questions you need to ask to grow as a scientist.” The students’ research choices reflect what they care about and problems they want to solve “That’s where the passion comes from,” observes College of Science and Mathematics Dean Lora Billings “Our faculty are very good at keeping projects moving at teaching students resilience and persistence that there’s always a silver lining in there somewhere.” is comparing the genetic information of a virus discovered at Montclair to a closely related species “Scientists have been able to determine with some confidence the identity of the genes that comprise the genome But until those genes are produced in the lab as proteins and we analyze those proteins we can’t say with confidence that one protein is what we think it is,” explains Ramadan who is mentored by Biology Professor Quinn Vega produce their protein products and see what they are for the purposes of identifying them it gives us a lot of room for experimentation,” Ramadan says is studying how fast clinging jellyfish polyps clone themselves under different salt environments to try and pinpoint where they might be most abundant in the wild understanding the environment that they grow best in will help identify areas where the polyps survive and thrive she says of the research mentored by Biology Professor Paul Bologna director of the Marine Biology and Coastal Sciences program Since the polyp stage survives the winter and makes the next years’ adult jellyfish knowing where the polyps are could help find ways to minimize or eradicate this invasive species while protecting families enjoying the coastal bays of New Jersey The full-time summer research positions give students the time to delve deeply into the work you’re trying to balance your classes and research But in the summer you can focus on the research that you’re doing It’s definitely a different experience,” says Athenia Ibragimov Ibragimov says she appreciates the mentorship from Biology Professor Julian Keenan director of the Cognitive Neuroimaging Laboratory It’s definitely nice for someone to point that out to you so you don’t make those mistakes again A sampling of other work taking place at Montclair this summer includes: The undergraduate research training is just part of the science happening on campus this summer: Field research is also part of the summer mix Cepin has waded into the waters near campus to assess the impact of urban pollutants on the 21-acre Alonzo F Bonsal Wildlife Preserve on the Montclair and Clifton border Students used heavy-duty surveying and geophysics equipment tools they will likely use in careers in urban environmental geology “There are hiking trails and a lot of people use the preserve to walk their dogs We were getting questions from them: ‘What are you guys doing “I get excited when people who don’t know about science get excited,” Cepin says Story by Staff Writer Marilyn Joyce Lehren. Photos by University Photographer Mike Peters On a Wednesday evening at Columbia College midterm season is in full swing as students rush through the lobby of Schapiro Hall toting books and flipping through review packets Yet in the dormitory lounge only a few feet away Sarah Green CC ’16 along with a group of more than twenty students takes one hour to leave behind the stress of midterms and focus on her personal well-being through meditation “Today I had a midterm that went really well although I probably drank too much coffee,” Green says I come to meditation to check in with myself and feel more focused and grounded.” Green is one of the many students who participate in Bhakti Club a student group founded at Columbia in 2001 by a group of Hindu students who wanted to engage in philosophical discussions and learn to cook wholesome Though it has been steadily growing since then the club only began meeting in the residential dormitories at the beginning of the 2013–14 academic year after forming a partnership with Columbia College and Columbia Engineering’s Office of Residential Life which oversees residential life for College and Engineering undergraduates The club now meets three times a week: Mondays and Wednesdays are devoted to meditation while at Friday sessions the group practices yoga participants enjoy a homemade vegetarian meal cooked by volunteers from the Bhakti Center downtown is a nonprofit cultural arts center devoted to the life and teachings of Srila A.C translator and teacher who is widely known for his expertise on bhakti-yoga from which Bhakti Club draws many of its practices defines the term “bhakti” simply as “the common religious devotion that is held in the heart of a devoted person of any spiritual faith.”  Despite its roots in Hindu traditions the Columbia club’s meetings are primarily focused on wellness and welcome and attract attendees from different spiritual backgrounds coupled with the club’s ability to accommodate students of different yoga and meditative levels and their new location in the middle of dorm life are part of what the club’s board members attribute to the Columbia community’s growing interest in Bhakti Club’s programming “The bhakti mantra is only as spiritual or religious as you want it to be,” says Green Atheism and Hinduism in her spiritual practice “For some people it’s a tool for mindfulness associate director of the Office of Residential Life and a regular participant in Bhakti Club’s meditational meetings believes that the organization promotes many of Residential Life’s core values regarding physical Cepin has also played an integral part in Bhakti Club’s transition into its new location I recognize healthy students are better prepared to learn and succeed in college,” says Cepin “Residential [Life] is committed to providing students with opportunities that promote a successful living and learning experience.” who first attended a Bhakti Club meditation meeting during the second semester of his freshman year describes the club as a major point of salvation for his overall happiness at the time my life took off on a whole new path and I was very lost,” says Winsor which helped me learn a lot more about myself I really accredit this club with making me a better person.” Winsor says participating in Bhakti Club’s yoga and meditational meetings taught him how to maintain awareness of his physical and mental health in everyday life His experience has led him to take yoga for his Physical Education requirement and a Hinduism class as well as to attend meditation and vegetarian cooking classes at the Bhakti Center downtown While there are people who have been coming to Bhakti Club’s meetings for years there are also new faces in the room every week Each meeting draws approximately 20 students “I think there’s a lot of people at Columbia who are trying to do it all by themselves and put up a brave face,” says Green there’s nothing wrong with taking care of yourself even when you’re really busy and making great accomplishments.” Bhakti Club is just one of the opportunities offered through Residential Life that supports healthy living for students Others include the Residence Hall Leadership Organization (RHLO) a group of student leaders that work with the Resident Advisors to foster a sense of community in the dormitories a program that allows students with common interests to live together through communities such as Wellness House Community Health House and vegetarian-friendly Metta House “We welcome programs in residence hall lounges that integrate the living and learning environment and promote healthy life choices,” says Cepin utilize residential lounge space and literally open our doors for these opportunities alumnus/alumna or program we should spotlight Columbia CollegeOffice of Communicationscc-comms@columbia.edu Columbia University in the City of New York 208 Hamilton HallMail Code 28051130 Amsterdam AvenueNew York ColumbiaCollege@columbia.edu212-854-2441 © 2025 Columbia University | Privacy Policy | Notice of Non-Discrimination | Terms of Use | Accessibility | University Home Page Directors of Student Life are the glue that helps hold Princeton’s residential colleges together, says senior Cecilia Kim. Directors of Student Life (DSLs) are advisers mentors and counselors whose job is to help students make their residential experience on campus meaningful and enjoyable.  Princeton’s Directors of Student Life (left to right): Joe Rolón Princeton’s residential colleges are a community of dormitories where students live and eat on campus DSLs are the primary point person in every residential college for discussions of health, wellness and campus resources They help cultivate a sense of belonging at Princeton; serve as a liaison between students and academic deans and other Campus Life offices; help students understand the value of living in a diverse community; help uphold community expectations for residential living; oversee the Residential College Advisers (juniors and seniors who mentor small groups of first-year students); and help plan educational and social programs for all undergraduates this year’s Directors of Student Life are Garrett Meggs Students participate in a mindfulness and meditation activity during Orientation.  What is a Director of Student Life’s role at Princeton Directors of Student Life are part of the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and work directly with and in the residential colleges DSLs are seminal partners in helping students make their college experience meaningful The heart of a DSL's work involves facilitating opportunities for students to make connections between the learning that happens inside and outside of the classroom In addition to working with students in the residential colleges DSLs connect students to resources across the University through partnerships with faculty DSLs also play an important role in helping students understand and adhere to community standards in an effective and educational manner a DSL’s connection with students impacts the culture What is your favorite part about being a DSL I am incredibly grateful for getting the opportunity to “be” in the work that I have done during the past five years Who I am and what I do are in great alignment My favorite part of my work in Mathey College is being able to model vulnerability and authenticity to my students by meeting them where they’re at in a way that expresses empathy and understanding I came to know firsthand the impact that student affairs professionals can make in helping students navigate the college experience I strive to pay forward the kind of help that I received in ways that make students feel seen I am so honored that I get to relate to students at a personal level in this work and that students have allowed me to partake in their happiest I’ve learned so much from every student whose journey I’ve shared I get to see the campus experience full circle: there is no perfect path How do DSLs and other residential college staff support students’ health and wellbeing?  One of the primary responsibilities of a DSL is to approach students empathetically understanding that the pressures of University life are very real Students are often in need of a listening ear and guiding voice Be Well program aims to empower and inspire a healthy lifestyle and sense of wellbeing We don’t expect students to figure it out all on their own DSLs offer a variety of formal and informal activities that empower students to build practical skills in the areas of personal health and mindfulness We work very closely with campus partners; as such not limited to but including University Health Services Princeton and the residential colleges have much to offer as students explore their personal path to wellness What is the First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program FYRE is a coordinated set of programs and opportunities for first-year students that is framed to emphasize important community values related to civility and citizenship Past events have included mindfulness and meditation sessions and panel discussions with alumni about their Princeton experiences The program aims to boost first-years’ sense of belonging at Princeton and introduce them to campus resources we hope students can demonstrate knowledge of campus resources develop the skills to build meaningful relationships with peers who may hold identities and backgrounds different from their own and make informed decisions that enhance their personal health and growth Rockefeller College Director of Student Life Amy Ham Johnson (far left in front) celebrates with "Rocky" students during the annual Clash of the Colleges event for incoming first-year students.  My favorite part of the position is building relationships with students I want students to understand that I can be a resource for all kinds of questions — big or small Sometimes my interactions with students are briefer and maybe they only needed my support for a short amount of time especially if I feel I advised someone through a concern they were addressing I truly enjoy helping students find their paths through Princeton and celebrating them when they graduate What is important for first-year students and their families to know about DSLs I want students and their families to know that DSLs are always available DSLs participate in a 24/7 on-call rotation. Students can talk with any of the DSLs not just the one from their assigned residential college but I want students to recognize that asking for help is not a sign of weakness Sometimes students want to manage situations on their own and I want to certainly encourage independence and growth but there are times that a student may not realize they need more support I would rather students reach out and ask questions or meet with me if they feel something is getting more challenging for them – whether it’s about their residential experience or something occurring back home that worries them I want students to feel comfortable talking to me so anything that I can do to assist with that is important Has there been a particular interaction with a student that has impacted your time at Princeton I had a student reach out to me a few years after graduation and thank me for my support care and mentorship during their time as an undergraduate It made me pause and consider the impact I had played in that student’s life You may engage with students when they are feeling stressed and you want to provide a space for them to process what they are feeling or strategize with them what the best next steps are for them you are focusing on how to address the concerns in the moment and I really appreciated hearing from that student how I impacted his life positively My favorite part about being a DSL is getting to meet the students and their families and developing meaningful relationships with them It is amazing to watch students’ growth and development over their four years at Princeton and it is fascinating to meet people from all over the world who bring very diverse perspectives to the University What is the difference between Directors of Student Life and Residential College Advisers The Directors of Student Life are full-time University staff members often with advanced degrees in education or counseling The Residential College Advisers (RCAs) are Princeton juniors and seniors who live in the dorms train and supervise the residential college advisers Each RCA has a group of first-year advisees (or "zees" as we say at Princeton) I have regular meetings with the RCAs in Whitman College We talk about what’s happening in their groups and I share guidance with them I also help RCAs plan events for their zee groups Those study breaks could be formal programs or just a rest-and-relaxation session with food How do Directors of Student Life and Residential College Advisers work together to support students The RCAs role in supporting their zees’ wellness is crucial to our success in addressing students’ wellness needs Because the RCAs live in the dorms with first-years they get to know their zees very closely and can recognize if a particular student may need extra help it’s an RCA who will ask me for guidance about how to best support a particular student We may work together to determine it’s best to refer a student directly to their DSLs for more support or to refer a student to other campus resources A student recently wrote me to share an instance where the RCA noticed a difference in the student’s mood during a brief interaction who shared that they had been experiencing some challenges that they hadn’t felt comfortable talking about at first but later felt relieved after doing so The RCA went out of their way to make that student know they cared and were there to listen to them It’s those little interactions and connections that can make a big difference College of Science and Mathematics News and Announcements Casabona Awards Competition showcases another group of exemplary students Posted in: CSAM Research, CSAM Students On November 16 an event that has become a staple of our College brought together faculty alumni and industry professionals to get a glimpse into the research taking place throughout our departments the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences Atrium came to life with conversation and intrigue revolving around our six students’ work in the pre-competition poster session This time gave the competitors a chance to get warmed up for their upcoming presentations and gave the judges and guests time to get familiarized with the students and the work they would be hearing about Moving into CELS 120 the excitement swirling was undeniable You could sense some nerves amongst the students but as each took the floor it was clear they were all well prepared An occasional fumble was quickly overshadowed by a well structured presentation keeping them on track and a professional handling of all questions the judges could throw at them Following the six presentations and a short deliberation by the judges Each student was recognized for their achievement and their fantastic job representing their respective departments Third place was earned by Physics major Michael Giarratana mentored by Dr second place was Molecular Biology major Madeline Lucas who was mentored by Dr The first place winner for Fall 2022 was Earth and Environmental Science major Emily Cepin mentored by Dr was split between Biochemistry major Citlaly Hernandez and once again Madeline Lucas Thank you to our judges and all that came to support this exciting event, and congratulations to our six students! Check out the Mario M. Casabona Future Scientists Awards Fall 2022 Competition website to learn more about the event CSAM Students pitch platforms before election day on Dec By - December 2 candidates Rebecca Ho and Bella Rubinton have dropped out of the race Jonathan Evan Tobin was also approved as a candidate for the ballot Student Association (SA) vice president for academic affairs (VPAA) elections will be held on Monday Read up on each candidate’s platform before casting a vote a senior majoring in Latin American and Caribbean Area studies Cepin is vice president of the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program (JUMP Nation) and said he is devoted to ensuring that all students have access to quality education A McNair Scholar and self-proclaimed debate geek Cepin said he is active on campus and involved in research Cepin’s platform included many projects and advocacy proposals including a commitment to expanding research opportunities improving academic advising and University Counseling Center resources and expanding the Student Advocates Program Cepin also said he would like to encourage SA-chartered organizations to prioritize co-curricular planning and also increase the number of internship independent study and health and wellness credits that students can put toward their Harpur degree requirements he would work as an advocate for the student body Feasel is currently president of Seneca Hall in College-in-the-Woods and has experience in hall government He is a transfer student from Tompkins Cortland Community College which he said gives him a unique perspective on the position of VPAA Feasel said his goal for the VPAA office is to create a safe environment and allow every student to feel as if they are supported in the Binghamton University community He said that he wants to speak to a variety of students to better gauge what is important to them Feasel said that the students facing Code of Student Conduct violations should have adequate representation and be supported through the process Although he does not plan to push legislation all the time he added that he will facilitate communication among students a junior majoring in business administration Ho has worked as a SA Financial Council representative and a Road Map intern She works in the VPAA office and has been working on the SA mentorship program Ho said the main component of her platform is to further expand the SA mentorship program the program is prioritizing three major groups — freshman students who had difficult first years transfer students and international students — to see which would benefit the most from mentorship opportunities she also said she would focus on transparency in University policy and make sure that students were aware of rules on campus many students think policies exist that in fact do not such as an assumption that if a professor is more than 15 minutes late Ho added that it is a turning point in SA history and that the e-board must further its efforts to represent students of color on campus She said the SA office must be more accepting and that she would work to find common ground among students at BU a junior double-majoring in Judaic studies and music Rubinton is the SA representative for Hinman College She is also a member of various clubs on campus and worked on Conrad Taylor’s campaign for city council Rubinton said she plans to reform the advising system in Harpur College the current adviser to student ratio is 800-to-1 she said she wants to create a program where each adviser trains student advisers who can help with mentorship this will allow students to stick to one adviser instead of having to jump around a student can meet with one of the adviser’s student mentors Rubinton said she will consult with students from other BU schools to better represent students outside of Harpur College and continue working on a course replacement initiative that will allow students to retake classes in which they have received below a C grade a senior majoring in integrative neuroscience he hopes to be able to bridge gaps in the campus community communication must increase between all student groups and organizations on campus Volpe also said he wants to integrate various academic departments so that they can collaborate and also increase course offerings in entrepreneurship for Harpur College students Volpe also said he wants to extend the add-drop deadline in the semester and give students more time to decide whether they want to stay registered for a course he said that there need to be more advising resources available on campus and that there must be increased transparency between the SA and the student body a sophomore double-majoring in history and philosophy Wuest is a member of SA Congress and a member of the Student Life and Academics committee Wuest said that since he was a spring admitted student he understands the difficulty of transferring to a new place in the middle of the year Wuest said he would work to expand the SA mentors program and SA advocates program he said he wants to expand the amount of computer science courses available to Harpur College students and bridge the gap between academic departments to simplify the double-major and dual-degree process for students a senior double-majoring in history and philosophy Due to a miscommunication with his initial ballot approval Tobin is not on the official ballot for VPAA He is pending approval by the SA Judicial Board to be added to the ballot formally before the election on Monday but currently stands as a write-in candidate for the position Tobin said that because of the ambiguity with his candidacy the VPAA mainly plays a role as a diplomat in the relationship between the student body and the administration He said he is qualified for the position based on his experience as social vice president of O’Connor Hall of Dickinson Community a member of Student Congress and a member off Off Campus College Council (OC3) On a Sunday afternoon Johende Cepin and his father a Haitian place in Prospect Lefferts Gardens “I feel more Haitian than Dominican” Johende says Johende tells his father that Haitians are smarter but Wilfredo replies Wilfredo was beaming while Johende talked to me He proudly told me that his son speaks four languages: French But the Dominican-Haitian love might just stay in the family Johende says that the Dominican news outlets promote negative stereotypes about the Haitians “They say in the news the Haitian people are bad The Haitian people have the voodoo thing.” The Dominican-Haitian feud makes for fun banter between Johende and Wilfred but the history of the relationship between the two nations is no joke To truly understand how deep these roots go we need to go back… way back to the late 1700s when Haiti fought the first successful slave revolution Haiti gained independence from France while the Dominican Republic to the east continued to be governed by the Spanish crown Almost two decades after gaining independence Haitian president Jean Pierre Boyer began his campaign to unite the island and defeated the Spanish crown in 1821 For 22 years the island of Hispaniola was one nation: the Republic of Spanish Haiti But then the Dominicans rebelled against the Haitians to gain independence when the Dominican Republic celebrates their independence day on February 27th – they are celebrating their independence from Haiti They are the only Latin American country to celebrate independence from another country in the region things between the nations didn’t necessarily get easier “Estimates go from 4,000 to upwards from 20,000 haitians and dominicans of haitian descent were murdered.” Says Julia Alvarez a Dominican writer and professor at Middlebury College in Vermont which is still denied by many in the Dominican Republic Some know it as the parsley massacre because it was rumored that the president at the time had ordered anyone who said the word “perejil” or parsley in Spanish with a french sounding “r” to be killed “When I was a little kid I was taught that the Haitians were this enemy next door That if I didn’t eat my supper or go to bed the Haitians would come and take me away to Haiti where they ate little Dominican kids.” Alvarez says Once Alvarez was an adult she learned more about the actual history of both countries and on the 75th anniversary of the massacre Alvarez joined efforts with some colleagues to remember what happened the people in the border town joined us in the border Alvarez says that hundreds of people from both sides of the border brought candles to honor the sad history grassroots desire to really connect and make this a porous border Yet the political relationship between the Dominican Republic and Haiti continues to be strained a court ruling made it so that anywhere from 24,000 to 200,000 people of Haitian descendant who were born and grew up in the Dominican Republic were determined ineligible for citizenship The woman at the heart of this case applied for a national ID card She was denied on the grounds that her parents were considered “irregular parents.” They were irregular because they were what was deemed “in transit.” “The general understanding of what in transit means it means you took a flight in and you’re flying out and you happen to have your baby,” says Allyn Gaestal a freelance journalist who covered this court ruling The Dominican courts defined in transit differently “They kind of determined that anybody who was there without documentation or had overstayed their visas or anything besides having all their paperwork in line was considered in transit And this applied especially to a lot of farm workers who had come on temporary work visas to work in the sugar cane fields And a lot of those were at the invitation of the Dominican state.” Another aspect of this case that made this whole situation complicated is that documentation in the Dominican Republic is kind of a mess “The birth certificate means something a little different in the Dominican Republic It’s something you need to do a lot of things that you don’t need it for here Like going to college you need your birth certificate So it’s something that people need a lot but it’s not something you necessarily get when you’re born.” who did not get her birth certificate at birth Deisy was born to a Dominican father and Haitian mother when it came time for her to get her birth certificate her mother ended up giving Deisy her maiden name: Toussaint Even before Deisy’s last name ended up getting her into trouble years later a bizarre childhood experience foreshadowed her strange relationship with the state and her status “When I was one and a half years old my fragile body began to balloon for some unknown reason They decided to hospitalize me but my veins weren’t showing up They had to give me the IV and all the shots into my head “Since I didn’t have a birth certificate and was the daughter of poor people it was difficult to sign off on getting the body removed from the hospital.” But her mother was finally able to take what they believed was Deisy’s lifeless body out of the hospital and a wake was planned for that very day “They had commissioned an ambulance to take me from the hospital to my home and that same ambulance was going to take me from my home to the cemetery.” Deisy’s mom saw Deisy open her eyes right before they were supposed to bury her “The only person in the entire wake that sees me open my eyes is my mother She grabs me out of the coffin and begins to run She ends up taking me back to the hospital where I’m declared not dead At that point the medics wouldn’t let the press or the police come into the hospital because they were the ones who had declared me dead that very morning It turns out that Deisy suffered from catalepsy a condition that is characterized by rigid muscles and a lack of response to external stimuli Deisy went on to become a writer and she actually won a national award for a short story she wrote about catalepsy After winning the award she was invited to go to a book fair in Cuba This is what happened when she applied for a passport: “They say they can’t give me my passport because my last name is French I had seen stories about this before but it felt really distant from me she has been recognized formally by her Dominican father in court and is officially a Dominican citizen Deisy still has not been able to leave the Dominican Republic Her visa to come to new york for a book fair this year was denied “I draw a parallel between the first death But for others in the Dominican Republic who don’t have her profile being recognized by the state can be very difficult The 2013 court ruling received a lot of backlash and since the Dominican government has established a program that allows Haitians who have been living in the Dominican Republic to apply for residency According to a report from the AP released in late august more than 115,000 people have signed up through the program since it launched in early June – but only 275 have met the criteria Nationality isn’t just an issue of whether you have papers – It’s how people identify “Most of the people who have not been able to get their identity cards or have not been able to register they identify very strongly as Dominican.” Gaestal says Inside the Cuban Kitchen and organic farming dEISSY QUE TE HE CONOCIDO EN ESSPAÑA… NO ME EXPLIICO TUS DECLARACIONES DE QUE NO TE TUVIERAN DOCUMENTADA JEJEJEJ DIME ALGO QUE YO TE RECUERDO MUCHISISSISISIMO Y TU RE PORTAJE QUE ME HICISTE LE TENGO ENE UN MAARCO EN MI CASA PARA MOSTRARLO A GTODO EL MUNDOO..BESITOS Y BESITOS ALE Y CHELO and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. The drawings featured racist depictions of black people including racial slurs and allusions to slavery By - October 6 a student discovered that a racist picture had been drawn in a fifth-floor study lounge in Endicott Hall of Newing College While the pictures were erased after the incident was reported to Binghamton’s New York State University Police (UPD) a resident of Endicott Hall took a photo of the drawings which then began to circulate via social media A town hall meeting to be held later that night was then announced the Student Association (SA) vice president for multicultural affairs and a senior majoring in geography The Binghamton University administration sent out a B-Line news addition just after 5 p.m The addition said the incident was reported at 8:45 a.m who spoke with the two individuals who admitted to drawing the graffiti the drawings were meant to be a “social experiment.” less than 12 hours since the incident had been reported the SA vice president for academic affairs and a senior majoring in Latin American and Caribbean Area studies held a town hall in Room UU-120 of the University Union Gonzalez said that many students and alumni reached out to him about the incident Cepin said that it was important to have a town hall in order to facilitate a discussion about racial discrimination at the school that the administration has been reluctant to start “It’s important for the University to be very serious about instances of racial discrimination because the University can often respond to different instances of discrimination,” Cepin said The room was packed with students voicing their concern about their safety on campus as well as what action should be taken as a response and how the administration should handle the incident The town hall began with Gonzalez and Cepin emphasizing that the meeting was meant to be a safe space for students and encouraging the crowd to listen respectively to others’ opinions Members of BU’s faculty and staff were present including Jazell Johnson the associate director of Student Conduct and program coordinator of the Student Conflict and Dispute Management Program who said that depending on what the police report says the office could begin its own investigation if the students responsible are found to have violated the Code of Student Conduct Another staff member present was Valerie Hampton the chief diversity officer for the Division of Diversity who said there were a number of resources available that students can access if they feel unsafe There was a general consensus among attendees that the administration didn’t take the incident seriously enough; students specifically criticized language used in the news addition that stated the drawings were “characterized as racist” instead of racist Other topics of discussion included the lack of training resident assistants undergo when it comes to instances of racial discrimination and the lack of white people present at meetings like the town hall Cepin also mentioned that since it’s unknown what the individuals responsible for the drawings look like and what race they are he posed a question asking if they were students of color One student present said there needed to be more outreach said she attended the town hall to be a part of a discussion that could lead to change “It’s really important that we have a space where our voices can be heard and we can come together and actually work towards getting things done on campus because it doesn’t seem like the administration is going to any time soon,” Derr said Cepin said that he thought the meeting went well and it showed that students are capable of coming together “It was a really good event and it shows that students are united and definitely have conviction when it comes to pushing for a more progressive campus,” Cepin said residents of communities around campus have received emails from residential life staff “I recognize that this intolerable situation has impacted many of you as students of this campus and just as human beings,” Sarah Boniche the assistant residential coordinator of Digman Hall wrote “Please know that the Residential Life staff of Digman Hall and Dickinson Community are here to support you in any capacity that you may need Cepin and Gonzalez said they will be hosting another town hall to discuss the incident and focus on what action to take next The time and location of this meeting have yet to be determined CLAYTON – To celebrate its 100-year anniversary Novo Nordisk is hosting 100 students from around the world at its Future Scientist Summer Camp in Denmark from August 6 through 12 Two of the three students representing the United States are from the greater Triangle region Lelia Lemons of Durham and Cinthia Cepin of Smithfield embarked on their first trips to Europe to join nearly 100 students from 11 different countries in Copenhagen participants will tour production facilities conduct experiments at the LIFE campus labs Novo Nordisk and the LIFE Foundation secured industry and academic experts to explore topics like health helping students understand and envision a promising career in solving the world’s most pressing health issues when I got the opportunity to attend the Future Scientist Summer Camp with a company like Novo Nordisk I’m very passionate about advancing biotech technology to get diagnoses quicker so patients can receive treatment quicker.” Marking the 100-year anniversary of Novo Nordisk the Future Scientists Summer Camp is one of the signature programs of a year-long anniversary campaign: Driving Change for Generations “The Future Scientists Summer Camp is a natural extension of Novo Nordisk’s ongoing work with students,” says Chad Henry we strongly believe in supporting and strengthening STEM education We are especially excited that two students from Johnston and Durham counties are receiving additional inspiration for their future career possibilities.” What an exciting learning experience for these two young women The benefits of attending this summer camp will be far reaching both personally and academically Exposing these kids to a government based on high income taxes and extensive government spending might not be the best thing If the youth of America get an up-close look at a Nordic-type socialist country with free universal healthcare heavily subsided government-run social programs and a consistently high “happiness rating,” they’re likely to turn into Socialist Liberal Dem Snowflakes This might not be the best path path forward for our country These two students are getting an incredible opportunity to attend an international science camp but all you want to do is complain about the country the program is taking place in @Snoozer: What’s sad is that you can’t see that this is the latest in a long line of attempts to groom the youth of America I guess it’s OK for *YOUR* children to be indoctrinated to the Nordic-Socialst lifestyle I can’t tell if Truth is being satirical or not Cynthia (and the rest of the Cepin family) are highly intelligent and compassionate people and if she decides she likes the Nordic life over what the US offers it won’t be because she was indoctrinated it’ll be because she thought for herself Take off the tinfoil hat you’re wearing and live life a little I feel sorry for uneducated backwood people like Tell the Truth I bet he/she thinks America is hands down the greatest country on Earth and nothing is close to us There is a reason why Nordic countries rank higher in education Yet this clown thinks the kids are being groomed by going there “If the youth of America get an up-close look at a Nordic-type socialist country with free universal healthcare and a consistently high “happiness rating,” they’re likely to turn into Socialist Liberal Dem Snowflakes.” you had me looking for prices on direct flights from rdu airport to copenhagen these kids will definitely cherish our flawless system of market-based health insurances and copays managed by private firms there is nothing more american than paying hundreds of dollars a month for private health insurance while still paying tens of thousands in annual government taxes i imagine these young kids will be extremely relieved to find out that they get to come back to america right after this trip and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a lifelong debt to their student loans i’m sure that having freedom of choice over their bodies and lifesaving assistance programs from the government will be enough to deter them away from such an awful and miserable place like denmark Been to Denmark twice while working for DOD Medievalists.net The Harsh Life on the 15th Century Croatia-Ottoman Empire Military Border: Analyzing and Identifying the Reasons for the Massacre in Cepin Abstract: Excavation of the historic period cemetery in Cepin Croatia revealed the presence of a large number of perimortem injuries distributed among males Archaeological and historical data suggest these individuals were victims of a raid carried out by Turkish akinji light cavalry in 1441 Comparisons with the frequencies of perimortem trauma in 12 other temporally congruent skeletal series from the Balkans (n 5 2,123 skeletons) support this assumption The role of the akinji in the Ottoman army was twofold: to supply war captives and to terrorize and disperse local populations before the advance of regular troops This article tests the hypothesis that the purpose of the 1441 raid was the latter perimortem trauma in the series were analyzed by sex A total of 82 perimortem injuries were recorded in 12 males The demographic profile of the victims suggests that young adults were specifically targeted in the attack Significant sex differences are noted in the number Females exhibit significantly more perimortem injuries per individual The morphology and pattern of perimortem trauma in females is suggestive of gratuitous violence analysis of the osteological data suggest that the objective of the 1441 akinji raid was to spread terror and panic in the Cepin area either as revenge for recent military setbacks or as part of a long-term strategy intended to depopulate the area around Osijek Turkish intrusions into what is today the continental part of Croatia began in 1391 and continued throughout the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century when a large part of continental Croatia was incorporated into the Turkish Empire The intrusions were recorded in the following years: 1391 As was typical for Turkish military operations of this time they were carried out by Turkish light cavalry called akinji Click here to read this article from the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY We've created a Patreon for Medievalists.net as we want to transition to a more community-funded model We aim to be the leading content provider about all things medieval podcast and Youtube page offers news and resources about the Middle Ages We hope that are our audience wants to support us so that we can further develop our podcast and remove the advertising on our platforms This will also allow our fans to get more involved in what content we do produce Member Login The Smithfield Middle School Knights took home the top prize at the Johnston County Public Schools Middle School Battle of the Books Competition on Feb Students on Battle of the Books teams from Archer Lodge Middle and Swift Creek Middle participated in the competition held at the West Campus Conference Center Each team read a total of 27 books and answered questions to show their overall knowledge of the novels The competition encourages a love of reading in middle school students by exposing them to high quality literature in a variety of genres The first place winner of the competition was Smithfield Middle the second place winner was Riverwood Middle and Swift Creek Middle and Cleveland Middle tied for third place Students on the winning team are Jude Reece The team was coached by Smithfield Middle media specialist Stephanie Worley and teacher Allison Beadle “This is the third year these students have competed together Many of these students have been competing in the Elementary School Battle of the Books competition since third and fourth grade in different elementary schools and came together in the sixth grade here at Smithfield Middle School,” said Worley “Their goal was to win this year since this would be the last year for our eighth graders.” The Smithfield Middle Battle of the Books teams will compete in the regional competition on Friday at the Harnett Health Sciences Center in Lillington the new album from rising indie-pop power trio delivers a dazzling set of songs that navigates the space between the heart’s expectation and the head’s sober reality and Julia’s second full-length album for Fantasy beats with empathy the 12 original songs on Tired Hearts wrestle with an uncertain future where ethics and morality—both communal and personal—seem to be constantly shifting Locating one’s compass amidst the chaos—a world-wide pandemic economic insecurity and political turbulence—is at the LP’s core helped to expand BAILEN’s ambition beyond what they initially envisioned “We’d played the last record live a hundred times before recording it so we tracked a lot of it live,” Daniel explains It freed us up to explore and be sonically adventurous.” In contrast to the road-tested songs on their accomplished debut LP 2019’s Thrilled to Be Here produced by John Congleton many of the songs on Tired Hearts were honed in the studio as opposed to live on tour – “the songs changed so much over the course of recording process,” Julia remarks Cook encouraged the trio to experiment with how they sing “We deliberately used the more vulnerable parts of our voices,” Julia says and this record reflects the frustration and tenderness of that time.” “We pushed ourselves lyrically intimate music we’ve written as a result,” David affirms ear-catching arrangements usher in Tired Heart’s exhilarating avant-pop evolution “Shadows,” affectingly captures “the moment you see someone and realize you can spend the rest of your life with them.” “Nothing Left to Give” echoes of HAIM’s sparkling pop while “These Bones,” contains a hint of Phoebe Bridgers’ hushed intimacy Perhaps no two songs embody that fresh ethos (and the band’s incredible range) more than the high-gloss New Wave dance track “Call It Like It Is,” and the stunning “BRCA (Nothing Takes Me Down),” which takes its name from the hereditary breast cancer gene that Julia and her mother (who is a breast cancer survivor) share Over the track’s slow building rhythmic pulse Julia sings of hospital gowns and uncertainty untying a complex knot of familial anxiety while embracing the determination to move forward: I’ll still live like I’m dying/ But I won’t let it take me down “It’s about finding ways to not be defined by these circumstances Raised and rooted in New York City by classically trained musician parents and their wide-ranging BAILEN has emerged as a favorite in indie circles by cultivating a passionate following via word of mouth robust playlisting and a stream of steady touring and collaborating with artists such as Amos Lee their exquisite and thought-provoking new album BAILEN learns how to dream in the face of life’s uncertainty and in the process “This album is a breakthrough for us,” Daniel says but we’re really grateful that it’s led us here.” An innocent joke can hurt our grades as students of color Better not use old-timey expressions to joke around anywhere on campus You may get accused of issuing a death threat and then preemptively resign from your position before you can get fired Binghamton University’s Jeremy Rosenberg learned this the hard way as a member of the student government committee that deals with student election procedures Campus Reform has the GroupMe screenshot that featured Rosenberg joke-answering a question about what penalties would be applied to a candidate slate that had started campaigning early: The screenshot made its way to the Facebook page of one of those to-be-penalized candidates who not only claimed it was a “racialized threat” (while botching Rosenberg’s quote) but that the student government was tolerating that threat: The historical legacy of the term has placed me in a place of fear and uncertainty regarding my safety on campus When the threat was made the leadership Jesse Wong (Chair of the Committee) made no comment There was no discussion about the problematic threat made in reference to my life This is especially troubling due to the fact that Jesse Wong is currently a Residential Assistant Residential Assistants are tasked with fostering a safe environment across our campus and the silence of Jesse Wong as Chair within this context indicates an alarming negligence with regards to cultural competency Cepin suggested he wouldn’t accept any negative findings against him precisely because of this “tar and feathering” joke: I have yet to receive the decision regarding my alleged violation of PRE campaign rules; however I do not feel comfortable with any judgement being made by committee members who believe this rhetoric is appropriate “For educational purposes,” Cepin then wrote several paragraphs laying out “the historical context of this term.” He concluded: Given the narrative supplied by Redpath (1859) and the larger structure of extra-legal violence we can see that Jeremy Rosenberg’s use of “tar and feathering” was used in reference to a politically active Black student I metaphorically represent the ‘restless nigger’ (violating public space and the laws thereof) I see the comment by Jeremy as a death threat which has been affirmed by the silence of the rest of PRE specifically the chair of the PRE committee Jesse Wong who should have immediately reported it to the authorities and the appropriate channels within the Student Association Inc I am very concerned for my safety and other students who come into contact with the harasser There was a point in time when that joke was a reality for people that look like me Binghamton’s Pipe Dream newspaper reported that two sentences that are not remotely threatening in context drew more than 200 students to the “normally brief” Student Congress meeting Vice President for Multicultural Affairs Jermel McClure said the joke could harm everyone’s grades: “One of my jobs is to make sure that students on our campus feel safe and when we have death threats and when we have hate speech on our campus that prevents students from being able to do so which is very problematic,” McClure said “Not only does it create divides within the cultural or social sphere of our campus it can also impact students when it comes to their academics.” Election procedures chair Wong apologized for the joke – Rosenberg had already resigned from student government – and apologized for the committee: “Myself and the current members of PRE do not condone this racism.” Cepin and his supporters were not satisfied by Rosenberg’s public downfall for a joke Cepin was especially angry that the student government “did not send out an email” about the joke until it learned Cepin had recruited a mob to show up at the meeting The student government sent an email a week after the joke Cepin used Rosenberg’s unintentional faux pax for maximum advantage: The sanctions against Cepin were disapproved by Congress with one “yes” vote Additionally a piece of [legislation] introduced by Cepin which called for a black leadership conference on campus You have effectively threatened to ruin anyone who tells a joke (For more on the history of tarring and feathering, both predating and in America, read this comment on the Pipe Dream story.) Read the Campus Reform report, Pipe Dream report and Cepin’s Facebook post Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter A "portrait" of Kurtyka provided by the Piolet d’or organisition reads: ".. His first ascent of the West Face of Gasherbrum IV (or the 'Shining Wall') in 1985 is considered by purists to be the most remarkable alpine-style ascent of the 20th century Voytek Kurtyka was a veritable phenomenon of a generation of Polish alpinists who marked the history of alpine style climbing in the Himalayas Along with gurus like Wanda Rutkiewicz and Jerzy Kukuczka Kurtyka embodies the 'pioneering spirit' that was fundamental to this group of Polish alpinists who learned their craft in the Tatras One can even go so far as to identify a 'vision' when it comes to the alpinism practiced by this generation: total commitment and immersion and an alchemy between the climber and the summit." NEPAL Gave Ding (6,571m) Mick Fowler, Paul Ramsden (UK) First ascent, north buttress, 1,600m, ED+ Scottish VI Notes: Over Summit. Info Nilgiri South (6,939m) Hansjorg Auer, Alexander Blumel, Gerhard Fiegl South face, ca 1,500m M5 90° Notes: Fiegl killed on descent. Over Summit. Info Thulagi Chuli (7,059m) Ivan Dozhdev, Aleksander Gukov, Ruslan Kirichenko, Valery Shamalo (Russia) First ascent, west face, Happy Birthday, 1,850m, TD+ AI4+ 5c M4 Info West Tawache (Taboche, 6,495m) Skiy De Tray, Justin Griffin (USA) Northeast pillar, not to summit, ca 1,100m, AI5 M5/6 R, Notes: To top of face, descent by different route, Griffin killed on descent Info Ama Dablam (6,856m) Fleur Fouque, Sébastien Rougegré, Fanny Schmutz, Damien Tomasi (French) Lagunak (south) ridge, first alpine-style ascent. 1,200m, TD+ F5 AI5 M4 90° Notes: Over Summit Info Chobutse (6,686m) Mingma Gyalje Sherpa (Nepal) West face, Dorjee Sherpa Route, ca 1,200m Notes: Mingma Gyalje Sherpa, solo, evacuated from summit by helicopter. Info Chugimago (6,258m) Luka Strazar, Matej Mucic (Slovenia) West face, 800m, AI4 M5 Info Dzasamptse (6,293m) Julien Dusserre, Mathieu Détrie, Pierre Labbre, Mathieu Maynadier (France) Northeast face, A la Verticale de la Peine, 700m, TD+ WI5- Info Talung (7,439m) Nikita Balabanov, Mikhail Formin (Ukraine) North-northwest spur, Daddy Magnum Force, 1,700m, ED2 AI6 M6 A3 Info INDIA Ri Pok Te (6,210m) Anastasija Davidova, Matic Jost (Slovenia) East face and southwest ridge, From East to West, 1,000m TD+/ED1 VI- Notes: And other routes Info Turpendeo (5,700m) Andreas Abegglen, Thomas Senf, Stephan Siegrist (Switzerland) First ascent, southeast pillar, Deokhal, 800m 6a/b Info Cerro Kishtwar (6,173m) Hayden Kennedy, Urban Novak, Manu Pellissier, Marko Prezelj (USA-Slovenia-France) East face, Light before Wisdom, 1,200m, ED+ 5.11 WI6 M6 A2 Info PAKISTAN First Link Sar West (6,938m) Jon Griffith, Andy Houseman (UK) Northwest face, Fever Pitch, ca 1,400m M4 Notes: Over Summit Info K6 West (7,040m) Scott Bennett, Graham Zimmerman (USA) Southwest ridge, 1,800m, M6 90° ice Info Dream Walker Peak (5,809m) Maciej Bedrejczuk, Maciej Janczar, Tomasz Klimczak, Marcin Wernik (Poland) North face, Rolling (D)ice, ca 1,450m, ED1/2 AI5 80° M5, Info Changi Tower (ca 6,500m) Scott Bennett, Steve Swenson, Graham Zimmerman (USA) First ascent, north ridge, 600m, M6 5.10 A2 Info CHINA Mt. Chu - San Lian Southeast (ca 6,250m) Marcin Rutkowski, Wojtek Ryczer, Rafał Zając (Poland) First ascent, east face, Hard Camping, ca 1,000m, ED2 M7 WI5 R Info KYRGYZSTAN Sedoy Strazh (Byeliy East, 5,481m) Dmitry Golovchenko, Dmitry Grigoriev, Sergey Nilov (Russia) First ascent, northeast face, Devjaty Val, 1,230m 6B Notes: Over Summit. Awarded Russian Piolet d'Or. Info Panfilovski Division East (ca 5,300m) Ben Erdmann, Sam Johnson (USA) East face, Flight of the Zephyr, 600m, AI4 R M7 Info Pik Panfilovski Division Miha Hauptman, Uros Stanonik (Slovenia) Northwest face, White Walker, 900m, AI5 M6 Info Pik Carnovsky Anze Jerze, Miha Hauptman, Uros Stanonik (Slovenia) West face, Mr Mojo Risin, 500m, AI5+ M5 R X Info ALPS Schneefernerkopf (2,875m) Joachim Feger, Michael Wohileben (Germany) West face, Optimist, 1,300m M6 Info Eiger, north face (exit ca 3,700m) Simon Gietl, Robert Jasper, Roger Schali (Italian-German-Swiss) Odyssee, 1,400m, 33 pitches, Redpoint 8a+ Info Classic Six North Faces Tom Ballard (UK) All solo and in one winter Info Qualido (2,707m) Paolo Marazzi, Luca Schiera, Matteo de Zaiacomo (Italy) East face, King of the Bongo, ca 800m, 18 pitches, 7c+ (no bolts) Info Matterhorn (4,478m) Patrick Gabarrou and various partners over 13 years finishing with Pierre Gourdin (France) South face, Padre Pio, échelle vers le ciel, 1,300m, 7a Info Aiguille du Fou (3,501m) Fabien Dugit, Cédric Lachat (France) South face, Ballade au Clair de Lune, FFA at 8b Info Pic Sans Nom (3,913m, Ecrins Massif) Benjamin Brochard, Fred Degoulet, Jonathan Joly (France) North face, Le Prestige des Ecrins, 1,000m, M6+ 6a Info Ailefroide Orientale (3,847m) Alexandre Michel, Stefano Morino, Pierre Sauget (France) North face, Winter is Coming, 700m, 550m new, F5 M5+ 80° Info DOLOMITES Torre Venezia (2,337m) Nicolas Tondini, Emanuele Pellizzari (Italy) South face, FWA of Rondo Veneziano, 470m, IX- Info Condoriri Traverse Martin Dejori, Marta Mozzati, Titus Prinoth, Giorgio Travaglia-Alex Walpoth (Italy) Civetta (3,220m), northwest face, Via Degli Studenti, 1,000m, VIII- A0 Info GREENLAND Mirror Wall (ca 2,050m) Waldo Etherington, Leo Houlding, Joe Möhle, Matt Pickles, Matt Pycroft (UK-S Africa) Northwest face, ca 1,200m, E6 6b (5.12b) A3+ Info Ulamertorsuaq, Piteraq Silvan Schupbach, Bernadette Zak (Switzerland) Almost free ascent, 28 pitches, 7c R X with a three-metre pendulum Info NORWAY Trolltind (1,788m) Marek Raganowicz, Marcin Tomaszewski (Poland) Trollveggen, Katharsis, winter, ca 1,150m, VI A4 M7 Info RUSSIA Mamison (4,319m) Dmitry Romanenko, Vladimir Roshko (Ukraine) North face, centre of Triangle (winter), 820m 6A Info Bilibino, Commander Hansjorg Auer, Jacopo Lacher, Siebe Vanhee (Austria-Italy-Belgium) North face, Red Corner, 450m 7c+ Info CANADA Malaspina (3,776m) Natalia Martinez, Camilo Rada (Argentina-Chile) First ascent, north flank and east ridge, 1,900m, TD AI2, 55-65°. Info Great Cross Pillar (ca 1,690m) David Allfrey, Cheyne Lempe (USA) South face, Deconstructing Jenga, 900m, 5.9+ A3+ Info Waddington, northwest summit (4,000m) Paul McSorley, Ines Papert, Mayan Smith-Gobat (Canada-Germany-New Zealand) Southwest buttress, 800m, ED1 5.11+ WI3 M5 Info Snowpatch Spire (3,084m) Will Stanhope with Matt Segal (Canada) East face, Tom Egan Memorial Route, FFA, 500m, 13 pitches, V 5.14 Info ALASKA Devil's Paw (2,616m) Simon Gietl, Roger Schaeli (Italy-Switzerland) North summit, first ascent via northwest ridge, Black Roses, 1,000m, 6c A1 M4 Info Deborah (3,760m) Jon Griffith, Will Sim (UK) Northwest face and northwest ridge, Bad to the Bone, 2,000m Info North Triple Peak (2,560m) Tim Blakemore, Mike "Twid" Turner (UK) Northwest face, No Country for Old Men, 800m, ED AI6 Info Citadel (1,988m) Jon Bracey, Matt Heliiker (UK) Northwest ridge Info Jezebel, east summit (ca 2,870m) Pete Graham, Ben Silvestre (UK) First ascent, east face, Hoar of Babylon 1,200m, VI WI6 M6 A0 Info BOLIVIA Illimani (6,438m) Thomas Arfi, Manu Chance (France) South Face, Por la Vida, 1,200m WI5+ Notes: Over Summit Info ARGENTINA - CHILE Cerro Riso Patron Central (ca 2,550m) Lise Billon, Antoine Moineville, Jérôme Sullivan, Diego Simari (France-Argentina) East face, Hasta las Webas, 1,000m, ED- WI5+ M5 Info Reverse Torre Traverse (max 3,100m) Colin Haley, Marc Andre Leclerc (USA-Canada) Cerro Torre - Torre Egger - Punta Heron - Cerro Standhardt, Travesia del Oso Buda, 1,200m M6 6a+ C1 Info Cerro Adela Norte Dani Ascaso, Lise Billon, Santiago Padros, Jérôme Sullivan (Spain-France) East face, not to summit, Balas y Chocolate, 900m, ED+ WI5+ A2 M6+ X Notes: Different descent. Info MADAGASCAR Tsaranoro Atsimo Siebe Vanhee, Sean Villanueva (Belgium) Fire in the Belly, 700m 8a+ Info Karambony Hassan Gerami, Hamid Resa Shafagi, Farshad Mijoji (Iran) The Change Experience, 442m 8b A2 (two pitches) Info 2017woman honding negative pregnancy testGetty ImagesSave this storySaveSave this storySaveWhile trying to get pregnant can be hopeful and exciting it can also be incredibly overwhelming — there's just so much information out there The wealth of information (and misinformation) about conception and pregnancy is enough to make anyone anxious Allure spoke with two doctors to figure out the deal with at-home pregnancy tests: how they work You probably know the basic premise of how to take one either because you've done it yourself or seen it play out in a movie or on TV Then — depending on the test — you wait for a line or two or a plus or minus sign to show up an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics & gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center says it's a basic urine test that detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels in the system "hCG is produced by a pregnancy after implantation," she explains then implantation and the secretion of the hormone." The higher the levels of hCG in the system (and thus the more likely you are to get a plus sign on your pregnancy test — however just because you get a negative result doesn't necessarily mean you aren't pregnant Cepin recommends that if you've been trying to get pregnant and you get a negative result don't get too discouraged — simply wait a week and try again it can be tempting to take multiple pregnancy tests at different times during the month Cepin cautions against that — even for pregnancy tests that tout early detection "Some patients may have a positive test earlier than the first day of missed period," she says "but this is not true across the board and [tests that tout early detection] might provoke anxiety and be too early." Boro Park OB/GYN's Diana Roth MD says tests are highly accurate if you do them at the first sign of a missed period and your cycle is regular a negative result may not be a true negative since your hCG levels may just not be high enough for detection yet.) "As far as best time [of day] to take it," she adds "usually first thing in the morning [is best] because the urine is most concentrated so it’ll contain the highest levels of hCG." You can still test later on in the day and get a positive result but hCG levels could decrease as your urine becomes diluted Roth points out that false negatives can occur you miscalculate the dates of your ovulation or if you aren't sure about them "Women who don’t have regular cycles can’t really check the day of the missed period because they may ovulate later and even women who have regular cycles may be ovulating later so sometimes it can be hard to tell," she says "I generally tell patients that if you do a pregnancy test at your missed period and comes back negative just wait two to three days and do it again." Basically, a "yes" can be interpreted as accurate, and a negative result may not stay that way. Dr. Cepin adds that miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies may also elevate levels of hCG (as can fertility drugs and other hCG-containing medication) and that you should always seek medical care if you have any concerns Both doctors say most tests are pretty much the same. Dr. Roth stresses that early detection (before the first day of a missed period) is unlikely for most women, because the levels of hCG in the urine will simply not be high enough. Production of hCG starts seven to eight days after fertilization, and hCG levels double roughly every 48 hours in early pregnancy Most pregnancy tests can only begin to detect hCG levels at around 35 mIU and around the first day of a missed period many pregnant women's levels are around 46 mIU — meaning chances of detection before that day are low So, now you know — pregnancy tests measure hCG levels, are pretty accurate (especially on the first day of a missed period or after), and are kind of all the same, though First Response has research on its side. Now go forth and procreate — but only if you want to. This Mom Refuses to Be Peer Pressured Into Erasing Motherhood From Her Body: A community celebrating Black voices Beautycon is a global platform that brings together beauty enthusiasts and industry leaders to explore the latest trends and conversations shaping the future of beauty.