Blindness Awareness Month

This October marks the first annual Blindness Awareness Month in New Jersey. Last December, Gov. Jon Corzine signed the bill into law.

This legislation was largely pushed through by the Little Rock Foundation, an organization that supports causes for the blind and visually impaired and the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The month is designed to promote awareness about people with vision problems and the issues they have to face on a day-to-day basis. According to the foundation, it costs more than $3,000 to transcribe a printed book into Braille. In addition, it costs nearly $45,000 and two years of training to raise a seeing-eye dog.

However, every five seconds, someone in the world goes blind.

The Foundation was created for Rocco Fiorentino, a 13-year-old blind boy who has been championing legislation for the blind since the age of 5. Rocco is blind due to premature birth.

What started as lobbying for more Braille textbooks in public schools became something much larger with the Awareness Month project.

“Like other disabilities, Rocco wants to educate people about blindness and help you to understand the challenges blind people face each and every day,” said Tina Fiorentino, Rocco’s mother and one of the founding members of the foundation.

Rowan University Freedom Forward (RUFF), the seeing-eye dog training program at Rowan, often interacts with the foundation. According to Robin Brelsford, the Office Coordinator for Judicial Affairs as well as the overseer of the RUFF program, the students and canines of RUFF make bi-annual visits to the foundations members.

“A lot of these kids, when they grow up, are going to want seeing-eye dogs,” Brelsford said.

She explained that to get a dog, a blind person must fill out an application with the seeing eye organization. If they are accepted, they pay a $150 dignity fee for their first dog.

“We just do whatever we can, whenever we can,” Brelsford said.

Governor Candidates

With Nov. 3 fast approaching, this year’s gubernatorial election is shaping up to be just as intense as the 2008 presidential campaign. As the Garden State struggles to stabilize under a deficit of nearly $8 billion, the stakes are perhaps higher than ever before, and all three major candidates are doing whatever it takes to win.

Incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine has focused his campaign on continuing to foster the change and improvements that he claims were initiated in his first term. He has vowed to use his experience and resources to help New Jersey move forward and recover its losses as quickly as possible. As the former CEO of the investment banking company Goldman Sachs, he hopes to ensure voters of continued fiscal responsibility.

A recent speech transcript from Corzine stated that, “With our economic stimulus program, which was the first introduced in the country, and with the partnership in Washington, I think we are laying a firm economic foundation. When the economy turns, as it will inevitably, we will be in a strong position to lead the nation in recovery.”

The partnership he mentions refers to his close ties with President Barack Obama, who has personally appeared with Corzine on the campaign trail. This relationship is what Corzine believes will keep the state moving in the progressive direction Obama is taking the country.

Republican Chris Christie is best known for his career as a lawyer and a prominent United States Attorney. One of the leading components of his campaign is the prosecution of corrupt politicians on both sides of the political aisle. Christie’s Web site stated that if elected, he will take immediate action to rein in what he considers an out of control state budget.

Socially, Christie has remained conservative, calling himself pro-life and vowing to veto any same-sex marriage legislation that crosses his desk. By coming down hard in cases of corruption and returning to family values, Christie hopes to “take back New Jersey,” while repairing the state’s infamously tarnished reputation.

His Web site said that “Chris Christie believes we will solve our state’s government by making government more effective and efficient, while getting out of the wallets of its taxpayers. It’s a strategy that will bring more jobs and residents to our state, instead of driving them away.” This strategy seems to settle well with New Jersey voters thus far; in their latest poll, realclearpolitics.com lists Christie as leading Corzine by just under 1 percent.

Also on the ballot is Chris Daggett, a former conservative now running as an independent candidate.  Daggett has proven to be a fairly strong contender in the election so far, carrying 14 percent of the vote, according to an Oct. 14 poll by Quinnipiac University. His main objective is to clear the bad name the state has received while taking socially liberal and fiscally conservative stances. 

Environmental protection and education are two issues particularly close to Daggett’s heart. He served as an regional administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for over two decades, and has considered proper education for New Jersey students a top priority throughout his political career.

During the first two gubernatorial debates earlier this month, he presented himself as a “low-drama” alternative to the two major candidates. The media took notice, and Daggett secured an endorsement following the debate from “The Star-Ledger,” which wrote: “Only by breaking the hold of the Democratic and Republican mandarins on the governor’s office and putting a rein on their power will the state have any hope for the kind of change needed to halt its downward economic, political and ethical spiral. New Jersey needs radical change in Trenton. Neither of the major parties is likely to provide it.”

Daggett is not the only one boasting big endorsements. Planned Parenthood of New Jersey has voiced its support for Corzine, along with the N.J. Education Association, the largest union in the state. Christie has secured endorsements from the traditionally conservative Family Research Council, and to the surprise of many, the N.J. Environmental Foundation. The NJEF is the state’s largest environmental group and is endorsing a Republican candidate for the first time in its history.

While the deadline to register to vote has already passed, it’s still possible for Rowan students living on campus to vote while away from home. Vote by mail applications are easy to fill out, and can be sent in up to one week before Election Day. The application, along with information about the election and candidates, can be found at njelections.org.

Tuition Increase, a Necessary Evil

College students hear the words “tuition increase” and run for the hills. They automatically see money leaving their pockets before they even had a chance to hold onto it. Most students see the amount of loans they are collecting going up and up without stopping  to understand what the increase entails and where exactly their money is going.

Do not fret, Rowan University students.

The 3 percent increase in tuition for this school year is relatively mellow when in comparison for other schools around the state. According to a Gloucester County Times article from August, tuition at New Jersey’s public colleges and universities rose its lowest in more than 20 years.

The three percent tuition increase that Rowan University approved over the summer is actually on target with other colleges around the state. Kean University’s tuition and fees rose 2.9 percent, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey rose by 4.5 percent and Ramapo by 6 percent. Governor Jon Corzine actually encouraged institutions to stay at a 3 percent increase by providing those colleges with more federal support.

While no one likes to pay more money, the tuition increase is necessary in relation to the economy. Students this year, more than ever, are choosing to stay in state or transfer than pay the increasing out-of-state costs. The economy is bringing more students in because of Rowan University’s relatively low costs.

Rowan University recently welcomed its largest freshman class ever, which is due in part to the cheaper in-state costs. Consider it a good thing that the enrollment is up because it means that your school is more affordable then others.

The state understood students are in the same financial problems that the rest of the country is; perhaps even worse. The increases across the state have dropped dramatically, down from 7.8 percent last year.  That is why the Rowan administration, in addition to the state, is helping keep the increases down.

Rowan is not ignoring the economy or the students’ needs. Before accepting the 2009-10 budget, the Rowan administration went through it and adjusted the numbers to make it as financially possible for students. Rowan cut managerial positions over the summer, saving around $850,000. Rowan also instituted seven and 10-day furlough periods for employees, which will help save over $1 million.

Its understandable that students are mad when they hear the increase, yet the increase is going to be for the student’s benefit. The money coming in will go for new faculty and more academic programs instituted this year.

Your money will come back to you. Just give it time.

Briefs

Rowan University:

MEDICAL SCHOOL-On June 25, Governor Jon Corzine signed an executive order stating that Rowan create a four-year medical school, to be partnered with Cooper University Hospital in Camden. According to an e-mail sent by President Donald Farish to students on June 26, the first class of students will be as early as 2012. Funding for the project will be transferred by the state from the University of Medicine and Dentistry, which is currently the only university offering medical degrees in New Jersey.

ACCREDITATION- On June 25, Rowan University received reaffirmed accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. The study can be found at: rowan.edu/president/selfstudy/index.html.

SGA POSITION- The Vice President position of the SGA is open. Applicants must submit a letter of intent and a resume by today at 5 p.m. to Elizabeth Palmer, SGA President, at palmer80@students.rowan.edu.

Potential budget aims to make up deficit

Rowan University‘s administration is working hard to put together a concise budget that will protect charging students from excess fees. Rowan is potentially looking at a $12 million deficit. While this amount is subject to change depending on Governor Jon S. Corzine’s actions and money received from state, the final budget will be decided on by July 1.

University President Donald Farish is working with the Budget and Planning Committee to come up with an amended plan. The $12 million deficit came from basic maintenance fees, tech park salaries, paying the mortgage of new buildings and other costs. The current draft of the plan includes a four percent increase in tuition, which would allow for a $2 million revenue, half of which is going back to the students.

One of the ways the university will be able to generate more revenue is through providing more time for full-time (tenured) professors to teach their curriculum, eliminating the university’s dependence on adjunct professors. Dr. Farish is hoping to hire 50 full-time faculty members, including the 10 they already hired. Four of the 10 newly hired full-time faculty are in the communications college.

A program called “adjusted load” began almost five years ago. Historically, the faculty had 12 credits per semester with four three credit classes. There is limited time for faculty to do other parts of their job such as research or scholarship expectations. As a result, the university created a program where faculty could apply up to three credits of reassigned time.

According to Jim Newell, Interim Associate Provost, reassigned time is spent on other parts of their job like scholarship instead of teaching a course.

Rowan has been trying to eliminate its reliance on adjuncts, as they currently teach 480 courses a year. The fall schedule will not be affected, as most of the changes will be in managerial positions.

“We tried to do that so from a student’s perspective, changes would be invisible,” Farish said.

If Gov. Corzine decides to not go along with the 3 1/2 percent across-the-board scheduled pay increase, it could lower the deficit from $12 million to $10 million.

News and Notes 4/16

State:

Over 300 local government officials gathered at the New Brunswick Hyatt Regency on Wednesday to learn about New Jersey’s programs and financial incentives for renewable energy.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Department of Community Affairs sponsored the program and allowed officials from different towns, counties and local authorities to be informed. They were informed of a number of programs geared to help local governments save money and protect the environment by reaching the goals set by Governor Jon S. Corzine’s Energy Master Plan.

The new Energy Savings Improvement Program was on the agenda, informing the attendees about the state’s new Solar Power Purchase Agreements and other energy policy initiatives.

Local:

Conservatives are fighting back against what they see as excessive government spending and bailouts. More than 100 state residents stood in the rain and wind in Vineland, N.J. on Wednesday to protest.

Recently, hundreds of people organized through online resources such as Twitter, Facebook, videos and blogs, held “tea party” protests in northern New Jersey.

“TEA” stands for Taxed Enough Already, according to organizers. The protests are in responses to anger of people who believe the government is taking from them too much.

The conservatives are using online resources, like Obama did during the ’08 campaign, in order to spread the word and to get their voices heard. Currently, protesters are comparing themselves to the Revolutionary War protests in Boston, saying that like their colonial forefathers, their voices are not being heard by the government.

International:

Pirates attacked a U.S. flagged cargo ship off Somalia on Tuesday, but did not board the damaged ship. The pirates used automatic weapons and rockets to attack the Liberty Sun, which requested help from the U.S. Navy immediately.

The USS Bainbridge turned to go to the scene and aid the ship. When they arrived, the pirates were already gone. The Bainbridge was one of the ships who responded and helped rescue Captain Richard Phillips on Sunday after he was held captive for five days.

The crew was not injured in the attack, according to a statement from Liberty Maritime Corp of Lake Success, N.Y.

The ship was carrying food to Africa nations from Houston, Texas when it was attacked. Somali pirates hijacked two other cargo ships in the same area on early Tuesday.

National:

In light of Obama pushing a $3.5 trillion federal budget plan, Obama promised Wednesday to reform the “monstrous” U.S. tax system as Americans faced the tax deadline.

Obama made his promise on Tax Day while opponents pointed out what they see as wasteful spending by the administration and “tea party” protests were held in U.S. cities.

Some Democrats say that Obama’s federal budget plan holds too much deficit spending and tax cuts. Obama has already cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans and will continue with his pledge of no higher taxes for anyone earning less than $250,000 a year.