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news
Wikipedia libraries
Carrie
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a single library source would meet the stringent demands of the peer review process. In
my mind, there is no known worthwhile academic journal that would take seriously a paper
with that kind of unreliable research acting as
its epistemic foundation. Perhaps the invention of the library is a net positive with respect
to the promotion of the public good, as there
is a growing body of empirical evidence suggesting that the library encourages learning
amongst youths. However, despite this, I find
it to be indubitably true that the library has
no place in academia, though perhaps there is
some possible realm where this certain fact of
our world is actually untrue.”
He continued: “I would also like to add that
library sources lack hyperlinks, with an abundance of hyperlinks being a quality that I
consider to be highly valuable to a work’s academic credibility and accessibility. The library
is an interesting novelty, but Wikipedia-based
research has been the scholarly orthodoxy for
some time now. The library is, simply put, a
woefully inefficient and unreliable means of
research.”
Sanger and Wales, despite their enthusiasm
about the potential for the library, acknowledge its shortcomings. “At Wikipedia we
understand that the library, though promising, is imperfect. For one, we promise everyone that we are working hard on the lack of
hyperlinks problem. We have some promising new technologies that we are thinking
of incorporating into books called bibliographies and footnotes that we think can mimic
the functionality of hyperlinks. However,
we are still in the testing phase with these
technologies, so it will take some time before
they can be available in a commercial setting.
We just ask people to be patient, and give the
library a chance.”
All that remains to be seen is if people will
give the library a chance, as Sanger and
Wales hope that they do.
have telekinetic powers, far more powerful than
your tampon-throwing abilities.
This message – even if it manifests itself in a
rather extreme manner – is perhaps fitting and
admirable given the growing recognition within
our society that bullying is shitty and kids, no
matter how different or eccentric they may be,
should be treated as equals.
Then again, my admiration for the movie
quickly wore off when I realized that another
underlying message of the film seems to be that
you should listen to your mother, no matter
how abusive and insane she is, no matter how
many times she tells you that she should have
sacrificed you to God when you were born,
no matter how many times she tells you that
you have sinned when you have done nothing
wrong, and no matter how many times she locks
you in a closet to pray. After all, it was Carrie’s
mother who voiced concern when Carrie told
her about prom: “They’re all going to laugh at
you.” She couldn’t have been more right.
Ministry suggests changes to tuition billing, deferral fees
ANQI SHEN
CUP Ontario Bureau Chief
HAMILTON (CUP) — A new proposal by the
Ontario Ministry of Colleges, Training and
Universities suggests new tuition billing, flat
fee and ancillary fee policies could be in place
by 2015.
The proposed changes would clarify what universities and colleges can charge under ancillary fees and make tuition billing available on
a per-term basis. The proposal would lift the
current moratorium on flat fees while imposing
an 80 per cent threshold.
Both CFS-Ontario and OUSA responded to
the proposal, citing some welcome changes but
continuing to push for altogether eliminating
deferral fees and flat fees.
CFS-Ontario chairperson Alastair Wood
said, in addition, that more universities should
waive interest charges for students who rely on
Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
At York University, for example, students who
don’t receive OSAP on time are not charged
interest for September, January and/or May.
the obiter dicta
Deferral fees in Ontario range from $0 at York,
Queen’s, U of Windsor and Wilfrid Laurier to
$100 at Algoma for students deferring 50 per
cent of their tuition.
On the issue of ancillary fees, the Ministry’s
proposal clarified that students should not be
charged for credential completion or graduation.
OUSA commended the Ministry’s direction but
also added that students paying for e-learning
materials for evaluation purposes should receive
a rebate of “no less than 20 per cent” that should
already be covered in tuition.
Flat fees have come under scrutiny because students taking less than a 100 per cent course
load can be charged for taking a full course
load.
The University of Toronto, one of nine Ontario
universities imposing a flat-fee, started doing so
in 2009. It’s the only university in the province
to charge students taking only 60 per cent of a
course load the same tuition as students taking
a full course load.
Munib Sajjad, president of the University of
Toronto Students Union representing 46,000
undergraduates at two campuses, said he
believes the Ministry is making progress but
more work needs to be done.
“Our main concern is that it should be a 100
per cent cap on flat fees and that imposing any
kind of threshold would make education even
more unaffordable. There are many students
who take less of a course load to handle other
financial responsibilities.”
Sajjad said the UTSU also opposes “penalizing
students for circumstances beyond their control” by charging deferral fees to students who
rely on the OSAP to pay tuition.
“It’s not a fair thing to do just because the university feels they need to get the money on
time,” Sajjad said.
In addition to late fees or deferral fees, students
are charged interest on their unpaid balances.
At U of T, the rate is 19.5 per cent annually,
which resulted in $1.8M in revenue for the university last year.
monday - october 28 - 2013