Emory University’s fall 2021 transfer student population stands at 215 students, a 49% increase from the previous year. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support, 144 students transferred to the University in fall 2020, an increase from the 96 transfer students in fall 2019.

The transfer admit rate this year was roughly the same as last year’s according to the Office, standing at 34% and 33% respectively. However, the rates saw an increase from the 23% acceptance rate for the fall 2019 class. 

Online classes, the lack of on-campus activity and travel restrictions brought on by the pandemic played a major role in some students’ decision to transfer. 

Emory Admissions Building. (The Emory Wheel/Matthew Friedman, contributing writer)

Jeeya Sharma (24C) attributed the long distance from her home in Louisiana coupled with rapidly changing travel restrictions as important factors in her decision to transfer from Middlebury College (Vt.). 

“COVID played a huge role in my decision,” Sharma said. “Emory is much closer to my hometown, and given my own and the world’s circumstances, it made sense for me to attend a university closer to home.”

Previously enrolled at Binghamton University (N.Y.), Jia Zeng (24C) sought a university that aligned more with her academic goals. Zeng cited a strong economics program and increased academic rigor when reflecting on what motivated her to apply to Emory.

“I wanted something more academically rigorous than my previous university,” Zeng said. “Emory’s strong reputation in business and the opportunities offered were some of the main reasons for applying to Emory.” 

Despite the difficulties she encountered during her transition such as managing a large course load, Grace Song (24C) said her transfer from Rhodes College (Tenn.) has been a positive academic and social change.

“The transition has been great,” Song said. “I got to meet lots of new transfer students and spend time with them. Academically speaking, I think I’m also doing well, but the workload is definitely heavier than I expected.”

While all of the transfer students interviewed made valuable connections to their peers and professors in their first few months at Emory, many also acknowledged the difficulties of being a transfer student such as making friends with a cohort who already knew each other.

Julia Hu (24C) hoped to find a smaller, closer-knit student body after transferring from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Before transitioning to Emory, Hu was anxious about starting the semester since she worried it would be difficult to make meaningful connections.

“I was very afraid at the very beginning of the semester because I thought that all other people already knew each other, and it would be super hard for me to join them,” Hu said. 

To overcome the initial challenges of adjusting to a new environment and finding a friend group, Hu said she took advantage of the myriad of clubs and resources Emory offers.

“The professors, TAs and students are so nice,” Hu said. “They not only help me academically but also provide me with opportunities to get more involved in Emory. For example, I have joined two clubs, constantly talked with professors after class or during office hours, have my friends and joined meetings to listen to other people’s career path and stories.”

The post Emory welcomes largest transfer class, which grew by nearly 50% appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

While most college sophomores are currently worried about exams or homework, Royce Carter Mann (24C) has other concerns: running for political office. At just 19, Mann is competing in this November’s election to be the At-Large Seat 7 representative on the Atlanta Board of Education. 

The city of Atlanta will hold general elections for Board of Education members on Nov. 2, in addition to other local offices such as mayor and city council seats. Early voting for these races began on Oct. 12. Along with Mann, four other candidates are vying for Seat 7. 

As a native Atlantan and a recent graduate of Midtown High School, which is part of the Atlanta Public School (APS) system, Mann says he is best positioned to represent the voice of students. 

Photo Courtesy of Royce Mann (24C)

“There’s so many obstacles that prevent students from having any sort of say in the decisions that affect us on a day to day basis,” Mann said. “I first and foremost want to see a voice on the Board of Education that truly represents students in APS.”

In fall 2018, Mann began to look into creating a student board member seat that would be permanently held by a student. However, after running into legal roadblocks, he decided the next best option was to run himself, launching his campaign on May 3 this year. 

“I’ve been involved in advocacy in APS, worked on the governance team at my high school and on the LGBTQ+ task force for the district,” Mann said. “I saw it every step of the way that, when we have students in the room, when we’re discussing educational policy, the impact that students have is incredible.” 

Mann has been a visible activist for several years now. In 2014, a poem he wrote entitled “White Boy Privilege” went viral, propelling him into fame. He was invited to present on several television programs and conferences, including at the Obama Foundation Summit. 

Additionally, Mann co-founded Students for Ossoff and Warnock, a campaign to mobilize young voters to elect the Georgian senators. He has also served as legislative director for March for Our Lives Georgia, to advocate for policies that reduce gun violence. 

This past experience is reflected in his vision for the school board.

Mann’s campaign website has six categories outlining his platform: early education and literacy, ending racial and economic segregation within APS, ensuring curriculum is culturally relevant and prepares students for college and career, combating the school-to-prison pipeline through restorative justice and mental health support, and increasing student, teacher, and community engagement. 

Given his experience in social and political activism, Mann said he felt ready when he formally announced his campaign. So far, he has been endorsed by Georgia State Rep. Park Cannon, Vice Chair of Dekalb County Board of Education Diijon DaCosta and the Georgia Equality Organization, a prominent LGBTQ+ rights advocacy group. He is leading his race in fundraising, with $33,659 in contributions, according to the Atlanta Board of Education Campaign Disclosure Report. 

However, Mann said there were unforeseen challenges ahead in running for election.

“I didn’t have a family fortune to invest in my campaign or access to high-dollar political consultants,” Mann said. “Whether it was having trouble getting a bank account set up so we could raise money, or having trouble filing with the city to officially be on the ballot, there were definitely times that I was tempted to give up.”

Mann explained his campaign was possible through the support of students, friends and “other activists.”

”I had folks around me that reminded me that the reason we’re pursuing this is because we need to ensure that these local elected bodies are more accessible,” Mann said.

Mann believes that despite the challenges, more students and young people should consider running for office. 

“Any young person out there who is considering the idea of running for office, or just getting more involved politically in whatever way, whether that’s becoming a voter after being a non-voter, whether that is starting to volunteer for candidates or causes that you support, there’s so many ways to be involved,” Mann said. “We need to start claiming our power politically.”

The post Emory sophomore runs for a seat on Atlanta Board of Education appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Questions I have for Oski

Sunny Shen/File

Standing at an unusually tall height, Oski is at every Berkeley event with his golden shirt and blue jeans. However, considering how frequently we all see our mascot, Oski remains an enigma to me and many others. From Oski’s hobbies to future career plans, who is Oski? I unfortunately am unable to answer these questions, so instead, I’ve compiled a list of questions to ask Oski.

What do you do in your free time?

My first question to ask is the one I often hear from others when the subject of Oski comes up — what does Oski do in their free time? Aside from keeping the games high energy and walking around campus, what else do they do? Do they enjoy riding bikes? Reading? Or going hiking possibly? Also, do they do all activities in a UC Berkeley shirt?

Where do you go in the summer?

Aside from attending the football games, graduation and other year-round activities, what does Oski do throughout the summer? Do they have a beach house, or do they just stay back and maintain the campus while most of the students are gone? I have a feeling it may be the latter.

What are your opinions on Stanford’s mascot? 

This is one of my more controversial questions, I must admit. But, is there “mascot beef” between the rival schools Stanford and UC Berkeley as well? If so, what are Oski’s opinions on Stanford’s mascot? I’d imagine they already know that the golden bear is objectively better than a tree, but does the rivalry go any deeper?

What did you major in? What are the best and worst majors?

Again, another controversial question. But Oski has been here for a very long time, so by now, I’d assume they would have some opinions on college majors. Have all EECS or political science majors grown to fit the stereotype? Or has Oski noticed a trend in the data? 

Who is behind the mask?

My final question is one that I assume Oski gets the most, and the one that I may or may not be allowed to ask. Regardless, it is a question that frequents my mind: Who is the person behind the mask? Is it a four-year deal, or just a semesterlong commitment? 

Although I highly doubt any of these questions will be answered, it never hurts to ask. I hope I brought a voice to the questions many of us have asked ourselves for long periods of time. And Oski, if you are reading this, an answer would be appreciated.

Contact Isabella Carreno at icarreno@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Senators held an unmoderated caucus once again, ending with a presentation on the protest’s demands.

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

It’s been proven time and time again that the government needs to step in when the economy is shot. President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better agenda is what this country needs to survive and prepare for the younger generation’s future. 

Biden’s Build Back Better agenda is the most ambitious government spending bill since the New Deal.  The New Deal was a direct response to the Great Depression, and this Build Back Better agenda is a direct response to the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. 

It’s important to understand what’s in the spending bill. For starters, lower costs for the average American. Lower child care costs assure that no middle-class family pays more than 7 percent of their income on child care, with working-class families paying nothing.

Community college would become tuition-free, effectively becoming part of the public school system.  These systems aren’t a handout, but rather give people a leg up in society

This bill also gives the federal government the ability to negotiate drug prices, further reducing health care costs. That’s not all, it would reduce health insurance premiums and add dental, vision and hearing coverage to Medicare. Provisions like these are why the overwhelming majority of Americans support the Build Back Better agenda.

“This spending bill is important because it offers many Americans a better social safety net in times of need,” said political science freshman Justice McFarlane. “Extending what Medicare can do for our older members of society, offering universal Pre-k to American kids, paid family leave and addressing climate change.”

Another thing this Biden’s Build Back Better agenda addresses is housing costs.

Homelessness is a major issue facing Americans today, so it’s nice to see a president actually addressing it. The spending bill will use tax credits and government financing to bolster affordable and resilient housing, supporting the construction and rehabilitation of more than two million homes. 

Aside from the numerous social programs, Build Back Better also seeks out to invest in jobs, climate and schools. The President’s plan would create union jobs in the renewable energy sector and also address teacher shortages. 

Build Back Better also advocates for free school meals for children with upgraded school infrastructure. These policies will help Americans get jobs but also help children have better school experiences. 

There’s always the question of how the government will pay for it. The answer is that the wealthy would be taxed more. The top marginal rate would rise to 39.6 percent. 

It’s not like these tax rates are unprecedented, far from it, during the Eisenhower years the top marginal tax rate was as high as 90 percent. The tax changes aren’t just raising as there are tax cuts for families with children and workers without children. The burden will be put on those who can actually pay for it. 

This bill is crucial for all Americans but especially crucial for college-aged individuals and young adults who will have to see the consequences of climate in-action if climate legislation doesn’t pass.

As these young people enter the workforce, hopefully, they will enter a workforce full of productive union jobs where they don’t have to worry about going bankrupt to pay for healthcare or childcare. This bill is important, especially for the younger generation. 

The Biden Administration’s Build Back Better agenda needs to pass if this country wants to prepare for the future. The United States needs an economic and social system that works for everyone, not just the super-wealthy.

Fernando Rivera is an Economics sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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“Biden’s Build Back Better agenda is necessary” was originally posted on The Cougar

Protesters ask for University to remove the Kappa Sigma’s official SAO recognition.

Content warning: This podcast contains references to sexual assault and violence.

Podcast editor Abbey Martichenko and podcast staff member Claire Fogarty recap last week’s biggest stories — including the ongoing investigation into various USC fraternities amid reports of drugging and sexual assault. Listen through to also get the rundown on some notable A&E, sports and opinion pieces. Be sure to check back next week! Music by Tim Taj via Pixabay.

If you are in need of support, here are some resources you can contact:

USC Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services: Located at Engemann Student Health Center Suite 356. Individuals can call (213)-740-9355 and request to speak with an advocate or counselor. Services are confidential.

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): A free, confidential hotline that is active 24/7. Individuals can call (800)-656-4673.

The post Week 9 recap appeared first on Daily Trojan.

The Colorado State University volleyball team wrapped up its double match this week. CSU (9-1 in conference and 13-6 overall) traveled to San Diego, California, Oct. 21 to take on the San Diego State University Aztecs (3-7 conference, 6-16 overall).   While in Fort Collins for the State Pride match Oct. 23, the Rams hosted […]

Following an offseason of adjusting, the Boston Red Sox managed to bully their way into the ALCS and gave the Houston Astros a real run for their money. Limping through the months of August and most of September, the Sox secured their spot in the American League Wildcard against the New York Yankees on the final day with a win against the Washington Nationals. 

The Red Sox and Yankees were tied at 90-72 records, but with the Red Sox having hold of the tiebreaker, the Wildcard game was set to take place at Fenway Park. Thanks in part to homers from Kyle Schwarber and a two-run shot from Xander Bogaerts, Alex Cora’s men took down Gerritt Cole and the Yankees 6-2. The game reignited the Red Sox fanbase, and the city of Boston had gone Sox crazy again, reminiscent of 2004. The victory set up an ALDS series with the defending American League Champions, the Tampa Bay Rays. 

The Rays had won the American League East with the influence of manager Kevin Cash and a play of talents, such as Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena, but faced an uphill battle against their division rival.

Opening the series served as a wake-up call for Cora’s group, as they fell 5-0 at Tropicana Field in game one thanks to a home run by Nelson Cruz. The Sox responded the only way they had known how all year, with their bats. While they were down 5-2 at the end of the first inning, the team rallied and scored 12 runs over the next eight innings before evening up the series at 1-1 with momentum on their side. The next two games would see the Sox putting up six runs each time, defeating the Rays 6-4 and 6-5 in consecutive home games, putting the Green Monster to work and wreaking havoc on Tampa’s outfielders as the perfect response.

The victories reinvigorated an already raucous fanbase, as they were slated to play the Houston Astros. Travelling to Houston, the Red Sox’s hot bats were ready to cause trouble, with the bat of Kiké Hernandez swinging the hottest by far. Hernandez batted to a .450 clip in the series against the Rays to go along with 9 hits, 2 home runs and 6 RBIs when all was said and done.

Game one was a test from start to finish for the Red Sox, with the Astros inching out a one-run victory in an intense matchup of two foes. Carlos Correa made sure his presence was felt, tapping his wrist following his game-tying home run in the seventh inning in a manner so as to suggest, “It’s time,” sparking retaliation further down the line. The very next game, the Red Sox responded with their bats before they did their words. A 9-5 victory behind the bats of Devers, Hernandez and J.D. Martinez helped tie the series back up at one heading into game three. 

The Red Sox bats woke up early and often this time around as well, with four different batters sending shots to the moon, including an overly emphatic grand slam off of the bat of first baseman Kyle Schwarber in the second inning, setting up the Sox to take a 2-1 series lead. In response to Correa’s tap, Red Sox hurler Eduardo Rodriguez mimicked the action heading off the mound before manager Alex Cora reprimanded the starter. Whether it’s superstition or not, the action led to a downward spiral within the series. The Red Sox would go on to fall to the Astros in each of the team’s next three games, culminating in a 5-0 loss in Game 6 on Friday night to seal the deal. 

While the loss marks the end of the year for the Red Sox, the success achieved this season after practically gutting the franchise a little over a year ago is nothing short of impressive. This team’s camaraderie and overall willingness to win helps put this group in a contending position at any point over the next decade. The Astros will now go on to play the Atlanta Braves in the World Series.