Education

UMD power outage affects heart of campus

UMD power outage affects heart of campus

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov. 25 (ZFJ) — A power outage is affecting University of Maryland, College Park, buildings around McKeldin Mall. A University of Maryland Police Department advisory sent out at 11:27 a.m. reports that Facilities Management is responding to a multiple building power outage. Classes in the following buildings were initially cancelled until at least 2:00 p.m. A later campuswide email sent at 2:37 p.m. announced that classes would not meet in the affected buildings for the rest of the day.
In reversal, Edison Board of Education votes against abolishing transgender students policy

In reversal, Edison Board of Education votes against abolishing transgender students policy

EDISON, N.J., Nov. 3 (ZFJ) — The Edison Board of Education voted 6-3 against abolishing Policy 5756, which concerns transgender students, in a second reading during a marathon action meeting lasting five hours on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in which many members of the public spoke in support of the policy. The board previously voted 5-3 in favor of abolishment after Vishal Patel made a motion on the floor to do so.
Edison Board of Education votes to abolish transgender students policy

Edison Board of Education votes to abolish transgender students policy

EDISON, N.J., Oct. 19 (ZFJ) — The Edison Board of Education voted 5-3 to abolish Policy 5756, which concerns transgender students, at their action meeting on Monday, Sept. 30. Since they didn’t properly follow the procedure to abolish a policy, it is still in effect. The abolishment was not on the publicly posted agenda for the night and arose from a motion made from the floor. This move follows the abolishment of Policy 5756 by many other school districts in N.
UMD pro-Palestinian protest proceeds peacefully on October 7

UMD pro-Palestinian protest proceeds peacefully on October 7

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Oct. 13 (ZFJ) — A vigil held by UMD Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on McKeldin Mall on Monday, Oct. 7, took place without incident. On Sept. 1, the University of Maryland, College Park, attempted to limit all demonstrations on campus on Oct. 7 after thousands of people wrote objecting to SJP’s permit to protest on that day. The significance of Oct. 7, 2023, is that it was the day when Hamas militants stormed into nearby Israeli towns from the blockaded Gaza Strip to kill and take hostage hundreds of civilians.
Federal judge orders UMD to allow October 7 demonstrations

Federal judge orders UMD to allow October 7 demonstrations

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Oct. 5 (ZFJ) — A federal judge ordered the University of Maryland, College Park, to allow UMD Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) to proceed with their demonstration on Monday, Oct. 7. On Sept. 1, after significant outcry over UMD granting a permit to SJP to use McKeldin Mall for an “interfaith vigil,” the university announced that demonstrations would be prohibited on campus on Oct. 7, and that a “university-sponsored Day of Dialogue” would be held instead.
UMD limits demonstrations on Oct. 7 after controversy over planned pro-Palestinian protest

UMD limits demonstrations on Oct. 7 after controversy over planned pro-Palestinian protest

COLLEGE PARK, Md., Sept. 6 (ZFJ) — The University of Maryland, College Park, will not allow any student group protests on Oct. 7, 2024, following controversy over a pro-Palestinian protest planned for that date. The University System of Maryland said in a press release on Sunday, Sept. 1, that special campus events—those requiring approval or permitting—will be suspended only on Oct. 7 in favor of a “university-sponsored Day of Dialogue” to promote reflection instead.
Andy “Dean” DeNicola, J.P. Stevens band director for 50 years, dies at 72

Andy “Dean” DeNicola, J.P. Stevens band director for 50 years, dies at 72

EDISON, N.J., Aug. 11 (ZFJ) — Andrew “Dean” S. DeNicola, 55, band director at John P. Stevens High School for 50 years, died on May 20, 2024, after many years of battling heart disease. “His devotion toward music, the band program, and his students was unparalleled, and anyone who had the pleasure of getting to know Andy knew he was having fun and living his life to the fullest,” wrote the Central Jersey Music Educators Association on Instagram.
28 AP exams are going digital from May 2025

28 AP exams are going digital from May 2025

Aug. 1 (ZFJ) — The College Board has announced that, starting May 2025, 28 AP Exams will have their standard paper testing discontinued. Instead, these exams will be administered digitally through the Bluebook app. All schools and test centers will have to administer these exams digitally, though paper exams will still be available to select students approved by the College Board. The acceleration to digital testing was done to further protect the integrity and security of AP exams.
Edison High assistant principal accused of threatening Muslim students

Edison High assistant principal accused of threatening Muslim students

EDISON, N.J., July 24 (ZFJ) — Muslim students from Edison High School are alleging that one of the school’s assistant principals intimidated them over their club’s annual iftar event during a February meeting. Iftar is the breaking of the daily fast during the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), a Muslim civil rights group, says that Assistant Principal Nicole Himmelstein met with eight board members of the school’s Moon and Stars Association (MSA) following their request to hold a joint iftar event and invite students from Piscataway and North Brunswick.
College Board has sent free score send AP score reports

College Board has sent free score send AP score reports

July 2 (ZFJ) — This one’s mainly for the class of 2024, with some exceptions, I suppose. If you used your free AP score report send, those have been sent out now. The AP Students dashboard, under “View Past Score Sends,” indicates that reports were sent out on June 30. So what? Well, you may be able to view all of your AP scores, including those from this year’s exams, on your college’s unofficial transcript—a minor boon to students like me who prefer not to stay their curiosity.