Gang charges brought
A federal courthouse in Albany saw the arraignments of 15 alleged gang members Friday in what has been called the largest bust in recent history. The group makes up half of the 29 men and one woman arrested earlier that morning on charges that included drug trafficking, attempted murder, robbery, and witness tampering. The arrests were the culmination of a year-long investigation involving federal, state, county, and local authorities.
The gang has its roots in Albany schools, where its members often wore red to broadcast their affiliations to the world and keep their rivals in check. The group then used violence to enforce their will; nearly two dozen illegal handguns were recovered in the raids leading up to the arrests.
Suspected of moving over 50 grams of crack cocaine, the group has also been accused of selling marijuana and narcotics.
The remainder of the arraignments are to be held this week, and authorities claim that this is only the beginning of the fight against local gangs.
Practice tests offered
Graduate school is at the forefront of many students’ minds at this part of the semester. In particular, many are worried about being admitted. A significant aspect of that process is taking—and doing well on—certain standardized tests, often specific to one’s own field of study.
Kaplan, Inc., a company in the test-preparation industry, will be holding practice tests for the MCAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and DAT on October 26. Participants will receive personalized feedback and scores and should be able to gauge their strengths and weaknesses before taking the actual test. Those interested should call (800) KAP-TEST or visit http://www.kaptest.com/ to register.
Union cuts requirement
Union College has announced that it is joining the ranks of schools no longer requiring standardized test scores for admission. The decision to move away from the current policy—which requires that applicants submit either SAT or ACT scores—was made because, according to Union Dean of Admissions Dan Lundquist, the best indicator of future academic success is a rigorous course load, not a single test score.
The university says that the move will not affect admissions standards, citing Hamilton College and Middlebury College as other high-ranking schools that have made standardized test scores optional. By not requiring them, Union hopes to attract more top students who would otherwise overlook the school. For those who have taken the SAT or ACT, however, the grades may still be taken into consideration.
By contrast, RPI requires that applicants take either the SAT or ACT.
