To lead student opinion, each week we write our Staff Editorial about a topic that we feel is important to the campus at large. This week, The Poly would like to applaud two important changes on campus that address problems discussed in these editorials.
In the November 1 issue, our Staff Editorial reviewed some of the quirks that existed in the early registration process, which allowed certain groups of students, such as the staffs of the offices of Residence Life and the First Year Experience to register for classes before regular registration began in order to test the system. We did not believe that this appropriately targeted all of the different majors across campus. We recognized the importance of giving a chance to register early to students with conflicts such as athletics, but seemed unfair and unproductive for ResLife and Student Orientation staff members to get early time tickets. Since then, the registrar has taken several steps to make sure that students selected for early registration are from a variety of different majors, which will ensure better testing of the system before regular registration opens. According to Registrar Sharon Kunkel, her office asked for nominations from each department scheduler so that cross sections of all majors and class years could be included in the test process.
On January 17, we took a stance on smoking around campus. Part of our perspective was on the etiquette of smokers, and we recommended that the campus consider going smoke-free. A recent decision by the Institute is making way for that to become a reality. After commencement in May, all residence halls across campus will be designated as non-smoking buildings. The intentions are to help bring the campus in line with the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act of 2003. We feel that ResLife and the administration have made the right decision—one that will promote a
