http://pulseoftheworld.com Pulse of the World Feed en-us http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/event-calendar/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/event-calendar/ Event Calendar Shailen Sobhee http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/thesisaurus/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/thesisaurus/ Elizabeth Zeller: 28th... you have one day less to live! Sali Dumbadze :'(( Thesis Sali Dumbadze 34 hours and 35 minutes until thesis submission...panic or not to panic yet? Sali Dumbadze 26:01 hours, 3372 words :S Lara Fleischer who wants to proofread my thesissss Yonca Dege Okay, brain. You don't like me, and I don't like you, but let's get through this thing and then I can continue killing you with beer.  Vratko: “its a race against time” Andrés Navarrete Berges it's a bird, it's a plane, it's jus cogens! Natalie Schnelle Thesis sufferers: Can we have 7.000 words + 10%? Some say yes, some say no :( Elizabeth Anne Zeller It's in in IN!!! :) Thesis “love” affair OVERRRRRR http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/whats-in-a-name/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/whats-in-a-name/ The marketing scheme put in place for the Red Light Party is nothing short of brilliant. Simply put, there is no reason to market something when it can sell itself. It could be the stories told by previous years' party-goers, or just as likely, the vivid (or some would say explicit) imagery conjured up by the name. Although there is a marked lack of the word 'district' in the name, it is impossible to argue that the term is not meant to imply the notorious 'red light district.' Whatever the reason for its success, almost everyone on campus knows about the RLP, almost everyone knows the theme, almost everyone knows what the night will bring, and almost everyone knows the definition of a red light district. Almost everyone is wrong. The RLD party is selling a lie. By naming the party in such a manner, intrinsically implying an erotic, sex-driven theme, the organizers are taking a center of rape, slavery, abuse and crime and branding it as sexy. For the sake of the readers, the Other Side, and the party's supporters, it will be assumed the aforementioned persons do not know the despicable reality of red light districts, nor of the sex-negative implication these types of parties have. The purpose of this article is to inform on a very real issue, and furthermore, to illustrate exactly why the name (and, to some extent, the theme) of the RLP must be changed. The organizers are following the ubiquitous saying “sex sells,” while failing to understand the implications of the context placed on the event's name. Red light districts is the blanket term used for areas where the majority of the business is connected to the sex trade. This can range from sex shops to the most common type of prostitution, street prostitution. Street prostitution is by far the most common form of prostitution, and therefore, is a staple not just in RLDs, outside of them as well. In the sex trade, legal or not, street prostitution is the most economically lucrative form of prostitution, making it a cornerstone of almost every RLD, and incredibly rampant. Because of its difficultly to regulate, street prostitution is incredibly dangerous, abusive, and is a crime on many levels, and is universally illegal for a reason. By naming the party after a district which encourages and enables street prostitution, the party is (intentionally or not) encouraging people to overlook the truth behind the name, and propagates horribly destructive misconceptions. By associating itself with the RLD, what kind of practices and implications does this have? Unfortunately, “sexy” would be the last word that might come to mind when knowing the details of street prostitution. Street prostitutes are incredibly vulnerable to sexual assault and violent attacks, not to mention muggings, not only by clients, but by their pimps as well. Furthermore, the risks of contracting an STD are incredibly high, because condoms are almost never used, and prostitutes rarely given the opportunity to demand clients to use condoms. This means that transmission can happen from client to prostitute and vice-versa, either way, it is difficult to trace, and is one of the main concerns in fighting HIV/AIDS. Another negative aspect of the RLD is how interlinked the sex trade is linked to the drug trade. One harrowing example is how often pimps use drugs to, quite literally, control the prostitutes working for them. The type of female which pimps seek out are typically young, homeless (sometimes due to problems at home), poor, and in need of a caring individual. Pimps use their powers of persuasion and manipulation to encourage these young girls to engage in illicit activities to show their love. In order to keep them under their controlling grasp, pimps will get these girls addicted to expensive drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. They do this because it forces the girls to be indebted to them, and it also ensures that the pimps will be their own source of the drug they become addicted to. Unfortunately, it does not end there. Many prostitutes, and perhaps most prostitutes are underage. Not just under 18, but the average age for a female prostitute entering the sex trade is 13. Furthermore, especially in countries with sex tourism has surged in popularity over the recent years, very young children are placed into the sex trade, often by their own parents, in order to make a profit. The children here are commonly around eight years old, well before puberty, but as the age when children start showing signs of puberty gets younger and younger, so does their age. In many red light districts more and more toddlers, yes, three- and four-year olds are being forced into sexual slavery. Whatever their starting age, their life during this virtual enslavement is one of absolute hell, and afterwards, these individuals have no education, no skills, and are often ostracised from society. Tens of millions of children worldwide lose out on a chance at being kids, is this the kind of horrors that the party wants to be associated with? Finally, there is the fact that the sex trade and human trafficking are hand-in-hand. Children, and young women are lured away from their homes, or are kidnapped, and forced onto boats, trains, or buses and taken to a whole new city, country and continent. Those who go willingly, at least initially, do so with the promise of a job and money for their family back home. The truth, though, is far more dark. They are forced into positions of slavery, their lives, and the lives of their families are threatened if they do not agree to sell their bodies. The stories told by survivors are bone-chilling, and knowing that upwards of 80 million other women and children suffer is heartbreaking. This is what occurs in red light districts, this is the truth behind the strippers and sex toys, this is what the Red Light Party is linking itself to. Do you want to go to that kind of party? Author's note: I did not want to place judgment on the RLP and not attend, knowing I would be accused of ignorance. Therefore, after attending, I stand by my article and believe that not only are my opinions placed justly, but that the issue of the party is much greater than the name, but the theme and events of the party. As a whole, the party perpetuates gender norms and mysoginist stereotypes, plus, it is an incredibly sex-negative environment, which I have not addressed in my article, but I wish I had. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/120-kilometres-of-human-chain-reaction/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/120-kilometres-of-human-chain-reaction/ On the 26th of April 1986, the average temperature was 16°C in Chernobyl - at least outside the reactor. It was at this particular day that a global rethinking happened due to the catastrophic events following the meltdown of reactor number four of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine where 336,000 people had to be evacuated, thousands died due to immediate radiation and hundreds of thousands developed cancer as a result. In 2000, Germany's government, comprised of Social Democrats and Greens, decided in consensus with the industry to successively put paid to all nuclear power plants in Germany, with the oldest ones already supposed to be shut down in 2010 and the newest ones in 2020. The decision followed a heated decade-long discussion, mainly involving opposing citizens on one side and the industry on the other. Without going too much into detail, pro-nuclear arguments comprised the risen need for clean (low CO2-emittance) energy, energy independence, economical benefits, and the risen security standards. Protesters, on the other hand, referred to the crowding out of renewable energies caused by supporting nuclear power, the danger of military usage or threat of terrorism, the remaining problem of nuclear waste, economic and insurance problems, and the threat caused by another possible meltdown. The year is 2010, however, and still all nuclear power plants in Germany enjoy their everyday nuclear fission routine. What happened? With the current nuclear power-friendly government, comprised of Christian Democrats and Liberals, the nuclear phase out is at the tipping point with large parts of both parties in favour of extending the runtimes of nuclear power plants, despite opposition from the current environment minister. The government's decision is to be announced in autumn. Against the background of these developments, six Jacobs students stood on a dyke somewhere along the Alster near the small village Brunsbüttel, close to Hamburg, shouting slogans such as “Hopp! Hopp! Hopp! Atomkraft stopp!” while holding scarves and sweaters in between their arms and watching parachuters glide down the sky with “Atomkraft – Nein, danke!” banners strapped to their feet. A total of 120,000 people queued into 120 kilometres of human chain stretching from the nuclear power plant in Brunsbüttel, along the NPP Brokdorf to the NPP Krümmel – hence comprising the largest anti-nuclear protest in Germany for many decades. Organised by a wide alliance of major political parties, employee associations, NGOs and church-based organisations, the human chain turned out to be much larger than expected. But what made these six Jacobs students join hands with strangers from all around Germany? “I went out to protest nuclear power because no amount of safeguards can prevent catastrophe. For over a hundred thousand years we'll have to deal with increasing levels of toxic waste, which the slightest accident or terroristic event could shatter ecosystems and societies,” explained Trevor Sloughter after taking up the challenge of an hour-long bus ride despite suffering from motion sickness. Mareike Michaelis, on the other hand, joined the others to “send a signal and make use of the symbolic effect” of a human chain of this magnitude. After all banners had been raised slogans shouted, and the whole chain ran down the dyke in an line of uproaring protesters, it was time to recapitulate while joining a large crowd listening to speeches and prominent artists such as Jan Delay. Sarah Gero first seemed to be a bit disappointed, stating that she “thought that there would actually be a lot more people there, but when I heard the actual number of people in attendance it was quite a lot. It just didn't seem like that many while I was there. All in all, I'm really glad that I went because it was a unique experience and for a good cause.” This impression is shared by Mareike who enjoyed the wonderful weather and the “relaxed atmosphere” despite “bad communication of information and the presence of rather everyday people instead of the typical protesters. But maybe that's a good thing.” Maybe, there really was a change in society making people, again, more attentive to political issues, that will get them out on the streets to voice their opinion on decisions that affect their lives and those of future generations. Or maybe it was just the beautiful weather. In any case, the government's decision on the elongation of NPP running times in autumn is eagerly awaited and may be met with just as much opposition as one could see from Brunsbüttel to Krümmel on that sunny day, about 24 years after Chernobyl. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/letter-from-the-editors-issue-10/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/letter-from-the-editors-issue-10/ Dear readers, It is our pleasure to bring you the last issue of the Pulse of the World for the Academic Year 2009-2010. It has been a steep learning curve since taking over the Pulse of the World in the beginning of the Spring Semester, but for all the members of the Pulse team I think it has also been an interesting and fun creative process. With each issue we see the Pulse developing even further and the team continuing to expand and grow. This semester we saw spam wars, very opinionated front pages, recycled paper (or lack thereof) and articles on everyone from the Large Particle Hadron-Collider to a look beyond the “Wall” at what the neighbors really think of Jacobs University. We as the executive board would like to thank everyone responsible for bringing out the five issues this spring semester – to the old executive board who made it possible for us to have a paper to take over and gave us a lot of support and help in doing so, the writers (both those who regularly write for the Pulse amidst their busy schedules and also those who drop us an article from time to time), the technical editors who work hard to transform pieces into the final version that is printed in the pulse, the cartoonists and photographers who provide illustrations for our pages, and the layout editors who put it all together and make it look great... Thank you! We are looking forward to continuing Pulse next year, and to seeing how both the paper and the website develop further. The Pulse is a train in motion picking up more and more ideas and directions as it runs. We are looking forward to seeing where it goes next year! We wish you a great summer break! Savannah, Jan-Matthis, Valentina and Oliver http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/arbeitsunfaehigkeitsbescheinigung/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/arbeitsunfaehigkeitsbescheinigung/ A beautifully long, typically German word which means “attestation of being unable to work.” This is the yellow piece of paper you receive when you go to a doctor and he signs you off sick. The Jacobs University administration has recently decided not to accept any more sick notes from Dr. Schmidtmann, also known as “Dr. Holiday.” This is because during finals time last semester, roughly a fifth of our student body was excused from exams by said doctor. Only eighteen excuses came from other doctors. The decision of the administration was greeted by an uproar of protest, pointing out that you can go to any other doctor and get a sick note just as easily. The question is why there are so many sick notes and why they are all from one doctor. Is something wrong with this doctor that makes him sign off so many students or are this many students actually sick? Why do most students go to Dr. Schmidtmann in the first place? It starts out with O-Week when we are told that a doctor in close vicinity speaks English, but even now after the decision not to accept anymore of his “Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigungs” there are still flyers hanging in the colleges with Dr. Schmidtmann's address, making him the unofficial Jacobs doctor. Advertising him all over campus naturally leads to him as a first choice, explaining why he is the one who writes so many excuses. If the whole university always goes there when they're sick, according to social proof everyone else will follow. We might think, “what everyone else does can't be so wrong” and docilely trot to Dr. Schmidtmann when ill. The second question is much more important: Why are so many people sick during exams? Several explanations come to mind. The swine flu is not the only contagious disease; there are many more. Especially in winter when our immune systems are already weakened by the ongoing gray Bremen weather, we are very susceptible to common flus, colds, coughs, and the like. Coupled with the stresses of class and private life, community living breeds sickness. Maybe not a fifth of the student body is actually unhealthy, but nevertheless a significantly higher number of students than during exam-free time. What about the rest of the people, those who are diagnosed and excused from classes but aren't necessarily lying in bed with a fever? It has happened to everyone here, one week chases the next and every day there is something to do. Once you are done with your presentation you have to start on your paper, study for the next quiz, do readings or lab reports. Weeks on end the stress just continues. Some people surely procrastinate but the workload is demanding for everyone. It is a doctor's job to help his patients and if a patient comes to him asking for a break because he is simply close to having a breakdown, a doctor should have pity and write him an excuse What can the administration do when faced with such a large number of sick notes? Alternative solutions have already been spammed around, with the strongest argument to look at the root of the problem. Students are usually not skipping classes because it's fun; after all it's a hassle to go to the doctor, pay 10 Euros, hand in the note to the administration, and then take an often more difficult make-up exam. They are signed off sick because the workload is too much for them to handle while still getting good grades. If this happened throughout the year the general workload would need remodeling. However, since this occurs mainly during exam time maybe it has to do with the way exams are scheduled. Some midterms reach until right before finals, some people have four finals in four consecutive days, or sometimes even several exams on the same day. There has also been an email explaining the reason for the chaotic exam schedule. Two actors are involved: The students and their long drop/add period and the professors who need to indicate if they need a special room or other requirements for their exams. Due to the often detail-oriented exams of multiple choice questions, most students resort to “bulimia-studying” to succeed at this school, cramming as much information as possible into their heads a couple of days before exams just to “delete” all the learned information right after the exam to make room for the next class. Of course many important things still stay in our minds, but the details become a little hazy. There comes the point where you just need a break, whether your body tells you this by getting sick, having insomniac tendencies, emotional lowpoints, or showing other kinds of stress-related symptoms. Not all of these are physically measureable but they are there. It is hard to say who is wrong here. Obviously the number of sick notes has reached a drastic height and needs to be reduced. The question is just how this can be achieved. Less procrastination, better immune systems, less hectic exam schedules, and then maybe some of the best medicine in the world: laughter :-) http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/university-sports-updates/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/university-sports-updates/ ICFT Results For the past couple of weeks, the university community has been involved in playing, watching, and cheering for the Intercontinental Football Tournament which pitted football teams from each continent against each other in friendly competition. The tournament began with qualifying games between the six teams: Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe Pink, Europe Orange, and Europe Yellow. After the qualifying rounds, Asia, Africa, Europe Pink, and Europe Orange progressed to the semi-final round of play. In the semis, Africa beat Europe Pink 3 – 1 and Europe Orange beat Asia 2 – 0. Europe Pink and Asia faced off for third place and Europe Pink managed to beat Asia 3 – 2. The finals took place on May 1st between Africa and Europe Orange. Africa clinched the title with a 2 – 1 win over Europe Orange. Also, during the final match spectators were treated to a halftime show performance by the university cheerleading team. The team will also be performing at the upcoming Hansa Rowing Cup in Hamburg and the End of the Year Festival here on campus. Hanse Boat Race The Hanse Boat Race (formerly Hanse Rowing Cup) is the biggest race that the rowing team participates in each year. They race the Hamburg School of Business Administration and have been doing so for the past two years. Originally, the race only comprised of the main boat race between the two schools, but this year it has expanded to include a men’s 2nd boat race and a women’s boat race as well as the main boat race, which will be done in a racing 8 boat. It will take place on Wednesday, May 12th in Hamburg. The event sparks a large turnout, including many Jacobs fans cheering on the team. It is a unique opportunity to support a university sports team off campus in the company of many other enthusiastic students. In addition, there will be a student party that evening following the race. The team has been preparing in anticipation of this race. Just this weekend, they fit in five practices over three days. But it’s not just the team that is preparing! On Sunday, May 9th, there will be a pep rally at Nordmetall which will include food, beer, T-shirt making, and other fun activities to get the university pumped up for the main event. The rowing team would love to have the support and see all the Jacobs fans ready to cheer on their team! http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/get-cultured-in-hamburg-and-bremen/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/get-cultured-in-hamburg-and-bremen/ For many non-German speakers, it isn't always the easiest thing to find a play or performance in and around Bremen. Even the Shakespeare Company in Bremen, despite its misleading name, does not produce or stage plays in English. Add to that the creative licence some directors might take with even beloved and well-known plays, and you come to realise there are few opportunities outside of campus to attend a cultural event. While this does not seem like an issue of great gravity, it serves to contribute to the existence of a so-called “bubble” and the tendency of students to leave their comfortable campus environment less and less. However, when one digs deeper into the cultural life in and around Bremen, one begins to find opportunities for performances that cater to an English-speaking audience as well. One of these is the English Theatre in Hamburg, a private, professional theatre in the city of Hamburg, subsidised in part by the Hamburg Ministry of Culture. Founded more than thirty years ago by two Americans, the theatre facilitates international communication “through language and the art of the theatre” (as claimed on their official website). The theatre aims to perform plays in the original English by including during one of their seasons an American of British drama from the classics and modern classics, a comedy, and a thriller. Plays by Shakespeare, Harold Pinter, Tennessee Williams, and many other established playwrights have already been performed throughout the theatre's long history. During a regular season, which lasts from September until June, there are as many as eight performances per week, with both matinee and evening times. As for booking tickets, this can be done either online or by phone, with special rates for groups and students depending on the performance. For the 2009/2010 season, two plays have already been active, “Quartet” by Ronald Harwood and “The Subject Was Roses” by Frank D. Gilroy, with a third one, “Deadly Game” by David Foley, having started on April 29th and continuing until the beginning of July. “Deadly Game” premiered to great acclaim in the US, and it is billed as a fast-paced thriller with both psychological themes and action-packed moments that promises to entertain from beginning to end. While the Theater am Goetheplatz might be seen by most students as just the venue for the graduating festivities in years past, its potential for cultural activities that surpass language barriers is clearly underestimated. While plays require a strict understanding of the German language, opera is a whole different thing. While understanding the lyrics is always helpful towards getting the full experience, the actions on stage are often clear enough that it is unnecessary to focus on the words. Furthermore, the German translations provided on a marquee above the audience distract from the actors and are never entirely accurate. A lot can be deduced from gestures, which make up for the lack of understanding of the dialogue and so on. Although opera might not be to everyone's taste, it can be fun, entertaining and cultural at the same time. Even if Bremen does not seem to be anything like a cultural centre, the performances one might enjoy at the Goetheplatz might prove to be more noteworthy than initially anticipated. Furthermore, the universal appeal of many of the opera pieces (well-known ones such as “The Barber of Seville” or “Don Giovanni”) and the possibility that the plots are for the most part already known can serve as further incentives to visit the Goetheplatz. As with the English Theatre in Hamburg, groups and students might receive special prices. Consequently, if you feel that campus life is getting too predictable and you're in the mood for a more cultural experience, there are places around the corner that can cater to your needs. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/exploring-religious-beliefs-among-students/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/exploring-religious-beliefs-among-students/ Jacobs University has the unique identity of being an international university with students from all reaches of the globe. No one denies that this diversity is a major asset to the university environment and contributes greatly to the overall education Jacobs offers its students. However, there is another aspect to this diversity that is often overlooked: faith. Students come not only from a diverse cultural background, but also a diverse religious background. Whether they have grown up in a certain doctrine, are just recently beginning to practice new beliefs, or maintain no particular religious creeds whatsoever, faith can play a role in defining their identity. However, the university setting provides an interesting environment for faith, especially for an international host of students who follow a wide range of doctrines. On campus, the Interfaith House is the central point of religious activity. It hosts Catholic Mass on Sunday mornings and provides various other services, including a prayer room in the back. The university also supports a number of religious festivals on campus which enable students to share their religious customs with their colleagues in events such as Eid and Deepawali. The University also has a few faith-based clubs registered on campus such as Believer’s Love World and the Christian Fellowship. I took the time to sit down with Rosalyn Harrison, leader of Believer’s Love World, to discuss the club and also her views of religion on campus. Believer’s Love World is a relatively new club on campus which meets on a regular basis. It stems from a campus ministry that started in Nigeria, which follows the Christian faith, the Holy Bible, and the teachings of Jesus. BLW is part of the Christ Embassy and many members of the club attend a church in downtown Bremen as well. Although typically a BLW campus ministry fulfills the role of a “mini-church” on campus, the club here at Jacobs is different. They meet to discuss issues and religious views using the Bible and its message. They welcome visitors of many different faiths who have participated in their meetings and wish to learn more or to simply discuss faith-based questions they might have had. I also had a chance to talk to Joy Petrie, a member of the Christian Fellowship here on campus. She follows the Protestant faith and grew up attending church and Sunday School once a week while also participating in various youth group activities. Here on campus, it has become harder to be involved first-hand in the church, but she attends the Christian Fellowship meetings and also goes to church almost every week. She states that religion is one of her priorities in life and she will therefore make the time for it, even when balancing a work-intensive Jacobs schedule. While talking to both students, I asked them for their opinions on religious presence on campus. They both came up with similar answers: there is a religious presence on campus, but sometimes you have to look for it. Professor Hans Kippenberg has been teaching religion-based courses at Jacobs since 2008 and he provided me with interesting insights into his views of faith on campus. Professor Kippenberg stated that he enjoys teaching religion here on campus as it is a unique opportunity to interact with students who share the beliefs that he is teaching and hear their opinions on the material. He pointed out that one facet of the diversity on campus is its rich religious variety and that the university should celebrate this as a part of cultural diversity. As religion has moved to a more prominent position in the public realm today, it is important to have an appreciation for a variety of religious creeds. Jacobs provides its students with the opportunity to explore other belief systems and build a sense of religious understanding which becomes increasingly important as society becomes more globalized. Jacobs University prides itself on its diverse student body which is unique in its wide range international origins, but also in its religious roots. This religious diversity is also a valuable resource for students to gain a wider understanding of other belief systems and an important asset to this university. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/hot-and-heavy-is-back/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/hot-and-heavy-is-back/ Campus life is, by and large, dictated by the students, and it's their “job” to make it what it is. Sometimes, however, it proves difficult to maintain certain activities because of issues outside of the control of students. Even crowd pleasers such as the Red Light District Party fail to be re-organised due to internal difficulties, squabbles with the people in charge of okaying the event, and good old-fashioned bad timing—which is what happened in the last academic year. In order to make up for the evident lack of a Red Light party the year before, the staff of TheOtherSide decided to go all-out this year and make up for a two-year hiatus of the literally “hottest” party on campus. And when I say literally, I mean it. The venue for this year's party, the H3 room we are so accustomed to, turned out to be in fact unable to accommodate the sheer density of people attending. While H3 parties are not known for attracting as many party-goers as the bar staff would like, that did not seem to matter as people flocked in such high numbers, turning H3 into an oven. The fact that the doors were closed between approximately half past midnight and half past one did not help matters any, and by the time people were allowed to exit, everyone needed fresh air and a cold drink. The main attraction of the evening consisted in two hired striptease professionals, and their performance was the reason why the doors were closed. This strategy proved more than effective as the attendance rate was high even before midnight, a very unusual occurrence for campus parties in recent months. The many people arriving on time got the entertainment they came for not only in the form of the two strippers, but also games and “novice” striptease acts by the staff. As for the professionals hired for the night, they probably made Jacobs University history. One particularity that most students were eagerly looking forward to was the presence of both a male and a female stripper. While the scenario was to have a member of the audience of the opposite sex be the receiver of a lap-dance of sort from the strippers, the assembled crowd got more than they bargained for from the activities going on on-stage. For one thing, the initial “victim” of the male stripper got dragged off stage by her boyfriend, at which point two replacements were found. The dance certainly took on an X-rated quality at times, but the crowd was clapping and yelling for more all the same. As for the female stripper, it seemed that the male portion of the audience was more willing to let only one of their own have his fun. And fun he did have! It debatable whether one strip-tease performer “outstripped” the other, but all the participants involved had more fun than any of them could have anticipated. As for the audience, the numbers did not seem to diminish even hours after the official show of the night was over. Although the presence of the large stage became bothersome because it limited the space considerably, people were happy to either remain on the dancefloor or talk and drink in groups within and around the SAC. It wasn't until late into the night that the party was vacated. While some students might have found the party too raunchy or outside of their comfort zone, it cannot be denied that from many viewpoints it was a complete success for the bar and for the many students who chose to go on Saturday. As the end of the semester is approaching, it would be near impossible to have another party that could top Red Light this year. The only question is whether this is the best that this party can be and what new delights next semester holds. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/reflections/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/reflections/ This article didn’t get finished until approximately two hours before we got on a train to catch our flight to Russia. In other words, we meant to begin writing this about two weeks ago, but put it off until 2:19 am before a 5:57 am train. Our procrastination was not due to laziness, however. Jacobs is a place where we have been able to form unique bonds with people from all over the world, and —realizing that we only have a few weeks left—we have been trying to spend as much time as possible with these friends before we depart for good. Though the thought of leaving is one of remorse, we are confident that our friendships will last long after our Jacobs days are over. The semester has been one of alcohol (obviously), German everything, freedom, new dancing styles, and exhausting amounts of traveling. This was both expected and enjoyed. What was not expected, however, was the type of place Jacobs is and the type of people we have encountered and learned to love. At first we felt isolated; not because people didn’t talk to us, but because we were not yet part of the fabric of the community. Every person here is so integrated into the Jacobs community that merely being present and sociable is not enough. Only after we attended the CID’s, participated in weekend events and joined student groups was it possible for us to begin to realize the potential for growth here. This is a place where people come to learn in an academic sense, but we have become learners in places other than the classroom here. We have learned how to be ourselves. Here no one knows much about where you’re from, who your family is or the values you hold. You come here with nothing but who you are. The experience of offering who we are to people who are eager to learn and rejoice in differences has had a profound didactic effect on us. A friend told us that he “is not a product; [he is] not trying to sell himself to anyone.” Here, emphasis is placed on personal identity. Because of this, we have been able to become more familiar with who we truly are even though we are in a completely unfamiliar place. For this unexpected and invaluable opportunity to find ourselves on a level that is completely unbiased we would like to thank all of you. We have had a great semester and really do not want to leave. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/dont-poop-where-you-eat/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/dont-poop-where-you-eat/ Dear Readers, I wrote this article out of tidbits I picked up in conversations around campus. It is highly exaggerated and does not necessarily portray my personal opinion but I thought it was worth writing to give a strong opinion on the topic. Please keep this in mind when reading. -Anne Leiser “I hate that everything at this university is about the money,” she said to me. “What do you mean?” I asked her, my thoughts already wandering to the Monsanto debate. “Everyone here expects us to be involved; to take matters into our own hands; to be the 'leaders of tomorrow' but when we want to lead something we are told that we can't. Because of ‘the image’, which is just a synonym for money. We are being fobbed off with formalities so that the mock-democracy can live on. Democracy, meaning the participation of the student body and of professors, only exists under the patronage of Pimp T.” “Pimp T?” I responded. “This university is a whore who just tries to earn a living and T is her pimp who tells her what make-up to wear and how to pose so that she appears attractive. Only like this can he find suitable suitors to invest. One example of this is living on campus and the discussion about being allowed to live off campus. ‘All students living together in an international environment’ is one of T's arguments for sponsors to invest and he would never let this argument be undermined. Of course it is one of the positive characteristics of this university to live together, but many students come here to learn German, to live in Germany, and to become independent. Many have never lived on their own but instead of allowing these people to lead the life they choose they are forced to eat Aramark thrice a day. We aren't even allowed to get off the meal plan without a long fight, though I'm sure cooking together has the potential to greatly enhance intercultural learning and communication. Living on campus has many advantages and it's a wonderful idea to help people become integrated. But firstly Sean Ames is right about what he said on his radio show of April 19th: “it is a far cry from the internationality it could be [...] if a group of Romanians or Germans moved off campus, I don't think I'd notice much. Maybe an empty table in the servery.” Secondly, we should be treated like adults, given responsibilities and freedoms and be allowed to choose our place of living; if only for the third year, as is often done at most American universities. That way we would still benefit from living together, but be able to live off-campus at some point in our stay here.“ “But you can't just see it all black and white! T is just trying to help the university not go bankrupt so it won't be sold to the state of Bremen for 1 Euro. It is a company; it needs to make enough money to afford its morals. You can't have ideals without having money first. And our university being a private university brings that about.” “I see that, but we are mature and responsible. We can contribute to the forming of this place. Our opinions and thoughts aren't being sufficiently taken into consideration. Our point of view is a different one and needs to be respected just as much as everyone else's. I don't think T is aware how hard it is to live where you work; to poop where you eat. Maybe he should live in his office for a week. We could escort him to the serveries three times a day where rumors about the last party will be going around. We could knock on his door in the middle of the night, demanding him to return the ice cream we are sure he has eaten; we could have loud sex in the next room and for cleaning he will only be provided with an asthmatic R2D2-replica vacuum cleaner that, on top of everything, smells like cabbage. It almost seems as if Pimp T is afraid of us all emigrating off campus. It may be a rational fear, but he seems to be handling it like Honecker, last president of East Germany, desperately trying to stop those who want to flee to the West. Speaking of the Wall, in another recent article in the Pulse of the World we read that the Jacobs vicinity is disappointed about the lack of integration with its neighbors. We should invite our neighbors in; we should open our gates to them and show them that we are not the stuck-up snobs our coffee university is known for. How about having an open campus day once a month? People could be invited to come and have a picnic on the beautiful grounds we have, to talk to students and ride their bikes. We would see people outside our age group walking around. Of course I know that there are issues, like security and insurance. But just once I wish the university leadership would clap their hands and say 'YES, let's make it happen!' “ “Interesting,” I responded. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/a-wave-of-violence/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/a-wave-of-violence/ In April 2010, a wave of violence and riots swept across the country of Kyrgystan. The stimulus of the protests was growing outrage against the government of President Bakiyev, resulting in a series of riots in the capital city of Bishkek, and the President subsequently fleeing the country. Pulse of the World interviewed Kyrgyz student Meerim Topchubaeva to find out more about the political upheaval in Kyrgyzstan. Q: What is your opinion on the current political crisis in Kyrgyzstan? Do you think it was appropriate that Bakiyev was ousted from power, and will the new interim government headed by Otunbayeva be any better? Meerim: First of all, I want to say that the popular uprising that overthrew Mr. Bakiyev was sudden and totally unexpected compared to the Tulip Revolution, which we had in March 2005. If we look at the numbers in terms of the actual facts of what was happening during the Bakiyev regime, then the picture is not that dramatic at all. On the contrary, the GDP of the Kyrgyz Republic has been doubling since 2005. Moreover, Kyrgyzstan had the second highest growth rate of GDP among CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan) countries in 2009. However, what was really wrong in Mr. Bakiyev`s style of ruling was the high incidence of nepotism and tribalism. As an opposition leader during the Tulip Revolution in March 2005, Bakiyev won an impressive mandate in a new presidential election, promising to accelerate democratic reforms and tackle poverty. He also promised to and crack down on corruption, which pervaded the state under Mr. Akayev (the former president), by making the government more transparent. However, these were only empty promises. From the moment he assumed power he squandered popular trust and sowed doubts about his integrity as he brought his own friends and relatives into the government to replace Akayev`s old one. Mr. Bakiyev appointed his three brothers, Marat, Adyl, and Jusupbek, the Ambassador to Germany, trade representative in China, and deputy director of the Agency for Community Development and Investment respectively. Recently, he appointed his son, Maksim, to the head of the Central Agency for Development, Investment and Innovation. So basically, in spite of the growth in the GDP, yesterday‘s “Family Business” style of government under Akayev was replicated by today‘s Bakiyev clan. And that`s why Mr. Bakiyev faced the same shameful end as Akayev. I cannot say whether it was right or wrong since I am not sure about our interim government. And as Pierre Boulez once said, “Revolutions are celebrated when they are no longer dangerous”. Unfortunately, I doubt that the new interim government headed by Otunbayeva is better, simply because they helped create some of the violence involved in the recent April clash. They should have taken a more stuctured and better organized solution to “kick out”“ Mr. Bakiyev, without any bloodshed. Q: What do you think about the interim government's goal to “democratize” Kyrgyzstan, turning it into a parliamentary republic with a new constitution and a presidential figurehead? Is it a positive change for Kyrgyzstan? Will it work? Meerim: I would say that Kyrgyzstan has not reached the level necessary to install a parliamentary system, for many reasons. But of course, as a native of Kyrgyzstan, I do hope and believe that everything our new goverment is doing is only for the best, with positive and beneficial outcomes in the end. So, I hope it will work. Overall development of the country is now dependant on the future actions of the new government. The future development will depend on their ability to foresee possible trends and use every opportunity to preventKyrgyzstan from falling into the trap of continuous unrest. Q: Do you have family, friends, or acquaintances living in Bishkek? Did they see or experience anything from the riots, or what was their experience of the riots? Meerim:Fortunately, I am not from Bishkek, so my family did not experience anything during the riots. However, I do have some friends living and studying in Bishkek, who were in the main square during the fighting on April 7th, as well as in the crowds and on the periphery. They said that there was a lot of gun fire and people would duck and run in swarms, unsure of what was fully going on. Some dead people were lying n the Square after very heavy gun fire. There was more than 80 people dead and thousands more injured... 70 % of the city, Bishkek, was damaged... As a Kyrgyz, I mourn my nation`s loss, and my heart is bleeding when I think about it... But thanks God, all my friends and close people are fine at least. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/poland-the-aftermath/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/poland-the-aftermath/ As students and staff of Jacobs University, maintaining a sense of national identity remains a daily endeavor in an international environment such as the one in which we live and study. Beyond the campus, however, a more global examination of national identity in Poland thrives. Following a week of debriefing from the Easter holidays, Poland experienced an unprecedented tragedy involving the political elite of the country. On April 10, 2010, President Lech Kaczynski, First Lady Maria Kaczynska, and 86 other political, military, and religious members of the Polish government set off for Smolensk, Russia in order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. Prior to landing, a dense bout of fog surrounded Polish Airforce Tu-154, leaving the pilot unsure of where to land. The pilot attempted to land the aircraft four times, but failed. In the end, the aircraft plummeted into the forest and crashed just minutes away from Smolensk, the final destination of those on board. As one might expect, there were no survivors, and immediate mourning from the Poles ensued. Donald Tusk, Prime Minister of Poland, exclaimed that the tragedy constituted the worst national tragedy for Poland since World War II. In spite of the two minute silence and frozen expressions on the faces of Polish people, Tusk asserted that “the Polish state must function and will function.” Although only a temporary position, Bronislaw Komorowski, a speaker from the lower house of the Sejm (Parliament), currently serves as the acting president. A popular election, though earlier than suspected, will occur on June 20, 2010. Agata Kraj, a student of Global Visual Communication, lives in Sopot, a small city which with Gdynia and Gdansk forms part of the Trojmiasto (Tricity). Coincidentally, Sopot remains the birthplace of Lech Walesa and the Kaczynski brothers, one of whom was Lech Kaczynski, the president involved in the plane crash. Kraj stated that “where I come from already carries a lot of meaning and historical significance.” Though not the most avid news searcher, Kraj found herself checking “major sources a couple of times a day” around the time of the disaster. She asserts that the majority of the political elite perished in the crash and she highlights that Poland's “intellectual capacity” had gone with them. She hopes that the incumbent leaders are competent enough to make a “transition as smooth as possible.” For now, all that Poland can do is hope for a competent leader to win the election and restore Poland´s political structure to its full potential. Bronislaw Komorowski, the current acting president, “has a great chance of getting elected” Kraj added once again. The situation in Poland had been unprecedented in the country's history, as well as for most of the world. In the aftermath of the tragedy, however, Poland has experienced something that most other nations have not recently portrayed in the media: the growth of national unity and kinship. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/sports-proposal-and-constitutional-changes/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/sports-proposal-and-constitutional-changes/ Two large proposals stand before the USG Amid a plethora of major issues facing the Parliament in the past and coming weeks are two potentially very long term changes: those concerning sports facilities and team support and those concerning the Constitution. The sports proposal seeks to bring up the standard of team sports and all common facilities, allocating more resources to teams – enough for coaches, official equipment for all team members, and whatever else is required to make the team fit for official games against other teams. It is already a fact that the sports halls will be renovated, which will be financed by the university. Yet to pay for equipment, uniforms, pitch maintenance, and so forth the proposal includes the possibility of raising student fees by 100-200 Euros. This is not a mandate, and the student body will be asked to vote on what they would be willing to pay to contribute to the reform, which would be conditionally attached to a rapid sports hall refinement and commitment to the expansion. Facilities created or improved by the sports proposal would still be available to unofficial teams or just casual students. In fact, the cost of the gym would be incorporated in the increased fee. However, professionalization of sports raises concerns regarding ability to participate for all students and access to facilities for the casual athlete. Meanwhile, the Constitution is getting an overhaul. Any extra time in parliament meetings now goes toward discussing possibilities for reform. The issues at hand range from voting requirements within parliament to election requirements, the role of the VP, the election of the President and parliamentarians, and grammatical changes. For example, a quorum is currently required for parliament to make decisions, and there is a proposal that there should be a quorum of non-abstaining voters in order to make a decision – the USG is in favor of requiring that 2/3 of those present actively vote to reach this. So far this is the only point that was discussed, as many serious issues were raised, including the possibility of giving the president voting power in stalled debates. Environmental Concerns a Matter of Trust Plastic recycling on campus is not difficult, but a nuisance, as the two large plastic bins are located across from Research I and II, with a third, smaller “yellow bag” bin in front of the kindergarten. The administration is hesitant about installing more because if students do not recycle correctly (only the appropriate material in the bag) they will incur a fee they do not want to pay. However, a trial “yellow bag” recycling program for each college will be undertaken. Glass bins will be available for each college as well. In the Orientation week for new students this fall, the issues of German recycling capability and law will be presented among other environmental issues, e.g. heating or use of washing powder. Currently the overuse of washing powder damages the machines and costs the university more money than it's worth. The college offices have suggested selling washing powder in appropriately sized amounts for 20 cents, which the USG does not support amid concerns that the cost of washing clothes should not increase and that since many students buy their own washing powder (and that this may turn others to do the same) no positive effect would be noticed. Finances Lost Recurring events asking for more money than before and more events happening than predicted have created a budget problem for the USG. Many recent funding applications have been cut down for the very reason that if every application that is currently pending and was pending within the past two weeks were to be approved, the USG would be over 200 Euros in debt. The debate arose on the issue of foresight and whether or not “first come first serve” is appropriate for events that take place later in the year. Nevertheless, at the moment requests are tricky. Around 2000 Euros were available before agreeing to give Spotlight 460 Euros, then 260 to CAIA for a stage. Add in End of Year Festival, CIDs, and other pending applications, and the unallocated budget drops off. Et Cetera The Library Proposal is one to expand the “campus center” (the building which houses the library). Ideas for this are to revamp the slow and old language lab and to integrate more events (e.g. cheerups) which would be organized by staff and student assistants. IRC facilities would also be advertised more. Aramark's catering contract expires in the following year, and Sebastian Blümmert heads the facilities (and therefore the food) committee. Finally, ASTA Uni Bremen and the USG met on March 23, and they are interested in more collaboration. Also, students should note that the German classes offered there are open to Jacobs students. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/africa-much-more-to-discover/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/africa-much-more-to-discover/ It has happened to me more than once, that people have told me “Yes, my continent is called Africa, but I am Kenyan.” Admittedly, sometimes I think of Africa as one country, without realizing that it is actually composed of 54 independent nations sharing similar cultural traits, yet vastly different traditions. Jacobs University flatters itself for its international environment and in fact 7.0% of the student body comes from Africa, reason enough for organizing a day dedicated to exploring the African continent and its diversity. A sunny Bremen afternoon was the setting for the African Heritage Day at Jacobs University. On Saturday, 17 April, Africa was celebrated with traditional dance, cuisine and fashion. The East Wing of the IRC hosted more than 120 members of the Jacobs community, leaving with a true taste of Africa. With the wide variety of performances, African Heritage Day truly reflected the richness of the planet’s largest continent. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/make-people-happy-cts-eventim/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/make-people-happy-cts-eventim/ CTS Eventim is the leader in ticketing and life entertainment in the European market. Having its headquarters in Bremen, CTS Eventim consists of 500 employees in Germany alone. Recently, Dr. Stefan Mette, HR Director of CTS Eventim, met second- and third-year students and talked about his work, personal goals and occupation opportunities. Summer is approaching and many students are still looking for internship opportunities or employment in German companies after graduation. What if I tell you that one of these companies' Mission Statement is “to make people happy, enjoy themselves and meet others”? Dr. Mette explained that this is exactly what CTS Eventim is aiming for; he emphasised that the company's unique business strategy does not only concentrate on ticketing but also on the direct contact with national and international artists. Dr. Stefan Mette studied Political Administration Sciences. For three years, he was trained to be a coach in Organisational Development. First employed at T-Mobile, Dr. Mette had to cope mainly with the political aspects of management. However, being a dynamic team player himself, Dr Mette is always looking for interactive, time-driven and high-quality decision making opportunities. He is more interested in the pursuit of actions and outcomes in companies. Therefore, in 2007, he joined CTS Eventim, where the philosophy focuses on delivering high-quality results. From recruiting the right person for the company, through working with them, to people management, Dr Mette reveals that intuition plays a major role in the process; not intellectual work. It is not only fact-based competences, but also a mixture of personal skills and character decide the applicant’s destiny at CTS Eventim. Out of the 500 well-chosen employees, only 120 people work in the IT Department. This competition indicates that besides being well-trained and intelligent, employees also have to be result-driven and fun. “Fun” is an element that Dr. Mette emphasises on a lot: deliver good results in an intense environment, but express happiness to the customers, as well as to co-workers. Experience is preferred but not necessary, Dr Mette explained. The HR Team that he is leading consists of many young employees, who are gaining experience on the job. It is important for applicants to show completeness, well-developed personality and good work. Think about your objectives – skills, desires and wants. Job diploma or other qualifications will be helpful. So what are your opportunities at CTS Eventim? Whereas the company’s New Media Department is located in Hamburg, IT specialists are working in Bremen. Employees are working in an extremely busy but also very corporative environment. An internship at CTS Eventim is an easy way for students to earn some money, experience and the possibility of being a long-term employee. For all those who are still hesitant with their German language knowledge: In the IT department you are only expected to be fluent in English. Without any significant competitions in Europe, CTS Eventim represents a strong employer. Combined with the positive image of the company and the different interesting occupation fields in logistics, IT-services and many more, it seems to be a perfect career option. But be aware: since he has accepted the position at CTS Eventim, Dr. Mette did not buy a single concert ticket; the job is fairly demanding and will keep you busy. But aren’t these appropriate sacrifices to make many people happy? With Contribution by Wiebke Drews http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/democratic-innovation-at-jacobs/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/democratic-innovation-at-jacobs/ Have you ever been upset with decisions taken by your student parliament? Or have you felt that choices in referendums on campus are influenced by gut feeling rather than knowledge? Very soon, the campus will undergo a democratic experiment with the potential to solve these issues. On May 9, or Deliberation Day, 35 undergraduates will engage in a Deliberative Referendum. Some of you may already have been contacted to participate in this event and/or to complete the survey. Developed by professor James Fishkin at Stanford University, Deliberative Polls® aim at empowering ordinary citizens to make informed policy decisions. A random sample of the respective population is invited to participate in a weekend seminar. The participants have time to deliberate on the topic in small groups with trained moderators and can question selected experts.and. Previous polls around the globe have shown that participants gain knowledge and that there are clear shifts of opinion. The USC Deliberative Referendums has been studying Fishkin's method and other democratic innovations throughout the semester. The students are now organising the first ever Deliberative Referendum in Germany on the issue of whether a mandatory community service programme should be established on campus. For more than a month the students have been contacting experts, developing informational packages, undergoing professional moderation training, and organising the logistics of the event. Everything but the scale will be as close to the original as possible. This is not just an academic experiment. Should participants indicate support for some form of community service by Jacobs University students, a proposal will be subjected to a campus-wide referendum. University leadership has already agreed to discuss the results in the Academic Council, the forum where important decisions on campus life are taken. To get meaningful results, we need a high response rate. So if you have been invited to participate in D-Day and/or to complete the survey, please respond and help us make Deliberation Day a success! http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/challenging-questions-at-the-undergraduate-student-assembly/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/challenging-questions-at-the-undergraduate-student-assembly/ The sun was shining resplendently. The mild spring air and slight breeze were beckoning everyone to venture outside of their rooms. But instead of the campus green or Knoops Park, their final destination would be the West Wing of the Information Resource Center, where students and faculty assembled for the Spring Semester Undergraduate Student Assembly 2010. Even when the weather may seem to forbid staying indoors, there was serious university business to address at the assembly. Following an introduction by Undergraduate Student Government President Taylor Hartrick, students challenged the administration with questions spanning three categories: structure and leadership, academic issues, and non-academic issues. President Treusch addressed several potential structural changes, including the renovation of the sports halls. One advancement that really captivated the student body, however, was the discussion regarding the development of a science park. When questioned about why the science park was to be constructed near Jacobs University, Treusch replied that the company seemed attracted by the vast international student body for bosses to use when recruiting. When academic issues were brought up, Treusch enthusiastically revealed that the new major at Jacobs in Global Economic Management was destined to be popular based on applicants from the first two application rounds. Switching from a current major to those implemented in the coming year would be difficult since they are “rather condensed,” but there would be more course variety for students in the area of economics. Treusch additionally emphasized the necessity of University Studies Courses as a distinguishing feature of the university. Transdisciplinarity is a selling point for the university, and President Treusch also announced the intention to have one dean for both schools, reducing the separation between the SES and the SHSS. While most present agreed about maintaining transdisciplinarity at the university, another issue regarding the diversity of the faculty was brought up and certainly received attention. Max Lohmann asserted that more diversity in faculty would enhance the internationality of the school as opposed to limiting the international diversity to students. In response, Treusch emphasized the need for quality in professors, stating that “taking in a random professor to increase diversity would be nonsense.” Dr. Hendrik Birus, dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, also noted that some professors, such as those from the United States, are too specialized in their fields to be considered for Jacobs´ transdisciplinary majors. Following responses to academic issues, a plethora of non-academic issues surged from students. There was a heated discussion regarding the acceptance of excuses for the exam period from Dr. Holiday, with Treusch noting that 270 excuses were submitted with his signature. Jasmin Schädler then proposed a deduction of a week of summer break for a brief period of reading days since many students do not have sufficient time to study between the end of classes and start of exams. Vice President Ziegler-Jöns replied that it is too difficult to build reading days into the calendar, but extending the academic year was an idea to consider. Aenne Schoop subsequently brought up problems with security on campus in regards to unwelcome visitors. She suggested that tag inspections on vehicles should occur to prove that there is an association with living on campus. Marie Vivas, director of undergraduate admissions, expressed the need for balance between an “open institution and secure campus” since many visitors to Jacobs are present for campus events. Some end up as future students based on their visit. Vivas additionally brought up the Community Standard and attributed the name change from Honor Code to Community Standard to the opinions of students in order to reduce a name that sounded too rule oriented. Financial issues such as the proposed sports fee have not been approved by all students, but other fees caught positive attention from the students. Larissa Kühler, director of campus activities and intercultural affairs proposed that paying €3 extra for the semester ticket would enable students to have free admission to theatres in Bremen. With the mention of this reasonable financial adjustment, many students left the assembly with looks on their faces that it was worth assembling to receive answers to their concerns. Taylor Hartrick concluded that, in essence, there were some “good questions raised and a good turnout.” He also suggested that if any questions remain, he would be available to answer them before the next assembly this fall. Special thanks to Jotautas Baronas for contributing notes and ideas to this article. http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/new-racing-boat/ , NaN +0200 http://pulseoftheworld.com/articles/new-racing-boat/ The Jacobs University Rowing Team christens the new racing boat for the Eight Race at the Hanse Rowing Cup on May 12th It’s an integral part of the Rowing tradition that new boats are not simply used after their purchase, but that they are introduced to their new home in an official ceremony, which entails naming and presenting the boat and its crew. As a result of the great support from the Rowing Team’s main sponsor Lürssen, the coaches were able to acquire a second racing boat after the first acquisition of a racing four earlier this season. The Empacher Racing Eight is exactly what the Rowing Team had been looking for and therefore feels yet more confident about repeating last year’s success in the Hanse Rowing Cup – this time in a lighter and faster boat. Honoring the support of our main sponsor Lürssen Vice-President Dr. Ziegler-Jöns christened the elegant and dynamic boat yesterday, on a cold and rainy Sunday morning, which will carry Mr. Lürssen’s daughter’s name – FRIEDA. The event at the Vegesacker Ruderverein was followed by the presentation of another two boats for the Vegesacker Masters Rowers and the traditional Anrudern, historically marking the beginning of the Rowing Season. Quite in contrast to the tradition, the Jacobs University Rowing Team finds itself in the middle of the intensive final phase to prepare all forces for the upcoming race in Hamburg on May 12th. And one verdict can already be made concerning the race – it will certainly not be decided by the quality of the boat, but rather the technique and strength of its rowers.