Summer classes pay off for students

When Yieshima Gupta went back to school this week in marketing at York University, she signed up for only four courses – not five – to make it easier to handle her part-time job. But this won’t put her behind because she took three courses this summer from a batch of credits York offered for the first time, as it moves toward the year-round schooling proposed by Queen’s Park, reported the Toronto Star Sept. 7. York has boosted its roster of summer credits by 18 per cent in the past two years by asking every faculty to provide summer courses, including compulsory and popular ones. York launched a spring ad campaign – “Choose York” – and demand climbed, including a 50-per-cent surge over two years from international students who are far from home with little to do in summer. Read full story.

Man charged in York U sexual assault
Toronto police have charged a 19-year-old York University student with sexual assault after a woman was allegedly assaulted in her bedroom at a campus residence, reported 680 News (radio) and others Sept. 7. Police said a group of students were gathered for a birthday party at a student residence at the Keele Street campus. An 18-year-old woman went to her bedroom and a man followed her, closed the door, shut off the lights and allegedly sexually assaulted her. The alleged assault occurred at about 2:24am on Friday at the campus. Mohammad Hadian, 19, of Mississauga, was arrested and charged with sexual assault. Read full story.

Perfectionists tend to procrastinate: York U. psychologist
York psychology Professor Gordon Flett offered four tips to Macleans. ca Sept. 6, to help worried students beat procrastination and perfectionism. Research by Flett found that students are more likely to procrastinate when they feel others expect them to be perfect. Read full story

Turbo Street Funk, Explained
When trombonist Daniel Walsh started Turbo Street Funk with a group of friends from York University’s music program in the spring of 2011, he wasn’t trying to make money. He just wanted to keep his skills sharp during the summer, reported Torontoist.ca Sept. 7. Over the last two summers, Turbo Street Funk has become a fixture on Toronto’s sidewalks. It’s hard to miss a group of six young men—including a tuba player—in their early 20s, belting out largely instrumental funk versions of everything from “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to the theme from Ghostbusters. Read full story.

For more University news, photos and videos, visit the YFile homepage.