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Fairfield

Fairfield to present ‘I Love a Piano’

A recent Fairfield press release announced the upcoming ‘I Love a Piano’ event at the Quick Center for the Arts on Sept. 28. It is a ‘musical journey’ that highlights 64 of the American composer Irving Berlin’s music works, which span from the Great Depression to the 1950s.

Some of Berlin’s noteworthy pieces are ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business,’ ‘God Bless America,’ and ‘White Christmas.’ This theater tribute to Berlin was started by Ray Roderick and Michael Berkley, two theater veterans, and it is currently in its second touring season.

National

College Panel seeks de-emphasis of the SAT

A recent article by the New York Times highlighted a group of college panelists led by Harvard Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Williams R. Fitzsimmons which calls for college admissions to ease off the importance of Sat and ACT scores. The group, which was put together by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, argues that high schools are putting too much emphasis on the standardized tests and not enough focus on the classes appropriate for the high school level.

According to the article, the report will be publicly announced this week in Seattle, where it will urge college admissions to make the tests optional rather than mandatory and heavily emphasized in the admissions process.

The article also cites Fitzsimmons as arguing that these tests do not accurately measure a student’s true intelligence or merit and the report acknowledges that a student with little financial means for SAT-prep tutoring may then be penalized in some cases.

National

Government proposes a $700 billion bailout plan

The Bush administration issued a proposal for a bailout plan this weekend as the nation is in the middle of a major financial crisis and members of the government have objected with counter-proposals, according to a CNN report.

As projected by the Treasury, the plan calls for the government to issue $700 billion as a financial rescue, in which Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson would buy troubled assets from financial institutions.

Members of the Senate agree with the idea of the plan, though the report mentions that they want to add provisions in order to protect the taxpayers rather than providing Paulson with a ‘blank check.’ Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd has outlined a counter-proposal in which the government would receive shares in the companies who sell assets to the government, among other changes. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank has also drawn up a slightly different plan, according to CNN.

Hearings are expected to take place this week to determine which proposal will be passed.

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