Talk:Robert College

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Contents

[edit] Comments

[edit] "oldest American college in the world outside the United States"

What about the American College of Sofia founded in 1860 that also claims the title? → Тодор Божинов / Todor Bozhinov → 20:59, 6 May 2006 (UTC)

Oh, that is a problem. So they were both founded in the Ottoman Empire with three years interval. Maybe Robert College claims the name as ACS had to change its name and constitutional position explained in its page.--Quinlan Vos 06:49, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Yes, it's probably so, I don't see any other explanation. I think we should include a note in both articles that this "title" is also used by another institution. → Тодор Божинов / Todor Bozhinov → 07:11, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Okay, thank you for your notice of this detail. Everything is settled then?
Yes, I believe. I don't think there's any way to make those two colleges settle the issue, so it's basically all we can do. → Тодор Божинов / Todor Bozhinov → 09:40, 7 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] copy/paste

most of this page's content (history, purpose, academics) is taken from the school's website which is why its neuturality is questioned. are we really allowed to c/p that cotent?--Quinlan Vos 10:19, 13 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright violation

I have deleted the History section as a copy vio, being an exact copy of [1]. -- Donald Albury 15:50, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

And Purpose section as copy vio of [2] -- Donald Albury 15:52, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Alma Mater

Alma Maters and other school songs are just as much subject to copyright as any other creative work. Unless you can show that the Alma Mater was entered the public domain, or has been released under a license compatible with the GDFL, do not add it back into the article. -- Donald Albury 23:23, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

  • Alma Mater does not have a short history. This song has been sung for 143 years and was created at time under the jurisdiction of American and Ottoman authorities, which makes it public domain under U.S. Copyright Law. For details: Look into the archives of Robert College (1863) and American College for Girls (converted into the high school section and renamed as Robert College in 1971) in New York or contact the school.
Per Wikipedia policy, it is your responsibility to prove that the song is in the public domain. In any case, this encyclopedia is not the place to publish the school's alma mater. -- Donald Albury 00:53, 8 February 2007 (UTC)
It is my very knowledge that this school existed with its alma-mater since 1863, but I can't find any reference to prove this. However, if this was the case and the right reasoning, we cannot be sure that the school was founded on Sep 16, 1863 because there is no reference to that in the article too. The same goes for its location, Istanbul, Turkey, which I spent my adolescence years; there is no reference to its location. Some facts are facts, because they are accepted by people who have knowledge on the issue. I have talked to many alumni (as I am one) who have knowledge in the history of Robert College, just like Sep 16, 1863 is a common ground, the origin and the time the alma mater was written is certainly the establishment of the school itself according to all of us. The acceptance of this fact by RC alumni, who read this article should be enough proof for the copyright status of the alma-mater. Therefore, if this doesn't contradict the Wikipedia standards and rules, I think alma-mater should stay in this article.
Coming to your idea that this is "not the place for publishing the school's alma-mater" you may check out these articles that just come up with the first page of results for alma mater in wikipedia search: PSU_Alma_Mater, UNH_Alma_Mater, East_Carolina_University_alma_mater
If people write new articles on a school's alma mater, then I may assure you that its existence in the school's article itself is not unnecessary and not against wikipedia policy. My opinion is that it should be there, as it is. Maestro 19:49, 8 February 2007 (UTC)
Most important is Wikipedia's policy on verifiability, which states, "The threshold for inclusion in Wikipedia is verifiability, not truth." The same policy holds that the editor wising to add or keep something must provide citations of reliable sources for it. I have witnessed things I think should be in Wikipedia, but because I have not yet found published reliable sources for them, I can't add them. Another consideration is that Wikipedia is not an indiscriminate collection of information. Alma maters are rarely of any interest to anyone who is not a student or alumni of the school in question. And, of course, if the alma mater is still under copyright, it cannot be quoted in full, or even more than a small portion of it. -- Donald Albury 16:16, 10 February 2007 (UTC)
Alma mater removed.Maestro 19:48, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA Hold: Fixes needed

I have reviewed the article and come across the following problems.

  • Although the word Boğaziçi University is generally preferred in the article, it is mentioned as Bosphorus University in the intro. I am not sure which one is to be preferred.
  • Secondly, a parenthesed clause attracted my attention, namely former American College for Girls campus. Perhaps it could be changed to former campus of American College for Girls or formerly the campus of American College for Girls etc to clarify the meaning.
  • These are the problems that I came across so far, but the article is a well written one in general and deserves to be rated as a good article.

Chapultepec 12:07, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

The problems have been fixed. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the article. Chapultepec 12:24, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Reccomendations

  • All images viewed here with a free license should be renamed to something more descriptive - then moved to commons.
  • Having a fixed sized on images defeats the point of using thumbnails. It is best not to specify a specific size.

Aside form that article looks good at a first glance. -- Cat chi? 16:54, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] dormitory, cost

Thanks for inviting me to peer review this article. It's extremely well written and comprehensive. the only ommission I noticed was the issue of cost of tuition (free for whom? costs how much for others? annual increase/adjustmen, if available) and to emphasize the issue of dorms. While girls and boy's dorms are mentioned when describing the buildings, I think that being an educational institution, the issue of dorms is very important, and hence, probably deservs its own subheading, with some brief info -- how many live there, cost, etc. Otherwise the article is very good. --adil 20:02, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] marble hall

We have a picture but it is not listed among the buildings. Does it have another name? denizTC 22:37, 24 March 2007 (UTC)

I see the problem. Marble Hall is another name for Gould Hall. The first floor of the building is decorated with a distinct (from Egypt, I guess) marble and therefore it is sometimes referred to as Marble Hall. Should it be mentioned?--Maestro 09:02, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
As far as I know, Gould Hall has five floors (plus an attic): 1-canteen, 2-marble hall, 3-library, 4-museum and foreign language classes, 5-turkish and social sciences classes. So Marble Hall is Gould Hall's second floor only.--Quinlan Vos 09:22, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] GA on hold

I have done a peer review of the article, as well as a GA review, below.

wrt to GA criteria

  • 1a - take out a few errors (alumnus->alumna) in the Notable Faculty section and awkwardness in lead para of Extracurricular activities section.
  • 4 - NPOV. Take out POV statements such as most prestigious, most selective and very demanding curriculum, detailed in the peer review. Also re-write and remove the POV quote in the Notable Alumni section.
  • 6c - Image:RobertCollege.jpg (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs) and Image:RobertCollegeGouldHall.jpg (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs) do not have a fair-use rationale and are copyrighted.

When these issues are addressed, I would rate it GA. I think the subject has FA potential. Good luck! --Free smyrnan 06:33, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Passed GA. Congrats! --Free smyrnan 14:02, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Congrats! --Teemeah Gül Bahçesi 14:53, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Congrats :)) --Kalkim 18:37, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Outragous revert

I was ask to help with this article and everything I done has been reverted. This is simply annoying. -- Cat chi? 17:01, 27 March 2007 (UTC)

Why was it reverted? Baristarim 17:09, 27 March 2007 (UTC)
If it will make you feel better, I like your version better kitty. By the way, doesn't anyone else think "Robert College" word is repeatedly used too many times in the article. Redundant? Hurts the article? A little rewriting?--Doktor Gonzo 14:06, 4 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Improvement

Well done all... The article is well-written, and definitely deserves the GA. Nevertheless, I have a recommendation to make: The "History" section of the article should be expanded, since the school has a long history. The source is on the web site of the college [3]. Of course, copyright issues have to be considered. I will try to do this on my own, if I have enough time. Participation will be extremely:) appreciated. Thanks. --Kalkim 18:50, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

Another good source.. --Kalkim 15:20, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Colors

The colors are specified as "Blue, Red, White" whereas I believe that they should be "Navy, Maroon". Any sources that support the former? --386-DX 15:09, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

Unfortunately, there isn't a source to verify the specified colors, other than contacting the school. However, the former uniform (now RC doesn't have a specified uniform, but just some rules) can clearly be a proof for the colors. Blue/navy pants and jacket, white shirt, blue/navy tie with red linings. If you just look at the promotional media below, you will see that the predominant colors are red, blue/navy and white, taken from the flag of the United States: this and this. Navy is ok, but after all those years, I haven't seen anything maroon on campus. If you insist, I think we should drop out the colors from the list or put both with "Either Or". What do you think? --Scientia Potentia 15:46, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Copy Violations

Two copy-paste sections (created by anonymous) have been deleted in accordance with Wikipedia policy. Copy-Vio -> Current --Scientia Potentia 08:19, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Some articles about Robert College from Time

These articles from Time magazine may be helpful in improving the article:

--Scientia Potentia 15:26, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bosphorus Beetle

I couldn't find any other information about it. Is it really endemic? what is its scientific name? Where can I find more information about it?

[edit] GA comment

For the article to maintain its GA status, the copyrighted images need detailed fair use rationales and the reference tags needed to be addressed. Look to other passed GA/FAs for examples. Let me know on my talk page if you have any questions. --Nehrams2020 06:56, 3 June 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Accredation

The web site of New York State Association of Independant Schools http://www.nysais.org/page.cfm?p=18 ; "Evaluation And Accreditation Under the authority of a Regents charter NYSAIS evaluates and accredits elementary and secondary schools in the State. " Turkey isn't a region of New York. However, this is a proof that the school is funded by the new York State. So the definition of the school should be changed. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.54.44.49 (talk) 08:37, August 22, 2007 (UTC)

Robert College is not funded by NY state and this is not the state's website. This organization, in its directory lists Turkey as one of the regions, and only Robert College is found in the results if Turkey's selected. Robert College's Board of Trustees' Office is in NY since 19th century and since then it has been regarded as an American school (then a college) under jurisdiction of NY state in terms of educational matters. Just because RC is a member of NYSAIS does not necessarily prove that Robert College is funded by NY state.--Scientia Potentia 21:13, 29 November 2007 (UTC)