Web cookies (also called HTTP cookies, browser cookies, or simply cookies) are small pieces of data that websites store on your device (computer, phone, etc.) through your web browser. They are used to remember information about you and your interactions with the site.
Purpose of Cookies:
Session Management:
Keeping you logged in
Remembering items in a shopping cart
Saving language or theme preferences
Personalization:
Tailoring content or ads based on your previous activity
Tracking & Analytics:
Monitoring browsing behavior for analytics or marketing purposes
Types of Cookies:
Session Cookies:
Temporary; deleted when you close your browser
Used for things like keeping you logged in during a single session
Persistent Cookies:
Stored on your device until they expire or are manually deleted
Used for remembering login credentials, settings, etc.
First-Party Cookies:
Set by the website you're visiting directly
Third-Party Cookies:
Set by other domains (usually advertisers) embedded in the website
Commonly used for tracking across multiple sites
Authentication cookies are a special type of web cookie used to identify and verify a user after they log in to a website or web application.
What They Do:
Once you log in to a site, the server creates an authentication cookie and sends it to your browser. This cookie:
Proves to the website that you're logged in
Prevents you from having to log in again on every page you visit
Can persist across sessions if you select "Remember me"
What's Inside an Authentication Cookie?
Typically, it contains:
A unique session ID (not your actual password)
Optional metadata (e.g., expiration time, security flags)
Analytics cookies are cookies used to collect data about how visitors interact with a website. Their primary purpose is to help website owners understand and improve user experience by analyzing things like:
How users navigate the site
Which pages are most/least visited
How long users stay on each page
What device, browser, or location the user is from
What They Track:
Some examples of data analytics cookies may collect:
Page views and time spent on pages
Click paths (how users move from page to page)
Bounce rate (users who leave without interacting)
User demographics (location, language, device)
Referring websites (how users arrived at the site)
Here’s how you can disable cookies in common browsers:
1. Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data.
Choose your preferred option:
Block all cookies (not recommended, can break most websites).
Block third-party cookies (can block ads and tracking cookies).
2. Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
Under the Enhanced Tracking Protection section, choose Strict to block most cookies or Custom to manually choose which cookies to block.
3. Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top-left corner of the screen.
Go to Preferences > Privacy.
Check Block all cookies to stop all cookies, or select options to block third-party cookies.
4. Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner.
Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Cookies and site permissions.
Select your cookie settings from there, including blocking all cookies or blocking third-party cookies.
5. On Mobile (iOS/Android)
For Safari on iOS: Go to Settings > Safari > Privacy & Security > Block All Cookies.
For Chrome on Android: Open the app, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Cookies.
Be Aware:
Disabling cookies can make your online experience more difficult. Some websites may not load properly, or you may be logged out frequently. Also, certain features may not work as expected.
FOI #25-063 (02-14-25, 7:36 pm) - Subject - Communication Regarding USG Referendum
Name - Student Student
Affiliation -
I am looking for any communication from 1/25/2025 through 2/14/2025 regarding the referendum brought forward to the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) internal affairs committee on 2/3/2025 and to the USG Senate on 2/5/2025. I am looking for communication between members of the UConn administration or members of the President's cabinet (including, but not limited to Radenka Maric, Anne D'Alleva, Nathan Fuerst, and Hans Rhynhart) with USG senators or other officers, UConn Hillel, Huskies for Israel, Jewish on Campus, or UConn Chabad.
Michael Ayele (a.k.a) W
Michael A. Ayele (a.k.a) W ORCID.: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5780-6457
FOI #25-062 (02-14-25, 6:39 am) - Subject - Black History Month in Light of Unsatisfactory Resolution to Racial Terrorism in Missouri's Post-Secondary System of Education
Name - Michael Ayele (a.k.a) W
Affiliation - Michael A. Ayele (a.k.a) W ORCID.: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5780-6457
What I am requesting for prompt disclosure are records in your possession detailing your discussions about [1] Black History Month as an event that (i) began in 1915, “half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States;” (ii) was officially recognized by the federal government of the United States of America (U.S.A) in 1976 after President Gerald Ford called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor;” (iii) is “dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by Black Americans and other people of African descent;” [2] the manner in which your local/state government has commemorated Black History Month in the past; [3] the manner in which your local/state government plans to commemorate Black History Month in February 2025; [4] the challenges and barriers Black / African American people are likely to encounter when living in America and looking to make positive progress in their academic and professional careers; [5] racism as a significant challenge and barrier, which is faced by Black / African American people when living in America and looking to make positive progress in their academic and professional careers; [6] discrimination as a significant challenge and barrier, which is faced by Black / African American people when living in America and looking to make positive progress in their academic and professional careers; [7] Northwest Missouri State University as a post-secondary academic institution, which has in its correspondence with Michael A. Ayele (a.k.a) W (dated October 28th 2020) refused to deny that (i) Black / African American students attending colleges and universities in Missouri could be referred to as “N****rs” at any given time (purely out of spite and profound hatred); (ii) the former Chancellor of the University of Missouri (R. Bowen Loftin) had on October 05th 2015 stated that “racism was clearly alive at the University of Missouri” and that they “needed help changing their culture” because what they had done to counter systemic racism “was clearly not enough;” (iii) feces “smeared in the shape of a swastika” was found on the “floor and wall of a bathroom in Gateway Hall” on (or around) October 24th 2015 at the University of Missouri; [8] Michael A. Ayele (a.k.a) W as a Black Bachelor of Arts (B.A) Degree graduate of Westminster College (Fulton, Missouri) who (i) is thoroughly convinced that his correspondence with Northwest Missouri State University was commercially redistributed without authorization because the issue of racial terrorism in Missouri’s post-secondary system of education continues to be satisfactorily unresolved (particularly for the people who have experienced discrimination and racism when attending a Missouri college and/or university in the 2010s); (ii) strongly urges people not to make payments in order to access his correspondence with Northwest Missouri State University.
FOI #25-059 (02-7-25, 1:16 pm) - Subject - Course syllabi
Name - Rhyen Staley
Affiliation - Parents Defending Education
We request a digital copy(s) of course syllabi from all sections of the fall and/or spring semesters for the following course:
EPSY 5316: Counseling Diverse Populations
FOI #25-058 (02-6-25, 1:53 pm) - Subject - FOIA request
Name - Klaudine Bessasparis
Affiliation -
Existing UConn Health Center Campus, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut; Portion of Parcel ID: 082-2; Owner: State of Connecticut; Whitestone Project # EM2523007.000
Whitestone Associates Inc. (Whitestone) is conducting a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment at the above-referenced location. Whitestone requests copies of any available files addressing or pertinent to environmental investigations, underground storage tanks (USTs), corrective actions, contaminant releases, incidents, fires, hazardous materials storage, citations, notices of violation, or other areas of concern at the above referenced property.
This is a request to the University of Connecticut under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), CGS § 1-200, et seq.
I am requesting that you please provide the following records from the university:
A copy of the feasibility study by consultant Populous that examined the options for a renovation of Gampel Pavilion on the university's Storrs campus.
A copy of the master plan, which may include Gampel Pavilion, for the sports venues at the university.
In addition, this request encompasses any and all supplemental documents that relate to either Gampel or the overall master plan.
In the event that you deny all or any portion of this request, please respond in writing and cite the specific provision of FOIA or any other statute that you contend supports the denial.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, I would appreciate your contacting me by telephone or e-mail, as I am making this request in my capacity as a news reporter and the information is of timely value. I look forward to hearing from you promptly, within four business days, as required by FOIA § 1-210 and § 1-206.
FOI #25-054 (02-3-25, 12:11 pm) - Subject - SmartProcure Public Records Request to University of Connecticut For PO/Vendor Information
Name - Misty Ruhlman
Affiliation - SmartProcure
SmartProcure is submitting a public records request to the University of Connecticut for any and all purchasing records from 11/7/2024 to current. (Storrs and Regional Campuses) The request is limited to readily available records without physically copying, scanning, or printing paper documents. Any editable electronic document is acceptable.
The specific information requested from your record-keeping system is:
1. Purchase order number. If purchase orders are not used a comparable substitute is acceptable, i.e., invoice, encumbrance, or check number
2. Purchase date
3. Line item details (Detailed description of the purchase)
4. Line item quantity
5. Line item price
6. Vendor ID number, name, address, contact person and their email address