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1.30.2004

The Mass Media Returns 

The new Mass Media is out on the stands and up on the web.

Taking another brief break to run down the articles, before hoping back to work. Next week is looking just as crazy, even though I'll be sitting out the Board of Trustees meeting on February 4th. It's in New Bedford, on the UMass Dartmouth campus, and there's absolutely nothing that runs out to there. The T is building something, but unless it's completed by Wednesday morning...

But that's just as well, I guess. It's not like I'm short for stories.

First up in the new issue we've got an online exclusive: Interim UMass President comes to UMass Boston, which happened way back on December 12. The article, done since early December, was held up because of some trouble with the pictures, and the confusion of packing up and readying for the move into the brand-new Campus Center. But it's up there now, in its 2,000 word glory. While a bit dated, it's still got some interesting stuff, I think.

An article on the continuing search for a UMass President. The Daily Collegian over at UMass Amherst had a very good article on the search, confirming that the interim president is indeed a candidate: "Wilson's term is not necessarily coming to an end, as he was nominated to take the permanent position."

Earlier this month I got to tag along to a State House reception for UMass alumni who work in the State House. The result is this article on alumni relations, which leads with an interview I managed several weeks later to get with the senate president, in who's breathtaking office the reception was held.

The move to the new Campus Center has been delayed.

And because I didn't have enough time to write it out as a full article, the slight increase in student charges is written up under News Briefs.

Also in News Briefs is an interview with the former student senate president, who's currently in Oxford. He commented on student issues over there. And on the student press, which I didn't get a chance to add in: He rates the Oxford campus papers, of which there are two, as "excellent," adding, "if new york times is 10 on the journal scale...one of the papers is a 6."

"whats neat..is because of britain's proximity and oxford's diversity of high-caliber students..they interviewed several students directly affected by the iraqi situation," he said.

SEE ALSO: The Daily Free Press stopped by the press conference MassPIRG yesterday had on campus, on the ridiculous pricing of books.

1.22.2004

Brief Break 

Brief break from work to highlight two articles:

Brandeis University's The Justice is back, with this column by Yana Litovsky on the student press and incidents over the last couple of months that show a disrespect for it (or maybe a lack of understanding) across many campuses.

While scrolling through the Daily Free Press, I was surprised to find an article on the UMass Board of Trustee's committee meeting that took place yesterday. It focuses on the presentation given by the various heads of student affairs from the five campuses.

I do remember seeing somebody who I thought to be a fellow student reporter, but I had assumed he was with The Daily Collegian of UMass Amherst or even the UMass Lowell Connector or UMass Dartmouth Torch.

The Collegian ocassionally sends people down to Boston for stories, like State House rallies or that time last year when Governor Mitt Romney's education "czar" Peter Nessen held a meeting with a good portion of public higher ed's student press.

I wonder if this means the Daily Free Press is extending its beat to the UMass Board of Trustees (they do cover city stuff like Mayor Tom Menino's State of the City)?

Although, it was just me and the Globe at today's committee meeting (where the committee recommended to raise fees again, this time at around 2% for each campus, except for Amherst; check the Globe tomorrow or The Mass Media when it returns January 29th for details).

But anyway, back to work.

1.20.2004

Hold It 

Blogging is on hold for the next few weeks, as I chase down some stories, try to get the computer fixed (virus; the kind that hijacks the internet browser), and classes begin.

E-mail is the best option, and I'll respond as soon as possible.

gin@the-mass-media.com is the best for non-CPN-related stuff.

Until then.

1.16.2004

Dean, Gephardt kick off last tours of Iowa 

Iowa State Daily: "Five days before the Iowa caucuses, Howard Dean kicked off his last statewide tour with negative comments about fellow Democratic candidates and an entourage of celebrity backers.

Several hundred supporters, including more than 100 members of the national media, were in attendance. Dean was joined by an all-star cast: actor Martin Sheen, who plays the U.S. president in the NBC drama 'The West Wing,' director Rob Reiner and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa..."

And Gephardt: "With only five days left until the Iowa caucuses, Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., is hitting the state hard in what he's calling a victory tour..."

What Republicans and third partiers are going to be doing caucus night.

The Iowa State Daily editorial tells Iowans to take pride in their 'bizarre' caucuses.

In the rest of its op-ed pages, the ISDaily invited student political organizations to submit columns about their candidate. Here's one for Dean, and the other for Kucinich: "We need to elect a candidate who has his head on straight and his values in order. Many of you know who we are speaking of -- Dennis Kucinich, Democratic Representative from Ohio..."

Head on straight? Maybe physically. Let's not talk about mentally.

Indiana looks to UF for j-school dean 

UF Alligator: "Indiana University has tapped UF’s College of Journalism and Communications for the next potential dean of its journalism school.

William McKeen, chairman of the Department of Journalism, said he was approached last Fall and asked if he would like to be nominated for the position..."

Ridge at USC to discuss plans for Homeland Security Center 

USC Daily Trojan: "Tom Ridge, secretary of Homeland Security, briefly met with students, faculty and administration on campus Wednesday to discuss plans for the new Homeland Security Center of Excellence, the first of its kind designed to address the threat of terrorism..."

SEE ALSO: William Goodwin writes that Bush and his critics want to have it both ways: "Paul O'Neill, true to his form before he retired, has managed to make a splash with obstreperous claims, quickly followed by whines about being quoted out of context and by a speedy retreat from his earlier statements..."

Students React To Gov. Schwarzenegger's Proposal 

UC-San Diego Guardian has students reacting to Gov. Schwarzenegger's plan: "If the proposal is approved by the state legislature, student fees would be raised 10 percent for undergraduates, 40 percent for graduate students and and additional 20 percent for non-residents. Financial aid available from new student fee revenue would also be reduced from 33 percent to 20 percent, while Cal Grant eligibility would simultaneously be reduced.

'It makes me upset,' Thurgood Marshall College junior Michelle Lee said. 'I understand that there's a need for money because of the deficit, but I think that there are other things that could be done instead of making increases in education fees.'"

MORE: The system may soon be enrolling fewer undergraduates, and spending less on faculty.

The UCSD Guardian editorial rightly points out that the proposal is "bad news" for UC.

The California Aggie covers the Board of Regents meeting from Wednesday: "The regents spent most of the first part of the two-day meeting at UC San Francisco discussing the impact on the UC of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's new budget proposal.

At the meeting, Hershman said that he had 'plenty of bad news' as he presented a lengthy list of worsening issues facing the UC..."

The budget's impact on low-income students: "Currently, 33 percent of student fees are returned to financial aid, but the proposal would reduce that number to 20 percent. University officials are concerned that the proposal could threaten students' ability to pay the full cost of tuition and campus-based miscellaneous fees..."

The UCLA Daily Bruin has a breakdown of the budget.

The regents' meeting, and their plans to negotiate with governor.

1.15.2004

2,000 Copies of UCSB's Daily Nexus Trashed 

Here we go: "An unknown perpetrator or perpetrators dumped thousands of copies of Wednesday's issue of the Daily Nexus into nearby trash cans and recycling bins - mostly trash cans.

By Nexus count, at least 2,393 copies of the newspaper were thrown into various campus receptacles, possibly as early as 9 a.m. Wednesday. Racks everywhere, both on campus and in Isla Vista, were completely bare of Wednesday's issue. Whether that was due to the theft, however, or to the increased demand placed on the remaining papers after the theft, is impossible to say..."

The Daily Nexus responds, swearing vengeance.

SEE ALSO: A columnist has complaints with the campus's CalPIRG representatives.

[via romenesko]

From professors to presidents: eleven years with Brodhead and Levin 

Yale Daily News: "On a summer afternoon in 1993, with the fall semester set to begin, a youthful, athletic economics professor and a tall, popular American literature professor began their work at Yale's helm.

Nearly 11 years after the men took office, the literary scholar turned Yale College Dean Richard Brodhead is preparing to assume Duke University's presidency this summer, a move that will end his professional partnership with the economist turned University President Richard Levin. Cohorts at the Graduate School and colleagues as they climbed the faculty ranks, the duo seized upon their mutual trust and respect to advance a University they inherited in turmoil..."

SEE ALSO: In the op-ed pages, a student talks about her experiences taking a State Department exam: "Last summer I received a letter from Secretary of State Colin Powell inviting me to be "The Face of the U.S. to the World," as the letterhead read. Congratulating me on my performance on the Foreign Service written exam, he invited me to participate in the oral assessment in Washington, D.C. in November..."

A guest columnist writes about little-known presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche, also known as "LaRouche the Douche": "'Where is LaRouche? Where is LaRouche? ' a group of audience members began to chant in the middle of Joe Lieberman's speech. Lieberman froze. 'I suspect he's in jail' Dean quipped..."

A little while ago the LaRouche campaign would not stop calling the newsroom about a conference call with students and student media.

I would come back from wherever and there'd be another message left in my mailbox saying that so-and-so from LaRouche 2004 had left another message.

I never got a chance to ask LaRouche, after he had called members of the Bush Administration "children of Satan," how he could prove that he himself wasn't a devil child.

"Certifiable" just doesn't do him and his supporters justice.

Crimson: Albright, Rubin Bash Bush Policy 

"Former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and former Secretary of the Treasury Robert E. Rubin ’60 took aim at President Bush Monday night as they discussed new books and old times to a packed crowd at First Parish Church in Harvard Square.

In an event sponsored by the Harvard Bookstore, former National Public Radio host Christopher Lydon grilled Albright and Rubin on their tenures, setting the evening’s critical tone by asking the former Clinton cabinet members how to get the government back on track..."

SEE ALSO: Harvard Law School faculty file briefs against the Solomon Amendment, and in support of the Massachusetts Supreme Court's landmark ruling in favor of gay marriage.

The Crimson editorial board comes out in support of both the student who protested the Chinese premier's visit, and the "morning after" pill.

A Crimson columnist calls for an expansion of the Americorps.

DFP: Grade Deflation Problem at Boston University 

While some schools, like Harvard or Princeton, are suffering from grade inflation, over at Boston University, students are having problems with grade deflation: "Boston University students say grade deflation - the administrative reaction to years of grade inflation - has become a major problem at the university, and many say its effects have already touched them..."

SEE ALSO: A search committee and a search firm has been appointed to find a new Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences dean: "Before winter recess, Berkey said BU hired executive search service Korn/Ferry International to aid in the search, according to School of Public Health Dean Robert Meenan, who is serving as committee chair..."

Korn/Ferry is, of course, the same company that is currently helping the University of Massachusetts find a president after William M. Bulger was forced to step down.

Here is a peice that consultant hired to do the job did a while back, "Career Opportunities For Senior Health Care Executives."

Coverage of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's State of the City.

The unions who protested the mayor's address must compromise, says the DFP editorial.

Another editorial praises the other Dr. Dean, the presidential candidate's wife: "But though some have criticized Steinberg's decision to stay out of the campaign limelight, she should be commended for providing a living example of the way in which many families now operate across America. Judith Steinberg Dean is a great role model for millions of American girls and women who want to be their own women - not just people who live through their husbands' successes..."

Coincidentally, there's also an article of women passing men in number of applications to medical school.

Northeastern To Host DNC MT Delegates 

The Northeastern News returns.

"As the city of Boston prepares to host the Democratic National Convention from July 26-29, Northeastern received word that it too would be included in the convention framework when the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) confirmed this week that the delegation from Montana would be staying on campus during the convention.

The delegation put Northeastern at the top of their list for places to stay in the city because of what Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Brad Martin called a 'wonderful, affordable facility with great location...'"

The News covers the cold snap.

1.14.2004

University of Tennessee College Repub Chair Resigns 

Adam Groves:"Today was the first day back to class for UT students and the beginning of the Spring semester and the last day for John McGary as Chairman of the University of Tennessee College Republicans. I've learned that McGary resigned earlier today from his post as Chair of the CRs citing time constraints..."

MORE: South Knox Bubba picks it up and comments.

RELATED: And the Issues Committee, where the whole thing started with accusations of liberal bias against it by a Daily Beacon columnist, has invited conservative commentator Daniel J. Flynn.

SEE ALSO: In the Daily Beacon, an article on the presidential search committee (part II): "The Presidential Search Advisory Council has outlined and adopted job specifications for a new university president and has also begun the search for candidates to fill the position vacated by former President John W. Shumaker..."

'Daily Show' Comes To UC Davis 

California Aggie: "Davis College Republicans member George Andrews and Queer Student Union Vice President Aldrich Tan found themselves featured on Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show' on Monday night. Correspondent Ed Helms interviewed Andrews and Tan as part of a report on DCR's 'Conservative Coming Out Day,' an Oct. 21 rally at UC Davis..."

The clip is here, courtesy The Daily Show website. (note: need RealPlayer)

I keep meaning to watch it more often, instead of hearing the recaps from the little bro.

CNN Comes To Iowa State As Caucus Heats Up 

Iowa State Daily: "As part of their Iowa caucus coverage, CNN descended on Iowa State Tuesday and used the background of the Campanile as a makeshift set.

The CNN Election Express bus transported the hosts of "Crossfire" and "Inside Politics," who broadcasted their shows with the periodic interruption of the Campanile's quarter-hour bells..."

MORE: Iowa has gone endorsement-crazy... except at ISU: "Yet most ISU political groups will sit on the sidelines -- at least until the Democratic Party announces a candidate. Other groups won't even commit to one political party or another..."

A quick history of caucuses.

Daily Bruin: Gov. Schwarzenegger's image unhurt 

The Daily Bruin at UCLA pulls out all the stops for a section on Gov. Schwarzenegger and his budget for this year, with its first article centering on the effect on the governor's image: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget has thus far unaltered his public image, despite the controversial nature of its provisions, according to policy experts from the University of California..."

MORE: Cuts to research could cause UCLA to lose its competitiveness.

California Aggie: "Less than a week after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed to reduce University of California funding, the UC Board of Regents is meeting to discuss current issues facing the university. The meeting will take place today and Thursday at UC San Francisco.

The first item on the schedule is a two-hour discussion for the regents to respond to Schwarzenegger's new plan on behalf of the university..."

Daily Bruin has the regents expecting to discuss fee increases.

Bruin editorial: "Unit caps, extra fees limit college career."

NYTimes' Brooks @ Dartmouth, UI Search for J-School Dean Down to Seven 

The Dartmouth: "A more educated voting public and urban sprawl are factors contributing to an increasingly polarized electorate, New York Times op-ed columnist David Brooks said in a speech yesterday entitled 'The Presidency Wars: Politics and Culture in a Polarized Age.'

An increasing number of voters with college degrees produces a voting populace that is more likely to vote along party lines and less likely to register as independent, Brooks said. A higher level of education means a voter is more likely to identify as strictly liberal or conservative, and is more likely to vote along those lines..."

SEE ALSO: The Indiana Daily Student writes that a search for the University of Indiana's search for a journalism school dean has narrowed to seven: "The IU School of Journalism Dean Search Committee will soon know who takes the reigns from retiring Dean and Associate Professor of Journalism Trevor Brown next year..."

At the University of Southern California, "A distinguished panel of journalism professionals debated the importance of celebrity news in a conference at the Davidson Conference Center Tuesday afternoon..." [Daily Trojan via Romenesko]

Stanford Report editor passes away at 44. [via Romenesko]

Source: Another possible lawsuit for Colorado University 

Colorado Daily: "A third woman is expected to join two others in a Title IX lawsuit against CU, the Colorado Daily has learned.

A well-informed source the told the Colorado Daily Tuesday that the woman would probably allege she was sexually assaulted at a Dec. 7, 2001 off-campus party attended by several CU football players and recruits. The two other women who have already filed suits against the university claim to have been raped at this party..."

The last couple talked about here.

The lawsuits can't come at a worse time, when Colorado University's funding is in jeopardy. According to a report quoted in the article, "Colorado ranks 47th in higher-ed appropriations per capita, about $130 per person in financial year 2004, based on data collected in September, 2003."

Columns and Editorials: Anti-Bush Rhetoric 'Won't Win Votes,' No Child Left Behind 'Missnamed' 

Daily Bruin columnist Garin Hovannisian says the Democrats' anti-Bush rhetoric won't be enough to retake the presidency.

"Bush-bashers bungle political boxing match," writes Nathan Meno of Northern Illinois University's Northern Star.

The Iowa State Daily editorial board says the No Child Left Behind Act is misnamed: "There was a funding shortfall of more than $4 billion in the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill last year, which obviously hindered the government's ability to provide assistance for the tests and corrections it has mandated..."

Elsewhere on the ISD's op-ed page, a columnist writes how Bush is not the choice for Republicans anymore: "Rather than a sharp rebuke to Mr. Bush's leftward wandering on economic issues, each vote for President Bush will only be taken as a sign to carry on at full speed -- after all, if the GOP can win elections by embracing big government, why change for the sake of those whose loyalty is complete and unwavering?"

Another Daily Bruin columnist Antonio Raimundo, says we should fix problems here at home before jetting off into space.

At the Oregon State Daily Barometer, the title of this column astutely points out that there isn't any oil on Mars.

The plan lacks feasibility, says Ball State Daily columnist Ben McShane.

A Daily Cougar columnist writes about the Ephedra ban: "Legal Ephedra will soon go the way of the dinosaurs, and cramming college students will have one less alternative to speed..."

"Take more than the handouts given to you the first day of school." is the message of the Oklahoma Daily editorial. And Oklahoma Daily columnists introduce themselves.

Ohio University Post columnist Bryan Morris defends the legality of the Massachusetts court ruling on gay marriage.

President Bush's immigration plan "crosses border of common sense," writes Chris O'Donnell (probably not the actor) for University of South Florida's Oracle.

WashPost Journo Talks Middle East and Islamic World 

The Dartmouth: "Determining America's global role, changing the American view of the Islamic world and channeling faith into peaceful change are all challenges the world faces in the Middle East today, Washington Post foreign correspondent Robin Wright said Monday in her speech 'The Middle East and Islamic World: Challenges in 2004.'

According to Wright, the American view of the Islamic and Arab world as entirely distinct from the U.S. poses a serious threat to establishing democracy in the Middle East. Muslims hope for global freedom and democracy, and they are deeply aware of world events and the political transformations that have reshaped the world..."

Columns & Editorials: Israel Visit Offers Perspectives, Anger in Politics, and Dean's 'Primary Mistake' 

At the Daily Emerald of the University of Oregon, a freelance reporter writes of a trip to Israel: "If you could travel halfway around the globe, beyond comfortable Western Europe -- beyond Eastern Europe, beyond the Mediterranean -- to spend ten days in one of the most politically volatile regions in the world, a place most Americans only see on CNN, what would you walk away with? For me, it was a totally new perspective..."

Over at the Daily Nebraskan, a columnist writes, "Let It Be... Dean": "In the conference room at the top floor of Rotted Apple Record's Washington, D.C., high rise -- better known as 'the house The Bushles built' -- Bushles impresario and chief 2004 re-election strategist, Karl Rove, turned to his audience of assorted music producers and song writers with a grin.

'I just got off the phone with Simon Cowell," Rove informed them. 'When the next season of 'American Idol' kicks off in Iowa next week, it looks like Howard Dean's got it in the bag.'"

An Indiana Digital Student columnist provides a "Machiavellian's Guide to Graduate Study."

Anger and outrage have made politics more interesting, says a Daily O'Collegian (Oklahoma State University) columnist.

A Daily Orange columnist writes about Howard Dean's "primary mistake": "Despite a damaged economy and an internationally unpopular war, Bush seems poised to beat whomever he faces in November. But Bush is not essentially running on his record; He's running on the weaknesses of the Democratic challengers, namely former Vermont Governor Howard Dean..."

A Stanford Daily editorial comes out for the Bush immigration policy. The Daily Miss thinks President Bush's priorities are "lost in space."

1.13.2004

UMiss Student Media Moves Into New Center 

The Daily Mississippian: "The S. Gale Denley Student Media Center will move over the summer to Bishop Hall where student journalists will work together and begin to put media convergence into practice at the University of Mississippi.

Ralph Braseth, director of the S. Gale Denley Student Media Center, said people are consuming news in "very different ways" than they have in the past, and journalism students specializing in one medium need to realize the opportunities and processes used in other media..."

SEE ALSO: Coverage of the new governor's inauguration.

Higher Ed Focus of Primaries 

Daily Bruin: "The main issues for the presidential primary campaigns have been national security and the economy, but higher education has become an increasingly important issue.

From increasing financial aid to supplying more funding to colleges, the candidates are advocating affordability and accessibility for students across America..."

SEE ALSO: "Though Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger just announced the state budget this Friday, many experts are already saying it will not be able to pass through the Legislature in its current form..."

Princeton extends health benefits to same-sex couples 

Daily Princetonian: "One day after the New Jersey Senate's decision to legally recognize gay and lesbian domestic partners, Princeton University announced Friday that the Student Health Plan will extend coverage for same-sex domestic partners.

The University 'felt it was the right thing to do,' Associate Director of University Health Services Janet Finnie said..."

SEE ALSO: $15K earkmarked for publications: "The USG passed the Poe Field Resolution, and its Projects Board announced a new fund for publications at Friday's USG meeting, the last of the fall semester..."

UAlabama officials oppose system tax reform 

Crimson White: "UA System officials say they oppose a move to change Alabama's tax system through federal mandate.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs in a 21-year-old desegregation case asked U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy on Thursday to allow a full evidentiary hearing to consider whether Alabama's tax system as laid out in the state constitution is unconstitutional..."

Schwarzenegger releases budget with reductions and fee increases for UC 

UCSD Guardian: "With California facing up to a $29 billion budget deficit over the next two years, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger released his budget proposal for the 2004-05 fiscal year on Jan. 9 that includes deep budget cuts. Schwarzenegger proposed a total of over $14.3 billion in reductions, including $372 million to the University of California.

The governor's proposal for the University of California includes fee increases, significant reductions to financial aid, a reduction in enrollment for the 2004-05 school year, the elimination of state support for K-12 outreach programs and reduced spending on faculty..."

University of New Mexico President: No Draft 

Daily Lobo: "University of New Mexico President and former United States Army Secretary Louis Caldera recently weighed in on the controversial issue of the military draft, speaking out against it in Time magazine.

'I was asked by Time to write about the draft because of my prior job and about many of the things I have said and written about military service and about the draft specifically,' Caldera said. 'I don't think that we'll ever have a draft again because it is unnecessary.'"

SEE ALSO: Democratic presidential candidate General Wesley Clark skips out on an event, so his wife fills in.

Two professors are appealling an Alburquerque's police chief's dismissal of their case: "Two UNM professors who said they were beaten by Albuquerque police officers during the March 20 anti-war protest near campus have appealed the decision of the department's chief who dismissed their claims.

Lane Leckman and Durwood Ball said they attended the protest out of curiosity and decided to stay and serve as witnesses should the situation escalate to violence..."

1.12.2004

Crimson Gets Redesign, Color 

"After 131 years of staid blacks and musty grays, The Harvard Crimson features actual crimson—and the full spectrum of colors—on its front page today, marking a new era for the University’s daily newspaper.

The Crimson also unveils a complete redesign in today’s issue to accompany the changeover..."


Looks like I'll have to pick up a copy next time I'm in Cambridge (which'll probably be in a weekend or two).

MORE: A look back:

"Editors at The Crimson—who often, like all journalists, refer to adding 'color' to daily news stories—previously have never had the option of adding real color to their articles, whether in the form of cream shading behind news text or color photography adjacent to articles.

When The Crimson was born in 1873, known then as The Magenta in accordance with the College’s official color of the time, what would become the nation’s oldest continually published college newspaper was still a far cry from the operation at 14 Plympton St. today.

After moving from four to five columns in 1920, The Crimson used its own hot-type presses with hired typists setting increasingly arcane lead type.

Former Crimson President Osborne F. Ingram '35 recalled sending his finished stories down a chute in the newsroom to the typists in the basement.

'When they were out of copy downstairs, they would bang on the chute,' Osborne said..."
SEE ALSO: Harvard is facing a mental health crisis: "A six-month investigation by The Crimson has found that the College faces a pervasive mental health crisis and that, because of systemic problems with its mental health resources, Harvard is failing to adequately treat its students..."

Profile of a Harvard junior working for the Lieberman campaign.

Crimson columnist uses the Chinese premier's visit and a student's protest of it as a jumping off point on the larger issue of China.

Harvard Law School gay rights group files a brief against the Pentagon on the Solomon Amendment.

A fourth incident of sexual assault in Harvard Square in four months, the Crimson's Hana Alberts reports.

BU's Daily Free Press Returns 

Daily Free Press gets online facelift. Have a look-see.

Top Story: Two-year long salary freeze is lifted. It's deserved, says the DFP editorial board.

SEE ALSO: Tution increases are on hold. "But don't get your hopes up," reports DFP staffer Patrick Gillooly.

"BU officials say the lack of a letter does not mean tuition will stay the same for 2004-2005. Students should receive the yearly mailing sometime in late February or early March, President ad interim Aram Chobanian said Friday.

According to one trustee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the Trustees did discuss tuition increases at their annual full board meeting Jan. 8 but did not come to a resolution on the issue. The board member said the increase will most likely be somewhere around 5 percent, meaning tuition could increase from $27,042 to around $28,500..."

A consultation firm has been hired by the Board of Trustees: "President ad interim Aram Chobanian said Friday that he is pleased with the Board of Trustees' ad hoc committee on governance's progress, despite questions raised about the process last week by a trustee."

The trustees are starting the year off right, is the other editorial.

BU Provost Dennis Berkey takes on the issue of grade inflation in the paper's op-ed pages.

CNN Examines Berkeley's Liberal Legacy 

CNN reporter Meriah Doty goes back to University of California Berkeley to take a look at its liberal legacy, and interviews the campus press:

"Eric Schewe, editor-in-chief of U.C. Berkeley's student newspaper, The Daily Californian, discussed the validity of Cal's reputation for left-wing political thought.

'Since the '60s the image has kind of echoed and echoed. But the reality has changed a bit. We have an -- if not high profile, well-funded from unknown sources -- conservative campus group called the Berkeley College of Republicans,' Schewe said..."

Weekend Wrap-Up 1/11/2003: UMass retirements and campus conservatives 

Blogging will be sporadic for the week, possibly for the rest of the month.

Tomorrow I'm taking off for a one-day trip to Philadelphia. A friend got a callback for a role (she goes to Temple but isn't due to come back for another week), and I'm tagging along.

First time on a plane.

Here's hoping that I don't turn into Adrian Monk, or that my experience will be as bad as this guy's over at Boing Boing.

I don't have a state ID, only a temporary one. The real one has yet to be mailed to me. I called up customer service at Logan, and the woman said it was going to do, but I'm bringing extra ID just in case.

The rest of the month I'm pursuing some Big Stories, so we'll see how blogging holds up.

From the weekend:

The Boston Globe's Campus Insider column has stuff on UMass retirements (73 percent of those who took out papers ended up retiring), and the incoming flood of UMass Amherst applications. Also, a decrease in student downloading of music.

"The false piety of campus conservatives in the US is sickening. Just because you're the only _____ in your dorm doesn't mean you're the sole beacon of _____ light anywhere," writes Wax Banks, via Boston Common. "The opposite goes for campus lefties, but that's a different blog post, for a different night."

Over at Critical Mass, students feel as though they must toe the professor's ideological line in order to get a good grade. Erin O'Connor puts it well: "The point of a college education--and here I speak as an idealist and not a pragmatist--is to expand the mind and sustain the soul, not to teach young adults the self-destructive art of lockstep."

Russian monks want their bells back from Harvard.

1.11.2004

Daily Bruin: Coverage of Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget plans for higher education 

Daily Bruin, online exclusive: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's solution for balancing California's beleaguered budget includes raising student fees, cutting access to higher education for new students, and slashing into UC funding.

The governor's plan also calls for billions of dollars in cuts to health care and welfare programs and a $1.3 billion shift in property taxes from local governments..."

The staff editorial: "Gov. Schwarzenegger's declaration earlier this week that the state should keep the price of higher education independent of the booms and busts of California's wild economy does not square with a newspaper report that the governor wants to raise fees by thousands of dollars for some university students..."

As a result, things like the Cal Grant might be cut back.

Things don't look good for grad students: "In a move that a high-level UCLA official said could be an 'absolute, total disaster for graduate education,' Gov. Schwarzenegger may propose a substantial increase in graduate student fees at the University of California...

MORE: The Daily Californian also has stuff online, too.

RELATED: At the University of Florida, students are experiencing fee hikes, as well: "As the drop/add period ends today, University of Florida students might be tallying up just how much their tuition and fees are going to cost -- and noticing the total is rising," reports the Alligator.

"Not only did 2003 bring tuition hikes for students, but cable rates, cellular phone and telephone bills, roam towing rates, parking decals and other expenses associated with living in the Gainesville, Fla., area increased as well..."

Jesse 'The Body' Ventura To Be Fellow At Harvard IOP 

Crimson: "He's laid the smackdown for a living and wiped the floor with Minnesota politicians, but his next stop may be the bench press at the MAC. Professional wrestler and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse 'The Body' Ventura has accepted a paid post at Harvard for next semester, Institute of Politics (IOP) spokesperson Andy I. Solomon ’89 confirmed yesterday..."

SEE ALSO: Sam J. Lin covers the the T fare increase for the Crimson.

And here's a report on the rallies at the Massachusetts State House, for and against gay marriage.

Note to gay marriage foes: you can holler and hoot "amens" and "hallelujahs" all you want, but "oyez" is gonna trump you every time. Deal with it.

In the op-ed section, the student who protested the Chinese premiere's visit, and is currently facing disciplinary action, writes up a column.

1.10.2004

Globe: Under fire, BU trustees hire consultant 

"Gathering for the first time since the firing of incoming president Daniel S. Goldin, the Boston University Board of Trustees met with a new governance consultant yesterday but made no significant changes in its membership or structure, said university spokeswoman Nancy Sterling.

The board last met in emergency session on Oct. 31 to approve a $1.8 million severance deal with Goldin. Since then, trustees have come under fire for allowing a handful of members, many allied with former president John Silber, to control important decisions..."

Early retirement at UMass 

Hampshire Gazette: "Whether headed for relaxation in Florida, time spent completing a book, a new career or volunteer work, University of Massachusetts employees who took advantage of the state early-retirement system say departure is bittersweet. But, for most, it was a deal they couldn't reject..."

1.09.2004

Columnist Round-Up: Kucinich Supporters Strike Back, French Law 'Affront To Religious Liberty' 

A columnist for the University of Oregon's Daily Emerald spent last semester poking fun at guys like Tom DeLay, Pat Robertson (millionaire broadcaster who can apparently hear a God who can't do electoral math), and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

"Judging from the number of responses, I figured no more than a handful of people outside of my family and the Emerald editorial staff was actually reading my columns in their entirety," he writes. "But then I made a wise crack about Dennis Kucinich and I realized just how wrong I was. Suddenly, angry e-letters came pouring into my inbox from across cyberspace."

An FSView columnist at Florida State believes the French law banning headscarves is "an affront to religious liberty."

The staff of the Central Florida Future respond to critics' claims of "over-coverage" of issues such as gay discrimination, anti-war protests and the Patriot Act.

The Duke Chronicle approves of the Bush immigration plan; The Daily Mississippian, not so much, calling it "counterproductive."

Gov. Schwarzenegger proposes student fee cap 

Daily Bruin: "A proposal by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would prevent universities from drastically increasing student fees has been met with cautious optimism by members of the University of California.

In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Schwarzenegger proposed that universities should not be allowed to increase fees by over 10 percent per year..."

RELATED: Over at UCal-Davis, The California Aggie reports: "The University of California system is anticipating Friday's unveiling of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's new budget blueprint -- three days after he mentioned an annual 10 percent cap on student fee increases in his State of the State speech.

University officials have said that they want to hold off any changes of the UC budget until the governor's plan is completed..."

MORE: Daily Bruin columnist Garin Hovannisian says "[s]tate government should slim spending on programs rather than simply raising taxes."

Mixed reviews for 'morning after' pill 

Michigan Daily: "With the Food and Drug Administration expected to approve the Plan B emergency contraceptive pill for over-the-counter sale, many students on campus find themselves questioning the wisdom of that policy.

'I think it’s a bad idea,' LSA freshman Chrissy Via said, referring to the easy purchase of the drug, commonly known as the 'morning after' pill. 'People will use it to replace birth control and condoms.'"

Dartmouth: NH residency, voter registration easy to obtain for students 

The Dartmouth: "For many Dartmouth students, the 2004 presidential primary season presents a two-fold question: Whom to vote for, and where to cast a vote?

New Hampshire's primary, slated for Jan. 27, is the most-watched in the nation. As the date draws closer, many 'out-of-state' students have begun to switch their voter registration to participate, with surprisingly little hassle..."

RELATED: Dan Savage's op-ed column in yesterday's NYTIMES, found via OxBlog.

SEE ALSO: A Dartmouth student, frustrated with lack of websites that give unbiased, important info on candidates, goes out and makes his own:

"I found several sites targeted to youth voters, but none of them provided impartial background information on the candidates," Oh told the Dartmouth.

The site is here.

UColorado to drop motion to dismiss Title IX lawsuit 

Colorado Daily: "The University of Colorado at Boulder on Tuesday filed its notice of withdrawal of a Jan. 13, 2003, motion to dismiss the Lisa Simpson Title IX lawsuit and its statement of intent to file a motion for summary judgment with the U.S. District Court in Denver.

Lisa Simon, spokeswoman for the Boulder law office Hutchinson Black and Cook LLC, which represents Simpson, said that with this action, CU has admitted to the basis for Simpson's claim..."

Previously.

SEE ALSO: Locals react to Bush immigration plan: "A day after U.S. President George W. Bush proposed sweeping changes to the country's immigration system, locals are beginning to wonder just how the plan would affect Boulder.

Residents have said they are both excited and concerned about Bush's plan and its possible effect on immigration and the economy..."

New semester, same old high textbook prices 

Daily Mississippian: "Once again, University of Mississippi students are trudging back to the Ole Miss Bookstore and other bookstores around town to find themselves shocked at the sticker prices of their required textbooks.
Some have spent $200; some have even spent $600 on textbooks. Some haven't even bought them
.

'I plan on buying them today,' a junior criminal justice major Richard Owens said. 'If I'm lucky, I will only spend $300 between the (Ole Miss Bookstore) and Campus Book Mart.'"

But two students at the University of Central Florida have an online solution to the problem, the Central Florida Future reports: "While on a road trip, [Steve] Leonard and his business partner Mike Potter, who is also a 22-year-old computer science major, developed the idea for a Web site that would allow college students to buy and sell anything from books to couches to cars from fellow college students.

Launched in August of 2003, they named their site XYZTrader.com, after they abandoned the initial name of UCFTrader. 'We didn't want to get a cease-and-desist order,' Leonard said..."

MORE: The Crimson White, of the University of Alabama, has this: "Book prices are going up at a higher rate than tuition is," [Robert Palmer, director of all locations of the University Supply Store] said. "They try to blame it on the price of paper, they try to blame it on all the added costs associated, and sometimes publishers try to also blame the wholesale book industry."

1.08.2004

UColorado getting pressure from feds against raising tuition 

Colorado Daily: "The University of Colorado at Boulder is taking on water fast and if a federal bill that would punish colleges for raising tuition passes, the university might need to signal S.O.S. and send out lifeboats.

Not only did the state slash funding to CU by $75 million from 2002 to 2004, but the university is now getting pressure from Washington to be mindful of its rising tuition costs..."

SEE ALSO: Brigham Young students are stressed from loans, reports The Daily Universe.

Crimson: Dean tops Bush among students 

Top Story: "Bush is out and Dean is in, according to a recent survey of Harvard undergraduates on political issues ranging from the Democratic primaries to gay marriage.

Nearly 76 percent of students disapproved of how George W. Bush has handled his job as president, while 24 percent rallied behind him in a poll of 365 undergraduates conducted by The Crimson over a four-day period in mid-December..."

RELATED: The Crimson follows up on yesterday's AP story on Dean getting money from a lot of money from college professors, particularly at Harvard and UCal system.

SEE ALSO: "A Crimson poll has a majority of students supporting gay marriage: majority of Harvard students agree with a recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that declared a ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.

Roughly 77 percent of students said in a mid-December Crimson poll that they support the Supreme Judicial Court’s November decision. The verdict gave the state legislature 180 days to change Massachusetts law to allow homosexual couples to marry..."

And a brief, asking for the immediate halting of enforcement, on the Solomon Amendment has been filed.

Dartmouth alumnus awarded WTC re-design 

The Dartmouth: "The World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition jury announced the winning design yesterday, choosing to construct 'Reflecting Absence,' the proposal of Dartmouth alumnus Michael Arad '91.

Arad's design was chosen as one of eight finalists, although it violated official contest rules by including a cultural building that blocked the memorial from the highway..."

Search committee for MIT prez named, BU trustees 'face daunting task of reform' 

AP: "Two committees were appointed Wednesday to lead the search for a new president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Corporation Committee for the Presidency will be chaired by James A. Champy, chairman of consulting for Perot Systems Corp. of Boston, while a faculty advisory committee will be chaired by Jerome I. Friedman, a Nobel Prize-winning physics professor..."

And the BU trustees "face the daunting task of reform," according to the Boston Globe's headline.

An interesting note in the article, down by the bottom graphs: "Another item the board of trustees may consider at Thursday's meeting is whether to remove the word interim from the title of interim president Aram Chobanian, the former dean of the medical school. Chobanian, 74, does not plan to stay in the post permanently, but some believe that he would have more authority to do his job without the interim label, the source close to trustees said..."

UMich Daily: White House hopefuls scramble for last-minute endorsements 

"With the Democratic primaries set to begin in less than two weeks, candidates continue to vie for the endorsements of notable political figures in a final push to bolster their appeal to voters.

Although endorsements are seen as vital to a candidate’s health, their actual significance is limited, said Prof. Vincent Hutchings of the Center for Political Studies..."

SEE ALSO: A UMich Daily article on Senator John Edwards, who "hopes optimism, not criticism, will win votes."

I want my space age flying car, dammit 

Sebastian Meyer, a columnist for the Universty of South Florida's Oracle writes:

"I turned 25 yesterday. A quarter century. I have to admit that when I woke up in the morning I felt a bit let down that cars still don't fly, but, all in all I am pretty impressed by what human kind has achieved in some areas during my lifetime. Of course, other areas still require some work..."

Zach Lee, of UHouston's Daily Cougar, takes the same tack, saying:

"The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's robotic explorer, Spirit, landed Sunday, and the craft beamed 3-D images back to Earth on Monday. Mission controllers in Pasadena, Calif., put themselves on Mars time, dedicating an extra 40 minutes a day to work and blocking out their windows for the 90-day mission.

Who's impressed?

No one should be..."

SEE ALSO: Tanisha Keshava, for the Dartmouth, argues for better security on trains, specifically noting her experiences on Amtrak during code orange.

The Alligator's Karen Harmel writes a letter to President Bush.

Duke columnist: Hate Bush? Boycott economy 

"So imagine if Howard Dean went on national TV and said the following: 'Friends, every single dollar you put into the economy is an indirect campaign contribution to George W. Bush. So as part of our effort to take back America, it's time to seriously tighten our belts. I'm asking you as a personal favor to grow your own food until further notice.

'You need to ask yourself which of your daily expenditures are really necessary. Do you really need to shower by yourself every day, when communal showers taken once monthly will save drastically on water and electricity bills? Are luxuries like toothpaste, laundry detergent and toilet paper really worth another four years of Republican dictatorship? I think not...'"

SEE ALSO: At the University of Alabama, a Crimson White columnist comes out against capital punishment: "An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. It's embarrassing that people still justify state-sponsored execution with this glib, simplistic dictate coined 3,000 years ago by backward desert folk..."

And another Crimson White columnist responds to comments on his December op-ed, "I accept the label of religious bigot,": "Judicial activism is fast seeking to transform our nation from the basis upon which it was founded, Christianity, into a model befitting secularist, sinful Europe. I personally believe God cannot continue to allow this nation to prosper when we are kicking Him out of every place that once held Him in the highest regard..."

How absolutely terrible. Whatever shall we do. Bring back stonings, I say!

1.07.2004

University of Montana to honor newsman with naming of journo school 

"The late Don Anderson was instrumental in wresting control of most of the state's daily newspapers from the clutches of the Anaconda Copper Mining Co., and officials at the University of Montana aim to honor the Gallatin Valley native by naming the planned $12 million School of Journalism building after him..."

[via romenesko]

1.06.2004

U-Wire Savvys Winners Officially Announced 

I just noticed that U-Wire, the Associated Press of the collegiate press, had this its front page:

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to the winners of the 2003 U-WIRE SAVVY Awards

Four-year Dailies

The Kansas State Collegian
Kansas State U.

Arizona Daily Wildcat
U. Arizona

Four-year Non-dailies

The Sidelines
Middle Tennessee State U.

The Mass Media
U. Massachusetts-Boston
I was under the impression that The Mass Media was getting it just for the website, but if they want to put us up a couple of categories, that's fine with me.

Then again, it's just a sidebar thing on the main website, and they'll probably put up a separate page to list everybody who got the awards, and who got which for what.

Stanford Daily: Oops! Britney, don’t do it again 

The editorial board of the Stanford Daily tackles the tough issue of Britney Spears' now-annulled marriage:

"What?" you might be asking. This space is normally reserved for loftier issues, such as the Office of Residential Education’s crackdown on alcohol. But as the tag line for "American Beauty" reminds us: Look closer. Britney’s short-lived marriage offers a number of valuable lessons, some of which might come in handy to students planning upcoming weekend getaways to Las Vegas.
For more Britney coverage, check out Gawker and whatevs.org.

AP: Study has college profs favoring Dean 

AP: "Howard Dean is earning higher marks -- and twice as much money -- from college professors than the other Democratic presidential candidates...

...Dean was most favored by professors within the University of California system, who collectively donated $51,124 to his campaign. Next up were Harvard University professors, who contributed $24,150. Bush's top academic contributors came from the University of Texas -- he served as governor of the state -- with $31,850 in donations, followed by the University of Cincinnati's $18,500 in contributions..."

RELATED: Daily Northwestern columnist Nadir Hassan believes that backing Dean will assure a Bush victory: "If he gets the nomination, George W. Bush is going to launch a major can of whoop-ass, the likes of which have never been seen before in any election."

Michigan Daily columnist Jess Piskor talks about Dean's PhD: "his Playa Hater’s Degree."

New Ohio law aims to curb riots 

The Lantern: "Since signing Senate Bill 57 into law -- the failure to disperse act --in December, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft is looking to law enforcement and Ohio State University officials to enforce and educate people about the new law.

'He's hopeful that local police will work with university administrators to inform people attending the university of the change in law,' said Orest Holubec, spokesman for Taft..."

Column writing class at Emerson 

Romenesko points to a class on column writing at Emerson College.

Massachusetts to get first public law school? 

New Bedford Standard-Times: "The chancellor at UMass Dartmouth has revived the idea of a merger with Southern New England School of Law -- an idea left for dead two years ago -- and said she is optimistic that it will happen this time.

Dr. Jean F. MacCormack said she feels the merger can be accomplished by September, and what would be the state's first public law school would be phased into the state's educational system over time..."

RELATED: The Herald-News takes a look at what's in store for UMass Dartmouth this year.

Crimson: Student Protestor To Face Ad Board 

"Meghan C. Howard ’04, the student who interrupted Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s Dec. 11 speech to protest China’s occupation of Tibet, will likely face disciplinary action next week.

Howard, who is co-president of Students for a Free Tibet, said she will defend her actions before the Administrative Board in a hearing tentatively scheduled for Jan. 13..."

SEE ALSO: Harvard is entering into talks over the Solomon Amendment:

Harvard lawyers and Pentagon officials have agreed to launch negotiations aimed at resolving a dispute over military recruitment on campus, University President Lawrence H. Summers told an alumni group last month.

The negotiations will center on the 1996 Solomon Amendment, under which the Pentagon has threatened to cut federal funding to universities that limit recruiters’ access to students because of claims that the military discriminates against gays...
And, of course, the story of former Vice President Al Gore's son getting arrested with two other people over possession of marijuana.

For those, like me, who missed Fifteen Minutes magazine put out its issue because of the December frenzy, should check it out.

Especially the behind-the-scenes peak at how it's put together: We're invited to meet the "press(men)": "It was a dark day last March when we at FM realized that our novice production pace—a tad on the galatial side—was causing consternation across The Crimson..."

Ohio U. Post: Movie piracy policy too harsh 

While calling the law a "step in the right direction," the Ohio University's Post editorial stated that there are "several problems with the MPAA's mission."

"It claims that 92 percent of the pirated movies were created by moviegoers with camcorders. But, a study conducted by AT&T Labs found that only 23 percent of pirated films came from camcorders. AT&T researchers analyzed illegal copies of 285 of the most popular films released between January 2002 and June 2003. By looking for several defining characteristics on the copy, such as watermarks and warning messages, they determined that a vast majority - 77 percent - of illegal copies came from sources within the film industry. The film industry, while justified in attacking all forms of film piracy, should fix its internal security problems in order to solve its piracy problem..."

SEE ALSO: A Dartmouth College columnist welcomes us to the 2004 race for the presidency: "The media loves a good battle and there is no way that they will let Dean cruise to an easy victory. Neither will the other eight candidates who go to sleep every night cursing the Vermonter and praying for a cow to kick him in the face..."

University of Colorado sued under Title IX and over out-of-state tuition 

Two separate lawsuits are plaguing the University of Colorado: one under Title IX and another over out-of-state tuition.

In the first, the university is asking for the diaries of the plaintiff: "Lawyers for Lisa Simpson, a plaintiff in a Title IX lawsuit against the University of Colorado, said Friday they are confused as to why the university is requesting to see their client's diary.

Simpson is suing the university under federal Title IX, claiming CU engaged in a pattern of discrimination when it failed to supervise CU football players and high school recruits who, she claims, raped her at an off-campus party in December 2001..."

And students are calling the out-of-state tuition "unconstitutional": "Three CU students lobbed a bombshell at the state and the University of Colorado Wednesday when they filed a joint lawsuit that says out-of-state tuition for Colorado residents is unconstitutional..."

Stanford prof to lead American delegation to N. Korea 

Stanford Daily: "Prof. Emeritus John W. Lewis will lead a delegation of Americans to North Korea, possibly to visit the Yongbyon nuclear weapons plant. The trip will occur Tuesday through Saturday.

The delegation comes at a delicate time, since the Bush administration currently opposes the North Korean nuclear program. North Korea, China, the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan have been involved in talks regarding the issue that began last August. Those talks are expected to resume early this year..."

SEE ALSO: Stanford's vice provost, who ran for city council in Palo Alto, is sworn in.

"Skies friendlier than officials think," is the Stanford Daily's editorial.

Stanford columnist Chris Holt writes about his brief fling with John Kerry: "It began when he rode into my life in the passenger seat of a gray minivan one sunny December afternoon. It ended with us 3,000 miles apart, him mumbling apologies..."

1.05.2004

UCal system braces for cuts 

UC-San Diego Guardian: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the implementation of $150 million mid-year state budget cuts on Dec. 18, including a $29.9 million reduction to the University of California's budget, in order to make scheduled payments to local governments in California.

University officials had not expected funds to stop flowing until after the details of the governor's full budget proposal were disclosed and had received legislative approval. The budget proposal is due by Jan. 10..."

SEE ALSO: Outreach programs could be one of the many victims of the new budget, writes Marnette Federis for the Guardian.

In the opinion section, two students debate the pros ("extraneous programs are excessive during times of fiscal crisis") and cons ("outreach necessary to encourage qualified students to attend college")of axing the outreach programs.

And the university builds a bomb blast simulator:

The blast simulator is constructed through a contract from the Technical Support Working Group, which is a federal interagency entity organized to fight terrorism. The results from the simulator will be used to devise methods to protect high-risk buildings in the event of terrorist bombings...

..."For example, here in America, like in the Oklahoma City bombing, the blast loads typically affect our structures in a way that there is a regressive structural collapse following the initial blast loading," Seible said. "This collapse accounts for most of the casualties."
A Guardian columnist thinks it's possible that the Democrats are headed toward collapse and the Republicans toward implosion.

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