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GM CEO Mary Barra Re-elected to Duke University Board of Trustees, Term Extended to 2032

GM CEO Mary Barra Re-elected to Duke University Board of Trustees, Term Extended to 2032

GM CEO Mary Barra Re-elected to Duke University Board of Trustees, Term Extended to 2032

Congresswoman Nikema Williams Delivers Keynote at Morris Brown College Pinning Ceremony

Congresswoman Nikema Williams Delivers Keynote at Morris Brown College Pinning Ceremony

U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams, representing Georgia’s 5th Congressional District, served as the keynote speaker at Morris Brown College’s annual Pinning Ceremony. This event officially welcomed the newest students, the Class of 2030, into the Morris Brown community. The ceremony was part of a New Student Orientation week that included academic sessions, professional etiquette training, an organization fair, and visits to historical sites like Big Bethel AME Church, where the college was founded in 1881. Morris Brown College holds historical significance as the first college in Georgia owned and operated by African Americans. The orientation concluded with a worship service and the annual Wolverine Walk, preparing students for the start of classes.

Stanford Law School Responds to Justice Thomas's Claim of Being "Off Limits" to Conservatives

Stanford Law School Responds to Justice Thomas's Claim of Being "Off Limits" to Conservatives

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, 78, recently stated that institutions like Stanford Law School are "presumptively off limits" to conservatives such as himself, implying an unwelcoming environment. He made these remarks during a forum at the Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank located at Stanford University, which focused on the legacy of conservative intellectual Thomas Sowell. Justice Thomas expressed that conservative views are often deemed "unpalatable" in such academic settings, leading to animosity. In response, a Stanford spokesperson quickly refuted his claim, stating that the university "would be honored to host Justice Thomas at Stanford Law School." The spokesperson further noted that the Stanford Constitutional Law Center regularly hosts members of the judiciary and that students and faculty would welcome the opportunity to engage with his perspectives.

New Argument Mapping Tools Enhance Critical Thinking in Philosophy Classrooms

New Argument Mapping Tools Enhance Critical Thinking in Philosophy Classrooms

Two new online argument mapping tools, Argumentation.io and Because, are being introduced to help philosophy students improve their critical thinking skills. These tools allow students to visually represent the structure of philosophical arguments, making complex reasoning more accessible. Argumentation.io offers unlimited mapping with a free account and paid features for instructional materials and collaboration, while Because is entirely free and integrates with Google Drive. Both platforms are developed by philosophers with classroom experience, ensuring they are user-friendly and responsive to educator feedback. The goal is to make argument mapping an accessible and effective method for teaching and learning philosophy.

DHS Defends Investigations and Warning Notices for Critics After ICE Confronts New York Man Over Email

DHS Defends Investigations and Warning Notices for Critics After ICE Confronts New York Man Over Email

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is defending its practice of investigating and issuing warning notices to individuals who criticize the agency, following a First Amendment lawsuit filed by David Streever, a New York man. Streever was tracked down by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at his home, an airport, and a hotel after he sent a critical email to the former acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, in January. The email, sent after federal immigration officials fatally shot two U.S. citizen observers in Minneapolis, compared Lyons to a Nazi and predicted his downfall. Agents presented Streever's wife with a warning notice stating, "YOU MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW," and listed federal laws against threatening officials. Streever's investigation was closed at the end of June. His lawsuit, supported by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), argues that the government's actions led to self-censorship and violated his First Amendment rights. The federal ...

UC-Berkeley Math Professor Criticizes Declining Student Standards, Blames Removal of Standardized Testing

UC-Berkeley Math Professor Criticizes Declining Student Standards, Blames Removal of Standardized Testing

Zvezdelina Stankova, a professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley, has publicly criticized the declining academic standards at the university, stating that a significant portion of her calculus students lack fundamental math skills, including fractions and basic algebra. She reports that office hours, intended for discussing advanced calculus concepts, are now frequently spent on remedial mathematics typically taught in middle school. Stankova attributes this decline to the removal of standardized testing requirements for admissions. She notes that while a diagnostic exam before 2020 showed 71% of Calculus I students were prepared, this figure dropped to 44% between 2021 and 2023. By 2022-23, over one-third of calculus students exhibited severe math deficits, with zero being the most common score on the diagnostic exam. Stankova, who founded the Berkeley Math Circle and a local math olympiad, is among thousands of faculty members advocating for the reinstatement of SAT and ACT scores in admissions.

Troy University Professor Disciplined for Contacting Alabama Lawmakers on University Letterhead

Troy University Professor Disciplined for Contacting Alabama Lawmakers on University Letterhead

Micah Swartz, an assistant professor of teacher education at Troy University, was locked out of his university email and computer after sending a letter on university letterhead to Alabama state officials. The letter, addressed to Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey and several state representatives, expressed concerns about the Alabama Numeracy Act Course Review Committee's long turnaround times and inconsistent standards in reviewing math syllabi for undergraduate education students. According to Swartz, Fred Figliano, dean of the College of Education at Troy, informed him that his access was revoked to prevent him from responding to state leaders who might contact him. Swartz was later given two written disciplinary warnings: one for issuing 'unauthorized communication' using university letterhead and another for 'unprofessional conduct' for sharing the letter with his students. Swartz stated that university administrators did not cite specific university policies for these actions. He had previously con...

Carnegie Endowment Senior Fellow Discusses China's AI Open-Weight Model Policy Amidst Security Concerns

Carnegie Endowment Senior Fellow Discusses China's AI Open-Weight Model Policy Amidst Security Concerns

Graham Webster, a lecturer and research scholar at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation and editor-in-chief of the DigiChina Project, analyzes China's approach to open-weight AI models. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent call for 'open source and openness, cooperation and sharing' in AI development, there's an underlying tension with the need for 'security and controllability.' This duality, enshrined in Chinese legal texts, suggests that while China embraces open models, it also prioritizes security. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior fellow Matt Sheehan notes that 'control' extends beyond AI systems going rogue to include broader disaster prevention. Chinese companies like DeepSeek, Z.ai, and Moonshot continue to release open-weight models, offering lower-priced, customizable competition to closed models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. The Chinese government has not yet barred these releases, indicating that officials do not view them...

Why scientists are using cheap picnic coolers to protect some of the world’s most endangered animals

Why scientists are using cheap picnic coolers to protect some of the world’s most endangered animals

Climate change is killing coral reefs, but this low-tech approach could lessen its destruction.

Opinion Piece Calls for Elected UW Regents and Legislative Action for Collective Bargaining Rights

Opinion Piece Calls for Elected UW Regents and Legislative Action for Collective Bargaining Rights

An opinion piece by Jon Shelton, President of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, argues for a fundamental reform of the University of Wisconsin (UW) System's Board of Regents. Shelton contends that the current appointed system leads to regents who lack understanding of higher education and are unresponsive to faculty and staff. He advocates for amending the state constitution to make regent positions elected, thereby increasing their accountability to the people of Wisconsin. Shelton also expresses disappointment with Governor Tony Evers' appointees to the board, stating they have not empowered university workers. He calls for a Democratic-led senate to hold confirmation hearings for unconfirmed regents and for a new Democratic governor to appoint regents with genuine understanding of higher education, including an elected leader from an AFT-Wisconsin union. Furthermore, Shelton states that the union will now focus on achieving a Democratic trifecta in the upcoming fall election to legislate co...

Virginia State University Shooting Injures Multiple, Suspects Remain at Large

Virginia State University Shooting Injures Multiple, Suspects Remain at Large

Multiple individuals sustained injuries in a shooting incident that occurred at Virginia State University (VSU) on Saturday morning. Law enforcement officials confirmed that several suspects involved in the event remain at large. Following the incident, the university campus, situated approximately 20 miles south of Richmond, was immediately placed on lockdown as police initiated their response. The VSU police department issued a statement detailing that the shooting took place in the vicinity of the Quad Annexes, resulting in multiple victims who were subsequently transported to area hospitals for treatment. The university explicitly noted the involvement of "multiple suspects" in the shooting. Local news affiliate WTVR, citing information from local authorities, reported that five people were injured. Chesterfield police, whose jurisdiction encompasses VSU, indicated they were dispatched to the university dormitories at approximately 1:30 AM. Initial reports stated one victim had life-threatening injurie...

William Jewell College Declares End to Financial Crisis After 18 Months of Reforms

William Jewell College Declares End to Financial Crisis After 18 Months of Reforms

William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, has announced that it has successfully emerged from a financial crisis that began in December 2024. Over the past 18 months, the college implemented sweeping changes, including cutting academic programs, adding new graduate degrees, and significantly increasing enrollment from approximately 930 to over 1,800 students. Leaders at the college, including Eric Blair, vice president of marketing and enrollment, stated that the institution has reduced its deficit and overhauled its governance structure. The college had set an ambitious goal of cutting $7 million in expenses ahead of the 2025-26 school year. Blair attributed the crisis to years of deficit spending rather than a single event, emphasizing the need to address a long-term business model.