INSIDE HIGHER ED -- Diversity Insider

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May 2013

Inside Higher Ed's Diversity Insider is a monthly news summary of key stories touching on diversity topics. To receive daily news updates from Inside Higher Ed, including our diversity coverage, sign up here.

THE STUDENT BODY

Asians and Affirmative Action -- Asian-American groups urge Supreme Court to bar race-conscious admissions, renewing debate over the impact of such policies.

Career Edge for HBCU Grads -- New study, in challenge to a 2007 finding, says black graduates of historically black colleges fare better in their careers than do those who earn degrees from other institutions.

Restroom Choice -- Jennifer Braly, a transgendered student who is a junior at U. of Arkansas-Fort Smith, is now allowed to use female restrooms. Advocates say colleges have been too slow to accommodate such students.

Gay Voices at a Christian University -- An underground group at Biola U. goes public with fliers and a website. The university removes the fliers but also issues a new statement on human sexuality.

Sending Catholics Running for Cover -- Nondiscrimination policies like Vanderbilt University's that define who can lead student groups are evidence less of a campus "war on God" than of the tyranny of "inclusion," writes Louis Betty.

FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATION

A Big Tent Society -- Scholarly group focused on study of the Bible is creating new organization for those who study the Koran.

Boycott Kills an Anthology -- U. of Texas wanted to honor a late scholar whose career had focused on Middle Eastern studies. But when Arab contributors found out that two Israelis would be published in the same work, a tribute fell apart.

Refusing to Sign -- Facing a new "lifestyle statement" at Shorter University, many faculty and staff have chosen to resign instead. One has spoken out publicly.

A Presbyterian Presidency? -- Davidson is one of the few Presbyterian colleges that still require presidents to be members of the denomination. Now the college's board is studying that rule and may overturn it.

An Acceptable Prejudice -- Thomas C. Terry asks why academics who would never joke about or question the beliefs of many groups are so quick to mock or criticize Mormons.

The Trouble With Black Studies -- Fierce debate breaks out yet again about an ever-controversial field of scholarship. Scott McLemee keeps his eyes on the prize.

Minor Details blogger James T. Minor of the Southern Education Foundation outlines "three imperatives" regarding the future of HBCUs.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Inside Higher Ed's webinar series presents two events that should be of interest to diversity professionals.

On June 25 at 1 p.m Eastern, Janet Marling, executive director of the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students at the University of North Texas (and a clinical assistant professor at the university), discusses creating successful reverse transfer programs.

On July 19 at 1 p.m. Eastern, Scott A. Roberts, co-managing partner of Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP, in Boston, and member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys, discusses how colleges and universities should handle sexual assault allegations.

Find detailed information about these events, as well as a list of past presentations available for download, by clicking here.

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