Advertisement

Advertisement

News, Views and Careers for All of Higher Education

Quick Takes: Tornado Strikes Union U., Animal Rights Extremists Take Credit for Attack, Report Questions Admissions Standards, Advisory Board Shrinks, Delay Likely on NYU-Poly Vote, Creationist Article Questioned

  • A tornado hit Union University, in Tennessee, Tuesday night, briefly trapping 13 students in rubble and sending 51 students to the hospital, 9 with serious injuries. There were no deaths. Damage to the campus was extensive, with 17 buildings affected. Many dormitories were either destroyed or seriously damaged. Classes will not resume until February 18. The university is maintaining a blog with information about the damage and the recovery efforts.
  • The Animal Liberation Front is taking credit for a firebomb that went off this week at the home of Edythe London, a professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, who conducts medical research with animals and has defended the scientific need for such work. There were no injuries in the attack. UCLA’s chancellor, Gene Block, denounced the incident — the latest of many against UCLA researchers. “These kinds of deplorable tactics have no place in a civilized society,” Block said. “We will not stop beneficial research activities because of the illegal, violent acts of a handful of extremists.”
  • University of California campuses rely too much on traditional admissions criteria — especially standardized test scores — in ways that limit the admission of black applicants, says a new report “Gaming the System,” from the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African-American Studies at UCLA.
  • AGOS Japan, a company that helps Japanese students get into top M.B.A. programs, may be losing American members of its advisory board. Some admissions experts have questioned the ethics of serving on such a board while also holding jobs in admissions at universities that would be admitting or rejecting AGOS clients. First an official of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania — subsequently found to have her own college consulting business — quit. Now, the advisory board appears to be gone from the English language portion of the AGOS site. A spokesman for Teachers College of Columbia University said Wednesday that an Donald C. Martin, an associate dean there, had quit the board after learning that AGOS helped student in non-M.B.A. programs. A spokeswoman for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said that Sherry Wallace, director of M.B.A. admissions there, remained on the advisory board, but believed that AGOS planned to disband it.
  • The board of Polytechnic University is now likely to delay a vote, originally scheduled for today, on plans to be merged into New York University. Questions about whether some board members have conflicts of interest and whether the board has received full information about the plan have emerged in recent days, with some Polytechnic trustees questioning their own board’s conduct. In response, a key legislator asked for a a delay and The New York Times eported that the board chair indicated he would agree to one.
  • Defenders of evolution are raising complaints — reported on the blog Pharyngula — that a scientific journal, Proteomics, has published an article that appears to be strongly creationist.

Scott Jaschik

Got something to say?


Want it on paper? Print this page.
Know someone who’d be interested? Forward this story.
Want to stay informed? Sign up for free daily news e-mail.

Advertisement

Comments

Creationist Article

You mean, we didn’t evolve from apes? Whales didn’t come from some land creature the size of a fox? Why the indignation when someone challenges evoluationary theory, or is it a divine truth that can’t be challenged.

Rita Brubacher, at 11:25 am EST on February 7, 2008

Creationism

Creationism is merely an hypothesis. Please stop giving it credibility by calling it a theory.

Miles Berkow, at 12:15 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Divine Truths

Evolution is a divine truth.

John B., at 12:15 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Creationist Plagiarism

As so often happens when Creationists attempt scientific respectability, there are many more flaws in the paper than merely “questioning” Evolutionary biology: if you read the linked article and comments, you’ll see substantial evidence of plagiarism (possibly more than 90% of the article!), gross non-sequiturs, misleading citations, and a more or less complete failure to prove anything.

Jonathan Dresner, at 1:00 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Theory or hypothesis?

The application of the name “Theory” to Creationism is entirely appropriate, as one of the meanings of “theory” according to Funk and Wagnals is “a speculative or conjectural view of something.” The Greek word “theoria” from which we get our word actually means “view.” I would tend to apply the word “dogma” to evolutionary theory as much as it is often applied to creationism. It means “a doctrine or system of doctrine especially one maintained by a religious body (evolutionists) as true and necessary of belief.” The Greek word “dogma” means “opinion.”

Another insightful definition: Dogmatic: “Marked by authoritative, often arrogant, assertion of opinions or beliefs.

Gary Fitsimmons, at 1:25 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Divine Inspiration

Why Gary, you may be on to something. Why if evolutionists are a religion, then they should apply to be recognised as such by the federal govt. Then they could all get tax write offs, set their own holidays to get off from work, and finally we could all get a moment of science in schools.

Bob, at 3:45 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Evolution

Judging by the amount of money evolutionists receive from the federal government, and the academic perks, and the support of judges, federal and local, as well as the best-selling moneys from popular texts, there is something quite similar to the Puritan orthodoxy at the time of the Founders. Those who question the absolute truth of evolution might reflect on the Salem witch trials.

Gabriel, retired, at 5:40 pm EST on February 7, 2008

Advertisement

 Jobs Related to Quick Takes: Tornado Strikes Union U., Animal Rights Extremists Take Credit for Attack, Report Questions Admissions Standards, Advisory Board Shrinks, Delay Likely on NYU-Poly Vote, Creationist Article Questioned

or search for jobs directly.

Student Services/Social & Cultural Coordinator
University of California, Riverside

The University of California Riverside invests in your future through employee training and career development, access to ... see job

Coordinator
Temple University

The Coordinator, under the direction of the Director of Technology Transfer Operations, is responsible for the day-to-day ... see job

Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean of the Faculty
Virginia Military Institute

The Virginia Military Institute (VMI) invites applications for the position of Deputy Superintendent for Academics and Dean ... see job

FT 12 Mo Faculty — 2020A
Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University is a Jesuit Catholic University. Through teaching, research, health care and community service, Saint ... see job

Part-Time Political Science Instructor
Central Michigan University

PART-TIME TEMPORARY FACULTY TO TEACH A POLITICAL SCIENCE COURSES Central Michigan University seeks qualified part-time ... see job

Student Org Advisor, Fraternities & Sororities
University of California, Riverside

The University of California Riverside invests in your future through employee training and career development, access to ... see job

Assistant Professor — History of Art, Design and Visual Culture: Contemporary Art & Theory
University of Alberta

The Department of Art and Design in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta invites applications for a tenure track ... see job

Assistant Equal Opportunity/Ada Officer
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Under the direction of the University Equal Opportunity/ADA Officer, the Assistant Equal Opportunity/ADA Officer will manage ... see job

President
St. Martin’s University

Saint Martin’s University in the City of Lacey, Washington, is seeking a President to continue the positive momentum that ... see job

Student Services Specialist (Specially Funded)
Maricopa Community College District

Provides one-stop student service to new and continuing students, with specific focus on advising students interested in ... see job