Quick Takes
Senate, Ending Delays, Confirms 2 Top Science Officials
For weeks now, the Senate (at the bidding of a few senators) has been delaying the confirmations of John Holdren to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Jane Lubchenco to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The delays have infuriated scientists because Holdren and Lubchenco are highly respected researchers whose nominations have been widely applauded. Indeed the "holds" placed on their nominations had nothing to do with them, but reflected a longstanding Senate practice in which lawmakers block nominations from going forward as a way of gaining attention for other issues. Sen. Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, for example, blocked the nominations because of unrelated concerns he has about U.S. policy on Cuba. On Thursday, however, the Senate finally and uneventfully confirmed both officials. Holdren and Lubchenco each issued statements Friday welcoming their confirmations and pledging to make their decisions in office based on sound science.
Sculpture's Removal From Exhibit Prompts Protest at Bowling Green
When a dean removed one piece from a 13-sculpture exhibit at Bowling Green State University's Firelands campus, the director of the gallery took down the rest of the exhibit to protest the censorship, The Toledo Blade reported. A statement released by Bowling Green to the newspaper said: "We removed a sculpture that graphically depicts a female middle school student, on her knees, performing oral sex on a standing male middle school science teacher.... As an institution of higher education, Bowling Green State University strongly supports the right of free speech and artistic expression. However, we also have a responsibility … to not expose the children and families we invite to our campus to inappropriate material.” David Sapp, an art professor and director of the gallery, said he was stunned and angered when he found out that officials had removed the sculpture, and so he shut down the entire exhibit. Depicting an act does not endorse the act, he noted. "Consider if this same scene was in a book and was required reading. If someone complained, should we rip out the passage because it’s not pleasant to read or talk about?” Sapp asked the newspaper.
Michigan State Students Survive Bus Takeover in Guatemala
Eleven students at Michigan State University have returned from a spring break trip to Guatemala during which their bus was seized and they were forced off and tied up, then robbed at gunpoint, The Detroit Free Press reported. The students were on a program in which they were performing volunteer work in Guatemala.
U. of Phoenix Joins Yellow Ribbon Program
Under the new GI Bill, which covers veterans' tuition up to the most expensive resident rate at a public college in the state, private colleges have the option of entering into a matching program with the federal government to cover the balance. How many colleges will participate in the Yellow Ribbon program, and to what extent, has been an open question as many institutions await final regulations. Significantly, the University of Phoenix, which serves more veterans than any other college, does plan to participate in the new GI Bill's Yellow Ribbon program at the maximum 50 percent match, for 30,000 students or more (which would cover current veteran enrollment), according to Patrick Sutliff, who oversees veterans affairs at the institution.
College of DuPage Adopts Policies Over Faculty Objections
The board of the College of DuPage last week adopted a series of policies that effectively give the board more explicit authority over daily management of the college -- including many matters that professors say should primarily be handled by the faculty and the administration. The dispute has been going on for months and focused on a revision of the college's policy handbook. The board did delay a vote on including David Horowitz's "Academic Bill of Rights" as college policy -- a measure that was included in earlier draft -- but board members indicated that they may come back to that issue at future meetings.
After 28 Years, Tuskegee President Plans to Retire
One of the longest serving presidents in higher education, Benjamin F. Payton of Tuskegee University, has announced plans to retire. During Payton's tenure, Tuskegee broadened its educational offerings (and changed its name from Tuskegee Institute to Tuskegee University to reflect that shift). Tuskegee has a prominent role in the history of black higher education and a tradition of long-serving presidents, starting with Booker T. Washington. Since its founding in 1881, the university has had only five presidents.
2 Colleges Call Off Classes to Prevent Flood Damage
Two institutions in Moorhead, Minnesota -- Concordia College and Minnesota State University at Moorhead -- are calling off most classes today so students and others may help prepare sandbags to deal with serious local flooding.
Cambridge Dons Keep Control of the University
The British government has backed off from a push for people outside the University of Cambridge to hold a majority of the seats on the institution's governing board, The Guardian reported. However, the university has agreed to provide more information about how it uses the government funds it receives.
