Quick Takes

Blackboard -- a company sometimes criticized for not engaging with its critics -- has introduced a new blog that features, among other things, comments posing tough questions. Ray Henderson, formerly at Angel (recently and somewhat controversially acquired by Blackboard), is now at Blackboard and doing the blogging. Henderson used his introductory post specifically to invite comments from a range of views. "I’m dipping my toe in the previously uncharted waters for Blackboard of having comments turned on in this blog. Not revolutionary I know and really required for an interesting exchange," he wrote. "But a new step for Blackboard nonetheless and one we’re taking gradually. To be crystal clear, all points of view are welcome and encouraged. I want to hear from all corners. And I’m guessing for the great majority (agree, disagree, criticism, some mix), review will ultimately prove unnecessary. But to get this new step up and running and keep the discussion on point, for now, review we shall." Judging from comments posted (several question Blackboard's legal strategies) the blog is open to criticism of the company.

India's government hopes to open up the country's higher education market to foreign colleges and universities, Kapil Sibal, the minister in charge of higher education, told The Wall Street Journal. The move would be a dramatic shift, given India's traditional hesitancy about foreign operated colleges. ""I would hope that come 2010, universities around the world will be sprinting to come to India," he told the Journal.

The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas is receiving a $100 million gift from former Texas Gov. Bill Clements, The Dallas Morning News reported. Not only is the gift a large one for this period of economic uncertainty, but there are no restrictions on the use of the gift -- and gifts of that size rarely come without any stipulations.

Martha Minow was on Thursday named the next dean of Harvard University's law school -- one of the most prominent positions in legal education nationally. Minow, who has taught at the law school since 1981, is known for a wide range of intellectual interests and for leading the efforts to reform the law school's curriculum in recent years. The curricular reforms -- radical for the tradition-bound institution -- involve having students spend significant amounts of time solving legal problems by simulation and through mock litigation, rather than by focusing entirely on interpreting legal doctrines and appellate opinions. Minow succeeds Elena Kagan, who left the dean's position when she was nominated by President Obama to serve as solicitor general of the United States.

David Ashley, president of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas for three years, may not reach four, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Ashley rushed back from a trip to Singapore -- a trip the system chancellor didn't want him to make -- to deal with demands that he resign. He has been criticized for his "lax" management style, for not being sufficiently engaged on campus, and over clashes between his wife and some employees, the newspaper reported.

ESPN is running this week a broadcast and text version of an investigation into the case of the two University of Nebraska star wrestlers who were kicked off the team after they were found to have been paid to be photographed for a gay pornography site. The article is not entirely flattering about the students, who are straight and said that they took the non-traditional work for the cash. But the students raise issues about the relative punishment they received compared to other athletes. "Once my pictures were out, people knew I posed nude. Someone gets in a fight, someone gets rape charges, someone gets sexual harassment charges -- you can cover that up," one of the wrestlers told the network.