Quick Takes
The Cost of Journals -- and Their Future
A new report from the National Humanities Alliance finds that the average cost per page of a sample of eight humanities and social sciences journals is $526, almost twice the costs for science and technology journals. The analysis of the eight journals was conducted to help disciplinary associations get a better understanding of the economics of their publishing ventures, at a time of increasing pressure to embrace the open access movement, in which research is available online and free. The humanities alliance's report finds that open access would not be a "sustainable option" for the journals studied. At the same time, the report suggests that a more complete study -- going well beyond the eight journals -- is needed. Such a study might better examine differences among journals in the humanities and social sciences disciplines, the current report says. The new report may be found here. Analysis of it from the American Historical Association may be found here.
U.S. Offers Guidance on Commercial Recruitment Agents
The State Department has issued guidance that bars its EducationUSA centers from forming partnerships with commercial recruitment agents who represent specific universities. The guidance, which applies to the 450 EducationUSA centers that are designed to provide objective advice to international students contemplating study in the United States, cites the lack of objectivity of commercial recruiters among other objections, many of which are consistent with concerns raised by the National Association of College Admission Counseling and other groups.
U. of Miami Investigates Police Takedown of Student
The University of Miami is investigating an incident in which police officers questioned a student -- subsequently revealed not to be the person the officers were looking for -- at gunpoint, The Miami Herald reported. The incident has attracted considerable attention because some communications students witnessed it and made a videotape, which is on the Web site of The Miami Hurricane, the student newspaper.
Harvard Med School Backs Down on Media Rules
Harvard University's medical school is backing away from new rules about student interaction with reporters, following complaints that the policy would block discussion of key issues, The New York Times reported. The controversial policy -- which officials have now vowed to change -- said that all interactions between students and the press needed to be coordinated by the deans of students and public affairs. Harvard officials claimed that the policy was designed to help students, not muzzle them. But students noted that the policy followed student activism (much of it covered by reporters) demanding that the medical school and others pay more attention to issues of conflict of interest in biomedical research. And students argued that university officials shouldn't be required to be involved when students may well be criticizing the university.
New Heights for Dorm Luxury at BU
There may be a new standard in luxury residence halls in Boston, The Boston Globe reported. A new high-rise at Boston University features magnificent views of the city and the Charles River. Amenities, which the Globe said leave parents stunned, include large private bathrooms, walk-in closets, and full-length mirrors.
Bonuses for Good Grades
In-state students at all Indiana University campuses will be eligible for "incentive grants" of $200 to $300 a year if they achieve at least a B average this academic year. Had the program been in place last year, a majority of Indiana students would have qualified. The university announced the program amid legislative criticism of tuition increases.
Oxford, Citing Racism, Won't Let Tories Use University Name
The University of Oxford is barring the student affiliate of the Conservative Party from using "Oxford" in its name, following an incident in which racist jokes were told at an event for would-be officers of the organization, who were asked to tell "the most inappropriate joke you have ever told," The Guardian reported. A statement from the university said: "The university would like to reiterate that this behavior does not reflect the way the overwhelming majority of our students think or behave, and the individuals concerned have resigned from the association." An article in The Daily Mail included the racist joke that attracted the most attention and concern.
