Post-Secondary News Digest for October 21, 2009
Canada
Man arrested following U. of M. stabbing:
(CBC) A 19-year-old man has been arrested following Monday’s stabbing at the University of Manitoba. Danny Truong has been charged with aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon after a 23-year-old man was stabbed in his upper body outside the faculty of music building. Some U. of M. students feel scared and wonder how something like this could happen. Police and the university say it was an isolated incident between two people and the campus is safe. The victim is in stable condition.
Carleton goes trayless:
(Ottawa Citizen) Carleton University has saved food, water and dish detergent since last year’s decision to go trayless in its cafeterias. A spokeswoman for Aramark, Carleton’s food-service provider, says students in trayless dining halls consumed 21 kilograms less per year, which may combat the “freshman 15.” Carleton was one of the first universities in Canada to adopt this continent-wide initiative toward environmental sustainability.
Hotel opens on U. of C. campus:
(CBC) A 100-room hotel opened on the University of Calgary campus Oct. 20. President Harvey Weingarten says Hotel Alma will save the university money by housing the “thousands of visitors” U. of C. hosts every year. The hotel, which will be run by co-op students in the tourism program, boasts a bistro, conference facilities, Wi-Fi internet access and flat screen TVs. Weingarten says no public money was used in the hotel’s construction. Any profit will be reinvested into the international residence.
Dalhousie gives N.B. medical program a face-lift:
(Telegraph-Journal) Incoming students enrolling in the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick program next September will be the first batch of aspiring doctors to study under a new course curriculum. John Steeves, the associate dean of Dal Med, says the program will includes new skills such as patient advocacy. The first two years of the program have not been revised in 17 years. Dalhousie hopes to have the course outlined in full by January.
CFS branch calls for student gov’t reform:
(The Manitoban) The Quebec branch of the Canadian Federation of Students has proposed a reform package in response to petitions from students at 13 different universities to leave the federation. The package, which will be presented at the national body’s November meeting, calls for more transparency in financial matters and legal proceedings. It also calls for changing the terms of student government membership from universities including Dalhousie, Mount St. Vincent and CBU.
Student wins UBC senate position for first time since 1916:
(The Ubyssey) Geoff Costeloe is the first student ever to be elected as vice-chair of UBC’s Vancouver Senate since its establishment in 1916, the university said in a statement Oct. 20. Costeloe beat Convocation Senator and City Councilman William McNulty for the position, which serves as speaker of the senate in the absence of the Chair. Costeloe, a student senator with the UBC senate, says his appointment is a testament to the hard work of student government. He hopes that it will bring more student awareness to the senate.
U.S.
Further arrests likely in slain Connecticut student:
(WPRI.com) Police are anticipating more arrests in connection with the murder of Jasper Howard, U. of Connecticut student. Several people who were present at the time of the murder have been arrested. Howard was stabbed during a fight between about six University of Connecticut students and another group of men after a campus dance. One man in custody says he was there at the time of the stabbing, but didn’t do it himself.
No 4-year degree for Illinois college:
(Daily Herald) A fight to bring four-year bachelor’s degrees to Harper College in Illinois has ended, at least for a while. Instead, Northern Illinois University will partner with Harper College and offer a bachelor of science degree on Harper’s Palatine campus. The university hopes the new degree can be a template that other colleges in the area adopt for themselves. Oakton Community College is also close to signing a deal that will bring a four-year degree program to one of its campuses.
Anti-Islamic speaker yelled down:
(The Associated Press) An anti-Islamic Dutch lawmaker scheduled to make a speech at Philadelphia’s Temple University Oct. 20 was shouted down after speaking for only 30 minutes. Geert Wilders’ brief speech was largely about the Quran, the Muslim holy book which he calls an “evil book.” When the floor was opened to questions, some students began shouting over Wilders and other students, jeering and booing. He was eventually escorted from the auditorium.
Students get more protection from credit card companies:
(Inside Higher Ed) College students in the U.S. may start to feel less pressure from the marketing practices of credit card companies this coming year. The Federal Reserve proposed new regulations that, if passed, will amend the Truth in Lending Act, giving consumers more ways of defending themselves from the practices of credit card companies. If the changes go through, colleges will have to disclose any agreements they make with credit card companies to market or distribute cards to students.
Enrolment up, racial mix unchanged at U.S. med schools:
(USA Today) The Association of American Medical Colleges announced Oct. 20 that medical school enrolment is up for the 11th year in a row. First-year enrolment in medical programs increased two per cent from last year. The report also outlined the demographics of U.S. medical schools. Although the number of black and Asian students has risen this year, 70 per cent of all students in medical schools are white.
Alaska prof speaks out against big oil—loses funding:
(Peer.com) An Alaska university marine scientist lost not only his office but also a large research grant. The group offering the grant, the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, pressured the university to silence the scientist’s open critique of oil industry plans to develop their arctic operations further. Both the faculty union and the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy group, are fighting for Professor Rick Steiner, arguing the university violated academic freedoms.
U.S. tuition up from last year—still climbing:
(NY Times) A recent College Board report shows that tuition costs in the U.S. rose sharply last year and don’t seem to be stopping. The report shows that public four-year colleges raised tuitions and other fees by an average of 6.5 per cent, private four-year colleges were slightly lower, raising fees by 4.4 per cent. At the top are public two-year colleges that upped tuition and fees by 7.3 per cent. Despite an increase in grant aid, student borrowing has been steadily increasing as well stretching student financial resources.
World
Pakistan universities close in wake of bombings:
(Guardian.co.uk) Suicide bombings at the International Islamic University in Islamabad on Oct. 20 sent ripples through the educational community as schools across the city shut down. Officials say schools will remain closed for the rest of the week so they can beef up security measures. Four more people have died from the attack, raising the death toll to eight. The bombings were likely committed with the intent to discourage an anti-Taliban offensive in South Waziristan.
Chinese army to recruit 130K college grads:
(Reuters) China’s army will recruit 130,000 Chinese university graduates this year. The government says it aims to improve the quality of the army and give grads jobs. China’s ministry of education will give grads who join the army a US$3,500 rebate on tuition fees for college or university. A survey by the ministry of defence found 1.44 million male grads would consider joining the military.
Hoods down on U.K. campuses:
(BBC News) Students won’t be able to wear hoods on campus anymore when new guidelines come into effect in the United Kingdom. The guidelines set by Higher Education Minister David Lammy are in response to colleges’ safety concerns over violence and weapons. Students will face random ID checks, metal detectors and a new policy that will not allow them to wear their hoods up. The guidelines also recommend campuses recruit security staff. Police may also have a larger role on campuses as a result.
Visa scam smuggles fake students into Australia:
(The Australian) A people-smuggling network is using student visas to bring bogus students into Australia. To obtain the visa, students must have at least $11,602 in the bank. But education agents lent fake students this money under in the sting. The fake student also receives a phony English language certificate. He or she does not show up for class, but is marked as having attended every class.
Colleges to be shut down in Australia:
(The Australian) The Australian government is targeting up to 25 private colleges for special audits that may lead to the closure of some, according to sources. The government is struggling to prepare for the failure of some schools resulting from a decrease in student visa applications from India. The number of these visa applications has dropped by about 60 per cent. The federal government is under pressure to inject cash into the international student fund.