Post-Secondary News Digest for January 22, 2010
Canada
Anti-prorogation protests planned for weekend:
((Maclean’s)) Canadians across the country will protest this Saturday against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s move to prorogue Parliament. Much of the enthusiasm behind the protests is based on university campuses and driven by students. According to Maclean’s columnist Jeff Rybak, if the protests attract coverage and show real anger, they have the potential to spur change. However, some worry the movement is nothing but a fad created by social media tools.
Faith test at Trinity Western:
((Maclean’s) ) Trinity Western University in British Columbia has drawn scrutiny over its controversial statement of faith. The faith test outlines the beliefs and standards that all faculty and staff of the university must adhere to. All staff are required to sign the document every year. The Canadian Association of Teachers has said that the Statement of Faith violates the idea of academic freedom because it requires staff to be “ideologically or religiously homogenous.”
Manitoba PhD student with exam anxiety reinstated:
((Canada.com)) A professor at the University of Manitoba is criticizing the school for reinstating a PhD student after he failed his comprehensive examination twice. The university is not speaking publicly about student matters and the professor said he was threatened with dismissal for speaking out against the move. The student was supposedly reinstated after being diagnosed with severe exam anxiety and will be evaluated solely on his doctoral thesis.
Workout music could cause damage: researcher:
(http://www.canada.com/health/Loud+headphones+could+mean+permanent+hearing+damage+researcher/2469778/story.html) University of Alberta researcher Bill Hodgetts says many people who listen to music on their headphones while working out may suffer permanent hearing damage. The study, published in December, found that noisy surroundings in most gyms combined with the stress of exercise makes many people listen to louder music longer. Noise-cancelling headphones can be a solution because they reduce the amount of background noise gym-goers hear.
University investigates curling secrets:
((Canoe)) University of Western Ontario researchers say they have spent two years secretly investigating what happens when curlers sweep. The secret research is part of an effort to ensure Canadian athletes win Olympic medals. Engineering professor Tom Jenkyn led the research team and says he is forbidden to reveal the findings until after the Winter Games are over.
U.S.
LGBT community vulnerable at polls: prof:
((LA Times)) A Stanford professor of American political science, testified Thursday at the Proposition 8 trial in California. He said citizens have voted to deny gay rights in 70 per cent of all related referendums in the U.S. Gary M. Segura, has conducted research on the matter over 15 years. He said no other group has been so discriminated against by the political system. The passing of Proposition 8 revoked California’s same-sex marriage laws on Nov 4, 2008.
New Mexico school could collapse in wind:
((Canadian Press)) An engineering study has concluded the University of New Mexico’s practice centre could suffer the same fate as the Dallas Cowboys’ toppled facility. A major windstorm took down the Cowboys’ practice centre last May, injuring a dozen people. Now the Albuquerque school is also vulnerable. A safety report suggests the steel and fabric construction could collapse if hit by a similar surge in air pressure. The school plans to keep its doors closed during bad weather but it is meeting with a construction company to discuss new support structures.
North Carolina college wins lottery:
((Diverse)) Rev. Solomon Jackson Jr. loves his alma mater and he let them know this week with a US$10-million donation. It is the biggest individual contribution in the school’s history, one official said. The pastor won US$260 million on a Powerball lottery ticket in August and wanted to share his good fortune with the school. Morris College is a historically Black college in Sumter, S.C. The endowment will be distributed over long-term needs.
Earth changes colour of asteroids: MIT:
((BBC)) Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have explained the colour discrepancy between asteroids viewed in space and meteorite pieces found on Earth. Their study concluded asteroids are “re-surfaced” as they near the planet. Richard Binzel, professor of planetary sciences at MIT, explained that the proximity to Earth causes earthquakes on approaching asteroids, turning over rubble and revealing fresh red-tinged particles. The findings will help researchers study the lifespan of landed meteorites.
North Dakota colleges defend tuition discounts:
((ABC)) As spots at U.S. universities become harder to find, North Dakota colleges are luring out-of-state and international students with hefty tuition breaks. North Dakota University President Richard Hanson said the school needs research talent, wherever it comes from. He argued for the importance of tuition discounts to its recruitment strategy at Higher Education Committee meeting Wednesday. State-funded universities and colleges in North Dakota granted more than US$27.3 million in tuition discounts and waivers to 9,400 students last year.
Less salt could save lives: U.S. study:
((Medical News Today)) Researchers from three California university medical centres in partnership with Columbia University have concluded reducing salt in American diets could be as beneficial as cutting smoking. Their study suggests salt intake has risen in the U.S. by 50 per cent since the 1970s. One researcher said even a modest decrease of salt could prevent 92,000 deaths and nearly 100,000 heart attacks per year while saving Americans US$24 billion in health-care costs.
World
Israeli university accreditation causes controversy:
((Haaretz)) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is being scrutinized for a decision to give university status to Ariel University Center of Samaria, formerly known as Judea and Samaria College. The decision was officially approved in 2005, but has just been approved by Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The college's academic level has never been officially measured and the Council for Higher Education opposes the change. The school is now known as a "university center." Another discussion will be held later to make it Israel's eighth university.
Egyptian students can wear niqab during university exams:
((Reuters)) A ban on female university students wearing a full-face veil during exams was overturned by Egypt’s High Administrative Court on Wednesday. It said the ban was unconstitutional and violated women’s rights. Minister of Higher Education Hany Helal had imposed the ban in October 2009. Helal said students used the niqab to cheat and exchange identities. In the ruling, the court said the students’ right to wear the niqab cannot be violated. However, students will have to show their faces when asked for security reasons.
A quarter of British universities in the red:
((The Times Higher Education)) A consultant’s report reveals that one in four British universities were operating with recurring deficits before the financial crisis. The government introduced variable tuition fees, student numbers grew, and investment returns and research income rose from 2005-08. However, 41 higher education institutions had operating deficits. The report questions the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s management of universities and speculates about whether these universities will survive the current economic climate.
New Ghana college a victim of its success:
(GhanaWeb) The Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya Muslim College of Education in Wa held its second matriculation on Thursday. More than 1,000 students applied but less than a quarter were offered admission, due to lack of classrooms and teachers’ accommodations. The principal urges the government to invest more money in the college, since it will create qualified teachers who are lacking in the region. The college offers science, technical and social science programs. Two hundred and forty students are registered for the present academic year.
Boost given to entomology:
((The Australian)) Five Australian universities have come together to solve the shortage of insect specialists in the country. Third-year students enrolled in science or in similar degrees will be able to choose between four specialist units regarding entomology. Courses will be available online and students will be able to download mini-lectures for their MP3 players. The universities decided to partner because demand for the specialty was so low, but say entomologists are vital to the biosecurity and biodiversity fields.
U.K. values traditional disciplines over fine art and theology:
((The Times Higher Education)) A University College London study suggests the U.K. public believes degrees in law, mathematics and English are the most useful to job seekers. Adrian Furnham, a professor of psychology at the university, asked about 500 people how they think degree subjects affect students' career prospects. Law received the highest rating, while fine art, anthropology and theology were considered the least useful subjects.