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☆ College Protests Live Updates: Schools Brace for More Commencement Disruptions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Yan Zhuang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

At Morehouse College in Atlanta, discontent over the Gaza war has played out relatively quietly, in classrooms and auditoriums rather than on campus lawns. “This should not be a place that cancels people regardless of if we agree with them,” David Thomas, the Morehouse president, said in an interview on Thursday. Mr. Richmond does not think Mr. Biden will face protests. “The Morehouse College graduation, at least as I remember it, is a very solemn event,” he said. Roughly 75 percent of students at H.B.C.U.s, including 50 percent of Morehouse students, are eligible for the Pell Grant, a federal aid program for low-income students.

Persons: Biden, Kamala Harris, Biden’s, Stephen K, Morehouse —, Martin Luther King Jr, ’, ” David Thomas, Christian Monterrosa, Morehouse, Cedric Richmond, Richmond, “, ”, That’s, Harris, Mekhi Perrin, ” Mr, Perrin, Mr, King, Benjamin Bayliss, Dr . King, Morehouse ”, Pell Grant, Dillard, Walter Kimbrough, Young, Donald J, Freddrell Rhea Green II, Donald Trump, ” “ Joe Biden, Samuel Livingston, Auzzy, Byrdsell, Raphael Warnock of, Warnock, ” Kitty Bennett Organizations: Morehouse College, Morehouse, White House, Black, Democratic Party, The New York Times, White, Democratic National Committee, Mr, Howard University, Gaza, George Mason University in, “ Morehouse, Dillard University, Trump, “, West Bank, Credit Locations: Atlanta, Gaza, Morehouse, George Mason University in Virginia, ”, H.B.C.U.s, Columbia, New Orleans, Palestinian, Raphael Warnock of Georgia

☆ How Justice Thomas’s ‘Nearly Adopted Daughter’ Became His Law Clerk
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Steve Eder | Abbie Vansickle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The email went out to members of Justice Clarence Thomas’s law clerk network late last month celebrating his newest addition to an exclusive club. “Crystal Clanton’s clerkship for OT ’24 was announced by Scalia Law today!” wrote an assistant to Virginia Thomas, the justice’s wife, who is known as Ginni. The email referred to the 2024 October term of the court, and the tone was jubilant: “Please take a look at these posts of congratulations and support. In 2019, at the Thomases’ urging, Ms. Clanton enrolled at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Virginia, where Justice Thomas has taught. She received a full merit scholarship, according to another judge who later hired her.

Persons: Clarence Thomas’s, Scalia, ”, Virginia Thomas, Clanton, ” Ms, Thomas, Antonin Scalia Organizations: Scalia Law, Antonin, George Mason University Locations: New York, Virginia

☆ A controversial Supreme Court decision could hurt Biden in November
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( John Blake | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —A Supreme Court decision related to the election could determine the presidential victor this November, but it has nothing to do with former President Donald Trump. The study also said the “narrow” racial-turnout disparity that the high court heavily relied upon in its Shelby decision was based in part on the 2012 presidential election. Yet the study’s conclusion bolsters critics of the Shelby decision. They ignored it although they knew their decision would hurt Black voters, who tend to vote for the Democratic Party, he says. The bloody history behind the Voting Rights ActThe law was passed in 1965 after King led an epic voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama.

Persons: CNN —, Donald Trump, Brennan, —, Holder, John Roberts, Barack Obama, Shelby, Jim Crow, Alabama —, Lawrence Goldstone, ” Goldstone, Sonia Sotomayor, Joe Biden, Shawn Thew, Biden, Goldstone, Black, George W, Bush, preclearance, “, ”, Elijah Nouvelage, Horace Cooper, Martin Luther King Jr, Cooper, “ That’s, Martin Luther King, that’s, ” Cooper, King, Edmund Pettus, Obama, Lyndon B, Johnson, Jr, Ralph Abernathy, Clarence Mitchell, Corbis, Roberts, Reagan, Brett Kavanaugh, tortuously, it’s, John Blake Organizations: CNN, Brennan Center for Justice, Supreme Court, Southern GOP, GOP, State of, Getty, Black, Democratic Party, George Mason University in, US Justice Department, Edmund, White, Congress, Black voters, North Carolina — Locations: Shelby, Southern, America, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, State, Washington, Alabama’s Shelby County, Atlanta , Georgia, AFP, George Mason University in Virginia, Selma , Alabama, White Alabama, “ Shelby

☆ 25-year-old earns $11,000 a month while training for the Olympic trials: With a 'non-revenue generating sport, you have to get creative'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Annie Probert Zachary Green | Annie Probert | Zachary Green | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Add to that the sponsorships funding his pole vaulting season and a growing online personal training business, and Spotswood anticipates earning around $11,000 a month. "I just went home to my parents and was like, 'Where can I do pole vaulting?'" Spotswood first fell in love with pole vaulting in seventh grade and has since embarked on a 12-year career in the sport. Olympic hopefulAfter graduating from Virginia Tech, Spotswood decided to focus exclusively on professional pole vaulting and hopes to qualify for the Olympic trials in June. Looking aheadAfter 12 years of pole vaulting, 2024 is likely Spotswood's last dance.

Persons: Jake Spotswood, Spotswood, Enrique Huaiquil Spotswood, redshirting, Enrique Huaiquil, he's, George Mason, Jake Spotswood Spotswood, He's, George Mason's, I'm, I've Organizations: CNBC, George Mason University, Virginia Tech, University of Alabama, SEC, Alabama, ACC Championships, George, NCAA, Insurance Locations: Fairfax , Virginia, Fairhope , Alabama, U.S, Paris, Fairfax

☆ A lost 22-page transcript discovered at the National Archives reveals the secret history of how Abraham Lincoln pardoned Joe Biden's ancestor
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Alex Nicoll | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The shouting match turned physical, and eventually, Robinette injured Alexander with his pocketknife, according to the Post. After a senator from the recently formed state of West Virginia took up the case, Lincoln pardoned Biden's ancestor on September 1, 1864. The area, now in West Virginia, was full of Union supporters and became a key early battleground of the war. He went on to spend one month in the military prison at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, near Key West, Florida, before Lincoln pardoned him.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln, Biden, Lincoln, Biden's, Moses J, Robinette, John J, Alexander, David Gerleman, he'd, Jane Organizations: Service, Union Army, Washington Post, Post, Business, Army, Potomac, Department, George Mason University, National Archives, Union Locations: splintering, Lincoln, Florida, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Washington ,, Grafton , Virginia, Allegany County , Maryland, Rappahannock, Fort, Key West , Florida

☆ Common pesticides in food reducing sperm count worldwide, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Sperm concentration is a measure of sperm per milliliter of semen, while sperm count is the millions of sperm in the entire ejaculate. However, sperm concentration “is an important measure of sperm quality for comparing men across studies because it adjusts for variability in semen volume,” Perry said. Animal studies have shed light on how these pesticides may impact sperm, according to the study. “Sperm is an incredibly sensitive endpoint when it comes to overall health for men,” Perry said. In their 2023 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, researchers found 210 different pesticides on the 12 foods.

Persons: ”, Melissa Perry, ” Perry, Alexander Pastuszak, “, Tatiana Maksimova, It’s, Alexis Temkin, ” Temkin, “ Steer Organizations: CNN, Pesticides, College of Public Health, George Mason University, US Centers for Disease Control, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Environmental, Produce, US Food and Drug Administration Locations: Fairfax , Virginia, Salt Lake City

☆ Donor revolt at Harvard and UPenn over Israel shows big checks often have strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

New York CNN —Big money donations are booming at America’s colleges, helping fund higher education for millions of students. The biggest donors often sit on universities’ board of trustees, which governs the university and selects university leadership, priorities and direction. The donor backlash at the University of Pennsylvania and uproar at Harvard University over Israel and Palestine highlight how big donations often come with demands for changes to university policy and politics. The backlash has raised questions about the influence big donors wield and pressure donors may exert over leadership, hiring decisions and academic affairs. Restricted giftsMore donations are coming with strings attached, rather than letting schools spend their donations however they want.

Persons: ’, ”, Cliff Asness, James Finkelstein, David Callahan, George Mason, Nikole Hannah, Jones, Rob Reich, “, Ann Marcus Organizations: New, New York CNN, University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Harvard, George Mason University, Faculty Senate Tri, Council, Advancement, “, ”, Aid, Education, Critics, Indiana University, George, Koch Foundation, Yale University, University of North, Chapel, Michigan State, Stanford University, Universities, New York University, NYU’s Steinhardt, of Higher Locations: New York, Israel, Palestine, University of North Carolina, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait

At least eight Georgia Republican electors present that day have agreed to testify in exchange for immunity from state charges. The meeting was led by David Shafer, then chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. But halfway through the meeting, Shafer noted that Still’s name was printed as the secretary on documents. A Georgia Republican Party website raising money to defend electors calls them “patriots who served." Lawyers for the indicted electors argue it was up to Congress to determine which slates should be counted.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump —, Robert Sinners, Trump, Joe Biden's, Kenneth Chesebro, Biden, David Shafer, Shafer, Fulton, Shawn Still, wasn't, ” Shafer, Cathy Latham, State Sen, Burt Jones, John Isakson Jr, Sen, Johnny Isakson, Isakson, Brian Kemp’s, Mike Pence, they’ve, Anna Cross, Latham, Ray Smith, Republican Richard Nixon, John F, Kennedy, Todd Zywicki, Fani Willis, ” Willis ’, Shafer’s, Willis ’, ”, Brad Raffensperger, hasn't, Willis Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Capitol, Trump, Associated Press, Georgia Republican, Georgia Republican Party, Republicans, State, Republican U.S, Atlanta, ”, Republican, U.S, Senate, George Mason University, Georgia Republicans, Hawaii Democrats, Georgia, U.S . House Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia's Coffee County, Alabama, Hawaii, Virginia

☆ How Ben Sasse Became a Combatant in Florida’s Education Wars
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Michael Sokolove | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Sasse’s words sometimes tumble out in a kind of techno-futurist patois that can be hard to follow. In response to a question about his perceived invisibility on campus, he veered off into something about the future of pedagogy. Later, he added, “What will today’s generic term ‘professor’ mean when you disaggregate syllabus designer, sage-on-the-stage lecturer, seminar leader, instructional technologist, grader, assessor, etc. ?”Sasse is not the first politician to lead a big public university. Oliver Grundmann, a professor in the College of Pharmacy, told me that members of the campus community were worried because of the positions Sasse took in the past.

Persons: unbundle, ”, David Boren, Mitch Daniels, Judith Wilde, Sasse, Bob Graham, Oliver Grundmann, ” Grundmann, “ Organizations: University of Oklahoma, Purdue University, Midland University, Midland Lutheran College, Shar, Policy, Government, George Mason University, ”, Graduate Student Council, Pride, Bob Graham Center for Public Service, College of Pharmacy Locations: Indiana, Virginia, Florida, U.F

☆ Justice Samuel Alito: ‘This Made Us Targets of Assassination’
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( James Taranto | David B. Rivkin Jr. | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WashingtonJustice Samuel Alito was supposed to speak to law students at George Mason University in Arlington, Va., but when they showed up, he wasn’t there. “That Alito was speaking via closed circuit from a room at the Supreme Court seven miles away, rather than in person, was a sign these are not normal times,” the Washington Post reported. The Post didn’t explain what made the “times” abnormal.

☆ China's 'Belt and Road' grew out of a lending spree. Now those loans may be its problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAt its peak, China's Belt and Road Initiative was seen as the centerpiece of Beijing's engagement with the world. According to the report, China issued 128 emergency rescue loans worth $240 billion to 22 countries — including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey, among others. 'Trying to salvage Belt and Road'Chinese efforts to revamp Belt and Road have been underway since 2020, according to one observer. "A nod to the concern that many Belt and Road projects were not economically viable to begin with. "The increased indebtedness in many Belt and Road countries is a direct consequence of Beijing's overshooting in the pre-2020 phase," said Zhong.

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine is affecting countries around the world. Here's how ordinary Egyptians are feeling the consequences.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Fcdo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to spiraling food prices worldwide, including in Egypt. Egyptians are paying a heavy price for Russia's war in Ukraine. Before the war, Ukraine and Russia typically supplied 85% of Egypt's wheat imports. These are not the only actions taken to mitigate the economic impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia's war in Ukraine has triggered one of the country's most severe domestic crises.

☆ Russia's invasion of Ukraine has had wide-reaching effects, including trade and partnerships in Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Fcdo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has damaged partnerships and trade agreements around the globe. For Egypt, this has meant the country must seek new trade routes and reinforce existing partnerships with Europe and the US. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has presented Egypt with complex diplomatic challenges. Bilateral trade between the US and Egypt, at $9.1 billion in 2021, is also almost double the volume of Egypt's trade with Russia. A year on from the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western economic partnerships with Egypt are only likely to grow in importance.

☆ The Fed faces a 'no-win situation' but must keep raising interest rates anyway, former FDIC and Fed official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

It’s a no-win situation for them,” Hoenig, the former vice chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, told CNN in a phone interview on Monday. Raising interest rates at the Fed’s monetary policy meeting next week could add to the financial pressure facing the banking system, in part by further depressing the value of the bonds that banks are sitting on. But Hoenig, who led the Kansas City Fed during the 2008 financial crisis, urged the Fed to keep hiking rates because inflation hasn’t gone away. Nomura is going a step further, predicting the Fed will completely reverse course and start cutting interest rates next week and halt the shrinkage of its balance sheet. Hoenig said he would be “disappointed” if the Fed started to cut interest rates now, warning of “long-run consequences” that could invite a repeat of 1970s-style runaway inflation.

☆ An AI rival to ChatGPT passed a university level law and economics exam, and did better than many humans, professor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

An AI received a marginal pass in a law and economics exam, economics professor Alex Tabarrok said. Tabarrok, a professor at George Mason University, said the AI's answer was "better than many human responses." The AI, known as Claude, was built by Anthropic, a company part-funded by Sam Bankman-Fried. Tabarrok said the exam was graded blind and that he considered Claude "a competitor" and "improvement" to OpenAI's GPT3, the tech underlying viral sensation ChatGPT. There has been an explosion of interest in AI capabilities since the launch of OpenAI's chatbot ChatGPT in November.

☆ New missions in the high north are taking US and British aircraft carriers closer to a frigid frontline with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Throughout the war in Ukraine, US destroyers have continued "operating with allies and partners in the high north to put pressure on Russia, to make sure that they know that we're there with capable platforms," Gilday added. The British Royal Navy followed suit this spring, sending HMS Prince of Wales into the Arctic for seven weeks — the first Arctic deployment for the UK's new Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. By sending the carrier that far north, the Royal Navy sought "to push the boundaries of UK carrier operations in the cold, harsh environment," the ship's commanding officer said. British Royal NavyHMS Prince of Wales' deployment reflects the British navy's increasing investment in Arctic operations. In 2020, the British navy "recommenced" routine operations in the Arctic, according to the UK's updated Arctic strategy, released in March.

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