| Friday, April 30, 2021 |
| Mississippi State holds in-person commencement ceremony | |
 | Inside Humphrey Coliseum, thousands of Mississippi State students officially became alumni of the university on Thursday. Distand Standifer was one of the 2,900 students to walk across the stage a graduate of Mississippi State. "Honestly, it was one of the hardest semesters I ever had, well year in generally, especially being a senior," he said. With the pandemic in full swing during their senior year, students learned a new normal with socially distanced classrooms and continually wearing masks. However, that difficulty did not go unnoticed by staff. "We've gone through all of these changes and still these students have not only finished the course but a surprising number of them have done so with honors or with highest honors," said MSU chief communications officer Sid Salter. To keep everyone safe during the ceremony, all attendees wore masks when in the Hump. For this ceremony, students were allowed four guests to see the celebration. No matter the restrictions, Danielle Belli said she's just glad to have a ceremony. "It means a lot," said Belli. |
| MSU continuing mask requirement in classrooms | |
 | While the city of Starkville will be lifting its citywide mask mandate as of Saturday, Mississippi State University announced Wednesday it would still require face coverings within classrooms on campus throughout the summer. Beginning May 6, masks will be optional within some indoor locations on campus, including offices and public spaces such as hallways and restrooms. But they will still be required inside classrooms, laboratories and studios. Capacity limitations for indoor facilities on campus will increase to 75 percent, which includes auditoriums, meeting rooms and classrooms. MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter said the university came to this conclusion after input and expertise from leadership, including President Mark Keenum, Vice President of Student Affairs Regina Hyatt, Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw and other individuals and groups on campus. Even though MSU is alleviating some of the COVID-19 protocols on campus, Salter said, the university is still encouraging faculty, staff and students to take precautions when possible to help decrease case numbers. Mississippi University for Women Executive Director of University Relations Anika Mitchell Perkins said MUW's task force will be meeting today to discuss the future of COVID-19 guidelines and mask mandates at the university. |
| MSU Bagley College welcomes new fundraiser | |
 | Jordan Smith of Saltillo has joined the Mississippi State University Foundation's fundraising staff as the new assistant director of development for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. He began his duties April 1. Smith graduated from MSU's College of Business with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 2019. As a student, he interned with the university's athletic department in the areas of communication broadcasting and football recruiting. He also served as a broadcaster for Starkville High School's football program from 2017-2018. Prior to assuming his position with the foundation, Smith worked as a recruiter for Itawamba Community College. Smith joins Bennett Evans, Bagley College's senior development director, and fellow assistant director Paul Zimmerman to work with alumni and development efforts. As one of approximately 40 named engineering colleges in the nation, the Bagley College offers degree programs in eight different academic engineering departments and many certification programs. U.S. News and World Report ranks its undergraduate and graduate programs among the top 100 nationwide. |
| Child confesses to deliberately burning dog; no charges | |
 | A child has confessed to intentionally setting a dog on fire in north Mississippi, but authorities said the suspect can't be charged. Buddy was found last week in Tate County with severe burns to his face and an extension cord wrapped around his neck. The Tate County Sheriff's Office said it had a confession in the case Wednesday from a child, but because state law prevents children younger than 12 from being criminally charged, the case will go no further, WMC-TV reported. "We are just as frustrated as anyone that more cannot be done through the justice system regarding the juvenile in this case," Sheriff Brad Lance wrote Thursday in a Facebook post. Buddy, a Labrador retriever mix, is currently receiving care at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "We are keeping him comfortable, changing his bandages and managing any problems as they arrive," said Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, an associate professor and veterinary surgeon. "Burns can take several days to fully manifest, so we are still assessing the full extent of damage." "Things can change rapidly in this situation and we are doing everything we can to stay on top of any problems that may arise and to provide him with the very best care," Swanson said. |
| Buddy, dog set on fire, slowly recovering under MSU veterinary care | |
 | A dog in Mississippi is on the road to recovery after a child, authorities say, intentionally set him on fire and wrapped an extension cord around his neck. Buddy, a Labrador retriever mix, was found dazed and suffering burns to his face in Tate County on April 22, according to a post on the Tunica Humane Society's Facebook page. The Tunica Humane Society is a no-kill animal shelter dedicated to saving animals' lives, according to the organization's Facebook page. Buddy was moved to Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine on Monday, according to a news release from the college. While there, he has been able to receive around-the-clock care from a team of doctors and medication to control the pain. "Buddy's vital signs are good but, as with any burn patient, this is very much the bottom of a tall mountain to be climbed," Associate Professor and Veterinary Surgeon Dr. Elizabeth Swanson said in the release. Buddy's doctors are also working with Kerecis, a medical fish skin company, that will provide North Atlantic Cod fish skin for his skin grafts to treat his burns, according to the post. Swanson said they plan to do Buddy's first skin graft on Friday and continue to ensure that he doesn't develop an infection. |
| Buddy recovering at MSU veterinary school | |
| The veterinary school at Mississippi State University is caring for Buddy, a dog from Tate County who suffered severe burns to his face. Buddy arrived at MSU's College of Veterinary Medicine on Monday. "Buddy's vital signs are good but, as with any burn patient, this is very much the bottom of a tall mountain to be climbed," said Dr. Elizabeth Swanson, associate professor and veterinary surgeon. "We are keeping him comfortable, changing his bandages, and managing any problems as they arise. Burns can take several days to fully manifest, so we are still assessing the full extent of damage." According to an MSU announcement on Thursday, Buddy is in good spirits -- eating, wagging his tail and kisses anyone he can. The Tunica Humane Society Facebook page has been sharing Buddy's story and is providing updates. MSU Chief Communications Officer, Sid Salter made sure to warn us just how serious Buddy's condition is. “We want to be honest about what we share with the public about this and Buddy has a long way to go,” he said. |
| East Mississippi Business Development Corporation unveils new logo | |
 | The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC) has unveiled a new logo that includes a revised mission statement. According to a news release, the logo has three very distinct components: It separates the "EM" from the "BDC" to highlight the location of emphasis. It includes the mission statement. The new color scheme features maroon to recognize the very strong community relationship to Mississippi State University. The mission statement highlights the three focus areas for EMBDC: Support Growth. Connect People. Build leaders. |
| Starkville Schools reviewing auditor's report to identify potential savings | |
| The Starkville Oktibbeha School District has the potential to save millions of dollars. In collaboration with the state auditor's office, the school district reviewed its expenses to determine if any money-saving changes could be made. The state auditor partnered with the advanced data firm Glimpse K12. Auditors found the potential to save between $3.5 million and $5.3 million by eliminating some spending. One such example is the elimination of underutilized software. This change could save up to $170,000. The report also showed room for improving transportation service funds. The audit report says the district could cut down on the number of buses. The district could also bring its custodial and maintenance funds in line with similar school districts, potentially saving up to $1.8 milliion. District leaders are still reviewing the 45-page report. |
| Mississippi commission removing mask requirement in casinos | |
| The Mississippi Gaming Commission said Thursday that it will end its mask mandate for casino customers and employees as of 5 p.m. Friday. The commission said all casinos must continue to follow other state and local rules that aim to slow the spread of the coronavirus, according to the Sun Herald. Casinos are also free to set their own COVID-19 safety guidelines, the commission said. Mississippi casinos were allowed to reopen on May 21, 2020 -- two months after they were ordered to close after the first coronavirus cases were identified in the state. The Gaming Commission has required masks inside Mississippi's state-regulated casinos unless people are eating or drinking. Casino staff members were expected to encourage social distancing. A checklist of COVID-19 symptoms was posted at casino entrances, requesting that people not enter if they were sick. The Mississippi state health officer, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, did not mention casinos but he said Thursday on Twitter that he has seen "some resurgence of anti-mask non science." "We look forward to diminishing mask use as vaccinations increase and COVID cases drop. But masks do work," Dobbs wrote. |
| COVID restrictions will be lifted from all Mississippi casinos, including the mask mandate | |
 | The Mississippi Gaming Commission announced Thursday it is rescinding all of the coronavirus restrictions in place since March 4 for casinos across the state, including the requirement that employees and visitors must wear masks. The order becomes effective at 5 p.m. Friday, April 30. "All licensed operators shall continue to abide by any state and local rules or ordinances pertaining to COVID-19," the order said. Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi will continue to require masks, despite the order. "For the safety of our team members and guests, we will continue to require masks at MGM Resorts properties at this time," spokeswoman Mary Cracchiolo said in a statement. "We are in the process of removing hand washing stations from the casino floor and will no longer be conducting temperature checks for team members as they enter the property," she said. "As vaccination efforts continue, we will reassess our health and safety protocols consistent with guidance from health experts, changing regulatory requirements, and input from our guests and employees." The restrictions also come in time for next week's Southern Gaming Summit, which was canceled last year, and returns to the Beau Rivage May 4-6. |
| MSDH releases results of COVID-19 vaccine confidence survey | |
| Most Mississippians will take a COVID-19 vaccine once its available to them, according to an executive summary of a recent survey of vaccine confidence released by the Mississippi Department of Health released this week. According to the results of the Mississippi COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Survey, 73.2% of Mississippians surveyed indicated they will "definitely or likely" receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available to them. 16.6% remained undecided, while only 10.2% said they do not intend to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, vaccination plans vary at least slightly by gender, race/ethnicity, age, marital status education level, annual household income and political affiliation. Those with higher annual household income and higher education level in Mississippi proved to be more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. 80.1% of individuals with a graduate degree planned to be vaccinated, along with 71.5% of college graduates or those with some college and 51.1% of those with a high school education or less. |
| Rebekah Staples named MBJ's Under 40 Person of the Year | |
| Rebekah Staples, founder and president of the consulting firm Free State Strategies, was named Mississippi's Under 40 Person of the Year for 2021 Thursday by the Mississippi Business Journal at an event at the Old Capitol Inn in Downtown Jackson. Free State Strategies provides public policy, political strategy and communications advice to politicians and political candidates, universities, think tanks, companies, and non-profits. She also serves as chairman of the Capital Complex Improvement District Advisory Board. Previously, Staples served as Gov. Haley Barbour's policy director. Staples used this experience to then serve as the policy director and later as the senior advisor to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, assisting him with passage of major policy priorities and management of legislative committees. Staples holds a bachelor's degree from Mississippi College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Vanderbilt University. |
| The fate of Amtrak's Gulf Coast return rests with a federal board | |
 | The Mississippi Gulf Coast hasn't been closer to getting Amtrak access back in the last 15 years than it is now. But even with $77 million in awarded funds and a 2022 proposed start date, the return of the passenger rail line -- which some prominent officials believe would be an economic boon to the state and help complete years of recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina -- still isn't a sure thing. Amtrak's leadership says after years of failed deliberations that have become mired in politics, they're done waiting on languished negotiations with freight companies they're not sure will ever end in an agreement to run the line connecting Mobile to New Orleans. So, Amtrak has filed a case with an independent federal agency called the Surface Transportation Board, petitioning its members to speed up the process. Mississippi leaders have already thrown their support behind Amtrak's decision to file, hoping the board could be the last major step in restoring service to a region that's been cut off from the nation's passenger rail network since Hurricane Katrina. "Assessments have shown this route has the capacity to accommodate both Amtrak and freight movement," U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, a long-time supporter of the plan, told Mississippi Today. "Restoring this route has been delayed long enough." |
| Mississippi's Senate delegation backing bill to expand telehealth access | |
| Mississippi's Senate delegation is backing a bill to expand access to telehealth services beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan 'Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021' would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to safely connect with their doctors. "Telehealth is enabling more people to receive the care they need, leading to improved outcomes and lower costs," Senator Roger Wicker said. "This bipartisan legislation would build on the success of telehealth in states like Mississippi to eliminate existing barriers and expand access to lifesaving care for more Americans." Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), and Doris Matsui (D-Calif.). A bill to extend telehealth services past the pandemic at the state level died during the recently completed Mississippi legislative session. |
| President Biden's next pandemic challenge: Getting Americans to accept the virus | |
 | President Joe Biden's first 100 days saw real gains against the pandemic, but the next 100 days -- and the 100 days after that -- will determine how well Covid-19 is contained. And containment, not eradication, is the most realistic goal: Public health experts say the coronavirus is here for the long haul. Now, the challenge for Biden, his response team and state health officials will be managing the rolling series of outbreaks possibly driven by more dangerous virus variants, while avoiding the wishful thinking of the Trump administration, which downplayed the disease's lethality. "In the short term, we are not talking about eradicating the virus," a senior administration official told POLITICO. "But we can control it if it's smaller. Because all the tools of containment work a lot better if it's smaller." Vaccination remains the centerpiece of the response -- and Biden appealed strongly to Americans to get the shots in his speech before Congress on Wednesday night. In the best case scenario, public trust in the shots will keep rising, particularly among the most vulnerable, including minority groups the administration seeks to reach. New anti-viral medicines, already in the pipeline, could become available in the foreseeable future, so infected people could be treated at home before they get seriously ill. |
| Rep. Liz Cheney on fist bump with President Biden: 'We're not sworn enemies. We're Americans' | |
 | Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) responded to her critics who slammed her for giving President Biden a fist bump before his address to Congress on Wednesday. "I disagree strongly w/ @JoeBiden policies, but when the President reaches out to greet me in the chamber of the US House of Representatives, I will always respond in a civil, respectful & dignified way," Cheney tweeted on Thursday. "We're different political parties. We're not sworn enemies. We're Americans," Cheney added. Cheney, the third most powerful Republican in the House, has been under fire by her own party for speaking out against former President Trump after the Capitol riot. Trump has repeatedly called on Cheney to be voted out of office and her own state party censured her after her vote to impeach Trump in the aftermath of the riot. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), however, greeted Cheney before the speech. McConnell has stood by Cheney amid attacks by Trump and others in the Republican party. |
| Graduations resume at Mississippi's public universities | |
 | Spring graduation ceremonies are returning to Mississippi's college campuses this year, and some students who were unable to walk across a stage in 2020 because of the coronavirus are joining in the celebration. Students at the University of Mississippi's School of Law are walking across the stage to receive their diplomas. Seth Dickinson, president of the Student Bar Association, is speaking to his peers. Dickinson says "No matter the price of what we have paid this past year especially, we bought in, and we bought in pretty dang well." This is the University's first graduation ceremony since the coronavirus pandemic began last year. Charlotte Pegues, Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs, says graduates participating in outdoor ceremonies can also invite a limited number of guests. Alisa Mosely, Senior Vice-President of Academic Affairs at Jackson State University, says returning to in-person graduation ceremonies is a needed departure from a year of online video conferences. Mosely says "I think there is an energy of having people with you in the space, and being able to look at their expressions and really almost feel their sense of excitement." According to the state college board, Mississippi's public universities will award more than 12 thousand degrees during spring commencement exercises. |
| Mississippi college and university research impact of coronavirus pandemic on young adults | |
| Young adults in Mississippi are sharing the challenges they're facing as a result of the coronavirus pandemic with researchers at Tougaloo College and the University of Southern Mississippi. The Young Adults Against COVID 19 study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is designed to learn about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on 18 to 29 year olds. Assistant Professor Traci Hayes is with Tougaloo College in Jackson. She says they're using brief online surveys and virtual focus groups. "We're even finding out that fact that it's been very stressful on them, how it's impacted their work environment, impacting going to school, so the focus groups allow us to be very personal and get that in-depth information," said Hayes. Young adults are a high risk group for contracting and transmitting COVID 19. Hayes says they also want to learn about their attitudes towards following guidelines and vaccinations. Carlee McNealy, a senior at USM, took part in the study. The 22-year old Public Health major says she became scared when people began dying from the coronavirus. But she's not ready to get vaccinated. "I just want to see how it plays out a little bit more before I go in. And then my mom had some experiences when she got her first shot. She wasn't feeling well, her body was sore and things like that. So I just didn't know if I was ready to do that just yet," said McNealy. |
| UM employees to receive pay raise in 2022 | |
 | University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce announced that university employees will receive salary and wage increases during the 2022 fiscal year. This increase will be effective on July 1. In an email to all faculty and staff members, Boyce announced the income increase and praised university employees for their performance during the pandemic. "Over the last 14 months, I have watched our faculty and staff excel to new heights and perform heroically in the face of adversity brought on by the global pandemic," Boyce wrote. The increases in wage and salary will come from funds appropriated to the University of Mississippi by the Mississippi legislature. Boyce also cited an additional allocation of funds from the adjustment of the university's permanent budget. The email was not specific about exactly who would be eligible for pay raises, but did specify that the amount of money available for salary increases has been raised from 1 to 3 percent. In addition to these changes, the minimum wage per hour for all permanent university employees has increased to $12.50 per hour, exceeding the federal minimum wage by $5.25 an hour. Boyce also took this opportunity to reaffirm the university's commitment to increasing graduate student stipends. The email instructs eligible employees to look out for more detailed instructions from the budget office over the summer and cites a commitment to equity and the wellness of the University for the pay increases. |
| U. of Mississippi hosts first physical commencement since pandemic | |
| Families gathered today at the University of Mississippi for a graduation ceremony. The event was different from previous ceremonies in several ways. Along with other preventive measures that were in place like face coverings, people in the same family had to sit together, and be at least one row apart from other families. Graduate Daniel Bond said the changes were worth it, as long as he got to walk across the stage. Bond said he was worried that he and his classmates' graduation ceremony would have to be virtual like the ceremonies last year. "My family and I were kind of scared that the same thing was going to happen to us. But Ole Miss was able to pull it together and give us this really nice ceremony," said Bond. "I'm sure a lot of people had a lot of work put into it, to make sure we get to walk across the stage." Law graduate Abby Cummings said it's a relief to be at this point. "It's been three years of painstaking, studying, preparing for finals and we finally made it," said Cummings. "We're here, we're ready to take the bar, start our careers and see the hard work pay off." |
| USM students participate in Denim Day for sexual assault awareness | |
 | Sexual Assualt Prevention Ambassadors at the University of Southern Mississippi took part in Denim Day to bring awareness to sexual assault. "Clothing does not equal consent. No matter what you wear, it doesn't give you consent to do anything," said Bella Brocato, president of SAPA. That's just one of the main points Brocato is trying to get through to students at USM when it comes to sexual assault. The message is seen around campus for Denim Day. It came about after a sexual assault case that took place in Italy in 1999. "An 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor," Brocato said. "The supreme court in Italy basically ruled that it must have been consensual because she was wearing jeans and would have to assist him in taking them off." Bella says thanks to key women in the country taking a stand, the day was created. "Several women in the Italian parliament came out wearing denim such as jeans, jean jackets in support of that survivor," Brocato said. Now, USM's Sexual Assault Prevention Ambassadors have taken part in Denim Day for the last three years. The organization's founder, Selma Newbill, is a survivor of sexual assault and wants to continue to change the culture of assault on campus. |
| JSU Free Summer Courses, USM Project START Partnership and 2021 Retool Your School Awards | |
| Jackson State University is offering free summer courses to assist students and families who faced academic or economic impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. The university has also not requested a tuition increase. Financial assistance is available to current JSU students who will be attending JSU Summer Session 2021, as well as current undergraduate and graduate students who completed coursework at JSU during the Spring 2021 semester. Federal Higher Education Emergency Relief funds, established in March 2020 as part of the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, cover the costs of the free classes The grant covers tuition for six credit hours in face-to-face classes, seminars or lab courses and other mandatory fees, but not housing or meals. Also, Home Depot revealed a list of 30 historically black colleges and universities across the United States that won awards in the 2021 Home Depot Retool Your School Program on Thursday, April 15. Three Mississippi HBCUs, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University and Coahoma Community College, received campus improvement grants this year. |
| Coming to Tuscaloosa for UA spring graduation? Here are some changes you might notice around town | |
 | With families and friends flocking to Tuscaloosa this weekend for the University of Alabama's spring graduation, here's a look at five things that have changed recently around the Capstone. The biggest change is 7 tons: Tuska, a life-sized bronze elephant statue, has been installed outside Bryant-Denny Stadium's north side. Tuska was a popular site for selfies with A-Day game fans and no doubt will be a sought-out site for graduation photos this weekend. Two longtime 15th Street restaurants have closed in the shopping center that once housed the old AMF Bama Lanes bowling alley. Ichiban Japanese Grill and Sitar Indian Cuisine announced they would be shutting their doors in March. While you can't go to those restaurants this weekend, the good news is Ichiban plans to reopen soon at 2128 University Blvd., the former site of Real and Rosemary, and Sitar plans to reopen at 220 15th St. E., next to the Wendy's. PJ's Coffee and Rita's Ice has opened on the Strip at 1201 University Blvd. Bill Getchell, a former UA football player, opened the store in March in the old Expeditions clothing store. The restaurant features a variety of coffees and New Orleans-style beignets, along with Italian ice, gelati and custard. Downtown Tuscaloosa diner Hooligan's, a lunch and late-night staple at 1915 University Blvd. since 1998, has moved to a new location, at 515 15th St. The new Hooligan's will move into the old Pizza Hut building next to Checker's. |
| LSU wraps up investigation into associate dean of students, tries to tighten reporting rules | |
 | LSU's Associate Dean of Students Jonathan Sanders is back at work after an internal investigation found he complied with policy and procedure his office uses in probing complaints of student sexual misconduct and similar violations. Sanders came under fire for the way he handled those investigations after several students complained he seemed to prefer light punishments for offenders in Title IX cases, while some said they felt pressured to accept "deferred suspensions" for perpetrators. LSU hired law firm Husch Blackwell to investigate the way the school has handled sexual misconduct cases. Husch Blackwell noted that the school's guide for responding to reported sexual misconduct "does not appropriately capture the escalating and mitigating factors commonly utilized to determine the severity of a sanction." But LSU commissioned its own HR probe into Sanders this month. And a memo from LSU's HR division about the Sanders probe -- which his attorney released Thursday to The Advocate | The Times-Picayune -- rebuts many of the allegations that have recently surfaced against him. Since he's returned to work, Sanders has retained his job title as associate dean of students, though he is no longer involved in handling sexual assault or Title IX cases. LSU's Student Advocacy and Accountability Office has not been the final arbiter in those cases since August of last year, when changes to Title IX took effect under then-President Donald Trump. |
| Clause bans South Carolina's public colleges from requiring vaccination | |
 | Legislators repeatedly rejected attempts to give South Carolinians money to encourage them to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but they barred colleges from requiring students to get a shot. A clause in the more-than-$10 billion state spending package approved 43-3 on April 29 by the Senate bans public colleges from making COVID-19 vaccination a condition for being on campus in the upcoming school year. Some senators made several unsuccessful attempts during floor debate this week to incentivize shots, concentrating on college students who rarely get seriously ill from the virus but can spread it unknowingly to those who do. One that appeared poised to pass after picking up GOP support would have given $250 scholarships to public college students who complete the vaccination process, using up to $50 million of federal COVID-19 aid to dole the money out on a first-come, first-served basis. Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree, R-Little River, said the idea of giving people money to do something that's free, that they should want to do on their own, generally gives him heartburn. But making it a scholarship changed his mind. "This is a preventative step to use federal money for the pandemic for prevention and at the same time helping out students and families," he said. "It gives students a break. And it gets us to herd immunity quicker." |
| U. of Missouri will take steps to identify students protesting about changes to social justice centers | |
 | Students protesting the restructuring of the University of Missouri's social justice centers and cutting their coordinator positions called for the removal of two top diversity administrators on campus Thursday afternoon. "Hey, ho, Russell and Gipson gotta go" echoed from wall to wall as at least 35 protesters moved through the first floor of Jesse Hall. They were referring to Maurice Gipson, vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity, and B. Sherrance Russell, assistant vice chancellor for student diversity initiatives. MU spokesperson Christian Basi said after the protest that officials from the Division of Student Affairs verbally warned the protesters to not be disruptive if they entered Jesse. Basi said that because they were disruptive, both in Jesse and later in the MU Student Center, "information from the protests" will be forwarded to the Office of Student Accountability and Support for review. He said video from the protests as well as eyewitnesses will be used to identify the students. The students were masked. Organizers advised them beforehand not to give their names if asked. On Wednesday, Basi said plans to restructure the five social justice centers, which provide resources and mentoring to underrepresented students, are still a go. However, initial steps, such as posting new positions, are on hold until Gipson meets with the MU Faculty Council on May 6. |
| Eight people indicted in fraternity hazing death of Bowling Green student Stone Foltz | |
| After reading a list of indictments filed Thursday against eight men charged in the fraternity hazing death of Bowling Green State University sophomore Stone Foltz, Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson paused. "My hope is that this is the last time a case like this is prosecuted in Wood County. Please, God, let it be the last time that it is prosecuted in the United States," Dobson said in a moment of earnestness Thursday afternoon during a news conference at the Wood County Courthouse. Behind Dobson were Foltz's parents, Shari and Cory Foltz, alongside his aunt, DJ Williams. First-degree manslaughter charges carry a maximum penalty of 11 years in prison. Seven of the eight men facing charges were currently enrolled at Bowling Green State University when the hazing death occurred. Foltz, 20, a 2019 graduate of Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware County's Troy Township, was hospitalized March 5 after he consumed what his family's attorney said was "a copious amount of alcohol." Foltz died on March 7 of fatal alcohol intoxication. Dobson said during the press conference that on the night of March 4, BGSU's chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity held its traditional "Big Brother Night." It was at that event that Foltz and other pledges were forced to drink a handle of hard liquor, equivalent to about 40 shots, as part of an initiation into the fraternity. |
| Among colleges announcing vaccine requirements, public colleges in Republican states are largely absent | |
 | As the number of colleges requiring COVID vaccines continues to grow, many institutions mandating the immunizations for students fit a certain profile: more often private than public, selective, located in a Democratic-leaning state. There are exceptions, of course. But the pattern is unmistakable. Just 15 of 181 colleges with COVID-19 vaccine requirements included in a list maintained by The Chronicle of Higher Education are located in states that voted for Trump in 2020. Of those 15, just one, Cleveland State University, in Ohio, is a public university. Public and private institutions in the same state are taking different approaches on vaccine requirements. After Duke and Wake Forest Universities, selective private institutions in North Carolina, announced they would require vaccines for all students this fall, the News & Record reported that the University of North Carolina would not. Public universities in different states are also making different decisions. Meanwhile, the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees voted this month not to include COVID-19 vaccines on its list of required immunizations for students. The board chair, John Compton, stressed personal freedom but strongly encouraged students and employees to consider getting a vaccine, according to a press release. The American College Health Association on Thursday recommended colleges put in place COVID-19 vaccination requirements. |
| In Person or Virtual? Covid Complicates College Commencements | |
 | Her first reaction after receiving the email from the University of Tampa announcing that commencement would be conducted online was to cry. Up and down the spine of Florida, larger colleges were announcing plans for in-person graduations -- so why not hers? Then 22-year-old Allison Clark dried her tears and turned to Instagram, asking her followers: If Tampa hosted an in-person graduation, would they attend? When 80 percent of the respondents said "Yes," she and two classmates created a GoFundMe and started selling tickets. They were quickly overwhelmed as classmates and their parents pitched in more than $25,000 -- significantly more than the $12,000 price tag for the convention center they are renting for their self-funded graduation, now scheduled for next week. There will not be too many do-it-yourself graduations, but across the country parents and graduates will confront commencements in May that are as atypical, modified and sometimes contentious as the past school year has been. Many of the schools doing in-person ceremonies are putting in extensive safety measures. Most colleges are placing restrictions on the number of guests each graduate is allowed to bring. But in the second year of the pandemic, with millions vaccinated, more campuses than not are choosing to do in-person events, according to Mildred Garcia, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. As a result, campuses that are sticking to virtual-only ceremonies have become outliers, sometimes breeding frustration. |
| Seeking diversity, employers drop college degree requirements for more jobs. | |
 | On a recent afternoon, Emily Knowles was testing out apps with her software development team, making sure they work properly. "This is something that I never thought would be possible," she said. That's in part, because the 23-year-old from Watertown, Mass., has some credits but she doesn't have a college degree. Knowles, a quality assurance analyst, is bi-racial. Both her parents are immigrants and they never went to college. And now Knowles is working in tech -- a field dominated by highly-educated white and Asian men. The tech industry is filled with people who have the same type of education and advantages. As the sector expands, economists say this reinforces inequality. Ovia Health is among a number of companies identifying entry-level jobs like the one Knowles has and dropping the degree requirement. The objective is to diversify their staffs and gain a market advantage. Other companies like the financial firm State Street, the hotel chain Hilton and the publisher Penguin Random House are doing the same for some jobs. "It might not be all job descriptions, but [there's] definitely a trend to really evaluate the true necessity of a four-year degree," said Tracy Burns, CEO of the Northeast Human Resources Association, adding that she's been encouraging other employers to drop the requirement. |
| Senior scholars keep pace with younger colleagues in publishing, study says | |
| A new study of academic productivity says that older professors, sometimes criticized as being academic deadwood, publish as much as their younger colleagues. These senior scholars do tend to publish fewer conference papers than younger colleagues but keep pace with them in terms of published articles, the paper says. Crucially, senior professors publish more chapters and books than their younger counterparts, reflecting the valuable synthesis of knowledge and insight gathered over the course of a career. "Senior scholars are blamed using anecdotal evidence for some things that are as extreme as reducing national scientific advancement, for instance, simply by failing to produce research at the same levels as their colleagues," said study co-author Anthony Olejniczak, director of research at Academic Analytics, which tracks research metrics for colleges and universities. "I hope that our study adds something of a quantitative framework to address that and shows that senior scholars do in fact contribute to the research program." Underscoring the study's findings about publication type and quantity, Olejniczak said that how professors are publishing may shift over their career arc, "but there isn't a peak and decline in research productivity." |
| Idaho Lawmakers Think Critical Race Theory Can 'Exacerbate and Inflame Divisions.' So They Passed a Law Against It. | |
 | The tension in Idaho over whether universities are "indoctrinating" students with a leftist agenda was codified into law on Wednesday. Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that bars public schools and institutions of higher education from directing or compelling students to "affirm, adopt, or adhere" to what the state legislature views as the principles of critical race theory. "The claim that there is widespread, systemic indoctrination occurring in Idaho's classrooms is a serious allegation," the Republican governor wrote in a letter to the Speaker of the state's House of Representatives. "Most worryingly, it undermines popular support for public education in Idaho." The Idaho State Board of Education did not take a position on the bill, but Matt Freeman, the board's executive director, said in an emailed statement that "the Board has not received any documented evidence of systematic 'indoctrination' occurring in Idaho's public schools or our public higher-education institutions." The new law outlines what the legislature believes are "tenets" found in critical race theory and says that they "exacerbate and inflame divisions on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or other criteria in ways contrary to the unity of the nation and the well-being of the state of Idaho." |
| Community college leaders and others react to President Biden's $1.8 trillion plan | |
| President Joe Biden's American Families Plan is a game-changer for community colleges and minority-serving institutions, campus leaders say. The $1.8 trillion plan, proposed Wednesday, could bring a much-needed windfall to institutions serving students most hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is a grab bag of opportunities for open-access institutions. It dedicates $109 billion toward two years of free community college and $39 billion for two years of tuition at minority-serving institutions for students with a household income of less than $125,000. It also invests $62 billion for "completion and retention activities at colleges and universities that serve high numbers of low-income students" and allocates $80 billion to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $1,400 per student. Biden has "really gone big -- I mean, for real," said Walter Kimbrough, president of Dillard University, a historically Black institution in New Orleans. In his 17 years leading the university, Kimbrough said, he hasn't seen a proposal from a president that invests as much in minority-serving institutions, especially HBCUs. The proposed funding in the Biden plan comes at a time when the financial status of long-struggling minority-serving institutions in general, and HBCUs in particular, is getting widespread attention. |
| Biden's plans to expand free education may be new for America. But in other countries, they're the norm. | |
 | When President Biden laid out the ambitious education targets in his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan during his speech to Congress on Wednesday, he invoked concerns of foreign competition to justify them. Twelve years of free education, long the standard in the United States, was no longer enough "to compete with the rest of the world in the 21st century," Biden said. The move prompted backlash from some Republicans, who compared the policies to those in the Soviet Union or criticized them as promises of "free stuff." But many experts agree that the United States has become an outlier among wealthy nations, as well as geopolitical rivals, when it comes to education. While Biden's core proposals -- universal access to preschool education, also known as pre-K, and expanded access to free college-age education -- may seem new in the United States, they became common globally long ago. "Systems across the globe are working to expand access even further," said Jackie Kraemer of the National Center on Education and the Economy. "So the longer the U.S. waits, the further behind we will be." |
| Is the U.S. Student Loan Program Facing a $500 Billion Hole? One Banker Thinks So. | |
 | In 2018, Betsy DeVos, then U.S. education secretary, called JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Jamie Dimon for help. Repayments on federal student loans had come in persistently below projections. Did Mr. Dimon know someone who could sort through the finances to determine just how much trouble borrowers were in? Months later, Jeff Courtney, a former JPMorgan executive, arrived in Washington. And that's when the trouble started. According to a report he later produced, over three decades, Congress, various administrations and federal watchdogs had systematically made the student loan program look profitable when in fact defaults were becoming more likely. The result, he found, was a growing gap between what the books said and what the loans were actually worth, requiring cash infusions from the Treasury to the Education Department long after budgets had been approved and fiscal years had ended, and potentially hundreds of billions in losses. Mr. Courtney's calculation was one of several supporting the disclosure in a Journal article last fall that taxpayers could ultimately be on the hook for roughly a third of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. This could amount to more than $500 billion, exceeding what taxpayers lost on the saving-and-loan crisis 30 years ago. If Mr. Courtney is right, there are big implications for taxpayers and families alike |
| Biden Administration Seeks To Build Trust And Diversity Among Federal Scientists | |
| The Biden administration says addressing climate change and health inequities are among its top priorities, and it will need to lean heavily on federal scientists to achieve ambitious goals. But decades of underfunding, political interference and systemic race and gender bias have undercut trust among many government scientists and led to a disproportionately white, male workforce. The federal government employs tens of thousands of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and economists. More than a dozen agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the Department of Agriculture, rely on the sprawling federal technical workforce to develop policies and regulations about everything from health to food and space to pollution. Many scientists who work for federal agencies serve under political appointees who are appointed by the White House. It wasn't always this way. For example, when the EPA was established in the 1970s, most of its research divisions were run by career civil servants, many of whom had scientific training. The Reagan, Clinton and Bush administrations all added political appointees to scientific agencies, which meant more opportunities for political goals to affect how research is conducted and how scientific findings are, or are not, communicated to the public. Dan Costa worked at the EPA for more than 30 years and retired in 2017 as the head of the agency's Air, Climate and Energy Research Program. He says the agency saw progressively less funding and more skepticism about scientific expertise in the decades he was there, but that the Trump administration went far beyond what had come before. |
| Educators have lasting impact on students | |
| Angela Farmer, an assistant clinical professor in the Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University, writes: Education in the United States is a complex system. Each state forms its own set of rules and regulations regarding when, where and how schools will be crafted, managed and staffed. Each community within these states, in turn, takes its own approach to education based on its state requirements, federal mandates, as well as the specific needs of its community of students. From early educational opportunities through high school graduation, children interact with a number of adults in their school environment who are tasked with either educating or supporting education. Covering 13 years and a variety of subjects, students are given educator interactions with no fewer than about 40 adults who, in some form or fashion, shape what they eventually recall as their scholastic experience. Rather these individuals teach English, math or history, or support the children as bus drivers or cafeteria workers, all are essential. However, regardless as to the role each of the adults is cast to play in the students' lives, what the students will remember is likely to be less dependent on the subject matter and more dependent on the adult's approach to the students as individuals. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: host Texas A&M | |
| With just one month remaining in the regular season, the No. 4 Mississippi State baseball program will welcome Texas A&M for a three-game series at Dudy Noble Field. Mississippi State (29-10, 11-7 SEC) was idle during the midweek with finals week wrapping up, while Texas A&M (24-19, 5-13 SEC) won its midweek tilt with Texas State. Both teams dropped their SEC series last weekend, with State winning once at No. 3 Vanderbilt and A&M took one game against No. 5 Tennessee in Bryan-College Station, Texas. It will be a pair of powerful pitching staffs meeting up at The Dude, as the Bulldogs (503 strikeouts) and Aggies (467 strikeouts) rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in total strikeouts. Mississippi State is the only team in the country with 500 strikeouts and leads the NCAA with 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Christian MacLeod sits No. 14 nationally with 14.00 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, while Jackson Fristoe is No. 27 in the same category at 13.16. On offense, Tanner Allen and Rowdey Jordan have led the way for Mississippi State, while Texas A&M is led by the trio of Will Frizzell, Ray Alejo and Austin Bost. Jordan owns a 24-game reached base streak and Allen is hitting a team-best .350 on the season. Frizzell leads the NCAA with 100 total bases and it No. 9 with 13 home runs. |
| No. 4 Mississippi State baseball heads into home stretch with series against struggling Texas A&M | |
| When Chris Lemonis compares his Mississippi State team to Texas A&M, the similarities leap off the stat sheet. "The ERA, the stolen bases, the fielding percentage, the home runs, the batting average," Lemonis noted Thursday. "There's not a huge difference there." Where there is a disparity, though, is in perhaps the one area that really counts. The Bulldogs (29-10, 11-7 Southeastern Conference) are ranked No. 4 in the country in this week's D1Baseball.com top 25 poll. The Aggies (24-19, 5-13 SEC) aren't even close. So this weekend at Dudy Noble Field, it'll be one of the SEC's best teams against a club that typically occupies that position. For the Bulldogs, taking care of business this weekend will be important with just four conference series to go. "We're spending a lot of time in the weight room and rehabbing, taking care of our bodies, trying to get ready for this last run," Lemonis said. "You want to be hot at the end of the year. We've had a great season, but we want a great finish." NCAA regional host sites will be announced the week of May 10, meaning Mississippi State has two more weeks to make an impression and earn a bid. The Bulldogs, of course, intend to be among the 20 teams selected initially and the 16 who make the final cut -- not to mention the eight who host Super Regionals the following week. No pressure, right? "You're fighting to get in the tourney. You're fighting to be a regional host. You're fighting to be a national seed," Lemonis said. |
| Aggie baseball team heads to Mississippi State looking to boost NCAA tournament chances | |
 | The near-guarantee that comes with Texas A&M baseball head coach Rob Childress is early June baseball as the Aggies play in an NCAA tournament regional. With Childress at the helm, the Aggies are one of three programs to play in the last 13 consecutive NCAA tournaments, alongside Florida State (42 straight) and Vanderbilt (14 straight). A&M hasn't missed a tournament since 2006, Childress' first season in Aggieland. The Aggies (24-19, 5-13) will begin a three-game Southeastern Conference series at No. 5 Mississippi State (29-10, 11-7) at 6:30 p.m. Friday with their backs squarely against the wall in terms of continuing their NCAA tournament streak. "They are all absolutely must-wins," Childress said. "We have got to go and play well. Even if we don't play well, we have to find a way to win ugly. Whatever it takes." Beyond fighting to continue the program's NCAA tournament streak, Childress is fighting for his job. His contract expires June 30. He last received an extension in 2016 in a deal that pays $750,000 annually. |
| Bulldogs Make Final Regular-Season Road Trip To South Carolina | |
| Mississippi State's softball team is on the road for the final time in the 2021 regular season as the Bulldogs travel to South Carolina for three games on April 30-May 2. The Bulldogs (25-21, 1-14 SEC) have played the fewest SEC games in the conference to this point along with Tennessee (35-8, 8-7 SEC) after those two squads saw their April meeting postponed. State heads into the matchup with a chance to pick up crucial games in the conference standings two weeks before the league tournament. South Carolina (24-20, 3-15 SEC) sits in 12th in the standings, and MSU could pass the Gamecocks with a sweep or hold the tiebreaker with a series win. State will have a chance to keep climbing with five SEC games on its schedule next week. MSU brings in a pitching staff that is second in the league in strikeouts (356) on the year and fifth in league play (105) despite playing three fewer games than most teams. The Gamecocks have struck out 229 times this season, trailing only Arkansas, and have done so 107 times in SEC play, which is fourth-most in the league. |
| For MSU's Marcus Murphy, 2021 NFL Draft could be win for his son | |
 | Sometimes there's only so much a father can understand. Mason Murphy will turn 4 in four months, which some days feels like an accomplishment, considering his first three years haven't been like most others. They definitely weren't like his dad's, Marcus Murphy, the 2021 NFL Draft hopeful who played safety at Mississippi State from 2018-20. There have been plenty of toy trucks and action figures in Mason's life. Plenty of cowbell ringing and maroon and white outfits on game days at Davis Wade Stadium. But there also have been needles and hospital beds. Mason most recently had a blood transfusion on Feb. 21. He gets one every six months, with various therapy sessions spaced in between. Mason was born without Chromosome 7, which has put him at risk of a rare blood disease called myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia. Those terms were foreign to Marcus, who grew up healthily in West Point. He was a star for his high school football team there, leading the Green Wave to back-to-back state championships. He was the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A Mr. Football as a senior before attending MSU. This weekend, he's an NFL Draft hopeful. |
| Mississippi State's Kylin Hill awaits his NFL destination | |
| The 2021 NFL draft will not be as full of excitement as the last few have been for Mississippi State football fans, but there are still a few Bulldogs that could hear their names called in later rounds. The first round of the NFL draft wrapped up on Thursday night, while the second and third rounds continue tonight at 6 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will begin Saturday at 11 a.m. No Mississippi State players were selected in Thursday's first round, but former star running back Kylin Hill will likely be the first MSU player taken and has a chance to be drafted tonight. Hill, who rushed for 2,535 yards and 16 touchdowns in his MSU career, has been projected to be drafted anywhere from the second round to the sixth round. NFL.com projects Hill as a fourth-round selection to the Cleveland Browns, while CBS Sports and PFF each project Hill to get selected in the sixth round. |
| Florida college athletes, coaches decry possible delay in compensation law | |
| Just when some college athletes in Florida were readying to cash in on their athletic prowess, the state's Legislature has unexpectedly delayed their ability to hire agents and ink endorsement deals. The curve ball came in a tiny last-minute amendment inserted into an education bill in the waning days of Florida's legislative session. "Are we serious right now?? That little black line in a bill with more than 70 pages to continue to screw all these athletes?? Make it make sense," tweeted McKenzie Milton, the quarterback at Florida State University, home to some of the country's most heralded collegiate teams. That amendment, tucked into more than 70 pages of legislation late Wednesday, went undetected by some lawmakers -- including the Florida lawmaker who sponsored a bill last year allowing college athletes in Florida to profit from their name, image and likeness much like celebrities do. That law was supposed to take effect in two months, but the amendment would instead delay the law from being implemented until July 2022. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former college baseball player, championed the ability of college athletes to make money from their names. The Republican governor could veto the bill -- but doing so would also kill the broader education bill, which would have authorized public universities to sponsor charter schools. |
| Louisiana bill would grant image rights to student athletes | |
| Louisiana state senators Thursday moved forward with legislation that would allow college student athletes to earn money for use of their name, image or likeness, a bill prompted by the NCAA's inaction on a policy for endorsements and sponsorship deals. Sen. Pat Connick's proposal won unanimous, bipartisan backing from the Senate Education Committee, despite senators' concerns about a piecemeal approach across states without a national policy. "This is necessary because the NCAA has not taken action," said Connick, a Marrero Republican. Connick's legislation -- which could take effect in June, if passed -- heads next to the full Senate for debate, though it could be diverted to a second committee hearing before the Senate's budget panel to review its financial implications to campuses. Though Connick's colleagues said they support the concept, several worried about being one of the earliest states to plow ahead with college athlete endorsement and sponsorship deals. Sen. Bodi White, a Baton Rouge area Republican, questioned if the measure could have Louisiana colleges running afoul of NCAA regulations and facing possible probation or other actions. "I think we're safe," Connick said. |
| Mississippi Braves to operate at full capacity for 2021 season | |
 | On Thursday, the Mississippi Braves announced that Trustmark Park will operate at 100 percent capacity during the 2021 season. The new change will take effect at the season opener game on Tuesday, May 4. "After careful consultation with the Governor's office, the Atlanta Braves, and Major League Baseball, we are pleased to announce that Trustmark Park will be open to 100% seating capacity beginning on Tuesday for our long-awaited 2021 Opening Day," said Mississippi Braves vice president and general manager Pete Laven. Braves officials said stadium COVID-19 protocols will remain in place to ensure the health and safety of fans, players, coaches and employees. Revisions to the seating capacity or other health and safety measures will also be subject to continuous review throughout the season. |
| Doctors said he had months left. Now, he's cycling 444 miles | |
| There was nothing too daunting about a 500-mile cycling trek to four high school boys living in New Orleans in 1976. Scott Williams, then a 16-year-old schemer, mapped it. They'd pedal out of southeast Louisiana and into Mississippi, make their way up to Vicksburg and cycle back. They would ride two legs of the Natchez Trace Parkway. It would take a week, maybe more. On Father's Day nearly 45 years ago, with brimming packs slung across their backs and teenage will to guide them, the rising high school seniors took off. It was easy all those years ago. The ride was for adventure back then, Williams, the Mississippi native, says. But the cycling trip he's on now, spanning the entire 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway, is different. It's his boyhood dream. And it means so much more. Williams, now 61 and living in Little Rock, Arkansas, has a rare and terminal brain cancer -- glioblastoma multiforme. Doctors told Williams when they diagnosed him in September 2019 that he had only 12 to 18 months left. It's month 20. He knows this may not be a battle he can win. But feeling strong and wanting to promote a cause, his trek on the Natchez Trace is a fundraiser for people with cancer and those affected by it. |
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