| Friday, May 21, 2021 |
| Meals on Wheels volunteers help 2.4 million US seniors get enough to eat while staving off loneliness | |
 | David Buys, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion at Mississippi State University and state health specialist with the MSU Extension Service, writes for The Conversation: More than 2.4 million older adults are supported each year by Meals on Wheels, a program through which seniors and people with disabilities receive healthy and tasty meals for free from a network of volunteers. These efforts are usually organized through local senior centers and other community organizations across the U.S. that encourage the people who receive meals to make voluntary donations to cover at least part of the cost if that's within their means. Services like this nonprofit meal delivery program, for which eligibility begins at age 60, are becoming more important than ever before. About 5.3 million people 60 and up, 7.3% of all Americans in that age group, experienced food insecurity in 2018 -- meaning that their households couldn't acquire adequate food because they lacked enough money and other resources. What's more, the U.S. population is aging. The number of Americans who are 65 and up grew by one-third over the past decade, to 54 million people. And, a growing share of the 1 in 6 Americans who are in that demographic group wish to age in place. That is, regardless of how ill or frail they are, they want to stay in their own homes, instead of going to a nursing home or assisted living facility. |
| The first steps of an evolving partnership | |
| Through educational partnerships, the state of Mississippi strives towards enhancing cyber applications and providing technology assistance for all levels of education. Stemming from the collaboration of Keesler and Mississippi State University, new cyber capabilities have been initiated through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief grant of $13.5 million. Along with Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and MSU, the 81st Training Group has begun to create a new cyber range network designed for computer programming. "The new cyber range and other network projects are a seed for our future cyber technology center," said Brantley. "The network can be used as a virtual playground to test out concepts and the skillsets of the students." The cyber range also serves as another asset to Keesler's cyber training. he continued partnership has begun to build the innovation of cyber education and set course for future collaborations. "Though we have not begun building the infrastructure of the cyber center, the networking and cyber projects serves as a short-term win for our partnership," said Brantley. "We want to take action and begin our cyber initiatives." |
| ARC annual event stresses engineering research for nation, industry | |
| A leading group of researchers and engineers from the U.S. Army, the domestic automotive industry and esteemed universities -- collectively known as the Automotive Research Center (ARC) -- held its annual conference May 10-11 virtually. The ARC is the key hub for the U.S. Army, where new ideas are generated and translated into key technologies in the autonomy of ground systems, including vehicle dynamics, control, autonomous behavior, human-autonomy teaming, high performance structures and materials, intelligent power systems, and fleet operations and vehicle system of systems integration. ARC faculty and researchers presented case studies and in-depth technical talks that address key engineering needs necessary to develop and deploy future autonomous ground vehicles. Each year, Army officials meet with ARC leadership to discuss their research needs and to understand current studies at the Center. Each project includes participation from university students, faculty, government and industry. Established in 1994 at the University of Michigan, the ARC is an Army Center of Excellence for advancing the technology of high-fidelity simulation of military and civilian ground vehicles that includes the participation of several universities known for their M&S expertise, including Wayne State University, Oakland University, the University of Iowa, Clemson University, Virginia Tech, Michigan Technological University, Mississippi State University and the University of Alabama, Birmingham. |
| Wet spring splits Mississippi's planting season | |
| Because it is the first crop planted starting in March, Mississippi corn is in much better shape than other row crops struggling with the challenges of wet, cool weather. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released estimates May 16 that indicate 97% of the state's corn is in the ground, and 83% appears to be in good or excellent condition. Of Mississippi's other primary row crops, rice is 89% planted, soybean is 72% planted, and cotton is 49% planted. Erick Larson, grain crops agronomist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the corn crop is off to a better than normal start with few complications. "Any time we have dry conditions early in the spring, that's helpful not only for opportunities to plant the crop, but it is good for the general health of the crop," Larson said. "Growers are able to conduct other needed operations such as nitrogen fertilizer and herbicide applications in a timely manner." Cotton, soybeans and rice are not so fortunate. Brian Pieralisi, Extension cotton specialist, said cotton farmers worry they will miss their planting window because of rains spaced just far enough apart to keep the group too wet to plant for weeks. |
| MSU Free Mental Health Services and Veterinary Clinic Expansion, JSU CPRAM Awards | |
| Mississippi State University's Psychology Clinic recently received a $200,000 grant from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act to provide free mental-health services for children in the state, including mental-health screening, consultation and therapy. Department of Psychology faculty members Michael Nadorff and Melanie Walsh are co-principal investigators in the program together with department head Mitchell Berman and Psychology Clinic director Emily Stafford, in partnership with MSU Extension, which provides material dissemination and outreach. Walsh and Chris Ellzey, staff counselors for the clinic, serve as facilitators of the services. MSU's Psychology Clinic began offering free Telehealth services for children ages 6 to 17 in March 2021. The new funding will allow the clinic to continue offering the services through December 2021 with a possible extension into 2022. The Animal Emergency & Referral Center in Flowood, a satellite clinic of the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, began a planned expansion with an official groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 19. The $5.6 million, 14,000-square-foot addition will include increased clinical space for staff and students to render emergency and referral services, as well as space for a future residential area for students. The facility will also contain a conference room for teaching and outreach programs for the local veterinary community. |
| Starkville police receive new body, vehicle cameras | |
 | It was Day 1 Wednesday for Starkville Police Department's new body and vehicle camera deployment. SPD has been using antiquated body cameras for years, but now the department is getting an upgrade. Two instructors from Utility visited the police station Wednesday to provide training for SPD officers on how to operate the new equipment, BodyWorn, top-of-the-line body cameras that use artificial intelligence to create situational awareness and community transparency. Six instructors were also at the George M. Bryan Airport installing cameras into police vehicles. These new devices will allow SPD officers to focus more on their job and less on ensuring their cameras are working properly, SPD Public Information Officer Brandon Lovelady said. Lovelady said this new technology will not only create accountability but also a more productive workplace. The cameras will take away one more task from the officers so they can fully focus on their other responsibilities. "They're now thinking about doing their job," Lovelady said. "They're not thinking about this product and not having to worry about things like 'Did I turn my camera on?,' 'Is this working?,' 'Is that working?'" |
| NOAA predicts above average hurricane season for 2021 | |
 | This year could see an above-average hurricane season, with as many as 20 named storms predicted to form, reported NOAA on Thursday in its pre-season report. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season, and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. However, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. For 2021, a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher) is expected. NOAA provides these ranges with a 70% confidence. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30. "Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring," said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver life-saving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms." Last month, NOAA updated the statistics used to determine when hurricane seasons are above-, near-, or below-average relative to the latest climate record. Based on this update an average hurricane season produces 14 named storms, of which 7 become hurricanes, including 3 major hurricanes. |
| Mississippi could see storm activity in 'above-normal' hurricane season | |
 | The 2021 Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be "above-normal," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday. In the initial outlook for this year's storm season, NOAA predicts about 13-20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes. The average is 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes, according to NOAA's updated averages for the 1991-2020 30-year period. Despite an expected above-average hurricane season, 2021 is not expected to be as active as 2020, said Matthew Rosencrans, lead for the seasonal hurricane outlook from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. Last year, Mississippi was able to "dodge a very big bullet" with Hurricane Sally, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Greg Michel said in September. The state was also largely spared by Hurricane Laura, which ended up being a deadly Category 4 hurricane, tied for the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall in Louisiana. However, when Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Louisiana in October 2020 with 8 feet of storm surge and wind gusts of up to 100 mph, it heavily impacted portions of southeast Mississippi, prompting Gov. Tate Reeves to request federal assistance from President Donald Trump. The state documented $10 million in damage to individual homes and $79 million in damage to public infrastructure, Michel said. |
| Meat processing company opening operations in Leakesville | |
 | Meat processing company Cutting Edge Meat Company, or CEMCO, is opening a red meat processing facility in Leakesville. The project is a $1.35 million corporate investment and will create 14 jobs. CEMCO is constructing a USDA-approved red meat processing facility in the Greene County Industrial Park. The facility will house fee-based meat processing services for livestock producers and retailers and will also include retail space for specialty meat products. Additionally, CEMCO will sell the processed meats to wholesalers and retail customers. Meats to be processed at the facility include beef, pork, lamb, goats and deer. Additional processing services will yield products like sausage, bacon and jerky. The facility will have the capacity to process approximately 30 beef cattle per week, as well as a similar number of hogs, lambs and goats. The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for an access road and infrastructure improvements. The town of Leakesville and Greene County also are assisting with the project. |
| Two charged in relation to largest Ponzi scheme in state history | |
| Two men have been charged in relation to what the U.S. Attorney's Office referred to as the largest Ponzi scheme in the state's history in 2018. Ted Alexander, 55, and Jon Seawright, 49, each face charges for their role in the Madison Timber Properties Ponzi scheme that promised guaranteed returns to investors who thought they were lending money to a "broker enterprise" purchasing timber that was then marketed to multiple lumber mills. The indictment alleges that Alexander and Seawright solicited over $20 million from more than 50 investors throughout the course of the scheme from January 2011 through December 2018 by lying about inspecting nonexistent lumber mills and misrepresenting that they had invested their own funds in the venture. Both men have been formally charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud; one count of securities fraud; and four counts of wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud investors. The case is currently scheduled to go to trial on July 6, 2021. The mastermind behind the scheme and owner of Madison Timber Properties, Arthur Lamar Adams, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018. In total, the scheme is said to have swindled more than 320 people out of more than $165 million across 14 states. |
| Mississippi state park system faces litany of woes | |
| Mississippi's state parks are neither managed nor advertised effectively, according to a legislative oversight committee. Haphazard maintenance, declining visitation, and not enough money are among the failings identified by a report released this week from the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Review. These findings follow a 2020 legislative session in which state leaders largely agreed that improvements are needed to the Magnolia State's network of 25 state parks, which are managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Lawmakers floated multiple and competing proposals to bolster the state's park systems. No plan, however, could garner favor with both chambers. The Senate initially backed a plan to privatize the management of some parks while forcing local governments to take over other parks. The House brought up various plans to divert additional funding for parks. The PEER findings underscore the need for some kind of action to address a park system that has seen a steady decline in visitors, dropping from 4 million in 2001 to just over 1 million in 2019. "Internal challenges facing the state park system include a lack of prioritization in maintenance planning, a lack of strategic marketing, and a lack of accountability for cash payments made at park entrances," the PEER committee found. |
| Supreme Court decision halts millions of dollars in Mississippi medical marijuana investment | |
| The Supreme Court's elimination of the Mississippi medical marijuana program halted millions of dollars worth of planned in-state spending and job creation, leaving many business owners with little to show for their months of investment and efforts. Steve Merritt, the chief operating officer for Southern Sky Brands, has called off an $1 million steel order with a Mississippi company. The materials were for the grow facility he intended to start building in Canton. GrowGeneration, one of the nation's leading marijuana business suppliers, said it has stopped investing in its Mississippi projects. The Denver-based company had already leased property in Jackson and was considering more. Quentin Whitwell, a healthcare executive working to create cannabis testing facilities, has an outfitted laboratory in Marshall County waiting on the go-ahead to hire employees. Now, it will continue to sit vacant. "Tens of millions of dollars have already been spent in anticipation of the program and hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised," Whitwell said. "The state stands to lose one of its highest GDP producing industries because of a politically driven court decision." Whitwell, who hopes to help run up to four labs in the state, said his facilities would attract scientists, technicians and workers with doctorate degrees. |
| Carbon storage offers hope for climate, cash for farmers | |
 | The rye and rapeseed that Rick Clifton cultivated in central Ohio were coming along nicely -- until his tractor rumbled over the flat, fertile landscape, spraying it with herbicides. These crops weren't meant to be eaten, but to occupy the ground between Clifton's soybean harvest last fall and this spring's planting. Yet thanks to their environmental value, he'll still make money from them. Farmers increasingly have been growing offseason cereals and grasses to prevent erosion and improve soil. Now, they're gaining currency as weapons against climate change. Experts believe keeping ground covered year-round rather than bare in winter is among practices that could reduce emissions of planet-warming gases while boosting the agricultural economy, if used far more widely. Clifton, 66, started growing cover crops several years ago to improve corn, soybean and wheat yields. Then he read about Indigo Agriculture, a company that helps businesses and organizations buy credits for carbon bottled up in farm fields. He signed a contract that could pay about $175,000 over five years for storing greenhouse gases across his 3,000 acres. "If you can get something green on the ground year-round, you're feeding the microbes in the soil and it's a lot healthier," he said, touring a barn loaded with cultivating and harvesting equipment. "And if somebody wants to pay you to do that, it looks to me like you're foolish not to do it." |
| Dr. Anthony Fauci: Booster shots may depend on variants | |
| Dr. Anthony Fauci says vaccinated Americans would "not necessarily" need to get booster shots this fall for further protection from COVID-19. Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, told CBS "This Morning" on Friday that scientists would be tracking data on the virus and possible variants. He says it was still "possible" an additional shot would be needed later this year to ward off possible infection. Fauci also urged Americans to continue to follow CDC guidelines. He stressed those who haven't been fully vaccinated still need to wear masks even if they are largely spending time with people who have been inoculated. The doctor also says those attending indoor sporting events, like the NBA playoffs starting this week, should follow the masking policies of the arena. |
| Federal judge rules in favor of Madison in Mark Mayfield wrongful death case | |
| A federal judge ruled Wednesday in favor of the city of Madison in the wrongful death case of a Chris McDaniel supporter who killed himself in 2014 after being prosecuted by the city for his role in a videotaping campaign scheme that backfired. The family of the now late Ridgeland Attorney Mark Mayfield said he killed himself after the city of Madison prosecuted him in retaliation for his role in an incident during the 2014 U.S. Senate race in which Republican challenger Chris McDaniel sought to unseat the now late U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. Southern District Judge Carlton W. Reeves issued the summary judgment for the city of Madison on Wednesday. Similar suits against others, including Butler Snow law firm, were settled before Wednesday's ruling. During the 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, Mayfield, after communicating with fellow McDaniel supporters John Mary, Richard Sager and Clayton Kelly, agreed to help Kelly obtain a photo of Cochran's infirmed wife Rose inside St. Catherine's Village assisted living facility in Madison. The video featuring a photo of Rose Cochran that Kelly shot on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, was later posted to YouTube and was met with condemnation by supporters of both McDaniel and Cochran for its portrayal of the bedridden elderly Rose Cochran, and Kelly pulled it within hours of posting it. Mayfield's mother was a resident at St. Catherine's Village, and he was familiar with the facility and the location of Rose Cochran's room. |
| Trump comes after the '35 wayward Republicans' who voted in favor of Jan. 6 commission | |
| Former President Donald Trump is not happy with the 35 House Republicans who voted in favor of the January 6 commission, authored by Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson. If passed, the legislation would establish an independent commission which would then investigate the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 of this year. Democrats have blamed Trump for the event, and proceeded to impeach him due to his alleged role in it. The impeachment passed the House but failed in the U.S. Senate. Representative Michael Guest was one of the 35 Republicans who voted "yes" on the measure. His fellow Republican representatives in Mississippi, Rep. Steven Palazzo and Rep. Trent Kelly, voted against it. In a statement provided to WLBT, Congressman Guest defended his decision to vote in favor of the commission. "We need answers to questions surrounding the events of January 6th," he wrote, adding that he believes conversations over the past several months have produced a commission that is both fair and structured and could potentially prevent another attack. |
| Oxford's Teresa Hubbard appointed to IHL Board | |
| Gov. Tate Reeves' long-awaited appointments to the Institution of Higher Learning Board of Trustees include Oxford's Teresa Hubbard. Hubbard, the President and CEO of CITE Armored in Holly Springs, will be representing the state's Third District of the Supreme Court on the IHL Board. Hubbard received her Bachelor of Business Administration at Delta State University with a double major in accounting and computer informations systems. In 2018, Hubbard was named the Business Woman of the Year by the Mississippi Business Journal. The other three IHL appointees were: Dr. Ormella Cummings of Itawamaba County and chief strategy officer for North Mississippi Health Services; Hal Parker of Hinds County and general partner of Parker Land, LLC.; Gregg Rader of Lowndes County and former chief executive officer and current executive chairman for Columbus Recycling Corporation. Reeves made the appointments after the conclusion of the 2021 Legislative session, when their confirmation would have been taken up by the Senate for a vote. The confirmations will now take place during the 2022 session, which will begin in January, months after the appointees have been serving on their respective boards, unless it is ruled illegal for them to do so until confirmed by the Mississippi Senate. |
| Here’s how people in the Delta are working to overcome COVID-19 vaccine transportation barriers | |
| When the pandemic first hit and halted most university operations, faculty at Mississippi Valley State University found themselves with a fleet of unused transit buses that usually took students to and from class. The unlikely scenario became an opportunity to innovate, though, especially once vaccines started to become available in Mississippi. "There are segments of our community that are underserved as far as having transportation. Some people don't have transportation, period. Therefore, we thought this would be a good opportunity for us to provide something to help those citizens out, especially if people want to get the vaccine," said Sonji Foster, project director for MVSU mass transit. So the mass transit operation at MVSU pivoted. Instead of sitting vacant while students attended virtual classes, transit buses started picking people up who needed a ride and taking them to designated vaccine locations. The concept was simple: once a person made an appointment to get the vaccine, they could call MVSU and arrange a ride. As long as the riders gave the transit system 24 hours notice, a transit bus would come pick the person up at whatever location they specified and bring them back home afterward. While the Delta is not short on people working to solve the vaccination transportation issue, the barriers those organizers face are significant. |
| Millsaps College names interim dean of the Else School of Management | |
| Millsaps College's Else School of Management will be at least temporarily filled by Harvey Fiser. Fiser is taking over the position of interim dean, after former Dean Kim Burke accepted a role with the Meredith College School of Business in Raleigh, North Carolina. "Harvey brings a wealth of experience, passion and commitment to his new role," said Millsaps Provost Keith Dunn. "He has served the college and our students in more ways than I could list." Fiser earned his bachelor's degree in communications from Mississippi State University and his juris doctor from Mississippi College School of Law. He practiced as a law partner at Adams & Reese prior to joining the Millsaps faculty in 2003. He currently the Selby and Richard McRae chair of business administration and teaches business law. Fiser also oversees Millsaps' Mock Trial Team, which he has led to top rankings in regional and national competitions. |
| Four Belhaven Chemistry Majors Selected for Competitive Research Program | |
| Four Belhaven University chemistry majors were selected for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), a competitive research program. Students from around the country apply, but only a few are selected every year. The National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding the summer internship programs at multiple universities and locations across the country. Participating students will work directly under a Ph.D. research advisor for 10 weeks, live on campus and receive a stipend of $5,000 or more. Karlee McKinney, a senior chemistry and sports medicine major, and Madison McGuire, a sophomore chemistry and biological sciences major, will both research renewable energy and agricultural fertilizers at the University of Mississippi. Rebecca Ayres, a sophomore chemistry major, will conduct research with the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Laela Evans, a sophomore chemistry and biological sciences major, will research "Sensing and Assembly Based on Non-covalent Interactions" at the University of Southern Mississippi. McKinney and McGuire plan to go to graduate school and eventually earn a Ph.D. with the goal of becoming full-time researchers. Ayres and Evans both want to attend medical school. |
| U. of South Carolina professors voice concerns over fast tracking of new online degree programs | |
 | The University of South Carolina has planned for some time to expand its online offerings for undergraduates, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, the school sped up those efforts as virtual learning won more acceptance. In the health crisis, administrators also saw an opportunity -- the ultimate beta test for its online ambitions -- that, alongside a corporate sponsorship contract from Major League Soccer, served as rocket fuel for the Carolina Online program announced earlier this spring for debut this fall. If the expansion, championed by former President Bob Caslen, goes as planned, USC is expected to have the largest number of online undergraduate degrees of any school in the Southeastern Conference. But university professors say the process went too fast, unintentionally skipping over faculty leadership approvals meant to ensure quality in the virtual programs. Members of USC Columbia Faculty Senate, which is charged with the review of the school's degree programs, sounded the alarm. It has sent university administration circling back, vowing to take the necessary steps to fix the oversight and work with instructors over the summer to meet the appropriate checks and balances. "The concern is really the rush," said Rebecca Stern, an English and literature professor who serves on the Faculty Senate. |
| UF students and Gainesville activists denied opportunity to change the university's food system | |
| Four months of boycotts, occupations and protests for local, sustainable and ethical food at the University of Florida failed to win local activists a seat on the committee negotiating UF's next food provider contract. The Food Justice Coalition, a group of 36 UF and Gainesville organizations, formed in January to address food injustice at UF. With less than two weeks for the coalition to incorporate its demands into UF's next food service contract, UF denied the coalitions' request for a seat on the committee shaping the new contract. UF's current contract with Aramark, a company criticized for its involvement with American prisons and wage violations, expires June 2022. UF expects to have a replacement before the next contract period begins July 2022. The food service company has a history of not paying UF employees for overtime and has been sued 130 times for workplace safety violations, employment discrimination, paying below minimum wage and not paying employees for overtime, according to the Good Jobs First violation tracker. "Looking back it does feel like a lot of time was wasted," Ronan Hart, a coalition organizer said. "I'm kind of frustrated about that." The coalition plans to explore other means of action moving forward, the 20-year-old history sophomore said. |
| 'Not getting our money's worth': U. of Missouri students react to fall tuition increase | |
 | Katie Brillos is disappointed she will have to pay more for college this fall. "Last year with basically having to teach ourselves with all online classes, it's a little frustrating to come back to normal classes and pay extra money," said Brillos, a University of Missouri sophomore studying business. She was reacting to news that the UM System Board of Curators approved a 5% increase, or $15.30 more per credit hour, for all MU students Wednesday. "They don't necessarily communicate to students that this is in the works during classes," KeAve Hunter said. Hunter, a junior studying social work, would like to see the administration gauge students' finances when making these decisions. Sam Mount, a senior majoring in geography, said he is concerned about the "loss of college experience" during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I certainly feel, even at the older tuition rates, we were not getting our money's worth," Mount said. Ayesha Siddique, a doctoral student in electrical and computer engineering, said her department covers her tuition but not course fees. Siddique hopes the new money will go toward expanding curriculum. "I feel like there are some courses for which we do not have enough faculty, and those courses are not offered here," Siddique said. "In electrical engineering, we don't have enough courses." |
| Louisiana College student speaks out about culture of censorship | |
 | Ethan Francois said he kept his mouth shut about a culture of censorship during his senior year at Louisiana College for fear of being expelled over any public comment or social media post about the institution. Now, less than two weeks after graduating, Francois is speaking out forcefully against the private Baptist liberal arts institution to "shed light" on how it uses its status as a Christian college to silence criticism and debate. Francois was formally censured in July 2020 by Louisiana College for what he believed to be a harmless question to administrators on Twitter about a proposed Trump administration policy that prohibited international students from legally remaining in the United States during the pandemic if they were taking classes entirely online. Steven Oxenhandler, an attorney with Gold Weems Bruser Sues & Rundell who represents the college, said administrators interpreted the tweet as "accusing them of not protecting international students." Oxenhandler said students and employees at the college don't actually have free speech rights under the college's policies. "The First Amendment does not apply to private institutions like this," he said. He pointed to a section in the Student Handbook that details the college's rules governing social media activity. |
| International students are in panic mode. Can they get back to U.S. in time for fall term? | |
 | Ruhi Jha began attending UC Berkeley this year half a world away in her New Delhi home, struggling with social isolation and time zone differences that forced her online for midnight classes. She and her family contracted and survived COVID-19 last month, terrifying her as infections in India surged. And now Jha is grappling with new anxieties faced by tens of thousands of international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities: Can they get back to campuses for the start of fall term? International students are at a critical moment in their college education, panicked that huge backlogs for visas requests, shuttered consulates and bureaucratic rules that limit access to the U.S. may derail their long-awaited return to campus. The stakes are particularly high in California, the top destination for international students where USC and the 10-campus University of California system alone collectively educate more than 54,000 of the million-plus international students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. The uncertainty has propelled higher education leaders across the country to plead to the Biden administration for faster action and more flexible rules for their international students, who bring not only their talent, but also highly coveted tuition revenue and billions of dollars to local economies. |
| Colleges mark end of tumultuous year with graduations | |
| As summer approaches, the season brings with it a spree of graduations, honors and ceremonies. For some, in-person graduations may represent the hope that the pandemic is finally ending, even as new and confusing guidance around masking complicates safety procedures. Colleges with virtual ceremonies have engineered creative solutions to make students feel honored on their special day, though those events may still underscore to some how far there is left to travel. Many colleges and universities have completed their graduation ceremonies by this point or will be completing them this or next weekend. Some institutions, such as the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Long Island University, the University of Iowa and Pennsylvania State University, held outdoor ceremonies in stadiums and other venues. In some cases, attendees were asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test before entry. Other institutions, such as the University of Pennsylvania, held in-person events for students, but guests were asked to watch a livestream. On social media, some students expressed relief that they were able to have an in-person ceremony, even if it wasn't what they expected when they entered college. |
| Education Dept. Will Use Lengthy Process to Restore Student-Debt Accountability | |
 | The gainful-employment regulation, which seeks to hold colleges accountable for their students' earnings compared with their students' loan debt, will go through the federal rule-making process, again, more than a decade after it was first proposed. Under President Donald J. Trump, the education secretary, Betsy DeVos, repealed the regulation -- one of several accountability measures that were undone during her tenure. Advocates had urged the Biden administration to simply reverse DeVos's repeal, according to a report from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and Politico, but the administration has said it is legally obligated to go through the lengthy rule-making process. A new rule could not go into effect until July 2022 at the earliest. The rule, rolled out by the Education Department under President Barack Obama, was heavily opposed by for-profit colleges and community colleges because it targeted career-preparation programs. The credentials offered by such programs, the Obama administration argued, left graduates with higher debts and lower-paying jobs. After lawsuits and some revisions, it was finalized in 2014. |
| Penn State to remove binary gender language such as 'freshman' from course, program descriptions | |
| Penn State University's Faculty Senate has approved a proposition to remove gendered language including "freshmen" and "upperclassmen" from course and program descriptions, the university told CNN. The Faculty Senate, which has legislative authority on educational matters at the university, voted on April 27 to pass the changes in proposition "AD84 -- Preferred Name and Gender Identity Policy." The rationale for the proposition states that terms like 'upperclassmen' can be interpreted as "both sexist and classist." Changes will include replacing descriptors such as "upperclassmen" with "upper division" and "freshman" with "first-year." Wyatt DuBois, the assistant director of media relations at the university, noted that the changes will apply only to course and program descriptions, which are within the purview of the Faculty Senate, and not the administration or the Board of Trustees. "These changes have occurred at many universities across the nation. We understand and respect that there are different viewpoints on these matters," DuBois said. Gender neutral language refers to people who fall outside the gender binary -- that is, people who don't identify as singularly male or female and may find the pronouns he/him and she/her constructions to be lacking. |
| Professors, students at UNC Chapel Hill demand transparency about journalist's tenure bid | |
| The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's chancellor and Board of Trustees chair took questions from news media Thursday about journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones -- namely, about why she wasn't granted tenure. But transparency was in short supply. Part of the problem is that many details about university personnel actions are protected by privacy laws. The chancellor and board chair said that they were being unusually candid given the public interest in the case, however. They also seemed to contradict themselves when explaining why Hannah-Jones was appointed to the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism without tenure, despite enthusiastic tenure recommendations and reviews from faculty members and external evaluators. Richard Stevens, the board chair, said, for instance, that "neither the provost nor the chancellor ever presented any recommendation on this appointment to the board, nor did the board take any action on this appointment." Moments earlier, Stevens had said that the board's university affairs committee was "charged with reviewing the provost's recommendations" ahead of the January board meeting where Hannah-Jones's tenure case stalled. The chair of that committee, Stevens said, contacted Provost Robert Blouin and asked for more time to consider Hannah-Jones as a tenure candidate. It was eventually agreed that she would be hired without tenure, with another tenure look to happen within five years. |
| 20 state AGs tell Education Dept they oppose teaching critical race theory | |
 | Twenty state attorneys general told the Education Department that they oppose teaching critical race theory in classrooms, according to a letter penned Wednesday. The attorneys general, led by Indiana Attorney General Good Rokita (R), sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona asking him to reconsider a proposal that would prioritize the "1619 Project" and critical race theory for federal grant programs. "The proposed priorities are a thinly veiled attempt at bringing into our states' classrooms the deeply flawed and controversial teachings of Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project," the letter states. The Education Department proposed priorities for federal grant programs for American History and Civic Education in April that would offer funding for schools that used the "1619 Project" and other works in its curriculum. The attorneys general wrote that critical race theory "supports the idea that America is a fundamentally racist country and that our institutions are inherently systemically racist." "Promoting this warped view of American history does not support the teaching of American history as required by [federal] statute, but instead props up an idea based not in fact, but on the idea that the United States is a nation founded on white supremacy, patriarchy, and oppression and that these forces are still at the root of our society," the group wrote. |
| University of Oxford's Oriel College won't remove statue of Cecil Rhodes | |
| The University of Oxford's Oriel College said Thursday it would not remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, Oxford benefactor and 19th-century imperialist, even though the majority of members of an independent commission "backed the College's original wish ... to remove the statue." The university cited "regulatory and financial challenges" involved in removing the statue, which is located on the facade of a nationally protected historic building in England. "The Governing Body has carefully considered the regulatory and financial challenges, including the expected time frame for removal, which could run into years with no certainty of outcome, together with the total cost of removal," the college said in a press release. "In light of the considerable obstacles to removal, Oriel's Governing Body has decided not to begin the legal process for relocation of the memorials. Instead, it is determined to focus its time and resources on delivering the report's recommendations around the contextualization of the College's relationship with Rhodes, as well as improving educational equality, diversity and inclusion amongst its student cohort and academic community." Members of Rhodes Must Fall, a group that has long campaigned for the statue's removal, condemned the decision not to remove the statue, according to the BBC. |
| Senate Committee beef scuttles China higher-ed scrutiny | |
| A dispute between two powerful Senate committees effectively scuttled an effort to step up federal scrutiny of foreign donations to U.S. research universities, Axios has learned. Chinese influence in higher education has fueled espionage and human rights concerns. But an effort to address it within a sprawling Senate package of measures designed to boost U.S. competitiveness against China sparked a jurisdictional spat that spiked the legislative language. The version of the United States Innovation and Competition Act the Senate took up this week explicitly bars the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) from monitoring large foreign gifts to U.S. universities. Despite that prohibition, the legislation includes a measure passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee authorizing that work by CFIUS, an interagency body chaired by the Treasury secretary that vets foreign investments for potential national security concerns. The bill, though, was amended Tuesday with additional language explicitly prohibiting CFIUS from performing that work or appropriating federal funds for that purpose. While both provisions remain in the overarching bill released by the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the most recent language barring that CFIUS authority appears to be the operative provision. |
| Sen. Bernie Sanders says US physician shortage is a 'solvable problem' | |
 | Senators on both sides of the aisle agreed at a hearing Thursday that Congress should work to address the nation's physician shortages, especially in primary health care, including through changes to training programs. At a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Primary Health and Retirement Security Subcommittee hearing, Chair Bernie Sanders said the federal government could help boost the number of practicing physicians in the United States. The government spends about $16 billion every year to fund thousands of medical residency programs. Sanders, a Vermont independent, suggested Congress expand these programs as well as programs to get doctors into medically underserved areas. He said he plans to soon introduce legislation to authorize 14,000 new Medicare-supported residency programs over seven years. It would also establish new criteria about how the residency slots would be allocated, so half of these doctors would go into primary care. Primary care doctors are paid less than specialists on average throughout their careers, and medical residencies in rural and underserved areas struggle to attract as many trainees as those in big cities. This creates doctor shortages in places that need care most. Witnesses who work in the medical field said Thursday that the nation's care system structure leads to lower pay for primary care doctors because primary care physicians don't profit off expensive procedures, such as surgeries. The system "is flawed and incentivizes the wrong thing," University of New England President James Herbert told the subcommittee. |
SPORTS
| Offense comes alive late as No. 10 Bulldogs beat Alabama in series opener | |
| Alabama pitcher Tyler Ras could only hold down the Mississippi State offense for so long. After being shutout for six innings, the Mississippi State offense barreled Ras up for four runs in the seventh inning as the No. 10 ranked Bulldogs beat Alabama, 4-2, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. With the Game 1 win, the Bulldogs improve to 38-13 and 18-10 in the SEC. Game 2 is on Friday night at 6 p.m. Mississippi State's offense was shut down by Ras for the first six innings and only managed four singles off the Crimson Tide ace during that stretch. But the Bulldogs, who have made a name for themselves with late-inning comebacks this year, flipped a switch to start the seventh inning. Scotty Dubrule led off the inning with a walk before freshman Kellum Clark hit a RBI double off the wall in dead centerfield to tie the game, 1-1. After a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt put runners on the corners with no outs, Lane Forsythe gave Mississippi State a 2-1 lead with a RBI infield single. Tanner Allen then stepped to the plate with one out and hit a two-run double, his SEC-leading 48th hit in conference play, to left field to score both Leggett and Forsythe and put Mississippi State up, 4-1. That was all the MSU offense could manage, but it was more than enough for Mississippi State ace Christian MacLeod and closer Landon Sims. |
| Seventh-inning rally leads No. 10 Mississippi State baseball over Alabama | |
| Tanner Allen turned to Alabama catcher Sam Praytor and voiced his frustration. Against Crimson Tide starter Tyler Ras in Thursday's game in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Allen and Mississippi State hadn't managed much offense. Baffled by the unexpected cutting action on Ras' fastball, the Bulldogs struggled to string hits together and get runs on the board. So Allen sought out his good friend behind the dish to discuss the righty's frustrating heater, which cut sharply in on Allen's hands in the left-handed batter's box. "He was like, "Dude, he's just getting around on that fastball,'" Allen said. "I was like, 'Yeah, man, it's killing me. I need to get a ball over the plate.'" In the seventh inning, Ras gave Allen the pitch he was looking for. The senior ripped a two-run double that capped a four-run frame as the Bulldogs (38-13, 18-10 Southeastern Conference), rallied for a 4-2 win over the Crimson Tide (29-20, 12-15) on Thursday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. "He's just really good," Mississippi State coach Chris Lemonis said of Allen, who extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a sixth-inning single before his big hit in the seventh. "I don't even know if it's a hot streak. He's just a special hitter. He is hot, but he's just a special hitter. There's probably nobody in the country with more confidence in the box." |
| No. 6 Mississippi State baseball opens up final regular-season series at Alabama with 4-2 win | |
| Mississippi State baseball opened up its final regular-season series with a 4-2 win over Alabama on Thursday. The No. 6 Bulldogs (38-13, 18-10 SEC) got a strong outing from pitcher Christian MacLeod (5-3), who finished with 10 strikeouts in seven innings and the win in his home state. The junior left-hander gave up five hits and two earned runs before reliever Landon Sims came in for the final two innings to pick up the win. Sims struck out five of the six batters he faced and only gave up one hit and one walk in his eighth save of the year. Jackson Tate broke the game open when he hit the lone home run of the game, a solo shot in the fifth, but Alabama (29-20, 12-15) didn't lead for long. Freshman Kellum Clark (2-for-4), who was the only other Bulldog with a multi-hit game, tied the game in the seventh with an RBI double before scoring the go-ahead run on a Lane Forsythe single to make it 2-1. The two teams are set to play again Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium with a 6 p.m. start before Saturday's regular-season finale. |
| All eyes shift to Stillwater as regional play begins for Mississippi State softball | |
| A roller coaster of emotions may not even be enough to describe this season so far for Mississippi State softball. The Bulldogs started conference play 0-13 and rallied to finish 8-15 in SEC play including a seven-game win streak to end the regular season. The late-season surge was enough to earn an NCAA Regional berth, which Mississippi State will begin against Boston University at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Stillwater, Oklahoma. "I think we've been playing our best softball at the end of the season," MSU coach Samantha Ricketts said after Thursday's practice. "I think the testament to our turnaround this month has been the belief and the team not giving in and packing it up." The Terriers, who boast a 36-2 record on the year, should not be taken lightly. Like the Bulldogs, they're on fire as of late -- winners of 18 straight and a Patriot League championship. Mississippi State, however, is certainly not going to take its opponent lightly. "We're going to make sure that we're ready and not looking too far ahead and know that we have to play our best game against them on all sides of the ball as well," Ricketts said. With a win on Friday, the Bulldogs will face the winner of Oklahoma State and Campbell. |
| Mississippi State faces Boston in Stillwater Regional opener | |
| The No. 2 seed Mississippi State softball team takes on a hefty challenge today in the Stillwater Regional. Mississippi State faces No. 3 seed Boston University, which has won 18 consecutive games, at 3:30 p.m. today. The game will air on ESPN3. Host and No. 1 seed Oklahoma State, the No. 5 national seed, plays No. 4 seed Campbell at 1 p.m. While Boston University (36-2, 21-1 Patriots League) enter the game on that long win streak and just won its conference championship, the Bulldogs (33-23, 8-15 SEC) have also found a lot of success as of late. Mississippi State has won 8 of its last 10 games and had won seven-straight SEC games, five over ranked opponents, to close out the regular season. After earning the No. 9 seed in the SEC Tournament, MSU beat Ole Miss in the first round before falling to Florida in the quarterfinals. Mississippi State is playing in its 16th NCAA Tournament and its fourth straight. |
| Mississippi State Completes First Two Rounds of Barstool's LTP Classic | |
| After teeing off 36 holes on two different courses, Mississippi State women's golf has completed the first two rounds of the Barstool LTP Classic on Thursday at the Whirlwind Golf Club. The squad finished the day in fourth place after shooting a 1-over par team score. They began the first round at 9:30 a.m. CT on the 6,187 yard "Cattail" course and continued the second round at 2:30 p.m. CT on the 6,170 yard "Devil's Claw" course. For scoring purposes, the event is being played in a Play 6, Count 3 format. "What we have going for us right now is that everybody on the team gave themselves a lot of birdie looks today," MSU head coach Charlie Ewing said. "That gives us a lot of momentum going into tomorrow. We know it's our last round of the year. Most importantly, we want to understand that this is the last time we get to play together as a team. I want to play with that mindset." Pacing the Bulldogs, Blair Stockett finished the day tied for 5th place after shooting 2-under on the day. She rolled in seven birdies to complete back-to-back par or better rounds. Ashley Gilliam follows closely behind, tied for 10th place with a 1-over par score. |
| Nick Saban: 'Please get your COVID-19 vaccine' | |
 | University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban appeared in a public service announcement released Wednesday by the Alabama Department of Public Health encouraging vaccinations for COVID-19. "College football fans and players both want full stadiums this fall," Saban said in the video, which was posted on YouTube. "Let's make sure we can safely make this happen by getting vaccinated. Please get your COVID-19 vaccine. We want Bryant-Denny Stadium loud again this coming season. Roll Tide!" The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Saban was among several prominent voices in the state recording messages in an effort to boost the state's vaccination rate, which is among the nation's slowest. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and former Auburn basketball star Charles Barkley also taped messages, the report said, along with "many of the state's college football and basketball coaches." Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne said earlier this year the university is planning on 100 percent capacity for its football games this fall, a plan echoed by deputy athletics director Jeff Purinton during an interview earlier this month broadcast to ticket holders and donors. |
| ESPN, ABC set college football game times for Week 1 marquee matchups | |
 | The return of college football is still more than two months away, but that doesn't mean fans can't start planning for opening weekend and a slew of big games that will be kicking off across the season. ESPN on Tuesday announced times for some of the top matchups this year, led by four games that will take place on Labor Day weekend. Clemson facing Georgia headlines the Week 1 slate on Sept. 4 with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. The non-conference game will be played on neutral ground at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both the Tigers and Bulldogs are expected to be College Football Playoff contenders, so the winner of the game gets a major resume-boost ahead of the conference schedule. Another ACC-SEC showdown comes earlier that day with defending champion Alabama meeting Miami (Fla.) at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Crimson Tide will be breaking in a new quarterback as they begin their title defense. The Hurricanes will be hoping to play spoiler and start their campaign with a major boost. The Sunday of opening weekend sees Notre Dame travel to Florida State. That game will be at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. |
| How Democrats Learned to Love Activist Athletes | |
 | In September of 2019, Gavin Newsom took a seat in a chrome-plated barber's chair in a barbershop in Los Angeles. To his left, seated in an identical chair, was LeBron James, the 17-time NBA All-Star, sporting a tie-dye baseball hat and a broad smile. California's governor had joined James on the set of "The Shop," the barbershop-inspired talk show that James launched with HBO in 2018. Newsom was there to sign the Fair Pay to Play Act, a landmark piece of legislation allowing college athletes in California to earn money from their personal brand -- known in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's parlance as their "name, image, and likeness." The bill, the first of its kind to reach a governor's desk in any state, represented a direct rebuke of the NCAA's official policy on athlete compensation, which prohibits college athletes from entering into corporate sponsorship or licensing deals. Among longtime observers of the political fight over college sports, Newsom's choice of venue drew almost as much attention as the legislation itself. Notwithstanding the fact that James never even played in the NCAA before entering the NBA, the hardcourt hero had emerged as an archetypal example of a controversial new figure in the world of sports: the self-styled athlete-activist, who feels equally at home discussing the nuances of voting rights legislation as he does breaking down an opponent's defense. Democrats, however, have not always been as quick to share the love with James and his peers -- a growing group of young athletes increasingly willing to use their public profiles to press on progressive causes in blunt, even combative terms. |
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