Friday, May 28, 2021   
 
Mississippi State U. fills new 'chief technology transformation officer' role
Mississippi State University selected Jenni Crenshaw, an executive at the software company PDI in Georgia, to fill the newly created chief technology transformation officer role, leaders announced Wednesday. Crenshaw is a MSU graduate who holds decades of experience in the private sector. She'll head up the university's Information Technology Services department beginning July 1, according to a university press release. She will also manage technology budgets and resources and oversee "transformational initiatives" for the university's technology. She will report to Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw. “Technology is a vital and ever-changing facet of modern research universities, and Jenni’s experience working with clients to develop solutions and implement broad-scale changes will serve MSU well,” Shaw said in the press release. “There are many challenges and future needs related to our technology infrastructure that we will be addressing as we implement university-wide transformation initiatives. I look forward to working with Jenni to ensure that MSU remains well-equipped to carry out our teaching, research and service missions.”
 
MSU Genealogy and History Fair, JSU Fulbright Distinction and USM Scholarship Awards
Mississippi State University Libraries is hosting the E.O. and Betty Templeton Genealogy and History Fair, a virtual event featuring guest speakers specializing in African American genealogy and Southern photography, on Saturday, June 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Professional certified genealogist Elyse Hill and historian Frances O. Robb will lead sessions during the event, and MSU Libraries faculty will host workshops on genealogy topics. The event will also include door prize giveaways. Hill is a professional genealogy researcher for Legacy Tree Genealogists, which specializes in African American and Southern states research. She is a graduate of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research, Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh and the Midwest African American Genealogy Institute. Robb is the author of "Shot in Alabama: A History of Photography, 1839-1941" and is writing a book about A.C. Oxford, a Mississippi native who fought in the Civil War with Gen. Joseph Wheeler and became Birmingham's first resident photographer in the 1870s. Robb holds graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina and Yale University.
 
Oktibbeha County supervisors want to borrow $10 million for capital improvement fund
Oktibbeha County supervisors are looking to borrow up to $10 million for infrastructure projects next fiscal year without raising the property tax millage rate. In a work session Wednesday, supervisors discussed using the funds toward roads, as well as toward such projects as replacing the Oktibbeha County Lake Dam and building a new county administrative complex. Lynn Norris, with Madison-based Government Consultants Inc., told supervisors the county could take on $10 million in new bonded debt while leaving its millage rate at 58.49. Five years ago, when the county borrowed $14.5 million to fund its last major infrastructure plan, supervisors approved a 2.4-mill increase to support it. "The whole purpose of this (new plan) is it's not going to cost the public any more because you won't be raising taxes," Norris said. It will take 2 mills to cover the $10 million capital improvement bond, but County Administrator Emily Garrard said the county can shift a mill each from general operations and roads/bridges to handle the debt. "We have (the money)," Garrard said. "We just have it sitting in different places, and we've got to shift our plan of how we've been operating if we're actually going to have capital improvements that we want to continue going."
 
PEER report examines financial soundness of Mississippi pension system
Mississippi's pension fund is going through a routine financial checkup. The state's legislative watchdog agency is looking at the system's stability and what may need to change to keep it up. This latest PEER report shows the number of public employees retiring keeps climbing but the current employees continues to drop. "And retirees living longer," said PERS Executive Director Ray Higgins. "That's not uncommon for a maturing retirement system such as PERS 'cause we're almost 70 years old in our current form. So, it's something that's not out of the ordinary but it's something we have to monitor." They have to monitor that because it means less money coming into the system. But the promise to those retirees hasn't changed. The report recommends increasing the employee contributions. PERS says it's looking at that and the board plans to consider it later this summer. Some state lawmakers say they get the need for adjustments to keep the system running. Earlier this year, State Auditor Shad White released a study requested from the Pew Charitable Trusts. It was a stress test of the state's pension systems. We asked White what retirees at home should take away from the two reports. "If your friends tell you that our pension is in a doomsday scenario, that's just not right," noted White. "If our friends tell you our pension is one of the top five in the country, that's probably not right either. The truth is it's somewhere in the middle. The other kernel of truth to be taken away from these two reports is that it is going to be very important for PERS to continue to monitor the health of the pension going forward over the next ten years." "There's absolutely a pathway forward to making sure the pension promises that have been made to state employees can be kept," added White.
 
Covid-19 Vaccinations in the South Are Among Lowest in U.S.
More than a month after Covid-19 shots were made available to all U.S. adults, national data show a lag in vaccination uptake across the South, a development that some epidemiologists and public-health officials worry could lead to a rise in infections this summer. Half of American adults are now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, accounting for over 130 million residents, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. But in many parts of the South, the numbers are stubbornly low. At the bottom of the list is Mississippi, where 31.8% of the adult population is fully vaccinated. Next is Alabama, with 33.9%. Epidemiologists have warned that low vaccination rates, coupled with increased travel and fewer restrictions around masking and social distancing, could lead to smaller, localized outbreaks of Covid-19 this summer. State officials are pushing to get ahead of the curve with more targeted vaccination campaigns. Many public-health experts say the 40% mark is an important threshold where vaccinations gain an upper hand over the coronavirus. "Each population is culturally unique, and hearing from key stakeholders will help health departments tailor their message accordingly," said Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor and epidemiologist at the University of South Carolina's School of Public Health.
 
Additional variants of COVID-19 cases found in Mississippi
Additional cases of two variant strains of COVID-19 have been found in Mississippi, the state Health Department said Thursday. Officials said 10 additional cases of the variant that originated in South Africa have been identified in the state, bringing the total to 12. The new cases are from outbreaks in two long-term care facilities -- one in Forrest County and one in Covington County. The cases were described as "breakthrough" illnesses in "fully vaccinated older individuals." "The majority of these cases had minimal to no symptoms, however, two required hospitalizations and one person died," the department said. "Although one death is extremely unfortunate, the fact that most of these cases have had minimal to no symptoms in highly vulnerable individuals is extremely encouraging," said State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers. "The vaccines currently available provide excellent protection against severe disease. While these illnesses are caused by variant strains, the outcomes of all these cases would likely be much more severe if they were not vaccinated." Meanwhile, Mississippi's second-largest school district is planning on 100% in-person learning during the coming academic year, after having classes online for more than half of the current school year because of the pandemic. Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Errick Greene said some students had a harder time learning from home.
 
MSDH identifies COVID-19 variant in LTC facility outbreaks, new variant also found in state
The Mississippi State Department of Health reported additional cases of two variant strains of COVID-19 in Mississippi on Thursday morning. Ten additional cases of the more infectious South African origin variant strain (B.1.351) have been identified within the state, for a total of 12 cases. The 10 cases are associated with outbreaks in Bedford Care-Monroe Hall in Forrest County and Landmark Care of Collins in Covington County. The South African variant cases associated with the outbreaks were breakthrough cases in fully vaccinated older individuals in long-term care facilities. The majority of the cases had minimal to no symptoms, but two required hospitalization and one person died. State officials seemed to stress that the general public, especially those who are vaccinated, shouldn't be overly concerned with emerging cases of this coronavirus variant. "Although one death is extremely unfortunate, the fact that most of these cases have had minimal to no symptoms in highly vulnerable individuals is extremely encouraging," MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said in a press release, Thursday. "The vaccines currently available provide excellent protection against severe disease. While theses illnesses are caused by variant strains, the outcomes of all these cases would likely be much more severe if they were not vaccinated." So far there have been 254 breakthrough cases reported in Mississippi out of more than 844,000 fully vaccinated Mississippians, which MSDH said demonstrates the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
 
HIV rates remain stubbornly high in Mississippi, despite falling cases across the U.S.
In February, the Mississippi State Department of Health began offering free telehealth services across the state so residents could access PrEP, a breakthrough drug that reduces the risk of contracting HIV by 99 percent and has significantly helped slow the spread of the virus. This was good news for the state, whose capital city has the highest rate of infection in women and the fourth-highest rate overall in the United States, disproportionately affecting Black residents. Thomas Dobbs, Mississippi's chief health officer, estimated that hundreds, if not thousands, statewide stood to benefit. Since it began, though, the online program has been used by four people. Health officials and advocates say a complex mix of cultural, logistical and economic factors is preventing Mississippians from accessing PrEP -- and preventing doctors from prescribing it. Dobbs puts it bluntly: "People don't want to talk about sex in the South." Leandro Mena, director of the Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Policy at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has changed how he approaches the concept of PrEP with patients. He no longer asks whether they're at risk, intentionally avoiding the word because the majority of patients don't think they are.
 
Department of Agriculture in midst of multi-million dollar negotiation to expand fairgrounds
A plan to spend millions of state money on an expansion of the fairgrounds could soon be put into action. Greymont Avenue runs all around the east and southside of the State Fairgrounds. On its 300 and 400 blocks, sits the old Dennery's restaurant, OYO, and Regency Hotel. Both of the hotels are still in business but Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson wants to transform them into part of the fairgrounds. After building up a new trade market and growing annual events coming into the fairgrounds., Commissioner Gipson sees more opportunity sitting across the street. This all became possible after state legislators passed House Bill 766 back in 2018, giving the Department of Finance and Administration authority to provide funds to purchase property within the vicinity of the fairgrounds. With parts of the funding from House Bill 766, Commissioner Gipson also has his eyes on building a new well system to give the Fairgrounds an independent water supply. "It will be a state well and we're looking at putting it right over here in this parking area," Commissioner Gipson stated. "That seems to be the best location to set up. Our first step is to do some test drilling to find out how deep the water is and then test to see what quality it is."
 
Mississippi's top elections official won't challenge court on initiatives
Mississippi's top elections official said Thursday that he will not ask the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling that invalidated the state's initiative process and overturned a medical marijuana initiative that voters approved in November. Secretary of State Michael Watson said that, instead, he wants Gov. Tate Reeves to call legislators into special session to revive both issues. Reeves has not said whether he will do so. Both men are Republicans. In a May 14 ruling, a majority of justices said the medical marijuana proposal was not properly on the ballot because Mississippi's initiative process is outdated and unworkable. Watson said in a statement Thursday that based on the 6-3 majority and the history that justices cited, he believes there's little chance they would reverse course. "Rather than giving a sense of false hope and spending taxpayer dollars to no avail, I strongly encourage the governor to reconvene the Legislature in an effort to quickly preserve the will of Mississippians on a few important issues," Watson said.
 
Secretary of State Michael Watson says state won't appeal Initiative 65 ruling
Secretary of State Michael Watson said the state will not ask the Mississippi Supreme Court for a rehearing after its decision that struck down the voter-passed Initiative 65 medical marijuana program and voided the state ballot initiative process. Watson in a statement Thursday said that he "strongly considered" asking for a rehearing, but concluded based on case law and the margin of the court's decision that doing so "would simply delay the inevitable." "Rather than giving a sense of false hope and spending taxpayer dollars to no avail, I strongly encourage the governor to reconvene the Legislature in an effort to quickly preserve the will of Mississippians ...." Watson said. The high court on May 14, in a 6-3 split decision, ruled in favor of Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, who filed a challenge to Initiative 65 just days before voters approved it on Nov. 3. Watson renewed his support for the governor calling a special session for lawmakers to deal with medical marijuana and the ballot initiative -- a call many voters and some legislative leaders have joined. He said lawmakers should move to protect two past constitutional amendments voters approved through ballot initiative, requiring government issued identification to vote and limiting government's ability to take land from private owners.
 
Lawmakers can set special election for ballot initiative fix at any date
Votes by Mississippians on past efforts to amend the state Constitution have not been confined to November general elections. Various media reports and some politicians have said in recent days that the earliest that Mississippi could vote to enshrine a ballot initiative process into the state Constitution would be November 2022, which is the next regularly scheduled statewide general election. That is not accurate. Lawmakers can set a special statewide election on any day they choose -- and there is precedent. Because some reasoned the vote could not be held until November 2022, many have said that there is no need for Gov. Tate Reeves to call a special session this year to give legislators an opportunity to place a proposed constitutional amendment before the voters. They reasoned that can be done during the next regular session, which starts in January 2022. But in June 1989, with no statewide general election already scheduled, the Legislature set a special election and placed three proposed changes to the Constitution on the ballot, including one removing references to a poll tax from the Constitution. The only three issues on the statewide ballot that June 20 were the proposed constitutional amendments. The Constitution says that the resolution approved by the Legislature "may fix the date and direct the calling of the election."
 
Two court filings could signal defense strategies for Nancy New, John Davis in welfare fraud case
Since she was arrested over a year ago for allegedly stealing millions of federal welfare dollars, Nancy New says she's been anxiously waiting to tell her side of the story. Now, the educator-turned-businesswoman is offering her version of events through a lawsuit she and her son filed against the firm that conducted her nonprofit's annual audits. They blame the accountant for not accurately assessing her organization's financial picture. Authorities have accused New, founder of the New Summit private schools and nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center, and her son Zach New of embezzling $4 million in welfare money and, in a separate federal case, defrauding the state education department out of $2 million. Authorities also charged the former director of Mississippi Department of Human Services John Davis, who administered the funds for the federal government, alleging he conspired with the News. To help in Davis' defense against embezzlement charges, his attorney subpoenaed a series of financial documents and audits from the state agency. But most of what he asked for doesn't exist or isn't in the agency's possession, according to a records officer. The embezzlement cases center on the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant, which states have broad authority to spend to accomplish one of four vague anti-poverty objectives. The investigation originated at the State Auditor's Office.
 
Senate advances science and tech bill
The Senate's scientific research and development package got past a key hurdle on Thursday as the chamber voted 68-30 to invoke cloture on a substitute amendment by Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, setting the legislation up for possible final passage later in the day. The sprawling substitute amendment, amended over the course of two weeks on the Senate floor to include proposals by both Republicans and Democrats, would authorize more than $100 billion in the next five fiscal years for a whole-of-government effort to compete with China's quest for dominance in emerging fields of science and technology. The amendment would also direct $56 billion to boost U.S. semiconductor production and other telecommunications manufacturing, and includes bipartisan, China-targeted provisions authored by the leaders of the committees on Commerce, Science and Transportation; Foreign Relations; Banking; and Homeland Security and Government Affairs. The proposal's prospects appear strong, but timing remains murky. Schumer, D-N.Y., who sponsored the underlying bill with GOP Sen. Todd Young of Indiana, said on the floor that he thought final passage could occur later on Thursday following additional amendment votes.
 
Universities fight scrutiny of foreign funding in Senate China bill
Colleges and universities are rushing to fend off a new round of federal scrutiny of their foreign dealings as the Senate negotiates last-minute changes to bipartisan legislation aimed at countering China's economic influence and power. Higher education groups have cheered on the massive boost to science and technology research in the bill, which is a top priority for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that he was pushing to finish this week. But universities are fighting a range of provisions that would impose new federal controls on foreign donations to U.S. campuses and contracts that schools have with partner institutions or other entities abroad. Democrats and Republicans on Thursday were also still negotiating changes over how to structure a key portion of how the U.S. government would set up new mechanisms to monitor foreign donations, particularly from China, to American campuses. Under the initial bipartisan proposals, universities would face national security reviews of some of their foreign transactions and they would have to publicly disclose more about the funding they receive from abroad. Some research universities also would be required to create a database of the foreign gifts and contracts that individual faculty and staff receive.
 
Paul Ryan says Republicans need to focus on 'principles' and not individuals as Trump remains a force in the party
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan says the Republican Party needs to focus on "principles" rather than individuals – namely former President Donald Trump -- as he opens a new lecture series on the future of the GOP. "No party should revolve around a single person," said Ryan, who on Thursday starts the new series sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute. Amid GOP election losses and in-fighting over Trump's role, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute -- a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the legacy of the nation's 40th president -- is sponsoring the project it says is designed "to address critical questions facing the future of the Republican Party." Ryan, who clashed repeatedly with Trump when both were in office, told USA TODAY that the volatile ex-president is an "enormous force" in American politics and in the Republican Party, but "I think our party will find its greatest success by rallying around principles rather specific people." Future speakers in the series being held at the Reagan library in Simi Valley, Calif., will be more supportive of Trump. They include a number of allies and ex-aides who are thinking of running for president themselves. The schedule, which is still being finalized, also includes conservatives who traffic more in ideas, including Peggy Noonan, a former Reagan speechwriter and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. In any event, the party is unlikely to move on from Trump anytime soon, said some current and former Republicans.
 
Senate GOP moderates fume as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell prepares to block Jan. 6 commission
During Thursday's Senate Republican lunch, Sen. Susan Collins made one last plea to her colleagues to advance a proposed independent commission to probe the Capitol riot, with changes she fought for. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke right after her. And the GOP leader is set to win the day, much to the consternation of a handful of his members who fear the party is making a mistake in voting down the House-passed commission bill sometime Friday. After an increasingly hard public and private push from McConnell, Senate Republicans are ready to make the independent investigation into the Capitol attack their first filibuster of the Biden administration. Collins kept trying to whip up 10 votes to break a filibuster on Thursday and said in an interview that she wouldn't "give up." But McConnell didn't let her go un-rebutted at the conference's closed-door meeting, and Collins was resigned to the short-term failure of her efforts at compromise. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who supports the House-passed commission bill, said his colleagues were entitled to their opinions. "I have a different point of view than some of my colleagues, but we're entitled to do that and I'm not frustrated by it," he said.
 
Rush Limbaugh's Radio Show to Be Taken Over by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
The Rush Limbaugh replacements are in, as Clay Travis and Buck Sexton will take over his three-hour conservative talk radio show time slot, said distributor Premiere Networks. The duo will serve up similar right-wing fare, tackling news stories of the day, politics and current events, peppered with call-ins from listeners and humor. Premiere Networks hopes the younger voices will bring something new to talk radio, while also continuing on in Mr. Limbaugh's legacy. The program, slated to begin airing June 21, will be called "The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show." It is expected to air around the country, from noon to 3 p.m. ET, on hundreds of stations. "We're not going to replace Rush Limbaugh, we're going to have an evolution of the show with fresh voices -- those that grew up on Rush and admired him," said Julie Talbott, president of iHeartMedia Inc.'s Premiere Networks. Since the 70-year-old conservative talk-radio icon and pioneer of right-wing media died from complications from lung cancer in February, the industry has been looking to fill his massive void. Mr. Limbaugh's show, marked by his signature brash and acerbic conservatism, ran for more than three decades and was the most listened to in the U.S., according to Nielsen Audio, reaching more than 20 million monthly listeners on more than 650 affiliates as of the end of 2020.
 
Russia Appears to Carry Out Hack Through System Used by U.S. Aid Agency
Hackers linked to Russia's main intelligence agency surreptitiously seized an email system used by the State Department's international aid agency to burrow into the computer networks of human rights groups and other organizations of the sort that have been critical of President Vladimir V. Putin, Microsoft Corporation disclosed on Thursday. Discovery of the breach comes only three weeks before President Biden is scheduled to meet Mr. Putin in Geneva, and at a moment of increased tension between the two nations -- in part because of a series of increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks emanating from Russia. The newly disclosed attack was also particularly bold: By breaching the systems of a supplier used by the federal government, the hackers sent out genuine-looking emails to more than 3,000 accounts across more than 150 organizations that regularly receive communications from the United States Agency for International Development. Those emails went out as recently as this week, and Microsoft said it believes the attacks are ongoing. The email was implanted with code that would give the hackers unlimited access to the computer systems of the recipients, from "stealing data to infecting other computers on a network," Tom Burt, a Microsoft vice president, wrote on Thursday night.
 
Record keeper to tassel turner: UMMC Registrar gets doctorate
Since taking the reins as Registrar at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2019, Emily Cole of Madison estimates she has accepted about 1,000 new students into various academic programs at the state's foremost academic health sciences center. On Thursday, she will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with many of them at the Mississippi Trademart to receive her Doctor of Health Administration. A staff member in UMMC's Office of Student Services and Records for 18 years, Cole is usually seen on the commencement stage handing diploma covers to each school's dean who, in turn, presents them to each newly minted graduate. This year, she will be on the receiving end of a handshake from Dr. Jessica H. Bailey, dean of the School of Health Related Professions. It's an experience that is sure to leave an indelible mark on the affable executive director of enrollment management. "It gives me a greater appreciation for the type of students we have at UMMC and what they've gone through to receive their diplomas," Cole said. "It gives me a fresh perspective for my job in student services." Cole's perspective on commencement has been carefully cultivated during a career that has progressed from admissions staff member to assistant registrar to associate director to director.
 
University Set to Host Boys State
The University of Mississippi will host American Legion Boys State beginning Sunday, May 30. The weeklong event brings about 250 rising high school seniors from across Mississippi to campus with the goal of "developing tomorrow's informed, responsible citizens." Boys State delegates will learn how city, county and state governments function through simulating those jobs. They'll also participate in Memorial Day services and hear from many local, state and federal elected officials. Chancellor Glenn Boyce said the university is excited to host so many future leaders. The gathering is designed to be a virtual 51st state with a constitution, statutes and ordinances constructed by its citizens to govern themselves. Participants are required to review their knowledge about political workings of state and local government, but they also perform the same duties as real-world officeholders. Typically, Mississippi's governor, members of its congressional delegation, legislators, mayors and other elected officials address delegates to Boys State. This year, Gov. Tate Reeves and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker are among those slated to speak.
 
Section of Highway 49 near USM dedicated to Clyde Kennard
Clyde Kennard was the first Black man to apply for admission to the University of Southern Mississippi. Although he was denied twice, his efforts paved the way for change. Thursday, a portion of U.S. Highway 49 near the university was dedicated to him. Kennard's niece, Valerie Gilliam, says she is thankful. "It's a blessing, and I'm glad that someone was looking out for my uncle," Gilliam said. "I think he would be very proud if he was living." The person "looking out" for her uncle was Mississippi Sen. Juan Barnett. Barnett says the idea started out as a small thought. "It started with a conversation between me and the late Mr. Alvin Eaton about the possibility of just naming a street, but the more I thought on it, the street was not enough," Barnett said. He says Kennard deserved more than just a local city street, he deserved something bigger and better. Kennard deserved a highway. "His marker needs to be in a place where everyone that has the opportunity to travel through Hattiesburg or to Hattiesburg can see the marker of Mr. Clyde Kennard and can know what he died for," Barnett said.
 
Here's a run-down of some of the on-campus roadwork and building projects at Auburn University this summer
Auburn University is set for another busy summer of construction as students leave campus for the summer. Seventy-four of Facility Management's 114 campus construction projects are scheduled for completion during the 2021 summer semester, including various classroom lighting upgrades and Jordan-Hare Stadium projects including restroom renovations and Verizon Wireless 4G and 5G upgrades. Wendy Peacock, director of construction management at Auburn, said many of the projects such as road renovations take advantage of the lack of traffic on campus during the summer. "That is one thing we do very strategically when we have less traffic on campus," Peacock said. "We do all the roadwork and as much as we can possibly do during the summer." Elsewhere on campus, various projects ranging from elevator repairs to carpet replacements upgrades are in the works. "The project map allows our campus and community to see the magnitude of this summer's construction workload," Peacock said. "That includes providing information about what areas are being impacted as well as supporting enhanced coordination between ongoing projects and events." Also included in this summer's construction are ongoing capital projects including the Academic Classroom and Laboratory Complex, Central Dining Hall, Football Performance Center, Chilled Water System Expansion and the Rane Culinary Science Center.
 
U. of Arkansas, Fayetteville chancellor: Keep name on Fulbright college
The statue of former U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville should move to a different campus spot, but "it is in the best interest of the university" to keep the Fulbright College name, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said in a letter published online Thursday. The recommendations from Steinmetz to UA System President Donald Bobbitt differ from those of a UA campus committee formed to study Fulbright's legacy. The group last month recommended to Steinmetz that the Fulbright statue be removed from campus and that the Fulbright name be stripped from the university's arts and sciences college. Fulbright is perhaps best known for introducing legislation in 1945 that created the international education exchange program named after him, but his place on the UA campus is being reconsidered given his legislative record supporting segregation and opposing civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. Bobbitt, at a Thursday meeting of the University of Arkansas board of trustees, said he will take "several weeks" to review Steinmetz' recommendations "and then make my recommendations to the board for possible action." Steinmetz, in recommending the Fulbright statue be moved from its location outside Old Main, said in his letter that "it is our desire to place the statue in a location where we can provide an accurate context for the life of Fulbright; that is, the great accomplishments as well as his failures related to civil rights."
 
LSU will keep mask, distancing requirements even after state relaxed those rules
LSU will still require masks to be worn on campus and people to physically distance indoors for the foreseeable future, school leaders announced Thursday. The announcement comes two days after Gov. John Bel Edwards lifted mask mandates for K-12 schools, but LSU leaders say they'll maintain masking and 6-foot distancing rules as a precaution. It mirrors previous decisions the school had made when Louisiana was using phases for COVID-19 mitigation measures. During those times, LSU had often maintained stricter rules than the governor's mandates. "As we have said from the beginning of the pandemic, safety will always be our guidepost," said Interim President Tom Galligan in a statement Thursday. "We feel that continuing the mask mandate at this time is the safest option for our employees and students while we continue to monitor the state's progress regarding COVID-19." The school has also been holding no-appointment vaccination clinics between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. through May 29 at the south end zone at Tiger Stadium. School leaders have asked students to report their vaccination status on LSU's website.
 
U. of Tennessee at Knoxville will not require ACT, SAT scores from applicants through 2025
The University of Tennessee at Knoxville will not require students to submit an ACT or SAT test score when applying to the university through the fall 2025 admissions cycle, the university announced Thursday. UT made a similar change to their application process last July in response to the coronavirus pandemic, when many tests were delayed or canceled. Applicants applying for the fall 2021 semester were not required to submit a test score. Now, UT has extended that change through fall 2025. "Though we believe admissions tests do provide additional validity to our decisions, we also understand the tests are just one part of a student's story. This five-year test-optional policy will allow us to collect data and assess how effective admissions tests are for our population of students," said Fabrizio D'Aloisio, associate vice provost for enrollment management and executive director of Undergraduate Admissions. Several universities around the country have moved to test-optional admissions, giving students the choice of submitting a test score when applying. Last year, more than 9,000 applications were submitted without a test score to UT Knoxville, according to the release. Applicants are still able to submit a test score when applying if they would like to.
 
Work begins on 'luxury' apartment complex to lure companies to U. of Kentucky's Coldstream campus
Construction has started on a 260-unit residential complex on 13 acres in the University of Kentucky's Coldstream Research Park off of Newtown Pike. Wednesday's groundbreaking was more than five years in the making. UK officials hope the addition of residential apartments, townhomes and other amenities will help attract more businesses to the research campus, which has struggled to attract new tenants. "The goal at many research parks nationwide is to create a dynamic live-work-play-innovate environment, and this residential development helps us accomplish this at Coldstream," said George Ward, executive director of the Coldstream campus. "I like to use the term 'social infrastructure' to describe the amenities necessary to attract young professionals and an innovative workforce. This development will activate Coldstream 24/7 and make it an even more attractive location for high-tech organizations." The city, university and developer described the project with terms like luxury and high-end. Isolated industrial and research parks are outdated because people want to live, work and shop in the same area, UK officials have argued. Much of Coldstream's available land is still vacant.
 
Texas A&M officials offer update on diversity efforts
With preliminary concepts for changes in campus designs mapped out and a pilot program for increasing Black student admission commitments under their belt, Texas A&M officials are moving forward with the recently approved four-year, $24.75 million plan to address diversity. Outgoing interim president John Junkins released a progress report Thursday afternoon outlining the efforts made so far to address diversity, equity and inclusion via the eight-step action plan that the Board of Regents approved in January. The action plan was a direct response to needs identified in a report by the 45-member Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion that former President Michael K. Young initiated last year. In January, that plan stated that while the Lawrence Sullivan Ross statue, which was the center of several protests last year, would stay in Academic Plaza, a task force would be established to help tell A&M's history through iconography. Thursday's progress report outlined several spots in Academic Plaza and around campus that could be home to additional historical displays, but Junkins stressed that the preliminary conceptual designs have not been approved. The task force on campus historical displays recommended using the entire school as a way to tell university history, adding that a wide range of media should be used and that there should be a phased implementation of changes.
 
Masks no longer required in Columbia, Boone County and U. of Missouri buildings starting June 1
If you've gotten vaccinated, starting in June, experiences around Columbia and Boone County will start to feel a lot closer to the "normal" the city, county and country as a whole have been craving since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The City of Columbia on Thursday announced several changes regarding masking and social distancing requirements around the city and county, including in K-12 schools, local colleges and government spaces. "As community partners, we continue to recommend wearing masks and social distancing, especially for people who are not vaccinated. As we continue to lift restrictions, now is the time to provide updated guidance to our community," said Columbia Mayor Brian Treece in a news release announcing the changes. "With more people receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, it will become safer for everyone to begin enjoying activities like school and community engagement in a more normal way." The University of Missouri will no longer require masks and social distancing indoors starting June 1. Instead, distancing and masking will be "recommended based on vaccination status and situation." Additionally, MU will no longer need approval from Incident Command for on-campus events.
 
U. of Missouri researcher lands $1.8 million NIH grant to explore causes of inflammatory bowel disease
Erika Boerman's passion for her work is palpable. The excitement grows in her eyes as she points to an image on her computer screen of a blood vessel made up of vibrant blues, greens and reds. She talks about her work with a $350,000 confocal microscope as her zen. "I love talking about blood vessels to people because there is so much more going on that people don't realize," Boerman said in her narrow lab at the end of a quiet hallway in the MU Medical Sciences Building. Boerman, a University of Missouri assistant professor of medical pharmacology and physiology, has received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the role of perivascular nerves in inflammatory bowel disease. Boerman plans to study the blood flow in mice and determine why inflammatory bowel disease impairs the blood vessels and nerves around them. "Perivascular nerves can be thought of as the 'gas and brakes' in terms of blood flow," Boerman said, "and in IBD, and in a number of other diseases, you tend to have more constricted blood vessels, and it's harder to get blood into the gut."
 
Colorado Becomes 1st State To Ban Legacy College Admissions
When someone applies to college, there's often a box or a section on the application that asks about any relatives who attended the university -- perhaps a parent or a cousin. This is called "legacy," and for decades it's given U.S. college applicants a leg up in admissions. But no longer in Colorado's public colleges. On Tuesday, Colorado became the first state to do away with that admissions boost when Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a ban on the practice into law. The governor also signed a bill that removes a requirement that public colleges consider SAT or ACT scores for freshmen, though the new law still allows students to submit test scores if they wish. Both moves are aimed at making higher education access more equitable. According to the legislation, 67% of middle- to high-income students in Colorado enroll in bachelor's degree programs straight from high school, while 47% of low-income students do. There are also major differences when it comes to race, with white students far more likely to enroll in college. Legacy admissions have long been a target for reform. In a 2018 survey of admissions directors by Inside Higher Ed, 42% of private institutions and 6% of public institutions said they consider legacy status as a factor in admissions. Some of the nation's largest public universities do not consider legacy, including both the University of California and the California State University systems. However, private colleges in California have reported using legacy as a way to encourage philanthropic giving and donations.
 
Purdue University Offers Tuition Lottery In Effort To Incentivize Students To Get Vaccinated
Purdue University announced on Thursday that it will enter students into a lottery for free tuition if they can provide documentation proving that they've been vaccinated against COVID-19. Ten people will be randomly selected from a pool of students who provide proof of vaccination to the university. Those ten students will receive one year's worth of in-state tuition, which the university says is valued at just under $10,000. The lottery shows how far Purdue is willing to go in order to incentivize students to get vaccinated -- without making it a requirement. Indiana University, which announced it would require students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated last week, has seen pushback from both Senate and House republicans and the state Attorney General. It is also not clear how many of Purdue's students have been vaccinated. University officials say it has been difficult to track how much of its campus has been immunized against COVID-19. In order to be entered into the lottery, students will have to provide documentation by July 15th. The ten winners will be announced on July 29th.
 
Nikole Hannah-Jones Readies Legal Challenge Amid Stalled UNC Tenure Bid
Lawyers representing Nikole Hannah-Jones told state leaders in North Carolina on Thursday that they were "evaluating all available legal recourse" against the University of North Carolina and its board after the investigative journalist's stalled tenure bid prompted outrage from alumni, scholarly groups, and journalists across the country. The lawyers, including a team from the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, told state representatives that they must neither destroy nor alter any documents or data connected to "potential claims" by Hannah-Jones, specifying that she may bring "federal action." In a letter, the lawyers specifically asked the recipients to retain correspondence with the Chapel Hill campus's Board of Trustees and the UNC system's Board of Governors, as well as any documents pertaining to Hannah-Jones's "1619 Project" for The New York Times and other journalistic work. The news was reported earlier by The News & Observer and NC Policy Watch. Hannah-Jones did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A university spokesman, Joel Curran, told The Chronicle that Hannah-Jones's lawyers had sent a letter to Chapel Hill, too. Curran declined to comment further.
 
Is Online Test-Monitoring Here to Stay?
When college campuses shut down in March, 2020, remote-proctoring companies such as Proctorio, ProctorU, Examity, and ExamSoft benefitted immediately. (In a survey of college instructors conducted early in the pandemic, ninety-three per cent expressed concern that students would be more likely to cheat on online exams.) Some of these companies offer live proctoring underwritten by artificial intelligence. These include ProctorU, which said, in December, that it had administered roughly four million exams in 2020 (up from 1.5 million in 2019), and Examity, which told Inside Higher Ed that its growth last spring exceeded pre-pandemic expectations by thirty-five per cent. Fully algorithmic test-monitoring -- which is less expensive, and available from companies including Proctorio, ExamSoft, and Respondus Monitor -- has expanded even faster. Proctorio's list of clients grew more than five hundred per cent, from four hundred in 2019 to twenty-five hundred in 2021, according to the company, and its software administered an estimated twenty-one million exams in 2020, compared with four million in 2019. The surge in online-proctoring services has launched a wave of complaints. Several institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, McGill, and the University of California, Berkeley, have either banned proctoring technology or strongly discouraged its use.
 
Are colleges checking AI's work in remote exam proctoring?
Online exam proctoring company ProctorU announced earlier this week that it will no longer send artificial intelligence-generated reports of potential student misconduct to institutions without ProctorU staff members first reviewing the footage -- a development raising more questions than it answers about higher education's use of the technology. ProctorU, like many companies offering remote proctoring services, employs AI technology to monitor student movement during tests and flag activity that might indicate a student is cheating. Typical behavior that may be flagged by the AI includes students getting up from their seats, not looking consistently at their screens or talking out loud. Previously, as part of its cheapest proctoring package, ProctorU sent AI-generated incident reports to instructors without staff members reviewing them first. The company offered this package on the condition that any AI-generated reports would be reviewed by instructors. But that wasn't happening, said Jarrod Morgan, founder and chief strategy officer of ProctorU. "It's not appropriate for AI to be making decisions, and it's unfair to expect faculty to do that work," Morgan said. The company will continue to use AI, but two ProctorU staff members will now review webcam footage to try to ensure that students are not penalized inappropriately for innocent actions. This is particularly important for students granted special accommodations, Morgan said.
 
Is federal stimulus for higher ed a replay of 2009?
Congress has authorized $6.4 trillion in economic relief over the past 14 months, billions of which was earmarked for or available to spend on colleges, universities and other state higher education programs, according to a new report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many states experienced a decline in state tax revenue between the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years. Without enough money to fund their previously approved budgets, several states passed midyear cuts to higher education spending. States cannot run a deficit year to year -- all states except Vermont are required by their constitutions to balance their budgets, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The federal government, however, can go into the red, and so during times of economic decline Congress has passed massive spending packages to prevent layoffs and disruptions in public services, according to SHEEO. So far, the three rounds of stimulus funding have largely made up for cuts to state spending on higher education during the pandemic, mirroring what happened more than a decade ago during the Great Recession. While colleges and universities will receive quite a bit more money this time around, questions remain about will happen when the federal dollars run out.


SPORTS
 
SEC Tournament Stay Ends
No. 3 Mississippi State baseball dropped its second game at the SEC Tournament to No. 4 Tennessee on Thursday (May 27) at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to end its stay at the event. The Diamond Dawgs will now turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament, as the field will be announced on Monday (May 31). Tennessee (43-15) scored four runs in the second inning to grab an early lead, before Mississippi State (40-15) got on the board with a single run in the third inning. The Volunteers added one in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth to build an 8-1 lead. After the Diamond Dawgs added one run in the eighth, the Vols scored four in bottom of the inning to end the game. Mississippi State will await its postseason fate, as NCAA Regional host sites will be announced at 7:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 30 and the 64-team NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, May 31. The selection of the tournament field will air on ESPN2 on Monday.
 
Mississippi State football announces kickoff times for first three games of 2021 season
Mississippi State football now knows kickoff times for its first three games of the 2021 season, as the Southeastern Conference released kickoff times Thursday. The Bulldogs will open their season at 3 p.m. on Sept. 4 against Louisiana Tech at home on ESPNU, followed by a 6 p.m. Sept. 11 kickoff at Davis Wade Stadium against ACC opponent North Carolina State on ESPN2 or ESPNU. MSU will face Memphis on the road at 3 p.m. on Sept. 18 and will be broadcast on ESPN2. MSU already knew its kickoff time for the Egg Bowl, a 6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving kickoff in Starkville. All other game times will be determined as the season progresses.
 
Rocket Watts Signs
Rocket Watts has officially signed his Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) with the Mississippi State men's basketball program announced Thursday by head coach Ben Howland during the spring signing period. Watts, a 6-2 guard from Detroit, Michigan, has amassed 460 points and 121 assists over his first two seasons at Michigan State, where he earned All-Big Ten Freshmen Team honors in 2019-20. He piled up 67.4 percent of his points and recorded 12 of his 18 games in double figures against Big Ten opponents. The Spartans were 16-2 when Watts scored 10 or more points and won all five decisions when Watts fired in 20-plus points. Watts closed out his freshmen campaign with 10-plus points during five of his last seven outings -- all five were against ranked opponents and all five resulted in Michigan State victories. He began the flurry with 21-point performances at No. 22 Illinois (02/11) and versus No. 18 Iowa (02/25). Then, Watts captured Big Ten Freshman of the Week (03/09) after he posted 18.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game at No. 20 Penn State (03/03) and against No. 19 Ohio State (03/08). The Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office is on-sale with 2021-22 season tickets. New season ticket purchasers can call (662) 325-2600 or visit www.HailState.com for more information. Current season ticket holders will receive a renewal notice in late June from MSU's Athletic Ticket Office.
 
Coach Nikki McCray-Penson Announces Signing Of Raven Farley
Mississippi State women's basketball head coach Nikki McCray-Penson announced Wednesday the addition of graduate transfer Raven Farley. "I'm really excited about having Raven as a part of our team," said McCray-Penson. "She is going to bring depth in the post immediately with her size, strength and athleticism. She has the ability to shoot the three as well as pass the ball. She's very familiar with the SEC. Mississippi State was one of her top schools in high school, so she knows the program and the fanbase well." A 6-4 forward, Farley will provide depth in the post after averaging 6.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks and 1.3 assists per game last season at St. John's. She started all 23 games and posted six double-digit scoring efforts, including a 20-point, 11-rebound performance against Fairleigh Dickinson. She led the team in blocks behind nine contests with multiple rejections. As a junior in 2019-20, the Elizabeth, New Jersey, native missed the first half of the season due to NCAA transfer rules but saw action in 16 games, finishing 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per contest off the bench for the Johnnies. Farley started her career at LSU, where she played in 33 games between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns.
 
SEC announces first three weeks of televised college football schedule
The SEC announced the first three weeks of the league's televised football schedule Thursday, including an SEC Network triple-header opening weekend. The SEC Network opens the season with three games on Sept. 4, while the first conference matchup feature Missouri at Kentucky on Sept. 11 on SEC Network. Tennessee host Bowling Green to start the season on Thursday, Sept. 2, on the SEC Network at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET). The SEC Network will air 10 games during the first three weeks of the season. The SEC on CBS begins on September 18 when Alabama visits Florida at 2:30 p.m. (3:30 ET). As part of the SEC's recently announced media rights agreement with The Walt Disney Company, no more than one game per year per school will appear on ESPN+. The home team will determine the start time in a non-exclusive broadcast window for all games carried on a digital platform. This year, those contests will also air on the SEC Network+ digital platform.
 
UGA AD Josh Brooks has '5 to 7 year vision' for facility upgrades
Another sign that a return to more normal athletic seasons are on the way came Thursday when the Georgia Athletic Association held its end of academic year board meeting not by video but in person at an expansive ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation. It was the first time it had gathered in the same room since February 2020. After belt tightening due to the pandemic, the question for athletic director Josh Brooks, not yet six months on the job, is how much is the Athletic Association ready to spend for facilities? Two-time national championship track and field coach Petros Kyprianou is poised to leave when his contract runs out next month. He turned down a multi-year extension because he wanted to see facility upgrades for the program. "As we prepare and the season kicks off and we're back to normal and confirmed funding, then we can move into more of a normal (standard operation procedure)," Brooks said after the first of two days of meetings at the three-day retreat on Lake Oconee. "My goal now is to come up with a plan and we'll start working through that on what are the items? ...I'm optimistic that we put together a good plan that we can start making progress in a lot of these areas." He said Thursday that he's cautious not "to overcommit, but also start putting together a strategic vision of where our facilities are going to go for the next five to seven years." That will begin in the next month.
 
Vanderbilt plans to be at full capacity attendance for home football games
Vanderbilt plans to be at full capacity attendance for home football games this season, the school announced Thursday. That would be quite a change for the Commodores, who had the SEC's most restrictive attendance policy last season because of COVID-19 precautions. Only players' family members and graduate students were permitted to attend the final two home games. Only 849 attended last season's finale against Tennessee. But Vanderbilt Stadium, which has a capacity of 40,350, is expected to open up fully this season. Vanderbilt announced its projected attendance policy changes while releasing the kickoff times and TV broadcast listings of its first three games. Vanderbilt will host East Tennessee State on Sept. 4, beginning at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+. It will play at Colorado State at 9 p.m. on Sept. 11 on CBS Sports Network. And the Commodores will play Stanford at home at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18 on ESPNU.
 
Democrats push bill allowing college athletes to organize
College athletes would have the right to organize and collectively bargain with schools and conferences under a bill introduced Thursday by Democrats in the House and Senate. Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) announced the College Athletes Right to Organize Act. "Big-time college sports haven't been 'amateur' for a long time, and the NCAA has long denied its players economic and bargaining rights while treating them like commodities," Murphy said in a statement. This NCAA said the bill would "directly undercut the purpose of college: earning a degree." It added that "turning student-athletes into union employees is not the answer." A companion bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), Andy Levin (Mich.) and Lori Trahan (Mass.). The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act to define college athletes who receive direct grant-in-aid from their schools as employees. The NCAA has turned to Congress for help as it tries to reform its rules to allow athletes to be paid for endorsements, personal appearances and autograph signings. Several states, including Florida, Georgia and Mississippi, have laws scheduled to take effect July 1 that would open the NIL market to college athletes.



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