| Tuesday, September 14, 2021 |
| Work to do: Local Extension Services continue to serve throughout pandemic | |
 | No two days are the same for Skip Glidewell, Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Agent for Prentiss County. One day, Glidewell might advise an individual how to improve their grass; the next, he may be outdoors, investigating a pond; the day after that may find him fielding questions from landowners about how to improve their agricultural property. Each office of the state-spanning MSU Extension Service serves as a resource for the agriculture producers in their coverage areas, but that's just a fraction of the work they do. MSU Extension agents and staff help with community development, promote family and consumer sciences, and host local 4-H programs. "We are the education arm of the research portion of Mississippi State University," said Marie Rogers, the MSU Extension Agent for Itawamba County. "So the research they do, we as extension service as a whole go out into the community and give people that information." Since the start of the pandemic, Glidewell has learned how to reach the community he covers in new ways. "It didn't shut us down," Glidewell said. "It forced us to think outside the box as far as being innovative with new ways of reaching our clientele." Pandemic or no pandemic, Extension agents have work to do. "We're always open," Rogers said. "Farming never stopped. Our area agronomists, they were working constantly during the pandemic as well . . . we were always ready to serve and help during the pandemic. We just had to find a different way to go about it." |
| RURAL study hopes to improve health outcomes in Mississippi | |
 | One in six Americans live in rural areas, including residents of Oktibbeha County. While living in these rural areas rather than big cities was advantageous to the overall welfare of Americans a few decades ago, University of Mississippi Medical Center cardiologist Dr. Ervin Fox said members of rural communities have become more likely to suffer from heart disease. The RURAL Cohort Study, the Risk Underlying Rural Areas Longitudinal Study, aims to identify why people in these areas are at a higher risk of heart, lung and blood disorders. "We ask the question, 'Why are those residing in rural areas more likely to die from heart disease or stroke compared to those living in urban areas?'" Fox, who is the principal investigator for RURAL study in Mississippi, said at Starkville Rotary Club's weekly meeting Monday. The six-year, $21.4 million project began in 2019 and will examine 4,600 recruits from 10 rural counties across the South. Funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the goal of the study is to bridge the research gap by focusing on communities and areas not adequately studied previously. Oktibbeha County's research site will be located at OCH Regional Medical Center. The study's "mobile exam unit" is equipped with the state of the art medical equipment to perform CT scans, electrocardiograms and lab work, Fox said. To determine the best methods of operation, Fox said he has been working closely with members of the community, such as OCH CEO Jim Jackson, Starkville physician Dr. Emily Landrum and Mississippi State University associate professor David Buys. |
| Mississippi alcohol sales reportedly outpaced nation during pandemic | |
 | Mississippi may be in the middle of the Bible Belt, but during the pandemic residents were belting down alcohol. The state reportedly leads the nation in alcohol sales. Mississippians reportedly purchased more than 400,000 more cases of alcohol during the pandemic... keeping liquor stores busy trying to meet demand. Alcohol was flying off the shelves when the pandemic swept the state, at times even leading to delays in shipments to liquor stores from ABC's warehouse in Gluckstadt. The Mississippi Department of Revenue oversees Alcohol Beverage Control which distributes alcohol throughout the state. In fiscal year 2019, ABC delivered more than 3.380 million cases of liquor and wine. In 2020 it rose to over 3.742 million. Fiscal year 2021 more than 4.1 million cases were distributed. "A lot of that had to do with the fact that when the pandemic first started no one could go out to restaurants or bars," said Mississippi Department of Revenue Communications Specialist Jacob Manley. "So they had to order all of their liquor to their homes or go pick it up." |
| Providers urge Supreme Court to reject 15-week abortion ban | |
 | Abortion providers urged the Supreme Court Monday to reject Mississippi's 15-week prohibition on most abortions, saying a decision to uphold it would "invite states to ban abortion entirely." The filing with the high court comes at a time of significant peril for abortion rights in the U.S., with a Supreme Court reshaped by three conservative justices appointed by former President Donald Trump. Mississippi already has told the court it should overrule its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that established a nationwide right to abortion. Less than two weeks ago, the justices by a 5-4 vote allowed a Texas law to take effect that prohibits abortions once medical professionals can detect cardiac activity, usually around six weeks. The court did not rule on the merits of the law, which the Biden administration and Texas clinics have challenged in federal court. If the court upholds the Mississippi law, it would lead quickly to the elimination of abortion services in large sections of the Midwest and South, where states have aggressively pursued abortion restrictions, the providers told the court. The change in the composition of the court appears to be driving the case to overturn Roe. The court had rejected state appeals of similar laws in the past. |
| Republicans warn reconciliation may stall bipartisan R&D proposals | |
 | House Republicans who worked with Democrats this summer to pass bills aimed at boosting U.S. scientific research and development are warning that the budget reconciliation process may undercut those efforts and endanger the prospects of a bipartisan science authorization bill becoming law this year. Both chambers passed bipartisan science bills in June that would authorize billions for the National Science Foundation, the Energy Department and other agencies to conduct basic and applied research in fields ranging from climate science to artificial intelligence. Proponents say the investments would put the U.S. on a path to solving pressing societal issues such as how to deal with the effects of climate change and rivaling China's investment in 21st-century technologies like quantum computing, advanced energy and cybersecurity. But key differences exist between the Senate's proposal and the two bills that make up the bulk of the House's countermeasure. Republicans say the partisan budget process under which Democrats intend to pass a domestic spending bill with a potential $3.5 trillion price tag and a packed legislative calendar are lowering the chances of the chambers hammering out the differences and sending a bill to President Joe Biden's desk. They also object to Democrats using the budget process to provide billions in funding for research without the policy guidelines set by the bipartisan authorization bills. |
| High Meat Prices Are Helping Fuel Inflation, And A Few Big Companies Are Being Blamed | |
 | Prices for beef, pork and chicken have surged during the pandemic, and the Biden administration believes it knows who's partly behind it: A handful of big meatpacking companies that control most of the country's supply. Beef prices alone jumped 12.2% over the last year, according to new consumer inflation data on Tuesday, making it one of the costliest items in the surging bills that consumers face today at the grocery store. "It's just outrageous. I can't even understand how people are supposed to be able to pay that kind of money for basic stuff like ground beef," says Adam Jones, who raises Angus cattle in northwest Kansas. The surge in meat prices is contributing to high inflation. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that consumer price index rose 5.3% in the 12 months ending in August. That's down slightly from June and July when inflation was running at 5.4% -- but it's still near the highest level in nearly 13 years. Pork prices jumped 9.8% in the last year while chicken prices jumped 7.2%. The White House is responding by shining a spotlight on "Big Meat," as part of a larger campaign against what the Biden administration calls "anti-competitive" behavior by big business -- even as meatpackers insist they are not to blame. "Farmers are losing money on cattle, hogs and poultry that they're selling at a time when consumers are seeing higher prices at the grocery store," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said last week. "And there are now record profits or near-record profits for those in the middle." |
| Inflation Eased in August, Though Still High | |
 | Inflation cooled slightly in August but remained strong, as a surge in Covid-19 infections slowed economic growth and pandemic-related shortages of labor and supplies continued to drive up prices. The Labor Department said last month's consumer-price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in August from July, slower than the 0.5% one-month increase in July, and down markedly from June's 0.9% pace. Prices eased for autos, with used vehicle prices dropping sharply, and hotel rates and airline fares declined in August from July. The CPI measures what consumers pay for goods and services, including groceries, clothes, restaurant meals, recreation and vehicles. On an annual basis, price pressures eased slightly. The department's consumer-price index rose 5.3% in August from a year earlier, down from the 5.4% pace in June and July, on an unadjusted basis. Price growth driven by used vehicles eased and the recovery of travel-related prices slowed, likely in part due to the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus depressing demand. However, Laura Rosner-Warburton, senior economist at MacroPolicy Perspectives, anticipates the emergence of longer-term price pressures in coming months. The August CPI report "might be a little bit of a headfake, honestly," suggesting that the recent inflation surge is proving to be transitory, as economists have predicted, "but other factors might be moving under the surface," said Ms. Rosner-Warburton. |
| Apple issues urgent iPhone software update to address critical spyware vulnerability | |
 | Apple has updated its software for iPhones to address a critical vulnerability that independent researchers say has been exploited by notorious surveillance software to spy on a Saudi activist. Researchers from the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab said the software exploit has been in use since February and has been used to deploy Pegasus, the spyware made by Israeli firm NSO Group that has allegedly been used to surveil journalists and human rights advocates in multiple countries. The urgent update that Apple (AAPL) released Monday plugs a hole in the iMessage software that allowed hackers to infiltrate a user's phone without the user clicking on any links, according to Citizen Lab. The Saudi activist chose to remain anonymous, Citizen Lab said. Apple credited the Citizen Lab researchers for finding the vulnerability. "Attacks like the ones described are highly sophisticated, cost millions of dollars to develop, often have a short shelf life, and are used to target specific individuals," Ivan Krstić, head of Apple Security Engineering and Architecture, said in a statement. Krstić said Apple rapidly addressed the issue with a software fix and that the vulnerability is "not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users. Still, security experts encouraged users to update their mobile devices for protection. |
| Piano recital will inaugurate new Steinway at The W | |
| Mississippi University for Women piano faculty Julia Mortyakova and Valentin M. Bogdan will perform a piano recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Kossen Auditorium, Poindexter Hall. "Nancy Knight Gilpin Piano Dedication Concert" is an inauguration concert for a newly purchased Steinway Concert Grand Piano. The funds were donated to The W's Department of Music in memory of Nancy Knight Gilpin, music alumna class of 1969. The gift was from her husband Michael D. Gilpin, of Hattiesburg. "We are extremely grateful to receive this gift. Our students, faculty and guest artists will enjoy playing this piano for years to come. This concert will showcase the beautiful range, sound quality and power of this superb instrument and we are excited to share it with our audience," said Mortyakova. The recital will feature solo works by Cécile Chaminade, Teresa Carreño, Fanny Hensel, Domenico Scarlatti, Franz Liszt, Sergei Rachmaninoff and multiple selection of music written for piano four-hands. In order to adhere to physical distancing recommendations, seating for the event will be limited to 60 patrons. Admission to this event will be free of charge, but prior reservation is required. To reserve a seat, call the department of music at 241-6399. Masks will be required of all guests at all times while inside Poindexter Hall. |
| Familiar faces to lead East Central Community College's foundation, alumni efforts | |
 | Two East Central Community College alumna with nearly 50 years of experience working at the Decatur college have been tabbed to lead ECCC's major gifts fundraising and alumni relations efforts. ECCC President Brent Gregory recently announced that Stacey Hollingsworth has assumed the upgraded position of Executive Director of the Foundation. Maria McLeod will oversee the college's Alumni Association as part of her expanded duties in the ECCC Office of Public Information. After a national search, Hollingsworth transferred to the position of Executive Director of the Foundation from her duties as the college's Director of Admissions and Records. The Executive Director of the Foundation reports directly to the president of the college and coordinates daily operations as well as the fundraising efforts of the East Central Community College Foundation, Inc., including annual fund campaigns, capital fund campaigns, planned giving campaigns, special events, and scholarships designed to secure funds for the college. McLeod, who has served as assistant to the vice president for public information for the past 24 years, will now direct the Alumni Association as part of her responsibilities. Her new title is Director of External Relations. A native of Decatur, Hollingsworth is no stranger to the college's Foundation and Alumni Association, having overseen both organizations as Executive Director for Foundation and Alumni Relations from 2005-2015. A 1993 graduate of ECCC, she holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi and both a master's in business administration and a doctorate in community college leadership from Mississippi State University. McLeod, who is a native of Sebastopol, also received her associate degree from ECCC in 1993 and her bachelor's degree in communications from Mississippi College. |
| U. of Alabama enrolls largest freshman class in its history | |
 | The seemingly ever-expanding University of Alabama enrolled a record number of freshmen this semester, along with its largest ever class of National Merit Scholars. UA also announced on Monday a record number of graduate students for fall 2021. The 7,593-person freshman class includes 281 National Merit Scholars. That represents increases of 17% and 27%, respectively, over fall 2020. The number of freshmen enrolled in Honors College is 2,053, an increase of more than 14%. Enrollment overall is 38,320, with 940 National Merit Scholars among that number, another UA record. Last year's enrollment was 37,842. This is the third out of the last four years that fall enrollment topped 38,000. The number of in-state freshmen also rose, up more than 8%, with 2,963 students from Alabama, the most in a decade. It's the third consecutive year for an in-state increase. That number includes students from all 67 Alabama counties. "This impressive group of freshmen chose to come to the university because of our unwavering commitment to helping students succeed in and out of the classroom," UA President Stuart R. Bell said in a written release. Underrepresented minority numbers also increased among freshmen, up 37%, to 1,295 students. All minorities make up 22% of the record freshman class, an increase of 3% over last fall. Black students are more than 10% of the freshmen class. |
| Majority of college students unsure about staying in Alabama after graduation | |
| The majority of college students in Alabama university are undecided on whether to stay in Alabama after graduation, according to a new survey from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The survey, which polled college sophomores, juniors and seniors in 14 of Alabama's public universities, found 43 percent of responding students answered "maybe" when asked if they would stay in Alabama after graduation. 23 percent responded "no," with 33 percent responding "yes," according to the ACHE survey. "Encouraging graduates to stay in Alabama to live and work is a win-win concept," said ACHE Chairman and Dothan businessman Charles Buntin, in the survey released Friday. "Experiences need to be created to connect Alabama businesses and soon-to-be graduates." The state Legislature appropriated $800,000, been equally split between ACHE and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama's new called Retain Alabama, to increase students awareness of careers in Alabama, according to ACHE. "We need to identify and systematically address the obstacles that discourage university graduates from starting their careers in Alabama," said ACHE Executive Director Jim Purcell. "Students are often not aware of the career opportunities available to them in Alabama." |
| Enrollment surges at U. of Arkansas, Fayetteville, slips at several other state colleges | |
| A freshman class with larger-than-usual numbers of out-of-state students propelled enrollment growth at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. But several other state colleges largely failed to see a bounce back in their student totals -- and some fell further -- after declines last fall. UA-Fayetteville on Friday reported a preliminary enrollment of 29,068 students, an increase of about 5.5% from a year earlier. The number of first-time freshmen seeking a degree increased by 28%, rising to 6,064 from 4,726 a year earlier. The data is based on a preliminary count following the 11th day of fall semester classes, which began Aug. 23 at the Fayetteville campus. "As soon as we opened the doors for campus visits, we had more students want to come than we could admit. There was clearly an eagerness to attend a school that was committed to offering face-to-face classes," Suzanne McCray, UA's vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions, said in an email. McCray said the freshman total includes 3,422 out-of-state students -- not including international students -- a percentage of roughly 55%. In recent years, UA-Fayetteville has had roughly 50% of its incoming freshman class come from outside the state's borders. The number of Black students at UA increased to 1,371, a rise of about 9.6% compared to a year earlier, while the number of Latino students increased to 2,822, a rise of about 11.5% compared to fall 2020. |
| U. of Arkansas Covers Costs of Students' Passports | |
 | The Office of Study Abroad at the University of Arkansas announced Monday that it would provide scholarships to Pell-eligible and other qualifying first-year students to cover the cost of a U.S. passport, in an effort to increase access to study abroad programs. The University of Arkansas, along with 39 other institutions, won a grant from the Institute of International Education to remove one barrier for studying abroad -- funding a passport. The American Passport Project will cover the cost of passports for approximately 25 University of Arkansas students. Other schools within the university -- including Engineering's ECAP program, the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, the Honors College and Walton College -- have since added on to the grant to fund 150 more students' passports in the 2021-22 academic year. The program is meant to promote equity in study abroad, as students with limited means struggle to go abroad because of long-term planning and financial hurdles, the university said. According to data from the spring 2016 National Survey of Student Engagement, 54 percent of University of Arkansas freshmen surveyed said they were interested in or planned to study abroad, yet only 17.9 percent of that graduating class completed a study abroad experience. |
| Georgia Democrats push for mask mandates on university campuses | |
 | Democrats on the Georgia House Higher Education Committee urged Gov. Brian Kemp Monday to drop his opposition to mask mandates and leave the decision to administrators at the state's public colleges and universities. The lawmakers' plea came as University System of Georgia professors and students launched a weeklong series of demonstrations on campuses across the state demanding mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We need our leaders to fight against the virus, not against our students and faculty," said Rep. Jasmine Clark, D-Lilburn. "A leader makes decisions," added Rep. Rhonda Burnough, D-Riverdale. "Georgia needs a leader, not a follower." Kemp has held firm against imposing statewide mask mandates on either college campuses or K-12 classrooms in Georgia, criticizing such requirements as divisive. Last week, university system Acting Chancellor Teresa MacCartney defended Kemp's position on mask mandates. She said campus administrators have worked hard to put all necessary health and safety protocols in place for students returning for in-person classes this semester. The system is encouraging but not requiring students and professors to wear masks and get vaccinated. |
| 'Morale Is in the Ditch': Distressed by Light Covid Precautions, Georgia Faculty Members Take Action | |
 | Joseph H.G. Fu knew he was breaking the rules. In August, the University of Georgia mathematics professor told students that they must wear a mask to attend lectures or office hours, and that he reserved the right to cancel all in-person interactions and conduct them over Zoom. That runs afoul of University System of Georgia policy. Instructors at the system's 26 public colleges aren't allowed to require masks or unilaterally change their course modality. The system also distributed a template to provosts for disciplining faculty members who move a class online without prior approval, or who miss a lecture without either prior approval or a "documentable illness." The steps range from a verbal warning to suspension or a reduction in duties and pay, depending on the conduct. Consideration for dismissal "will commence according to USG and university policy," the guidance says. (Lance Wallace, the system's associate vice chancellor for communications, said in an email the disciplinary framework is intended to help institutions "fashion their own policy or procedure" and does not carry the authority of a policy.) Teresa MacCartney, acting system chancellor, defended the system's Covid plans at a recent Board of Regents meeting. She said that students and state leaders expect safe, in-person learning, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. "We continue to be in alignment with the governor's expectations," she noted. Gov. Brian P. Kemp, a Republican, has opposed both mask and vaccine mandates. Yet Fu, like many faculty members across the state, doesn't see the logic of those decisions. |
| Texas A&M faculty voice concerns about COVID-19 pandemic | |
 | Some Texas A&M faculty members, frustrated with the way the university is handling the COVID-19 pandemic, are calling on administrators to address their concerns. Members of the university's Faculty Senate spent a large part of a Monday virtual meeting voicing their worries to Texas A&M President M. Katherine Banks; topics included asking how to handle classes when students and faculty have to quarantine or isolate, as well as suggestions for ways to improve mask usage and vaccinations on campus. When questioned about why the university doesn't do more than recommend mask use and COVID-19 vaccinations, Banks cited Gov. Greg Abbott's policies, which prohibit the university from requiring such precautions. Some Faculty Senate members showed interest on Monday in online learning and asked Banks why it wasn't an option this year. She and Hartman, who was also at the meeting, said that the Board of Regents and the A&M System have asked A&M to do all that it can do to continue with in-person learning. A&M Chancellor John Sharp said in an email to The Eagle that a lot of students would not have returned to A&M if instruction was going to be online because they thought they were not getting a complete education. "Should we shut down an $8 billion institution just because a portion of the university community won't get vaccinated? The answer is no," his statement said. "So far, the scientific evidence indicates that vaccinations dramatically reduce your chance of getting COVID, let alone for you to become seriously ill, hospitalized or die. If vaccines begin to fail, we will consider other measures, of course." |
| COVID-19 mask requirement at the U. of Missouri extended until Oct. 15 | |
 | In a 5-4 vote Monday, the University of Missouri System Board of Curators extended a requirement for masks in classrooms and meeting rooms until Oct. 15. The special meeting was held online over Zoom. Voting in favor were curators Julia Brncic, Maurice Graham, Greg Hoberock, Keith Holloway and Robin Wenneker. Voting against were Todd Graves, Michael Williams, Darryl Chatman and Jeffrey Layman. The University of Missouri in July returned to requiring masks in classrooms and meeting rooms. University of Missouri System President Mun Choi cited the success of the indoor masking requirement and that only 25% of on-campus students have uploaded their vaccination status. "We believe masking is working," Choi said. "We are controlling COVID transmission." Schools without mask requirements have "an order of magnitude higher transmission rate," Choi said. The mask requirement doesn't extend to indoor athletic events, with Choi saying attendance at those is voluntary. That exception is hypocritical, Williams said. "We're still going to transmit the disease if you're not going to wear a mask," Williams said. |
| Blackboard to Merge With Anthology, Forming a New Edtech Giant | |
| Today one of the largest providers of course-management software for colleges and schools, Blackboard, announced that it plans to merge with Anthology, a company formed last year from the combination of three other edtech companies. The move creates a giant company that will reportedly be valued at about $3 billion, though officials did not disclose the terms of the deal. When it formed last year, Anthology represented the marriage of three sizable companies that all operated in distinct areas of edtech: Campus Management, which offers a student information system; Campus Labs, which offers software for students and campus leaders to manage clubs, events and other student-affair activities; and iModules, which develops alumni engagement software to help colleges fundraise. A merger with Blackboard would bring Anthology into yet another separate but sizable sector of edtech services, running the systems that manage learning for online and in-person classes. Blackboard is one of the largest LMS providers. The message from leaders of the companies is that by joining forces, they will be able to offer better interchange of data among the many product lines they operate in. The deal is subject to regulatory approval, but the officials at the two companies said they hope to close the deal by the end of the year. |
| Covid long-haulers face new challenges as they head to college. Universities are listening. | |
 | As excited as Lily Rose Clifton is about starting college as a freshman at the University of Washington in a few weeks, she's just as anxious about attending school in person after being homebound with long-haul Covid symptoms for the last 15 months. Before getting sick, she was a healthy active teenager but that all flipped after Covid left her struggling with, among other things, post-viral autoimmune dysautonomia which affects her nervous system triggering dizziness, elevated heart rate, and rapid breathing when she stands up or exerts energy quickly. She said she also feels bouts of brain fog, officially diagnosed as dissociate syndrome, which she now takes medication for in order to keep focus. "I don't learn the same way from when I was healthy," Clifton, 18, said. "I feel like I'm a totally different person now." She said she will likely reach out to the university's disability services office to arrange some accommodation for her new needs like extra time to get to class and for reading assignments. "I feel bad even asking for anything because I feel like it takes away from other people who are in worse situations, but my mom tells me I shouldn't feel that way because my needs and abilities have also changed since Covid." As long-term Covid continues to linger in thousands, young people suffering from its residual effects will undoubtedly return to schools and colleges needing more support and accommodation, but with disability infrastructure being underfunded and not widely understood in many colleges, schools will need to re-examine systems they have in place for these students, disability experts said. |
| Survey finds differences in COVID protocols across regions | |
| Faculty and staff members reported stark differences in their colleges' fall semester COVID-19 protocols and plans across institutions and geographic regions, according to a new national survey. Sixty-five percent of respondents said their institutions planned to open for normal in-person classes, while 31 percent said their campuses would offer a mix of in-person and online instruction, the August survey by the admissions management company Liaison International found. While the numbers of colleges with vaccine and mask requirements have likely increased since the survey closed Aug. 20, fewer than half (48 percent) of the approximately 900 survey respondents said their colleges were requiring vaccination for students, and 43 percent said their institutions were requiring vaccination for students and employees. Slightly more than two-thirds (68 percent) said their institutions were mandating masks. There were significant differences in safety measures across regions. Just 53 percent of survey respondents from the South indicated their colleges had a mask mandate, compared to 73 percent of respondents from the Midwest and Northeast, respectively, and 84 percent from the West. A quarter of respondents from the South said their institutions were requiring vaccines for staff members, compared to 37 percent in the Midwest, 58 percent in the Northeast and 70 percent in the West. |
| College students experiencing food insecurity less likely to graduate | |
 | We've learned that, especially during the current pandemic, food insecurity is linked to not only physical health but mental health. In a study published in the journal Public Health Nutrition, researchers found that about 15 percent of students qualified as food insecure. The study surveyed college students from 1999 to 2003, then followed up on them in 2015 to 2017. The data used in the study comes from a long-running project called Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which is government funded. The longitudinal study has followed thousands of families in the U.S. since 1968 using annual or biennial surveys. The surveys asked about sociodemographic, economic and health information on all the family members. For this study, they tracked more than 1,500 individuals who enrolled in college or higher education during the first period and were still part of the long-term study by the later period. The students were classified as being food insecure if the parents answered the survey saying they were food insecure at any point during the college years period. The researchers noted that most of the students lived at home as dependents while attending school. The team analyzed the data and found that the students who were food insecure were 43 percent less likely to graduate from college, including associate's degrees. They were also 61 percent less likely to obtain a graduate or professional degree. Students who were first-generation college students and also experiencing food insecurity were also less likely to graduate compared to first generation students who were food secure. The researchers think this study suggests that there is much more that can be done to support college students who are in need. |
| Chinese students hit by US visa rejections amid tension | |
| After a semester online, Wang Ziwei looked forward to meeting classmates who are returning to campus at Washington University in St. Louis. But the 23-year-old finance student said the U.S. revoked his student visa on security grounds. Wang is among at least 500 students the Chinese government says have been rejected under a policy issued by then-President Donald Trump to block Beijing from obtaining U.S. technology with possible military uses. Students argue it is applied too broadly and fume at what they say is an accusation they are spies. "The whole thing is nonsense," Wang said. "What do we finance students have to do with the military?" The students join companies and individuals whose plans have been disrupted by U.S.-Chinese tension over technology and security, Beijing's military buildup, the origins of the coronavirus, human rights and conflicting claims to the South China Sea and other territory. U.S. officials say they believe thousands of Chinese students and researchers participate in programs that encourage them to transfer medical, computer and other sensitive information to China. China is the biggest source of foreign students in the United States, according to U.S. government data. The number fell 20% in 2020 from the previous year but at 380,000 was nearly double that of second-ranked India. |
| President Biden orders new initiative to investigate Latino education | |
| President Biden is creating a new initiative on Hispanic education as the percentage of Latino students in U.S. public schools continues to grow. Latinos make up around 27% of all public school students and about 20% of college students. They are expected to be the majority of U.S. residents by midcentury but now lag behind in graduation rates and student achievement. Biden signed an executive order Monday creating a White House initiative, "Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics," which will be housed within the U.S. Department of Education. This will focus on breaking down barriers and systemic challenges facing Hispanic students from early childhood through college, the White House told Axios. Obama administration official and former journalist Melody Gonzales, of San Diego, will lead the effort and collect data on the state of Latino education as schools re-open from the pandemic. The order also creates the new Presidential Advisory Commission on Advancing Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics, which will be made up of business, education, and community leaders. The commission will offer recommendations to the president and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. |
| If we plug them in, will they power up? | |
| Syndicated columnist Bill Crawford writes: "Many automakers have detailed plans to electrify large portions of their fleets over the next decade, with some announcing goals for fully electrified lineups within five years," reports Consumer Reports. "We're committed to putting every driver in an electric vehicle on a scale previously unseen and bringing the world to an all-electric future," General Motors says on its web site. But if we plug them in will they power up? Hmmm. Extreme weather conditions that caused power outages and shortages in Louisiana, Texas, and California have exposed major weaknesses in the nation's power grid. Hurricane Ida has disrupted power in south Louisiana for days – some were still without power last week. Early this year extreme cold disrupted power across Texas for days. Extreme heat and raging fires continue to disrupt power across California. Ida and winter storms disrupted power in Mississippi too. Then there are tornadoes, floods, and other weather events that shutdown power in many states. What does this portend for a future where more and more Americans will need persistent power for electric vehicles? |
SPORTS
| Mike Leach on Mississippi State QB Will Rogers: 'I thought he took a step' | |
| Will Rogers is the youngest player Mike Leach has had under center other than last season, when Rogers was in the same spot just as a freshman. Rogers spent much of his life watching Leach's teams execute the Air Raid offense and his knowledge of it has developed after finally getting a full offseason this past year. But before Rogers can be a consistent quarterback in Leach's offense, he first needs to become a consistent quarterback, period. During his weekly press conference Monday, Leach said the offense had too many three-and-outs in MSU's 24-10 win over N.C. State on Saturday. Leach also noted a play late in the win where Rogers threw the ball away to evade pressure instead of taking a loss to keep the clock running -- which comes a week after Leach mentioned some sacks against Louisiana Tech had more to do with Rogers trying to do too much instead of the offensive line. It's these small things that have kept Rogers from being as good as Leach hopes, but it doesn't distract from the progress Rogers has made in Year 2. "I thought he took a step (in Week 2)," Leach said. "There's no question about it." |
| Notebook: Mississippi State prepares for first road test | |
| Mississippi State coach Mike Leach called out his team's effort and mental toughness after a Week 1 win against Louisiana Tech in which MSU trailed by 20 in the fourth quarter. He said in Week 2 the coaching staff would take a less positive approach in developing State's mental strength, and Leach saw some improvement. This week adds a new test to that strength when MSU travels to face Memphis -- a team that hasn't lost at home since October 2018 when it was beaten by a top-10 UCF team. "We're excited to go play up there," Leach said during his weekly press conference Monday. "We've just gotta get a week better and play the best we can. Just focusing on what we do is the biggest thing and having the discipline to do that." The consistency Leach preaches comes from a commitment to every rep, which he has preached with most every player on his roster. When discussing quarterback Will Rogers, a focus on consistency is most always the thing Leach harps on. With a player such as receiver Malik Heath who scored a crucial touchdown in MSU's 24-10 win against N.C. State on Saturday, consistency stems to technique and taking every rep seriously. |
| After leading Mississippi State's O-line, Charles Cross deserving of SEC weekly award | |
 | When playing in coach Mike Leach's offensive system, protecting the quarterback's blindside is of the upmost importance. Left tackle Charles Cross has been up to the challenge. The sophomore was named the SEC's offensive lineman of the week for his performance in Saturday's 24-10 win against NC State. Cross didn't allow one pressure on quarterback Will Rogers and earned a pass-blocking grade of 88.8 from Pro Football Focus -- the third-best mark in the conference that week. Cross led the Mississippi State (2-0) offensive line with a 73.6 overall grade, according to PFF. He played 65 offensive snaps vs. NC State, 51 of which were pass protection, and he should continue his leading role for the offensive line Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN2) against Memphis (2-0). He's building on a strong freshman season in which he appeared in 10 games, earning Freshman All-SEC honors by the conference's coaches. But Leach saw a big jump from Cross even between the first and second games this season. "I thought he played better this week," Leach said Monday. "To be honest, that last week he played, I didn't think he had a particularly good game the week before. He would have some big plays, but then had some try-to-do-too-much stuff and then all of a sudden there'd be some kind of lapse. I did think he played good this last week. I thought he graded out the top of our O-line group this week." |
| SEC announces LSU-Mississippi State kickoff, names Charles Cross top Week 2 lineman | |
| Charles Cross was named SEC offensive lineman of the week after Mississippi State's 24-10 win against N.C. State on Saturday. Cross didn't allow a single pressure while MSU dropped back to pass on 51 snaps. Pro Football Focus graded Cross' pass blocking in Week 2 as 27 points higher in Week 1 (from 61 to 88.8). It improved his pass blocking grade on the season to 76. His overall offensive grade against N.C. State was 73.6 while his run blocking was 60.8. Cross has led MSU to the second best pass blocking grade (78.3) in the SEC behind only Auburn (87.1). The SEC's announcement of Cross' honor came less than an hour after it announced kickoff times for Week 4 games. Mississippi State will play host to LSU at 11 a.m. on Sept. 25 with the game airing on ESPN. Leach said his favorite kickoff time is 3 p.m. which is what his team is getting this Saturday in Memphis. |
| Tuesday Replay: NC State's failed jump pass proves to be turning point | |
| NC State football coach Dave Doeren isn't afraid to apply the conventions of another sport when it comes to red-zone offense. "You've got to make your layups," Doeren said after Saturday's 24-10 loss to Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium. Keeping with the basketball analogy, the Wolfpack had a perfect fast-break opportunity on their second drive of the game. A 24-yard pass to wide receiver Emeka Emezie -- quarterback Devin Leary's fourth completion of the drive -- set up NC State with first-and-goal at the Bulldogs' 8-yard line. On the next play, Thayer Thomas caught a screen pass from Leary, broke a tackle and ran down to the 2. The Wolfpack were 2 yards from tying the game. Then everything started to go wrong. |
| No cowbells allowed for Mississippi State fans at Liberty Bowl vs. Memphis | |
| Mississippi State fans are notorious for ringing cowbells in the stands during games. But Memphis won't be hearing them. A tweet from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium's official account on Monday made clear that cowbells will not be allowed when the two football teams play Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN2). When a Memphis fan asked what the stadium's policy is on allowing cowbells, the Liberty Bowl account replied "Big Fat No." Liberty Bowl general manager Thomas Carrier confirmed to The Commercial Appeal in a text that cowbells won't be permitted. According to stadium policy, fans cannot bring "air horns or any other artificial noise makers other than those approved by the playing teams or their respective conferences." The lack of bells shouldn't change what should be a raucous atmosphere. The Tigers will host Mississippi State for the first time since 2011 and Mississippi State leads the all-time series 34-10. Memphis last defeated Mississippi State in 1993 and haven't beaten the Bulldogs at home since 1988. |
| Memphis defense must improve before facing Mississippi State, Mike Leach | |
| Memphis knows exactly what to expect facing Mississippi State at home Saturday (3 p.m., ESPN2). A heavy dose of passing from the Air Raid offense and coach Mike Leach. Mississippi State (2-0) averaged 48 passes in two games, second in the nation. It's a concern after Memphis (2-0) gave up 584 passing yards last week against Arkansas State. Memphis gave up 308 yards came in the final 17:32 as Red Wolves quarterback James Blackman entered the game and nearly led a comeback. The Tigers were shredded by small gains and, on one occasion, blown up by a big play from a 89-yard touchdown pass. "There were times where we could've made plays on the ball and that's what we got to be able to do. Execute a little better," coach Ryan Silverfield said Monday. "Some of those plays where the ball would just go past the defensive backs' hands, credit to Arkansas State for making some great plays and we didn't where we were capable of." While the Memphis' offense looked explosive again, the defense regressed to bad habits. The Tigers gave up six passing plays of 20 or more yards to Blackman and Quindell Johnson deflecting a last-second Hail Mary pass avoided what could've been a terrible collapse. |
| One in a million: Canadians face long odds, many challenges to play college football in U.S. | |
| Syracuse offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron hails from Victoriaville, Quebec, a relatively short drive of five and a half hours from campus. The proximity is one of the reasons Bergeron, one of Canada's best football prospects in the class of 2019, chose the Orange to begin with. But during the 2020 season, an unexpected downside emerged. Because of COVID-19 restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border, Bergeron couldn't see his family at all from June to December. While his American teammates welcomed their relatives to town, Bergeron and his loved ones -- normally a short drive away -- had to resort to FaceTime instead. For Bergeron and the few Canadians playing Division I football in the United States, including Mississippi State lineman Albert Reese IV, pandemic restrictions are the latest curve in an already difficult road. Getting noticed by college coaches, adjusting to new rules and -- in some cases -- learning a new language has already been hard enough. But those who have made the leap in search of NFL dreams don't regret the cost. "It has been tough, but I definitely always remind myself that even since high school, going to a boarding school, I'm definitely making the sacrifice and working here to make a sacrifice for my family, and hopefully one day it could pay off for them," Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III said. |
| Local Sports Roundup: MSU volleyball team dumps Oklahoma | |
| Mississippi State's volleyball team found the response it needed to grind out a third consecutive winning weekend as the Bulldogs knocked off Oklahoma 25-18, 25-16, 25-27, 25-14 to conclude the Georgia Tech Classic Friday at O'Keefe Gymnasium in Atlanta. The Bulldogs (7-2) posted victories over Big Ten (Indiana) and Big 12 (Oklahoma) opponents over the weekend. State's last win over a Big 12 opponent came against Baylor on Sept. 11, 2011. "I'm very excited for our team," Bulldogs coach Julie Darty Dennis said. "We talked about wanting to finish the weekend 2-1 after falling to a nationally ranked (No. 21) Georgia Tech team on their home floor (Thursday) night. Our team is learning and progressing from one weekend to the next." Mississippi State's setting duo of Gabby Coulter and Margaret Dean paired up to pass out 49 assists and record 14 digs. Coulter did the heavy lifting with 30 assists and eight digs. The Bulldogs were in-system for most of the match en route to 57 kills and a .277 attack percentage. Six players got into the act with at least five kills. Mississippi State will concludes its nonconference slate at home from Sept. 17-19 at the Hail State Invitational. The Bulldogs will meet Syracuse at 6 p.m. Friday, South Alabama at 6 p.m. Saturday and Jackson State at 2 p.m. Sunday. |
| Alcorn State cancels practice, has no training staff ahead of South Alabama game | |
| Alcorn State canceled practice on Monday due to a lack of available trainers, and the same thing may happen on Tuesday. Ahead of a game against South Alabama this Saturday, it's possible the Braves may not practice at all during the week, and coaches are concerned about the safety of players. Program sources told The Athletic early Monday about the situation, and head coach Fred McNair confirmed the news on his radio show Monday night, putting the blame on the athletic department administration. The Mississippi school does not have a full-time athletic trainer, and its part-time contracted trainers are unavailable due to COVID-19. This is a program that has won consecutive SWAC championships and four consecutive division titles. "We've got a big game that's going to make the university money, and we can't go out and get treatment for the young men and women and not knowing what's going to happen tomorrow," McNair said. "This is something that needs to be fixed. This is an administration issue. I could talk about it until I turn blue. This needs to be fixed." In a statement to WLBT in Mississippi, athletic director Derek Horne said, "The Alcorn State University athletic teams have modified their practice schedules because of a COVID-19 related issue. Throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our student-athletes remain our top priority. Alcorn will continue to monitor and maintain compliance with CDC, Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), and Institutions of Higher Learning guidelines, in addition to state and local regulations pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic." But this is not a new problem. Alcorn State surprised many in February when it opted out of the spring 2021 season just weeks before games began. After all, this program has been the class of the SWAC. The school said it was due to COVID-19 concerns, but program sources said the team didn't want to play due to staffing issues. It didn't hire a new trainer until late January, and it didn't have a new head strength coach until the beginning of the semester. |
| Enforcement of Tiger Stadium COVID restrictions had 'kinks,' LSU acknowledges | |
 | LSU football's game against McNeese State marked several firsts: the first home game of the season, the first game without crowd-size restrictions since the pandemic began and the first with an athletic department attempt to enforce vaccine or testing requirements for attending fans. Every fan who filed into Tiger Stadium on Saturday experienced the Tigers cruising to victory, but several failed to experience the "required" screenings at which attendees had to prove they were vaccinated against the coronavirus, had overcome an infection within the previous three months before game day or tested negative within the previous five days. Several people reported on social media that they were able to enter the stadium without displaying any proof of any of the three requirements. "It was an amazing time! And no (one) asked for my vaccination status or negative test result," Emily Hebert wrote on Facebook following the game. The restrictions were put in place as the university attempts to hold games without capacity restrictions as Louisiana battles its fourth and deadliest wave of COVID cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The university knows there were some shortcomings with its first attempt at enforcing the mandate, LSU spokesman Ernie Ballard said. |
| SEC fines Razorbacks $100,000 for field rush | |
| Arkansas will have to pay for its post-game celebration following a 40-21 win over Texas. The SEC fined the Razorbacks $100,000 on Monday for violating the league's policy that prohibits spectators on the playing field. Several-thousand fans poured out of the stands following the game, while Texas players were still on the field. The SEC policy aims to protect the safety of game participants and officials. In a video posted to the Razorbacks' Twitter account on Sunday, Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek can be heard speaking about the impending field rush with an Arkansas State Police officer. "We're going to let them come down," Yurachek says in the video. "We'll get fined for it but if we don't let them come down, people will get hurt. I don't want that to happen." It was Arkansas' second time to break the SEC's policy. The Razorbacks were fined $25,000 in 2014 when fans stormed the field following a 17-0 win over LSU that snapped a 17-game SEC losing streak. |
| Tennessee adds south end zone video board upgrades to Neyland Stadium renovation | |
 | Tennessee intends to upgrade the south end zone video board at Neyland Stadium as part of its stadium renovation plans. The plans were approved Thursday by the State Building Commission. UT plans to update only the screen and technology, UT spokesperson Tom Satkowiak told Knox News. The upgrades will keep the south video board in line with a new north video board, which remains part of the long-standing plans for Neyland Stadium updates. The project, which largely focuses on the south end zone, has spanned three Tennessee athletics directors. It started under John Currie, continued into Phillip Fulmer's tenure and now is under Danny White's attention. The plans were approved by the UT Board of Trustees athletics committee in November 2017. Construction has yet to begin. Phase I is expected to cost $180 million, while the total project is $340 million. The project is not slated to use tuition revenue or tax revenue. White has talked extensively about upgrading and improving the Neyland Stadium game-day experience since he was hired in January 2021 following Fulmer's departure. UT plans to create a premium experience on the lower west side of Neyland Stadium behind the Tennessee bench. The other plan has two parts --- adding a north end zone video board and creating a standing room only area under the video board. White envisions the area being like a sports bar that is "aimed at a younger demographic." |
| Major college sports are under siege and they want K Street to save them | |
 | Over the past year or so, the college sports industry has taken it on the chin. States have passed laws allowing student athletes to profit from their name, image and likeness. And this June, the Supreme Court struck down restrictions on benefits for college athletes. In response to the setbacks, the NCAA did what many beleaguered industries do: It turned to K Street for help. For most of 2021, the NCAA and its large and powerful athletic conferences have moved aggressively to steer name, image and likeness (NIL) legislation, which would allow players to profit from their own celebrity but put rules on that compensation. In conversations on the Hill, they sought to limit their liability from future lawsuits that could result from congressional action. Those who have worked in this space say it is among the most significant -- and potentially perilous -- moments for major college sports in a century. So far this year, the NCAA alone has spent $180,000 on lobbying, $60,000 more than the same period last year. The Power Five conferences -- the Big Ten, Big 12, PAC-12 Conference, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference -- have spent $900,000, all to influence legislation related to how student athletes can profit from their popularity and "modernizing" college athletics, according to federal filings. So far, the NCAA and the major conferences have little to show for their investments. |
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