Today's Question: Should we have to produce a photo ID to vote?February 9, 2012 2:46 AMBy Alex FriedrichI think the proposal is clearly aimed at stopping college students and other youth from voting and is quite unfortunate. I think we should be encouraging our youth to be involved in governance, not discouraging it, for not only their own good but for the future of our nation. — MPR News reader Larry M.…
Court arguments in the University of Minnesota Facebook caseFebruary 9, 2012 12:48 AMBy Alex Friedrich“Why not give deference (to university discipline)? Because, after all, they’re the university, and they have to provide for the safety of their students.” — Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Paul H. Anderson to the attorney representing Amanda Tatro, a University of Minnesota mortuary-science student disciplined over possibly disturbing comments she made on Facebook involving a cadaver.…
Notes in the Margins: Grade tampering, hiring and what a scientist looks likeFebruary 9, 2012 12:32 AMBy Alex FriedrichThis is What a Scientist Looks Like Change the perception of who and what a scientist is or isn’t. (lookslikescience.tumblr.com) Will Tuition Hikes Affect College Applications? When the House of Commons approved a bill allowing universities to increase undergraduate tuition in England to more than $14,000 a year, the effect was reflected in an overall drop of…
Bill would ban ex-legislators from Regents, Trustees for two yearsFebruary 8, 2012 7:44 AMBy Alex FriedrichThis state House bill was just submitted today — one that would ban former legislators from becoming a MnSCU trustee or University of Minnesota regent for two years after leaving office. Nice timing, considering the University of Minnesota Board of Regents will probably discuss concerns of regent Steve Sviggum’s potential conflict-of-interest issue at its regular…
MN Supreme Court to hear UMN Facebook free-speech case todayFebruary 8, 2012 2:16 AMBy Alex FriedrichArguments before the Minnesota Supreme Court are scheduled today for Tatro v. University of Minnesota, that Facebook-free-speech case I mentioned back in July. The issue is whether the U should have been able to punish a mortuary-science student for posting crude/disturbing Facebook comments about a cadaver. The Chronicle of Higher Education has its own take on…
Should Minnesota's state colleges fix old buildings or construct new ones?February 8, 2012 1:51 AMBy Alex FriedrichI’ve been looking into a minor debate going around the higher-ed legislative circles: whether the state should spend its limited higher-ed construction money on new labs and buildings, or on maintaining and renovating the buildings it already has. Sounds about as interesting as a rusty pipe. But it’s actually turning into a lively debate about…
A new college movie about an … admissions counselor?February 8, 2012 1:46 AMBy Alex FriedrichJust a little something to whet your whistle for “Liberal Arts,” a new movie about a 30-something admissions counselor who falls in love with a student. Just a snippet, because I haven’t been able to find the actual trailer. Apparently, it was well-received at last month’s Sundance Film Festival.
Notes in the Margins: Apple, the brain drain and a nontraditional universityFebruary 8, 2012 1:35 AMBy Alex FriedrichTrade secrets: Why some opt for the university alternative While trade school has its benefits, the biggest downfall of it is the stigma of trade schools in society. (USA Today) Pa. college machine dispenses ‘morning-after’ pill The vending machine at Shippensburg University’s Etter Health Center provides the Plan B emergency contraceptive along with condoms, decongestants and pregnancy tests. (USA…
Minn. boy suspended for MJ groin grab back in schoolFebruary 7, 2012 11:58 AMThe 9-year-old student suspended after mimicking Michael Jackson's famous groin grab dance during a fundraiser at a Catholic elementary school in Winona is back in class.
Search begins for new UMN-Crookston chancellorFebruary 7, 2012 10:47 AMBy Alex FriedrichThis just in from the U: University of Minnesota begins search for new Crookston chancellor University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration Robert Jones have launched a national search for a new chancellor of the Crookston campus. University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) Chancellor Charles H. Casey will retire…