Yale Daily News - Peru Sues Yale Over Artifacts.
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Showing posts with label World. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Culture?
So it has been a month since I last posted anything here. A lot has happened.
There was this interesting piece in The Cambridge Student where a member of the drinking society goes to a 'fresher swap' and explains how selection for the swap works: "During the lull in proceedings just before the curry arrived, they began to press me for answers as to their selection, and encouraged by their responses to some of my anecdotes, along with the effects of several pints, I leant forwards and confided (with a knowing smile and a wink) that they had in fact been picked straight from the fresher's facebook group, by virtue of their aesthetic qualities and whether or not they looked "fun" (translate: easy).
This is an interesting comment on student culture in higher education institutions. What do we really mean when we talk about student culture? Is this the kind of thing we are referring to? Is student culture for the most part just free sausages, beer, chlamydia share-parties with the occasional theatre production (complete with almost nude actresses) to give it that icing of dignity?
...
Cambridge gets away with a lot under the pretence of tradition, and perhaps we could all do without this bizarre and laughable need of some people to set themselves apart as the social elite within an already elite university."
In other news, the York University Student Union is to lobby for a 24-hour library. This is the kind of thing that would probably only work at a residential university. Can you imagine a student taking the 1030 train on to campus to hang out in the library until at least 6 am before they can return home?
Marc Bousquet also writes some excellent commentary about the higher education quality cult and the problem of what seems to be the US-equivalent of a hyper-casualised academic workforce.
The second article is particularly relevant to the University of Melbourne. The university is happy to cut permanent staff and rehire them as casuals, essentially forcing people off real contracts and on to dodgy ones. It undermines their rights as workers and tells them how much the university really cares about the teaching and research they do (not a lot). The student unions and associations are more or less powerless to stop the trend since the university will just claim that it is an HR issue and refuse to talk any further. Bousquet argues that it is only when the untenurable reach positions of leadership that the situation will change. It is only through autonomous action that the casual staff of UniMelb can win decent conditions. They soon will be, if they aren't already, in the majority. All they need to do is realise it.
It is a little depressing really. How on earth do these people expect students to get a reasonable education and to engage with the campus if the only staff we encounter are casuals or sessionals? Casual staff means casual engagement and it is rather hypocritical of the educationalists and executives to casualise their academic workforce on the one hand and then whinge about the casualisation of student engagement.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Yale Defamation Case
Yale Daily News reports:
"With the help of a subpoena issued six months ago, attorneys for two Yale Law School students have succeeded in unmasking several anonymous users of the Web forum AutoAdmit whom the women are suing for defamation."For some background on the AutoAdmit case see Feministe. The gist of it is that a bunch of law students decided to post pictures of and make degrading comments about female students. They got sued. From YDN:
"One of those authors was “AK-47,” who, in 2007, posted that women with one of the Yale Law students’ names “should be raped” and said they were “gay lovers.”"I think that if someone were publishing comments like that about me I'd be pretty displeased to say the least. It's a good thing for their student paper to be covering this story.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Condensing Catholicism
Over at Hoyden About Town:
"Shorter Cardinal Pell: If you agree to a candlelight dinner then you’re just asking for it, aren’t you? How could sex later be rape?"
And in today's 'Age', the usually pro-religious Barney Zwartz has reported,
"THE Pope's expected apology to victims of sexual abuse by priests has been sabotaged by a senior Australian bishop, who criticised people for "dwelling crankily on old wounds"."
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Objects of Envy
Sometimes it is hard to figure out why the top US universities attract so much attention, so much discussion and so much longing. A lot of Australian commentators have a thing for them. UWA DVC Donald Markwell certainly did in his book A Large and Liberal Education, former UoM VC Alan Gilbert did if John Cain and John Hewitt are to be believed in Off Course: From Public Place to Market Place at Melbourne University. So today, I picked up a copy of The Age and on the front cover is 'Homeless Crisis at Top University'. "She [Denise Bradley] revealed the push [to overhaul Youth Allowance and Austudy] as the vice-chancellor of Melbourne University, Glyn Davis, said 440 students were in effect homeless, "hot-bedding" with relatives or friends because they could not afford their own residence.
So, after reading that and being rather disappointed by the lack of review for HECS, I got home and opened my RSS feed. The Harvard Crimson reports, 'Harvard Endowment Posts 9 Percent Return in 10 Months'. I'm not an economist, but 9% in 10 months looks pretty impressive to me. What does this mean?
...
But federal Education Minister Julia Gillard said yesterday the Government was unlikely to change HECS, despite calls, including from its architect, Bruce Chapman, for a rethink.""Harvard's endowment posted returns of approximately 9 percent through the first 10 months of this fiscal year, according to data from the University. The increase puts the endowment's value at around $38 billion as of this April, up from $34.9 billion as of last June."
Ok, so they made an extra 3.1 billion USD in 10 months, just from investment, not operation, just investment. What is UoM's annual turnover? Well, the 2007 Annual Report (pdf, 8.1mb) tells us that for the year ended 31 December, 2007, operating income was $1.433 billion (AUD of course) and the operating surplus was $96.246 million after tax. So there we have it in simple numbers. Top US universities are making more money from investments than top Australian universities are making in operations for an entire year. It is no wonder that those US universities are envied.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Science, Universities and Money
Nature News has recently reported on university conflicts of interest in both the UK and US. A UK study of universities have found raised questions about the accuracy of government statistics on defence-related research grants. Some universities were receiving as much as 5 million pounds to conduct defence-related research, with the money coming from both government and commercial sources. In the US, many top-level institutions have simply trusted their scientists to disclose any potential conflicts of interest.“It's an honour system,” says Robert Alpern, dean of the Yale School of Medicine. “We rely on the faculty to tell us the truth. And to be honest, up until a few months ago, I think we all thought they were telling us the truth.”
What can universities do to ensure that their researchers are declaring conflicts of interest? If asking them to fill in a form that asks questions about large sums of money doesn't work, then will interviewing them be any better, as Duke University hopes? Does it even matter?
These issues relate to some of societies big issues - weapons and drugs. If governments are turning universities into rats in an arms-race, then they aren't serving other purposes. [Scientists for Global Responsibility Consultant, Chris] Langley says that ultimately he believes higher education should spend less on improving the UK's weapons technology and more on research of benefit to society: “We have our priorities wrong,” he says.
One easy example of research that benefits society is the development of medicine - cures for cancer, vaccines for HIV. Healing, instead of killing. But conflict of interest can make this kind of research more of a danger to society than a help. Scientists know how to manipulate the conditions of a study to make a useless drug look like more like a miracle. By making the data fit the statistical requirements, or by using less robust methodology or just straight-out lying, an ineffective or even dangerous drug can make it to the market. Not only would it get prescribed, sold and consumed, but it would all happen with complete confidence. Patients would trust their doctors, doctors would trust the imprimatur of a good university. No one would know until it was too late.
Universities are in a constant bind. Corporate funding comes loaded with potential conflicts of interest. Government funding comes loaded with political bondage. Philanthropic funding is as fickle as the wealthy individuals who hand it out and many students are already being turned into an underclass of cheap easy-to-exploit labour with big debts thanks to tuition fees. Add an [un]healthy dose of globalisation and we have a problem that goes beyond who is being honest about where that $4 million came from...
Friday, June 13, 2008
Sensationalism and Student Media
Change Happens has a post about a student paper covering a rape trial via liveblogging. As the comments show, it is really walking a fine line between exploiting someone's suffering and covering violence against women. These kinds of incidents are part of a continuous conflict between activist progressives and student media. Students involved in media are learning a craft and take on a media-centric ideology. It is common for such students to believe in free speech and the importance of debate. If there is a problem, the solution is to write a letter. If that letter is ignored, the solution is to write another letter.
The activist left has something of a problem with this kind of thinking. It consumes a lot of energy and letters of reply often don't have as much of an impact as the original articles. To protest such things also results in a political backlash, as evidenced by the Farrago controversies of earlier this semester. If progressive activists ask for discriminatory material to not be published, they are readily accused of censorship. If progressive activists use any power or influence they have to compel the non-publication or retraction of discriminatory articles, then they get hammered. It isn't a very comfortable situation to be in, especially in Australian student unions, where the student paper is published by the union and the media office is just next door to other union offices.
For students in media, the behaviour of progressive activists seems inappropriate. They might be protesting too frequently, spending their time monitoring a publication instead of doing what they're supposed to be doing and fighting for various important outcomes. The students at the Columbia Spectator who are liveblogging a rape trial if asked about what they're doing, might suggest that they are just putting out news in the public interest. The horrors of sexual violence are made plain and clear as day. This is a good thing right?
The strange thing is that in many cases, student journalists and editors are themselves socially progressive. In elections they might deal with progressive factions. They will publish progressively minded articles without hesitation. The progressive activists are not, at least in principle, against free speech, but just protective. Their gains are hard won and easily lost.
It is hard for there to be a resolution to this conflict without someone backing down or feeling like they are giving up something. Sometimes, editors might feel that they have to assert their independence. They will have to refuse to be relentlessly policed and directed by outside forces. Neither should activists be confied to writing letters that are all too readily ignored.
Dealing with and celebrating difference is great in theory, but not so easy in real life. Political expediency in both editor and activist is truly a virtue.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Don't think
This video, via Educated Nation, is thoroughly amusing.
"Don't think about thinking, it's not on the test."
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Employment stats
Educated Nation has a post up about employment opportunities for college [university] graduates in the US. According to the report, graduates have higher salaries, less unemployment and their salaries are rising faster than workers who do not have degrees.
Some of the top ranking jobs in terms of pay are Physicians and Surgeons, Chief Executives, Dentists, Airline Pilots/copilots/flight engineers and air traffic controllers.
All of those occupations earn a median salary of over $100,000 per annum.
Some art and writing occupations pay less than half as much. For example, Editors have a median salary of $43,890 and 84% have bachelor's degrees or higher. For writers and authors, it is $44,350 with 83% graduates.
The continuing privileging of medical, technological and high-level managers over the humanities is probably one of the factors behind the current poor state of the humanities in universities. Universities, after all, reflect the societies in which they are situated. Today at the University of Melbourne, there was a small protest of perhaps 15 students sitting down and talking about the cuts to the Faculty of Arts. The administration building was locked down, with at least one security guard at the doorway, allowing approved people to enter and leave, another three security guards on the stairway and balcony and another 5 security guards on the ground. The protester:security guard ratio is quickly approaching 1:1. This shows that either the protesters do not have popular support or that having a second action within about a week of the first is not a good idea.
But in other news, the latest Honi Soit features stories on the continuing problems with the Academic Appeals changes as well as the results of the elections for Union Board. Big surprise, the Liberal finished last and was therefore the only one not elected. Voter turnout was low, at only 2190 (33 informal).
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
News
The University of Sydney land-grab shuts down a mental health institution Rozelle Hospital, reports Honi Soit.
The University of Manchester Vice-Chancellor Alan Gilbert (former University of Melbourne VC) has responded to criticism in Student Direct. The Reclaim the Uni pressure group has staged protests, including an occupation and disrupting a meeting.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Women in Science
Yale Daily News has an UpClose on Women in the Sciences. They include comments from several different sources, including Hannah Brueckner, director of undergraduate studies in sociology professor and women’s faculty forum steering committee co-chair. “If you’re in the minority, like women are in the sciences, you get talked about like a woman,” she said. “Your successes or slight mistakes are identified with your gender rather than with you as an individual.”
Sexism means that competent female scientists drop out before they can fulfill their potential, which is a great loss to the sciences.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Facebook Fines
The Friday, April 25 edition of Varsity reports that Oxford University Proctors are fining students using photographic evidence on facebook:
"Following complaints of antisocial
behaviour amongst students from University staff and members of the public, proctors made
the decision to browse students’ profiles in order to identify those who have breached University
rules. Emails which cite links to incriminating photos on Facebook are then sent to students to impose fines ranging from £80 to £500.
[...]
Whilst the University states that “the fines collected each year go towards a good cause within the University”, the Student Union claims that the amount collected in the last year rose by 465% to £11,065."
Friday, April 25, 2008
"It's Harvard, Darling..."
Harvard is to receive very large sums of philanthropic support:
David M. Rockefeller ’36, the grandson of the famous oil magnate and a longtime Harvard benefactor, has donated $100 million to the University.It would be very nice to have an extra $2.5 million per year, with the promise of $100 million bequest. That kind of money could easily save the Faculty of Arts from its future budget deficit. But unfortunately, the extraordinary wealth and fundraising ability of Harvard is not making the implementation of Harvard's new curriculum of General Education, set to replace Rosovsky's Core, much easier.
[...]
Seventy percent of the gift will be devoted to international programs, and the remaining portion will be used to fund arts programs, The Times reported. Harvard will not receive the $100 million until Rockefeller's death but will receive $2.5 million per year until then, meaning that the total value of the donation could end up being well over $100 million.
The donation comes as the Committee on University Resources, which is composed of individuals who have given $1 million or more to Harvard, convenes at the Charles Hotel this weekend.
In fact, members of the Class of 2012 have to choose between the two curricula and many don't know what is going on:
Members of the Class of 2012 may need to decide between these two curricula early in their academic careers. Only 13 courses so far have been approved to “double-count,” or fulfill both Core and Gen Ed requirements. Nine double-counting courses will be offered next academic year.This sounds very familiar. It would be nice though, if someone, somewhere knew how to implement a curriculum review smoothly.
[...]
OUT OF THE LOOP
The Class of 2012 has received little information—if any—about the transition.
When incoming freshman Roshane B. Campbell of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. was asked about the curriculum change, he said, “I actually don’t know what’s going on.”
The 50-page Admissions Office brochure mailed to prospective students this year mentions Gen Ed once. On page 15, it reads, “The faculty is developing a new and distinctive program of General Education.”
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Corporate Feudalism
Manchester Metropolitan University [wiki, website] has entered into partnership with a supermarket chain to offer a degree to its employees. Student Direct reports:
Degrees in Shelf-Stacking
Angela Wipperman
SUPERMARKET GIANT Tesco will soon offer its own university degree thanks to a new partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University.
The Tesco Foundation Degree, a two-year course taught through the internet, lectures and hands-on work in store, presumably stocking shelves, is the store's latest move beyond the groceries market.
This is not unique. Many other businesses have training programs that have come to rival a university degree in their comprehensiveness, transferability and market value. But supermarkets?
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