Entries for November 29, 2006

After they're elected by their staff, editors in chief of the University of Southern California's Daily Trojan must also receive the recommendation of the school's vice president of student affairs. In the paper's history, no student has ever been denied--until now, reports the Daily Trojan. Present editor-in-chief Zach Fox sought substantial changes to the paper, including more student budgetary control. Calling those changes too much, the V.P. of student affairs has decided not to recommend Fox for approval next semester. In response, Fox resigned last night.

After her state voted in favor of an affirmative action ban the school had opposed, University of Michigan President Sue Coleman vowed to fight for diversity anyway--maybe even with a legal challenge. But now her tough talk seems to be more talk than tough, according to a report from the Michigan Daily. The university "has yet to file any lawsuit," and on Monday, the school's provost said the admissions office will stop taking race and gender into account--"if the amendment goes into effect on December 22 as planned," the Daily article says.

The 12 Ball State University architecture students, who came together to use an Environmental Protection Agency grant to build a house from straw, have not yet been visited by the Big Bad Wolf.

The University of Maryland's East Asian Studies center--once housed in plush offices in the school's Preinkert Field House--now has only "a few empty desks stuffed into corners with unplugged telephones and computer parts scattered across them," and no books, says the Diamondback. Behind the change: the growth of the school's Arabic program, which took over the East Asian Studies' office space after a government grant encouraged rapid expansion.

As other colleges expand their recruiting of black and minority students, historically black colleges in Maryland--such as Bowie State University, Coppin State University, and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore--are having to step up their recruitment efforts too, reports the Diamondback.

• The CIA wants you to work for it--but don't expect a James Bond lifestyle, says the Arizona State Press.
• At the University of North Texas, drunk students don't just cab it home--they can get a limo ride with a Christian driver ("Limo Don") who sees shuttling them as his mission, the NT Daily says.
• University of Pennsylvania frat members convicted on hazing charges could see job prospects dwindle, reports the Daily Pennsylvanian.