Notes in the Margins: Yiddish, flexibility and saving the public Ivies
Oy vey! Yiddish making a comeback at colleges The language came close to dying out after the Holocaust as millions of Yiddish speakers either perished in Nazi concentration camps or fled to other countries where their native tongue was not welcome. Emory and other universities like Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and McGill University in Canada are working to bring the language back, and with it, an appreciation for the rich history of European Jewish culture and art. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Unpacking the ‘flexibility’ mantra in US higher education Similar to the misuse of “accountability,” “efficiency,” and “access,” flexibility is another concept being manipulated by the engineers of privatization or “financialization” of the public education sector in the United States, especially the virtual school movement with its deep pockets, embedded politicians, and influential lobbyists. (Restructuring Public Hi Ed)
NCAA Blunder: Changing North Dakota's Tribal Nickname The NCAA has plenty of issues to worry about, most importantly melding academics and athletics. Isn't the organization picking the wrong fight here? According to UND, a public university, the estimated cost of selecting a new nickname, removing the Fighting Sioux logo from athletic facilities across campus and ordering new equipment and apparel without the Fighting Sioux logo would be at least $750,000. (Time via University Business)
Study: Male students' grades drop when football teams win Both genders acknowledge changing their behavior in response to football wins and losses, but men are more likely to respond that they drink more when team wins, party more when the team wins, study less when team wins. Women respond similarly, but not as much. (USA Today)
Can the public Ivies be saved? Higher education leaders have dreamed up two big, radical ideas that could potentially rescue the nation’s top public universities from the brink of fiscal oblivion. (The Washington Post)
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.