Notes in the Margins: Republican-bashing, e-cigarettes and the Freshman 15

US explores how to increase diversity without prejudice Universities are seeking alternatives to race-conscious admissions policy. (Times Higher Education)

Rise Is Seen in Students Who Use E-Cigarettes The increased popularity of e-cigarettes among middle and high school students is prompting concerns that the devices could be creating new health problems. (The New York Times)

Why We Need The Government To Play An Active Role In Higher Education Finance  Rather than remove itself from higher education, as many libertarian economists have suggested, we actually need — and want — the government to play a larger and more prominent role. (Forbes via NAICU)

Why the ‘Freshman 15′ is a lie Recent studies suggest that while college students (both male and female) do gain weight during their first year at school, it’s more to the tune of five pounds rather than fifteen. (USA Today)

Michigan State writing professor under fire for classroom attack against Republicans Campus Reform, a conservative group that monitors what it sees as liberal bias at universities, released a video that it says shows professor William Penn on the first day of a creative writing class attacking Republicans for having “raped” the country. (Detroit Free Press via Education Dive)

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