Higher education in the news
From The New York Times Dec. 7, 2009
The Supreme Court agreed Monday to hear an appeal filed by a Christian student group that had been denied recognition by Hastings College of Law, a part of the University of California, for excluding homosexuals and nonbelievers from becoming voting members or taking leadership positions. Hastings College forbids discrimination based on religious preference and sexual orientation and withdrew its recognition of the Christial Legal Society after it refused to follow the anti-discrimination policy.
From The Philadelphia Inquirer Dec. 8, 2009
Lincoln University retracted a mandatory exercise class only for obese students for fear that a predominantly black school would be accused of discrimination. The course, in place as a graduation requirement since 2006 for students with a body mass index over 30, was made voluntary at a faculty meeting on Dec. 4 by a near-unanimous vote. Debate about the exercise class erupted this year when about two-dozen students were told they would not be given degrees if they did not take the exercise class.
From The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Dec. 6, 2009
Next semester, fraternities at Penn State’s main campus will hire a third-party, private security agency to monitor fraternity events. The use of a private security agency is part of a new policy that Greek and school leaders hope will discourage high-risk drinking. Visitors will need photo identification and will need to be checked off of a guest list by members from the third-party security agencies.
From Inside HigherEd Dec. 8, 2009
A Boston University student, Joel Tenenbaum, who owes $675,000 in damages to four record labels for illegally downloading music has the right to encourage others to download, a federal judge ruled Monday. The music companies wanted to restrict the student from encouraging others to download but Judge Nancy Gertner said that such an order would infringe on the student’s First Amendment Rights.
