Oberlin College in Ohio recently lost what began as a US$44.2 million defamation lawsuit because of its involvement in student protests against alleged racial profiling at a local bakery. The payment was later cut almost in half to $25 million but the case has still sent shock waves through American higher education. It also has implications for Donald Trump’s […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Rich private colleges in the U.S. are fuelling inequality – and right-wing populism
The university of the third millennium
These are times in which the revolutionary processes of digitalization are changing personal and professional relationships, as has rarely happened in history. That is why it is convenient to reflect, perhaps with the necessary integrity and serenity, on the future of higher education institutions that we know as universities. Precisely because it is the digital […] … learn more→
Student loan forgiveness doesn’t punish those who paid their debt or even taxpayers
“Student Loan Forgiveness” is, among many other “free” things, being offered by Democratic Presidential candidate hopefuls. Normally, I’m against free stuff from government, but this particular piece of loot I support, as I’ve mentioned before. Thing is, conservatives are ranting against it. A very popular conservative commentator has a long video on it; his main […] … learn more→
2/3rds of American employees regret their degrees…and that’s the spin!
I’m not a big fan of broadcast news…it’s all a chorus at this point, so I can get the “mainstream” point of view when I’m forced to watch CNN every time I go to an airport, doctor’s office (lots of that for me anymore), or most any place citizens gather and are trapped. Nevertheless, a […] … learn more→
University offers ten separate orientations for Native Americans, black students, others
Asian, Latino students also get specialized programs One of the largest universities in California hosts nearly a dozen alternative orientations for its students, specially tailoring the events to fit numerous ethnicities and demographics, including Asian Pacific, black and Native American individuals The University of California, Berkeley’s website describes the 10 specialized orientations as “additional programming” that students […] … learn more→
Oxford debases for diversity
In the 20th century, the American “system” of higher education affected how the whole world performed education and research at the highest levels. It’s now the 21st century, and the corrupted American system is spreading that corruption across the planet. How else to explain the following madness: Oxford University promises 25% of places to disadvantaged […] … learn more→
Extent of institutional racism in British universities revealed through hidden stories
“So how’s it going at work?” It’s a common question. The kind of question which normally opens a nice warm catch up between friends. But if you are a non-white academic, the question carries a different connotation. You might respond to it with an eye-roll and a sigh, which tells your friend what they already […] … learn more→
Why can’t students recognise transferable skills?
In 2012, Georgetown University professor Randy Bass published an article in Educause Review that really frustrated me. In the article, “Disrupting ourselves: the problem of learning in higher education”, he claimed that students found little value in the assignments that they complete for college and university courses. “In my experience of holding focus groups and […] … learn more→
Conservative students threatened with doxxing…Admin unconcerned.
It’s hard to believe, but the concept of “too much information” is becoming a real problem in our society. It is now all too easy to learn all you might want to know about a person. While the gentle reader would be unlikely to do anything untoward with such information, the sad fact is there […] … learn more→
Learning from Eminem?
When seeking potential sources of inspiration for crafting the limitations section in your discussion chapter, the rapper Eminem is unlikely to come to mind. But after a guest speaker at RMIT University’s Professional Writing and Editing course recommended watching Eminem’s film 8 Mile for its insights into waxing lyrical about your work, I’m inclined to think that […] … learn more→
