Student Union
Black Students Afraid to Return to Kansas State University After Racist Tweet
Many Black students at Kansas State University are afraid to return to school after a white student made a racist tweet about George Floyd, a Black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Jaden McNeil tweeted, "Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!" A statement that drew support from national white supremacist groups, The Kansas City Star reported.
Some people supported McNeil's right to free speech, but many called for him to be expelled for his insensitive remarks.
Michaela Ross, a sophomore, said she feels that the school is not welcoming to Black students.
"And our administration has not taken actionable measures against racist incidents that have happened there, and this is not the first one," Ross said.
Students even took to Twitter to share their experiences of racism on campus using the hashtag #BlackAtKState.
"I think the tensions are very high, and I don't think that it is safe at all," said Amaya Molinar. She said she has been called a racial slur on campus.
Molinar said university officials are aware of students' concerns because they have offered counseling.
"But we don't want counseling. Instead of teaching us how to live with racism on campus, they should focus their efforts on eliminating it."
Last week, President Richard Myers announced that the university would not expel McNeil.
"While these messages are disrespectful and abhorrent, we cannot violate the law," Myers said.
Instead, the university provided a list of things it will do, including developing a social media policy for students and recruiting and retaining more students and faculty of color.
Floyd died after a white officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes. Floyd's death sparked protests worldwide against racial injustice and police brutality.
See all News Updates of the Day
Universities move away from DEI initiatives
Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives have fallen out of favor in higher education recruiting and hiring in recent years, but even more colleges and universities are moving away from the programs now, Thea Felicity reports in University Herald.
In addition to political opposition to the programs, there are concerns that DEI initiatives hinder free speech, affect ideological balances and discourage academic freedom. (December 2024)
‘College Deserts’ leave many communities without higher education options
“College Deserts” – areas where high schools are located more than 30 miles away from the nearest community college – leave large groups of people unable to pursue higher education because of transportation problems, Lexi Lonas Cochran writes in The Hill.
Most college deserts are in the Southern U.S., with a recent study in Texas showing that long commuting distances discourage many potential students from attending college. (December 2024)
Analysts say rate of college closures likely to increase
If current trends continue, the rate of college closures is expected to increase, according to a new study reported in Forbes.
Closures are more likely to affect private institutions, and while the number of closures might seem small on a national level, it could cause serious problems for the smaller and mid-sized communities where those colleges are located. (December 2024)
Judge upholds racial considerations in US Naval Academy admissions
Although the U.S. Supreme Court last year decided that civilian colleges and universities could not consider race or ethnicity in admissions, a judge ruled that the U.S. Naval Academy had established a national security interest in a diverse officer corps.
That means the academy – and other military service academies – can continue to consider race. A similar policy at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has also been challenged, but that case has not yet gone to trial, according to a report in Navy Times. (December 2024)
Harvard recommends gap year as a strategic move
While some students and parents see the gap year as a waste of time, others see the break in academic studies as valuable for developing maturity, earning money or focusing goals.
MSN.com explains some of the reasons why Harvard – and other prestigious schools in the United States – are recommending that students take a gap year. (December 2024)
