If it weren't for the recession, these could be the best of times for historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The number of African-American students attending college has been steadily rising, doubling in the past 30 years to almost 2 million. Thanks to the historic election of President Barack Obama, all signs point to even greater interest in higher education among the minority youngsters who make up the fastest-growing part of the college-age population. And the top HBCUs are boosting their facilities, staff, and outreach to prove they offer an education—especially for low-income students—that rivals that of better-known universities, often at a lower price.
Unfortunately, the downturn in the economy, combined with a long, painful history of underfunding, might outweigh those bright prospects for some HBCUs. Clark Atlanta University announced layoffs of 70 faculty members plus 30 staff members early this month and had to scramble to reassign students and classes. Morris Brown College in Atlanta has lost its accreditation and most of its students and is threatened with closure. The Georgia state legislature, looking to cut costs, is studying proposals to merge Savannah State and Atlantic State universities, two financially struggling HBCUs, with nearby historically white colleges. Education analysts say that unless the economy picks up soon or the federal government comes to their rescue, several rural, low-endowment niche schools—a group that includes several HBCUs as well as some women's and religious colleges—will run out of money and shut down....
....Almost all state governments are slashing their higher-education budgets. That's especially painful for HBCUs. Although some states are finally making catch-up payments to some black colleges to compensate for decades of underfunding, many HBCUs still get less taxpayer support than their white counterparts, says James Minor, a Michigan State University expert on HBCUs. In North Carolina, for example, North Carolina State University received more than $18,000 per student this year, while Fayetteville State University, an HBCU, got less than $10,000.
Full story here.
The League's Feeling The Heat Too...
A year ago, the Memphis Grizzlies were vilified by many around the NBA for seemingly giving Pau Gasol away to the Lakers to cut payroll.
A year later, a lot of teams are trying to do the very same thing.
Almost no one has picked up on the real story behind the shopping of Amar'e Stoudemire in Phoenix, and Tyson Chandler in New Orleans, and the impetus of many teams to be active before the Feb. 19 deadline. It has nothing to do with basketball, no matter what you hear about Amar'e's lack of defense and Chandler's history of injuries.
This year, the trade deadline is being influenced like never before because owners who've lost millions in the plunging U.S./global economy are determined not only not to be luxury tax payers, but to cut costs as much as possible as quickly as possible, with no intention of allowing their team's salaries to ever rise near the tax threshold in the foreseeable future.
Full story here.
Other News...Weed-Smokers Outraged!!!!
Bursting with indignation, legions of legalize-marijuana advocates are urging a boycott of Kellogg Co., including all of its popular munchies, for deciding to cut ties with Olympic hero Michael Phelps after he was photographed with a pot pipe.
The leader of one of the biggest groups, the Marijuana Policy Project, called Kellogg's action "hypocritical and disgusting," and said he'd never seen his membership so angry, with more than 2,300 of them signing an online petition.
"Kellogg's had no problem signing up Phelps when he had a conviction for drunk driving, an illegal act that could actually have killed someone," said Rob Kampia, the group's executive director. "To drop him for choosing to relax with a substance that's safer than beer is an outrage, and it sends a dangerous message to young people."
Also urging a boycott were the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Drug Policy Alliance. They encouraged their members to contact Kellogg to vent their views.
Full story here.
People have the most ridiculous stigmas about weed. If it's so bad, how can a man who smokes win 8 gold medals - a record that may never be broken?
Via: The Chicago Sun-Times, US News, & NBA.com
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