| Friday, April 21, 2023 |
| A $100M gift for scholarships at Mississippi State | |
 | A $100 million gift to Mississippi State University will be used exclusively for student scholarships, the university announced Thursday. The gift, from donors George and Kathy Bishop, is the largest ever made to an institution of higher learning in Mississippi, and among the largest designated for scholarships at any university. George Bishop earned a degree in petroleum geology from MSU and went on to found a successful oil and gas company. "Mississippi State opened many doors for me and gave me the foundation I needed to be successful," he said. "So, when the opportunity arrived for me to be able to give back to the place that's been so influential for me and many others, it just felt right." The gift builds on $10 million the Texas couple previously donated to MSU to establish the George Bishop Family Endowed Scholarship, which supports the recruitment and retention of overlooked students, especially those from Mississippi. |
| MSU receives historic $100M donation to endowed scholarship fund | |
 | Mississippi State students will have more opportunities for scholarships after a $100 million gift to the university. George and Kathy Bishop made the donation. This builds on the couple's $10 million commitment back in 2018. This is the largest gift to a higher education university in the state's history. The George Bishop Family Endowed Scholarship provides university-wide support to recruit and retain students. It also expands opportunities to students who are often overlooked for substantial scholarships and gives preference to Mississippi students. Bishop is a native of Smith County and a 1958 alum of MSU. He found his fortune in the oil and gas industry. |
| MSU receives $100M gift from Texas couple | |
 | A Texas couple with ties to Mississippi State gifted the university $100 million. George and Kathy Bishop donated the historic sum for scholarship purposes. It's the largest gift to a higher education institution in Mississippi's history, according to the university. It's also among the largest contributions designated solely for scholarship support made to any university in the world. George Bishop graduated from MSU in 1958 with a degree in petroleum geology. He had a successful career in the oil and gas industry before founding GeoSouthern Energy in 1981. |
| Mississippi State student Maury Johnston juggles passion for painting, optometry | |
 | Tupelo native Maury Johnston has been painting since she could hold a brush. Now a junior at Mississippi State, Johnston is pursuing a major in fine arts with a minor in painting, although her ambitions stretch beyond the canvas. "I'm planning to go to optometry school, but I'll always do art," she said. "I have professors and my family encouraging me to pursue art, even if it's not my career." Johnston is a creative soul, having spent most of her life immersed in the fine arts as a dancer and performer along with painting. When she reached high school, the oldest of four girls decided to hone her artistic abilities. That's when she began seriously pursuing art as a pastime. Even though her passion for art and her career goal of being an eye doctor seem disconnected at face value, Johnston's two passions have an interesting point of connection. "I always knew I wanted to do something medical, but I was philanthropy chair for Delta Gamma here at Mississippi State and our philanthropy is Service for Sight," she said. Delta Gamma Fraternity's philanthropy, Service for Sight, helps aid those that are visually impaired by raising funds for schools for the blind across the country, as well as funding local guide dog facilities to pair guide dogs with those in need for free. Collegiate Delta Gamma members also work hands-on with the visually impaired community to assist where needed. |
| Book censorship hits a high: How much is too much? | |
 | If it seems as if more books have been challenged over the last year than the past 20 years, it's because it's true. The American Library Association reported more than 1,200 book challenges, which is nearly double the number of books challenged in 2021 and roughly 10 times as many challenges as 2020, Associated Press reported in March. A book is challenged for appropriateness by individuals or organizations for reasons such as containing sexually explicit material, depicts drugs and "promotes racism," ALA's website said. A book challenge occurs before it is banned. Those challenges are brought directly to the governing bodies of the libraries in question. With increasing book challenges, bans and various forms of censorship being signed into law in many Southern states, Mississippi State University Director for the Institute for the Humanities Julia Osman said she wanted to know more about the issue so she formed an online Facebook Live panel on Thursday to address the local impact. "While there's been a long history (of) book banning or challenges to resources or books in the library, there seems to be a very marked upswing to this in the past two years," said Osman, who moderated the panel. |
| Mississippi's poultry industry remains strong despite challenges | |
 | Poultry is a big business in Mississippi. Poultry producers in the state are having to manage disease and high feed costs in order to produce meat and eggs. The demand for chicken and eggs drove Mississippi's poultry industry to a record $3.8 billion value, an almost 50% increase from the previous record of $2.6 billion set in 2021. Josh Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, said the industry is important to the state because of the impact it has on the state economy. "Poultry production is regularly the largest valued commodity produced in Mississippi in terms of value of poultry produced," Maples said. Strong market prices for broilers drove the value increase in 2022, along with exceptionally strong egg prices. "2022 was a very strong year for poultry and egg production, driven mostly by much higher prices than were seen in 2021," he said. "Prices are forecasted to be lower in 2023 than the high prices seen in 2022. Egg prices in particular have dropped from the record prices seen at the end of last year." However, a recent challenge has been the arrival of highly pathogenic avian influenza, known as HPAI. The loss of about 53 million birds within the last year, including two commercial flocks in Mississippi, limited egg production in particular, driving up those prices. |
| Steady growth in sales tax revenue continues across region | |
| Area sales tax collections continued to rise marginally in April, with West Point taking the lead with more than 4% growth compared to the same month last year, while Starkville and Columbus rose between 2% and 3%, respectively. Starkville received $702,032 in sales tax in April, compared to $685,174 in April 2022. The city's fiscal YTD collections sit at $5,126,760, a 3.11% increase over last year. Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch she credits the continued growth of the city's sales tax revenue to more retail development in town such as the Triangle Crossing Center on Highway 12 and other retail shopping in Starkville. "We continue to be a place where people want to come, participate and eat and drink and hang out," Spruill said. "I'm delighted with all of that. We work our darndest to make sure that there are more things to do and more opportunities for people to stay in town. Triangle Crossing is the biggest, most recent development. And I feel sure that the impact of that continues to grow and be felt." The city has dedicated 60% of sales tax generated at Triangle Crossing to repay a 15-year tax-increment financing bond for the development. That kicks in after the development, which opened in fall 2022, has operated for a year. According to figures released with its sales tax numbers, the city has continued to see growth in its 3% restaurant sales tax diversions but has fallen in its 1% hotel tax as compared to last year. |
| MEC meeting brings business community together | |
 | More than 400 business leaders from throughout Mississippi descended on downtown Jackson on Thursday to celebrate the state's business climate at the 49th Mississippi Economic Council's Annual Meeting. Gov. Tate Reeves kicked off the luncheon portion, speaking to the gathering to tout economic development and education. The luncheon concluded with a round-table discussion with sports leaders of Mississippi who were able to correlate much of what they are teaching their players and students in the sports and college world to how that impacts business. Southern Miss volleyball coach Jenny Hazelwood, Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter, Jackson State women's basketball coach Tomekia Reed and former Mississippi State quarterback Wayne Madkin all talked about the need for teamwork within the business dynamic. Madkin, who now works in a leadership role at Entergy Mississippi, compared his famous 2000 Independence Bowl victory against Texas A&M in what has been called the snow bowl as an example to use in business. "There was so much snow on the ground, that you couldn't even see the field. We had to adapt," Madkin said. "That is much like business in that if you don't adapt, you will die or in our case back then we would have lost." In another breakout session, three business leaders discussed increasing educational attainment for business in Mississippi. |
| Former wrestler charged in Mississippi welfare fraud case | |
 | Companies run by a former professional wrestler received "sham contracts" in Mississippi and misspent millions of dollars of welfare money that was supposed to help some of the neediest people in the U.S., according to a new federal indictment. The indictment of former wrestler Ted "Teddy" DiBiase Jr., 40, of Madison, Mississippi, was unsealed Thursday, two days after it was issued by a grand jury in Jackson. It is the latest development in a sprawling Mississippi corruption case involving wealthy and well-connected people receiving contracts from the state Department of Human Services from 2016 to 2019. DiBiase was a WWE wrestler in the 2000s and 2010s. The indictment accuses him and co-conspirators, including former Mississippi Department of Human Services director John Davis, of fraudulently obtaining federal money and using it for their own benefit. "DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures," the Justice Department said in a news release Thursday. DiBiase's brother, former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase, has pleaded guilty to state and federal charges tied to the case. |
| Former WWE wrestler charged in Mississippi's welfare fraud scandal | |
| A grand jury in Mississippi has indicted former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. on federal charges of wire fraud, money laundering and theft in connection to the state's welfare scandal, according to court documents unsealed Thursday. The indictment alleges that DiBiase, the son of the famous WWE wrestler known as "The Million Dollar Man," knowingly conspired with the former head of the state's welfare agency and two leaders of nonprofit agencies to divert federal funds meant for the state's poorest residents for his own personal benefit. State Auditor Shad White in 2020 revealed that he provided information to state prosecutors that led to the indictment of six officials connected to a scheme to mismanage funds from the TANF program. Nearly all of those six defendants have pleaded guilty. "Prosecutors decide whom to charge with a crime, and we're grateful to see them continuing to advance this case," White said in a statement. "We will continue to support their efforts with the evidence that our investigators and federal investigators have uncovered." |
| WWE wrestler fights new federal indictment in welfare scandal, which his attorney calls 'armchair quarterbacking' | |
 | Former WWE wrestler Ted "Teddy" DiBiase Jr. was sitting on the front row behind former Mississippi welfare director John Davis while the now disgraced government bureaucrat testified before Congress in 2019. Davis, who was at the time admittedly orchestrating a stunning welfare fraud scheme, was telling members of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture about the supposedly life changing work his department was conducting instead of making food assistance available to more Mississippians. "We know that it takes investment in our staff through things like Law of 16," Davis told congress members, "which is our personal and professional development programs for our staff members, to then replicate that over with our clients to make sure that they are empowered to be whom they have been called to be." Today, nearly four years after the director spoke openly in the nation's capital about his work, DiBiase Jr. is facing criminal charges for the first time within the larger unfolding welfare scandal, in which officials stole or misspent tens of millions of federal public assistance funds. "It was the government that chose to run this program this way. And it was not a secret. This was done in front of everybody. It was done in front of the United States Congress. This was not a secret. This was not, as the federal law would say, a scheme or artifice to defraud," Scott Gilbert, DiBiase Jr.'s criminal defense attorney, told Mississippi Today two weeks ago. "So what we're doing now, for the most part, is second guessing and armchair quarterbacking the way government was run. And that's not what the criminal law is for." |
| McCarthy proposes changing access to food stamps as part of debt limit debate | |
 | House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is pitching changes to the federal food stamp program that would increase the number of people who have to show they're working to be eligible to receive help with their groceries. The proposal is a part of a larger legislative framework to raise the nation's debt limit for one year, while scaling back federal spending. Right now, many people ages 18-50 who rely on food stamps are subject to work reporting requirements. McCarthy is looking to raise that age range to 56. Advocates worry that shift, if passed, could mean people get shut out of the program. While the House Committee on Agriculture Chair GT Thompson, R-Pa., called the McCarthy proposal "sensible," the panel's ranking member David Scott, D-Ga., called it " a non-starter" and "ungodly." If Republicans in the House pass McCarthy's plan, it faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Democrats have said they are not willing to pass any bill that links the debt limit to spending cuts. And they are particularly critical of efforts to require work requirements for those on assistance programs. "Unfortunately, some Republicans want to take food out of the mouths of vulnerable children and families to pay for irresponsible tax cuts for the wealthiest among us," said Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "That should be an affront to all Americans. Our economy and the full faith and credit of the United States is not some bargaining chip." |
| Congressional standoff over Supreme Court escalates | |
 | Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) call for Chief Justice John Roberts to testify before Congress about the Supreme Court's ethical standards is sparking a firestorm on Capitol Hill as Republicans accuse the Democratic chairman of trying to ensnare the court in a media "circus." Republicans say Durbin is trying to pressure Roberts to respond to reports by ProPublica that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas failed to properly disclose the gifts he received from a Texas billionaire, including private jet travel and the sale of a property in which Thomas owned a third interest. They point out that it's extremely rare to call on a sitting chief justice to testify before Congress and that when it happens, it's usually before the Senate or House Appropriations Committees to discuss the court's annual budgetary needs. "I would not recommend that the chief accept his invitation because it will be a circus," Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said. Cornyn, a senior member of the Judiciary panel, said he couldn't remember a chief justice being called before the Judiciary Committee before. Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) said the Supreme Court should be allowed to handle its internal affairs without interference from Congress. "They're their own independent branch of our government. They have always set their own rules when it comes to the way they conduct themselves there. I prefer to leave it that way," he said. |
| Donald Trump Tops Ron DeSantis in Test of GOP Presidential Field, WSJ Poll Finds | |
 | Donald Trump has gained command of the GOP presidential-nomination race over Ron DeSantis, a new Wall Street Journal poll finds, with the former president building support across most parts of the primary electorate as the Florida governor has struggled on the national stage. Mr. DeSantis's 14-point advantage in December has fallen to a 13-point deficit, and he now trails Mr. Trump 51% to 38% among likely Republican primary voters in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup. The GOP candidate field is still developing, and the first primary balloting is more than eight months away. But as of now, Mr. Trump also trounces all competitors in a test of a fuller, potential field of 12 Republican contenders, winning 48% support to 24% for Mr. DeSantis. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, draws 5% support, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott draws 3% in the survey, which included 600 likely GOP primary voters. All other candidates had 2% support or less. Mr. DeSantis's strength in the Journal's December poll came on the heels of his 19-point re-election victory in Florida. But the governor, who has been slow to engage with Mr. Trump for fear of alienating his supporters, has since hit a rough patch as he approaches a formal entrance in the race. Mr. Biden, who is expected to announce his re-election bid as soon as next week, shows weaknesses as well. His job approval rating remains underwater, with 42% of voters approving of his performance in office and 56% disapproving, matching his December status. Yet, Mr. Biden draws more support than his 42% job approval rating in test matches against both Messrs. Trump and DeSantis. |
| Trump killed the 'values voter' wing of the GOP. It isn't coming back in 2024. | |
 | Mike Pence has spent nearly a half dozen of his Sundays in recent months speaking at churches around the country and is writing an entire book about his faith. Tim Scott is on a "Faith in America" tour and twice met with pastors in Iowa recently. Both of them will appear at a Christian cattle call on Saturday in Iowa, an event that Ron DeSantis is skipping altogether and where Donald Trump will only appear by video. None of this seems to be doing them any good so far. Unlike in Republican presidential primaries past, just two candidates -- Pence, the former Catholic turned evangelical, and Scott, who speaks of finding a "God Solution" to the country's racial divide -- stand alone in making explicit appeals to Evangelical voters. Trump and DeSantis, meanwhile, are relying solely on their reputations as brute-force brawlers in the culture wars. Their success -- and the difficulties Pence and Scott are having courting voters, according to recent polls -- reflects a major change in the evangelical bloc of the GOP electorate in the Trump era. When five GOP presidential candidates take the stage at Iowa's Faith & Freedom Coalition in Clive on Saturday, vowing to take on the woke left will likely mean more than reciting the Apostles' Creed. "Evangelicals have changed and have become more populist and more renegade and wanting to fight more and engage in Christian culture," said David Brody, the chief political analyst for Christian Broadcasting Network, who wrote the "The Faith of Donald J. Trump." "Trump has a following who wants to fight because they see culture going to hell in a handbasket, and that's what's winning the day in politics. And that's why he is winning with them." |
| Mississippi woman named president of university in Pittsburgh. How did she get there? | |
 | Rhonda Phillips' career path took a last-minute detour this week, when she was named president of Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She had planned to take early retirement sometime in the next year or so to return to the Santee community near Bassfield, where she grew up, and where she and her brother Greg Phillips opened the Beaver Creek Distillery in February. Instead, she was asked by a search firm to consider applying for the Chatham presidency and ended up landing the job. "It's just like a perfect fit for me," Phillips said. "They have a big 388-acre farm that they do like a lot of training for students and sustainable farming. They have a beautiful historic campus in Pittsburgh." It is a good fit for the university as well, according to the Board of Trustees. "Dr. Phillips was the unanimous choice of the Board of Trustees based in large part on her commitment to fostering inclusive and transformative learning environments and opportunities, which is a hallmark of the Chatham undergraduate experience," Board Chair David Hall said in a news release. Chatham University is known for its longtime mission of maintaining an environmentally sustainable campus and education program -- a tribute in part to one of its former students, Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring." Phillips said she hopes in her new role she will be able to develop new partnerships between Chatham University and Mississippi, with its farming history and educational programs, including the University of Southern Mississippi's Marine Research Center. |
| UM student, Ethan Blake Bailey, dies at 22 | |
 | Twenty-two-year-old University of Mississippi student Ethan Blake Bailey died on April 14 in Oxford. Originally from Coldwater, Bailey was an accountancy major and member of the Epsilon Xi chapter of the Sigma Nu Fraternity on campus. Don Fruge, president of Sigma Nu, described his fraternity brother: "Ethan Bailey was a one-of-a-kind guy and someone that we were all blessed to have in our lives," Fruge said. "He was the type of guy that everybody wanted to be around, in the chapter or not." Fruge remembered Bailey as a passionate and active member of the fraternity, as well as a role model to others. Those around him say Bailey had an infectious positivity about him that he brought to all he met. Brent Marsh, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of students, urged students impacted by Bailey's death to reach out to the University Counseling Center. "Our hearts are heavy as we grapple with Ethan Bailey's passing. I offer my deepest condolences to his family, friends and fraternity brothers as they navigate this difficult time," Marsh said. "I encourage any student impacted by this loss to connect with the University Counseling Center for grief support and related needs." |
| Oxford PD internship gives college students real-world experience | |
| Oxford Police department in taking the opportunity to get young people engaged in law enforcement and public relations and see it as a potential career path. Public Information Officer Breck Jones hired Ole Miss marketing majors Nikkola Bales and Max Binkley as interns for the spring semester. Officer Jones says he wanted them to be as hands-on as possible. They help write press releases, create graphics, and post on social media. These interns say the experience has given them a chance to make an real impact not found in the classroom. "It's really easy to kinda disassociate your [school]work and just write something for a grade," says Binkley. "But when you write something that affects people's lives, it tells the story of people in the community. It's really impactful." With law enforcement facing nationwide staffing shortages, Officer Jones says he hopes this internship program will get more young people interested in law enforcement careers. |
| Diversity Talks' mission: Take lessons of inclusion to the workforce | |
 | Thursday, industry leaders spoke to University of Southern Mississippi students about the importance of inclusion. The USM School of Media and Communication hosted the forum with four industry leaders from different backgrounds. The quartet led a discussion for on-campus students about inclusion, belonging in a workplace environment and how students can be prepared when they leave USM. The talk provided insights on career paths and opportunities, racial harmony, power of communication and inclusive diversity. "We can incorporate all five generations that are now living in a household and sometimes six generations living in the household, and how we can work together to kind of solve some of the countries problems and issues," said Bill Imada, IW chairman/chief connectivity officer. The event provided a safe space for participants to discuss their thoughts and views on diversity, racial harmony and communication. Organizers hoped students would take these ideas with them as they graduate and encourage others to do the same. "Diversity is a challenge, but there's beauty in it because you're either preparing or repairing," said Eddie Holloway, senior associate provost for equity, inclusion and diversity. "As we look to prepare, we go forth with new eyes, but as we work to repair, we go forth with new eyes." |
| In rare occurrence, IHL did not unanimously vote for new Delta State president | |
| The new president of Delta State University was appointed with a split vote by the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, a rare occurrence from the governing board that typically projects an organized, unified front. Daniel Ennis, the longtime South Carolina educator who will take the reins at Delta State in June, was even shot down by Teresa Hubbard, the board's only DSU alumnus and the trustee who led the presidential search committee. The vote was 7-4 with one trustee absent, according to board meeting minutes. But Hubbard and other trustees who opposed Ennis did not want to elaborate on why at IHL's regular board meeting on Thursday. In a text, Ennis did not say if he had any insight to share into the trustees' unusual split vote but wrote that "IHL has been tremendously supportive since I was named DSU's next president." "I'm coming from South Carolina," he texted. "Around here you can't get twelve people to agree on whether the evening meal is called 'dinner' or 'supper.'" |
| Alcorn State University president stepping down. See who is replacing her | |
| Alcorn State University Provost and Senior Vice President Dr. Ontario Wooden has been tapped by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to be the interim president at Alcorn State University. Wooden replaces Dr. Felecia Nave who served as the 20th President of Alcorn State University since 2019. Trustee Tom Duff, president of the Board of Trustees said, "The Board wishes Dr. Nave well as she pursues new opportunities." According to multiple sources, Wooden was also considered during the presidential search at Delta State University which concluded in March. If he had been selected, he would have been the first Black president at Delta State. Instead, the IHL appointed South Carolina educator Daniel J. Ennis, Ph.D., as the ninth President of DSU. The IHL has been busy in the past year, having removed presidents at Southern Miss, Delta State and Jackson State University. The openings at Southern Miss and Delta State have been filled while listening sessions were recently begun at Jackson State for the replacement of Thomas Hudson. |
| Alcorn State president ousted, IHL names interim replacement | |
| The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has approved changes in the presidential leadership at Alcorn State University. Dr. Ontario S. Wooden, who currently serves as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will begin serving as interim president effective immediately. Wooden replaces Dr. Felecia Nave, who has served as the 20th President of Alcorn State University since 2019. Nave was the first female president in school history. "The Board wishes Dr. Nave well as she pursues new opportunities," IHL Board of Trustees President Tom Duff said. Wooden began his tenure as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs in 2020. In this role, he has overseen effective delivery of academic and student support services across the campus which includes management and oversight of all academic schools, the registrar, research and graduate studies, 1890 research/extension, library, institutional research and institutional effectiveness and assessment/accreditation. "We appreciate Dr. Wooden's willingness to take on the role of interim president," Duff continued. "He has a keen understanding of the challenges in higher education and we are confident he is well-prepared to lead Alcorn State University at this time." |
| IHL: Felecia Nave no longer president of Alcorn State | |
| Felecia Nave is out as president of Alcorn State University, according to a press release from the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees. The board approved the change during executive session at its regular meeting Thursday. Ontario Wooden, the provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, will serve as interim president at the state's oldest historically Black university, effective immediately. It was not clear why the board bid Nave goodbye; an IHL spokesperson did not immediately return an inquiry from Mississippi Today. IHL's press release does not say if she resigned or if the board terminated her contract, which was set to end on June 30, 2023. Tom Duff, the board president, is quoted saying "the Board wishes Dr. Nave well as she pursues new opportunities." The campus was initially excited about her presidency, but some turned sour in 2021 leading to dozens of students protesting her leadership in the fall. A group of alumni called Alcornites for Change later produced a report alleging the campus faced widespread issues like declining enrollment, dozens of resignations and abysmal facilities. |
| U. of Alabama vice president of research leaves for job at Indiana U. | |
 | The University of Alabama's vice president for research and economic development is leaving for a similar post at Indiana University. According to a Thursday news release from IU, Russell J. Mumper will assume his new duties July 1 as vice president for research at the university in Bloomington, Indiana. At Indiana, Mumper will oversee research development, administration and compliance for the university's research efforts. He will also oversee IU's efforts in innovation and commercialization, foundation relations and business partnerships. Mumper has served as UA's vice president for research and economic development since 2019. As a prominent researcher in the field of pharmaceutical sciences and biomedical engineering, Mumper in December 2021 became the first faculty member at UA elected as a fellow at the National Academy of Inventors. Mumper is listed as an inventor on 20 United States patents and 10 foreign patents in the fields of advanced drug and gene delivery systems, nanotechnology, vaccines, and botanical drugs. He came to Tuscaloosa after serving as vice provost for academic affairs at the University of Georgia from 2014 to 2018. |
| U. of Arkansas marks investiture of Chancellor Robinson | |
| With the pomp and circumstance resembling a commencement, the University of Arkansas on Thursday celebrated the investiture of Charles Robinson, the first Black person to lead the state's flagship campus. Though there will no doubt be "difficult days" in the future for the university and for the state, Robinson promised "you will always, every day, get the best of me." However, he added, "no one can do it alone." Robinson said he needs support from everyone associated with the university and from across the state in order "to create magical moments." There are no words "that will fully capture how very grateful I am to the university for the support I've received since I became interim chancellor" in August 2021, said Robinson, who was officially named chancellor in November 2022 by the board of trustees of the University of Arkansas System. None of the speakers at the investiture directly mentioned Robinson is the first person of color to serve as chancellor, even in an interim capacity, in the history of the state's largest institution of higher learning, founded more than 150 years ago. But several used the word "historic" when referring to his hiring or his investiture. When Robinson, who graduated from the University of Houston and has his doctorate in history from there, first came to UA-Fayetteville in February 1999 to deliver a Black History Month lecture, he never could've imagined one day "I'd be in this position for this purpose at this moment," he said. A history professor by profession, he knows "moments matter," and as leader of the university, he understands it's incumbent upon him to create magical moments. |
| Georgia won't demand tests to enter 23 of 26 public colleges | |
| Students applying to 23 of Georgia's 26 public universities and colleges next year won't need to take the SAT or ACT college tests to apply. Regents voted Wednesday to let students apply without the tests through the 2024-2025 school year, after University System of Georgia officials told them that renewed testing requirements would likely drive students to other colleges. Tests will remain required at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, while Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville will resume a testing requirement in what Chancellor Sonny Perdue characterized as an experiment to examine how requiring the exams affects applications. Perdue left open the possibility that he could ask regents to permanently abolish testing requirements at many universities. Perdue said he's loath to abolish the test requirement, believing tests plus high school grades are a better predictor of college success than grades alone. He advocated reimposing testing requirements at Georgia College and State University, traditionally one of the state's most academically selective schools, saying it would help "determine the actual impact of how resistant young people today are taking that standardized test, and how much damage it would do." |
| Ban on Tenure for New Faculty Hires Passes Texas Senate | |
 | Lawmakers' campaign to reshape public higher education in Texas advanced on Thursday, with the state Senate voting to approve a ban on tenure for new faculty hires. Under Senate Bill 18, public colleges "may not grant an employee of the institution tenure or any type of permanent employment status." The legislation would apply only to faculty members hired by Texas colleges after January 1, 2024. Professors who have tenure would not be affected. The bill was initially slated to take effect in September 2023, but the Senate passed an amendment on Thursday that altered the date -- allowing people who are on track to get tenure this year to move forward, according to lawmakers. It's not clear what the measure, if enacted, would mean for other tenure-track faculty members. Public-college boards would be able to create "an alternate system of tiered employment status for faculty members" that's not tenure, the legislation states. But that system would require faculty members to go through an annual performance evaluation. The bill will have to be approved by a Texas House committee, the full House, and the governor before it can become law. The legislative session ends on May 29, and the measure's prospects in the House remain unclear. Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, has not taken a position on the bill, saying "it will have to be looked at." Tenure has been a political punching bag for years --- a venue for lawmakers to level criticisms at higher ed and its alleged liberal indoctrination. |
| U. of Missouri System Curators approve five-year building plan for campuses | |
 | A five-year building plan including the first phase of the NextGen MU Research Reactor and a new engineering and applied sciences building on the central campus received approval Thursday by the University of Missouri System Board of Curators. The meeting was at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla. "It's really a rolling five-year plan," said Ryan Rapp, executive vice president for finance. "It allows our development teams to fundraise for those projects." A new, $150 million engineering and applied sciences building is in the plan. It is to be located north of Lafferre Hall on Sixth Street, the former locations of the demolished Parker Hall, Noyes Hall and the old student health building. The new building will include laboratory research space, offices and support functions and services. The building will allow MU to hire more engineering faculty, said Mun Choi, system president and MU chancellor, during the post-meeting news conference. "We need to train more engineers in the state," Choi said. The board will consider project approval in September, Rapp said after the meeting. Completion is expected before December 2026. The state will fund $100 million of the cost, with private donations funding the other $50 million. |
| Hundreds of Students, Faculty, and Administrators Speak Out Against Ohio's Proposal to Reform Public Colleges | |
| Florida and Texas have drawn much of the national attention over lawmakers' efforts to reform higher ed this year. But Ohio's legislature hosted a dramatic, seven-hour committee hearing on Wednesday -- in which hundreds of students, faculty, and administrators sought to articulate the consequences of lawmakers' sweeping proposed changes to public colleges in the state. Introduced in the Ohio Senate last month, the 39-page SB 83 would ban mandatory diversity training, prohibit the use of diversity statements in hiring or admissions, and prevent higher-ed employees from striking. It could also have the effect of preventing institutions from funding diversity offices. SB 83 would also prevent institutions from accepting donations from individuals or institutions based in China, as well as require colleges to institute new post-tenure-review policies; use specific, state-mandated language in their mission statements; and post all course syllabi on their websites. The hearing, held by the state Senate's Workforce and Higher Education Committee, drew over 100 professors and over 90 students, most of them undergraduates, and most of them testifying in opposition to the bill. A dozen college staff members and administrators voiced opposition, including the dean of Ohio State University's College of Public Health. The Ohio School Psychologists Association argued that the legislation could cause all school-psychologist training programs in the state to lose their accreditation. |
| PEN America rallies ex-presidents for academic freedom | |
| Caught in the crossfire of a culture war, sitting college presidents are often reluctant to speak out on legislative proposals that threaten tenure, academic freedom and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on their campuses. Now a new initiative from the free expression group PEN America is offering them reinforcements in the form of former college leaders willing to take a stand on threats to such campus issues. The initiative, announced last week, brings together a roster of more than 100 former presidents and chancellors who have led a variety of colleges across the U.S. Dubbed the Champions of Higher Education, the group includes those known for leadership and longevity in higher education -- like Freeman Hrabowski, who served as president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County for 30 years -- and others who became national figures due to political controversy thrust upon them, such as Patricia Okker, who was ousted as president of New College of Florida amid changes driven by Republican governor Ron DeSantis. Florida is hardly alone in pushing legislation to crack down on DEI; more than a dozen state legislatures are looking to limit diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the U.S. in various ways. It's a matter Education Secretary Miguel Cardona raised in a recent speech. "I know it's challenging, I can imagine, for the presidents in some of these states. It's going to be very difficult to speak up ... We want to support you. We want to be there for you and know that the Department of Education has your back," Cardona said last week at the American Council on Education's annual meeting. |
| Families Tap New Tools to Negotiate Lower College Tuition | |
| Last April, John Strubulis played a game of chicken with the college his daughter wanted to attend, Butler University. If he won, his family would save $20,000 in tuition. If he lost, she would head to her second choice, Marquette University. Mr. Strubulis, a product manager for a packaging company with decades of experience negotiating contracts, had written Butler a letter asking for more financial aid. The school politely declined, he said. So as the deadline for picking a school drew near, Mr. Strubulis sat at his kitchen table and wrote a second letter to Butler indicating that while his daughter loved the school, she had a better deal to study somewhere else. His daughter was nervous. "She said, 'Dad, don't mess this up!'" Mr. Strubulis said. ore families around the country are taking the once-unheard-of step of negotiating financial aid with colleges before the May 1 deadline, when most schools expect students to commit. Colleges have long held most of the information, and therefore the leverage, in these negotiations, but that may be changing. Pandemic-era declines in both enrollment and faith in higher education mean many middle-market colleges have weaker hands to play. Entrepreneurs and savvy parents are creating websites that post information to help other prospective students understand the opaque world of a college's finances. Mr. Strubulis used a relatively new website to find out how much money Butler was giving to students whose academic and financial profile was comparable to his daughter's. |
| New Poll Shows Abortion Access a Factor in College Selection | |
| For years, consultants paid to help colleges draw more applicants urged premium amenities, posh student centers, and professional-grade athletic complexes. But, in the current environment, an unlikely selling point has quietly emerged: access to abortion rights. In a new tranche of research released Thursday from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, almost three-quarters of college students told pollsters that laws governing reproductive health factored into their decision of whether to stay enrolled in their current campus or leave. While Democrats have the strongest interest in abortion rights, a clear 62% of Republicans also said they play a factor in picking a university. Among all college students, the support for states that have greater access to abortion is by an overwhelming 4-to-1 margin, including two-thirds of Republicans who said they prefer states with less restrictive abortion laws. It's also a pronounced winner among women (86%) and men (74%) alike. The survey of about 6,000 current college students and 6,000 college-age adults is among the first hard pieces of evidence of the second-order effects of last year's Dobbs decision that reversed a half-century of national legal access to abortion rights. |
| Congressional panels take a poke at NSF's proposed big budget hike | |
| We love what you're doing, but don't count on getting the additional billions of dollars you've been promised. That was the message this week from Congress to the director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) after two key spending panels took up the agency's request for a 19% budget hike, or an additional $1.4 billion, in 2024. Republicans in the House of Representatives, which they control, lectured NSF's Sethuraman Panchanathan on the importance of curbing overall federal spending. In the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority, a bipartisan group of lawmakers demanded that their constituents receive a bigger slice of NSF's current $9.9 billion budget. At the same time, both panels praised the agency's efforts to help the country stay ahead of China in a global competition for scientific supremacy, including a new NSF directorate aimed at shortening the time it takes to turn research findings into new technologies. "Congratulations on a good year," Representative Hal Rogers (R–KY) told Panchanathan yesterday at a hearing of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee he chairs, referring to the $1 billion boost Congress gave NSF for the current fiscal year. "But we have budget difficulties on the Hill that will play a role in what we can help you to do or do without [next year]." |
| Higher ed faces 'devastating' spending cuts under House debt plan | |
| Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Wednesday blasted the House Republicans' proposed plan to lift the debt ceiling. The plan would block the administration from forgiving student loans and calls for cuts in federal spending. "Speaker [Kevin] McCarthy declared that he will force a catastrophic default and plunge America into recession unless he can claw back school relief dollars and prevent millions of hardworking Americans -- including over 83,000 borrowers in his own district -- from getting the student debt relief they need coming out of the pandemic," Cardona said in a statement. Student debt relief advocates slammed the plan, and higher education lobbyists warned that the spending cuts would be devastating for students, colleges and universities. Returning federal spending to fiscal year 2022 levels would mean up to an 8 to 23 percent cut for the Education Department, depending on whether defense and other agencies are protected from the reductions. McCarthy's bill doesn't outline how the cuts will be divided up. Craig Lindwarm, vice president for governmental affairs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, said that with a cut anywhere from 8 to 23 percent, "there's no way that education and research aren't going to be substantially harmed." "If Congress has to make cuts of 8 to 23 percent, there's not going to be money for anything," he said. Additionally, the cuts also would mean that the goals of the CHIPS and Science Act would not be realized. |
SPORTS
| Diamond Dawg Gameday: Auburn | |
| The Bulldogs open up a seven-game road trip against the Auburn Tigers this weekend. The series begins on Friday at 6 p.m., continuing Saturday at 2 p.m., and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m. All three games will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Butch Thompson is in his eighth season as the head coach of the Tigers. He holds a 243-179-1 record while at Auburn. Thompson spent seven years at Mississippi State as an assistant coach. Auburn enters the weekend with an overall record of 21-15-1. They enter with a conference record of 5-10 with a series victory over Georgia, and single game wins over Alabama, Texas A&M and #2 Florida. The Dawgs and the Tigers meet for the 214th time on Friday when they begin the three-game series. In last year's series, Mississippi State took two out of three against Auburn. State leads the all-time series 116-96-1. The Dawgs have eight of the last ten matchups over the Tigers, including a contest in the 2019 College World Series. The first matchup between these two programs was in 1908. |
| Auburn, pitching staff hopeful for turnaround at SEC play midway point | |
 | This weekend's series against Mississippi State marks the halfway point of Southeastern Conference play for Auburn baseball, and as such, coach Butch Thompson said Thursday it's as good a time as any to think in terms of a reset. "We've got to play better, I think is the deal," Thompson said. "We've got to make up some ground and we've got to start winning some ball games within the conference." A metaphorical slate-wiping for Auburn is sorely needed. The Tigers have struggled to a 3-7 record in their past 10 games. A battle for fifth place in the SEC West is on the line against the Bulldogs, starting at 6 p.m. CST Friday at Plainsman Park, and Auburn needs a refresh, especially so on the mound. This year's staff was tasked with a tall order before the season began, replacing the bulk of last season's production on the mound with incoming freshmen and transfers. That order only became taller when ace pitcher Joseph González got sidelined early in the year with a shoulder injury. In González's absence, Auburn's arms have struggled to stay afloat. As a unit, they've posted SEC lows in opponent batting average (.284), opponent hits (362), opponent doubles (76), earned runs (230) and ERA (6.41). |
| Inside the power, patience fueling Mississippi State baseball's offensive success | |
| Mississippi State baseball was 14-0 in games when its pitching allowed three runs or fewer. It took one game against Ole Miss in the series opener last Friday to end the streak in a 3-2 loss to the Rebels. Coach Chris Lemonis appeared upbeat in the postgame press conference, understanding if the pitching continued to perform like that, the offense would catch up − and he was right as MSU won the final two games. But there was a sense of frustration from Lemonis after the loss, mainly centered around Mississippi State's uncharacteristic approach. "Just not enough good at-bats," Lemonis said. "Too many at-bats with one-pitch outs to start innings or just one-pitch outs. We've been really good, I think, offensively this year. We've had some struggles with other things, but our offense has been pretty consistent. Just didn't have a good night tonight." The displeasure was flushed by the belief it wouldn't happen again. Poor offensive performances have become an anomaly for MSU (22-15, 5-10 SEC) because this season could have the best combination of power and patience in program history. "(Hitting coach Jake Gautreau) is the best in the business," Lemonis said. "From a hitting side, it's just a daily message that stays the same -- very consistent. We're probably not as scientific as a lot of other programs, but it's a little more old school. It's getting guys in good positions to hit, having a great approach and building great confidence." |
| Bulldogs Head To No. 15 LSU For All For Alex Weekend | |
| Mississippi State softball will head to No. 15 LSU on April 21-23 to begin the final stretch of the regular season. The Bulldogs played their final non-conference game on Wednesday night and now face three final SEC series against teams that are all ranked in the NFCA Top 25. This weekend is a special one for State as it marks the first time that the Bulldogs and Tigers will meet during All for Alex weekend. The SEC-wide initiative was created by MSU head coach Samantha Ricketts and LSU head coach Beth Torina. The first edition was scheduled for State's planned trip to Baton Rouge in 2020 before the conference season was canceled. Alex Wilcox was a member of MSU's 2018 softball team before passing away from ovarian cancer. Torina's mother is an 11-year survivor of the disease, leading the Tiger head coach to found the Geaux Teal Foundation. MSU players and staff will participate in the annual Geaux Teal Walk ahead of Saturday's nationally-televised game. State's final home series is set for April 28-30 against No. 20 Kentucky. |
| Win over Memphis gears MSU softball for final weeks of season | |
| For Mississippi State's softball team, Wednesday had to feel good. To hit and pitch well. To smile walking through the handshake line. To get out of Southeastern Conference play (even just for one game). And to finally win again. The Bulldogs hadn't experienced much of that the last couple of weeks, bringing their nine-game losing streak into Wednesday's non-conference finale against Memphis. But by the time the night was over, following MSU's 5-0 shutout victory over the Tigers, a collective breath of relief may have been felt throughout Nusz Park. "We definitely need that," MSU catcher Jackie McKenna said. "It is always nice to come out with a win, regardless how the season is going." MSU (24-19) had been in a rut since the beginning of April. Some of it, fourth-year head coach Samantha Ricketts, said has been self-induced with game-to-game inconsistency. Some of it had been the nature of the SEC softball beast. In this conference, there are no weekends to relax. The Bulldogs haven't won a weekend game since March 19. Wednesday, however, was a chance to step away from that. And the Bulldogs let loose a month's worth of frustrations on the Tigers (8-35). |
| Mississippi hunting: MDWFP proposes more hunts for seniors and easier access on WMAs | |
| The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks has proposed more opportunity and easier access for senior hunters on public land. In its April meeting, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks made an initial vote in favor of expanding draw hunts for deer on public land. The hunts will be exclusively for hunters 65 years and older. This came after a limited number of senior-only hunts were initially offered during the 2022-23 season at Mahannah and Phil Bryant wildlife management areas. "They seemed to be fairly well received," said Russ Walsh, MDWFP Wildlife chief of staff. "There was a good amount of interest. "We want to open the door to a different type of hunt and spread them around the state, if you will." If the hunts receive final approval from the commission, dates of the hunts will be determined in the coming months. "We won't know the exact dates until we get all of our draw hunts ready for this year," Walsh said. "Certainly, when it comes time to apply, we'll have the dates ready." At the request of hunters, MDWFP has also proposed allowing seniors 65 years and older to use e-bikes on state-owned WMAs. The battery-powered bicycles have a lower impact on the landscape than some other electric vehicles and will allow easier access to areas on WMAs. |
| UGA outlines timeline for Stegeman Coliseum reopening, repairs and impacts to teams | |
 | Georgia's Stegeman Coliseum will remain closed for repairs for several more months and into the new academic year but school officials said Thursday they expect it to be open in time for the men's and women's basketball seasons that tip off in November. Volleyball's home schedule will be moved to Ramsey Center, where the team played until 2017. Stegeman Coliseum, built in 1964 , has been shuttered for the past seven weeks since a small piece of material from the ceiling was found on March 2 to have fallen. That was described as the largest of at least three pieces of ceiling to fall since spring 2018 from a roof that was last replaced in 2008. Engineering reports called the issue "concrete spalling" or chipping. UGA said Wednesday fixes include construction crews sawing cut relief joints at the precast corners of the roof and installing a protective mesh to keep future chipping from reaching the coliseum floor. Scaffolding has already been installed inside the coliseum which features two concrete arches supporting the roof structure. That mesh will be made of high density polyethylene that attaches at the bottom, according to Gwynne Darden, a UGA associate vice president and university architect. |
| Tennessee gets last word as Jeremy Pruitt NCAA infractions hearing ends early | |
 | The University of Tennessee took center stage Thursday on the second day of an NCAA infractions hearing that had mostly been focused on former football coach Jeremy Pruitt. And then the hearing ended a day early. It's hard to judge whether that fast finish is favorable to Pruitt or UT because the hearing is closed to the public and media at the Cincinnati Westin Hotel. But UT Chancellor Donde Plowman was pleased when the hearing ended. "We are really appreciative to the infractions committee panel for their time and attention," Plowman told Knox News. "This was a lot of work. They are going to have to make a decision. We can't wait to get the decision and move forward with our football program and athletics." Plowman did not comment about the specifics of the case. Pruitt declined comment. Under member-imposed confidentiality rules, neither the NCAA nor the involved parties or school can comment about the case until the NCAA Committee on Infractions panel releases its full decision. The body language of both sides appeared looser on Day 2. |
| Memphis gets state General Assembly approval for $350 million stadiums initiative | |
| Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland's "big ask" is one step closer to being answered. On Thursday, the Tennessee Senate approved their version of Gov. Bill Lee's $55.6 billion budget, including $350 million to fund major renovation projects at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, FedExForum and AutoZone Park, as well as construction of a proposed soccer stadium on the site of the Mid-South Coliseum that would serve as the permanent home of Memphis 901 FC. The budget was approved by the Tennessee House of Representatives on Wednesday. Specific distribution amounts, which will be determined by the City of Memphis, are expected to be announced at a later date. City leaders lobbied for the money in the hopes that a renovated FedExForum will keep the Memphis Grizzlies in the city long-term and help the University of Memphis better position itself to make the leap to a larger athletic conference. "We are very grateful to the Governor for recognizing the much-needed improvements and including funds for the renovations in his budget," said university president Bill Hardgrave. "Our football and basketball programs, fans and overall athletics will benefit greatly from the state-of-the-art upgrades." |
| Penn State's Franklin: Revenue sharing with players 'inevitable' | |
| Penn State coach James Franklin believes major college football players will inevitably be paid and the sooner it happens the better it will be for all involved with the sport. In an interview this week with The Associated Press, Franklin said that while college sports leaders are focused on finding ways to regulate how athletes are compensated for use of their name, image and likeness, a bigger change is on the horizon. "I also think that ultimately, whether it's in the next three years or next five years or next two years, there's going to be some form of revenue sharing or collective bargaining agreement (with the players)," Franklin told AP. "That's going to happen. I think that's inevitable. "And I think most people would prefer that than the current model because I think it's better for the student-athletes because they're going to be able to get contracts and know what they're signing up for. And I think for the schools as well, I think there's going to be value in knowing what you're dealing with." The Big Ten, Penn State's conference, will make more than $7 billion over seven years from contracts it signed with multiple networks last year; Big Ten schools -- there will be 16 of them beginning in 2024 -- could receive something like $100 million per year from the league during the length of the new deal. |
| Will Texas' efforts to dismantle DEI risk NCAA compliance for college sports? | |
| Would college sports be impacted by a Senate proposal to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education? Some Democratic senators argued that the NCAA could ban the state's beloved college athletic programs from participating in its games if Texas moved forward with attempts to do away with DEI efforts. The Senate voted 19-12, along party lines, to pass a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit public universities and colleges from having DEI offices; using race or ethnicity in hiring; requiring job applicants to make diversity statements; or mandating any training related to race, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. During the Senate debate, Sens. Royce West, Borris Miles and José Menéndez stated they're concerned that, if the bill becomes law, Texas universities will fail to comply with NCAA eligibility requirements. In 2020, the NCAA created a new requirement for member institutions: every college or university has to appoint an "athletics diversity and inclusion designee," a full-time staff member designated by the chancellor or president. The Senate bill would eliminate DEI staff positions. West noted that the NCAA requires universities to complete a DEI review every 5 years. This requirement is part of the organization's "conditions and obligations of membership." |
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