| Monday, February 12, 2024 |
| MSU becoming 'flagship' of Ultimate Frisbee in Mississippi | |
 | Dawson Archer took over as president for the Mississippi State University Ultimate Frisbee Club in fall 2022, inheriting what he said had essentially been a "beer league" for most of the previous decade. "We just weren't taking it very seriously," he said, noting that showed in game results. Midway through Archer's senior season, the club has vastly turned its fortunes, with one valuable lesson in mind. "It's more fun to win than to lose," Archer said Saturday morning at Roger Short Soccer Complex, during the 14-team Golden Triangle Invitational he organized. The USA Ultimate-sanctioned tournament featured MSU's A and B teams hosting squads from all over the Southeast, though its top two seeds – Illinois and Purdue – traveled quite a bit farther. Pool play started Friday and continued Saturday, Archer said, with games held at both the Roger Short complex in Columbus and the turf field at Starkville Sportsplex. The tournament ended with bracket play Sunday in Columbus. MSU's A-team, seeded sixth, had already beaten squads from LSU and Division III perennial powerhouse Berry College in pool play, and was making short work of Jacksonville State Saturday morning, as Archer took a breather on the sidelines, occasionally looking up at the overcast sky. "I'm happier it's a little bit drier, at least for now," Archer said, though it looked like that might not last for long. Last year's A squad made the USAU regionals for the first time since 2018, which is a step away from the national tournament. |
| More federal funds sought for Hwy 182 as clock ticks on project | |
| The future of the Highway 182 redesign may hinge on Starkville receiving a new batch of federal grant funds to make the project whole. Aldermen on Tuesday voted unanimously to apply for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, described as a discretionary grant program for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that will have a significant local or regional impact. The city is seeking up to $19 million, but it is unknown whether it will receive any of the requested funds. "It is a no-match grant," Mayor Lynn Spruill told the board. "So there is a 'no harm, no foul' to us at this point if we were to receive it." Spruill told The Dispatch the grants will be distributed in late June, which she predicts is the same time that the city will need to decide if it can hold on to its other chunk of federal funds for the project from a Better Utilizing Investments to Development (BUILD) grant. The terms of that grant, worth $12.6 million, requires the project be substantially completed by June 2025 and fully completed by the end of 2026. The Highway 182 improvements would go from North Long Street to Old West Point Road, reducing Highway 182 to two lanes divided by landscaped medians and making the area more pedestrian-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. Other upgrades would include beautification and drainage. Delays and rising costs have thrown a wrench in the intended timeline, but Spruill sees nothing to lose in applying for the RAISE grant. |
| Starkville attempted murder suspect in custody after four days of evading police | |
 | A Starkville man wanted for attempted murder was taken into custody four days after the suspect reportedly shot an individual. Oktibbeha County Sheriff Shank Phelps confirms that Roy Lee Fuller, Jr., is now in custody after evading law enforcement for several days. Phelps was captured at a hotel in Houston, Mississippi after police received a tip about his whereabouts. The suspect is accused of shooting an unidentified male individual on Tuesday night. The victim was sent to a hospital for treatment and is said to be in stable condition. Phelps currently faces attempted murder charges. The Starkville Police Department, Mathiston Police Department, Webster County Sheriff's Department, Houston Police Department, and Chickasaw County Sheriff's Department assisted the Oktibehha County Sheriff's Department in the case. "The assistance provided by area agencies has been exemplary and shows what dedicated officers can accomplish when they work together," Phelps stated. |
| Heritage museum hosts Museum Miles 5K | |
| The beautiful and historic Cotton District will set the stage for the first ever Museum Miles: Race Through History 5K on Feb. 17 at 9 a.m. Friends of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum President Stephen Cunetto said the 5K race/walk was designed to raise awareness of and to raise funds for the museum, its programs and the ongoing development of the facility. "We are excited about this new opportunity to bring awareness to the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum," Cunetto said. The Museum Miles route will begin at the museum on Fellowship Street and end in the historic Cotton District area, he said. "We think this is a great way to not only draw people to our museum, but to also show off one of the most unique and charming areas of our hometown -- the Cotton District," said museum Executive Director Derek Aaron. Funds from the race will assist in enhancing the museum, its collections and the ongoing expenses related to managing the museum, according to Aaron. The 5K/walk is sponsored by the Friends of the Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, but organizers are still looking for additional sponsors for the event. Current sponsors include The Cottage Industry, Starkville LLC, The First Bank, Elite Insurance Group of MS, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and the City of Starkville. Other sponsors are encouraged to contact Aaron. |
| Republican lawmakers are backing dozens of bills targeting diversity efforts on campus and elsewhere | |
 | Diversity initiatives would be defunded or banned from universities and other public institutions under a slate of bills pending in Republican-led legislatures, with some lawmakers counting on the issue resonating with voters in this election year. Already this year, Republican lawmakers have proposed about 50 bills in 20 states that would restrict initiatives on diversity, equity and inclusion -- known as DEI -- or require their public disclosure, according to an Associated Press analysis using the bill-tracking software Plural. The Supreme Court's June decision ending affirmative action at universities has created a new legal landscape around diversity programs in the workplace and civil society. But DEI's emergence as a political rallying cry has its roots on campus, with Republican opponents saying the programs are discriminatory and promote left-wing ideology. Democratic supporters say the programs are necessary for ensuring institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse student populations. "The idea to study how much we were spending on DEI came from me seeing what other states were doing. Specifically, Ron DeSantis in Florida," said Mississippi State Auditor Shad White, a Republican. In the opening weeks of Mississippi's 2024 session, Rep. Becky Currie introduced a bill that would implement sweeping bans on not only DEI offices but also on funding campus activities deemed "social activism." The bill has been referred to a House committee. Currie declined to be interviewed. |
| Confederate Painting in State Capitol Must Go, Senator Says | |
| Two white-haired generals in uniform raising the Confederate flag remain memorialized in a painting that peers down from the dome of the Mississippi Capitol rotunda even several years after the lawmakers who work beneath its gaze voted to retire the old Confederate-themed state flag. But one young Black lawmaker wants to change that. "The legislative body determined about three years ago, also due to public pressure, that the flag that has the Confederate emblem in it shouldn't represent Mississippi," Sen. Bradford Blackmon, D-Canton, told the Mississippi Free Press on Wednesday. On Feb. 2, he introduced Senate Bill 2217, which would require the State to remove the painting and set up a commission to recommend a replacement. Blackmon said the replacement should represent all Mississippians. Mississippi Code § 55-15-81 (2019) prohibits removing or replacing art, monuments or areas in public places that represent previous wars the U.S. was involved in, including the Civil War. S.B. 2217 would amend the code to add that only the Legislature could make an act to authorize repurposing these dedications. Blackmon's bill proposes creating a commission including two senators, two state representatives and one member each from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the Mississippi Economic Council and the Mississippi Arts Commission. The commission would hold public meetings to determine a replacement for the painting. |
| Bill to ban abortion ads in Mississippi likely dead | |
| Representative Gene Newman, R-Pearl, says you can't advertise to sell cocaine -- and abortion should be the same. "It's as simple as this. You can't advertise to sell cocaine. You can't advertise to sell anything that's illegal. And that's all this does. If something is illegal, you cannot advertise for it." But other lawmakers disagree. Newman's bill, House Bill 31, would prohibit the advertisement of abortion in Mississippi. It has been assigned to the House Public Health and Judiciary B committees. Public Health Chair Sam Creekmore IV, R-New Albany, said that although he is pro-life, he doesn't believe anything restricting advertisement should be written into law. He plans to kill the bill. "I'm pro-life, but we have civil liberties and rights," Creekmore said. "We advertise for what some people think are not good things. We respect the rights of free commerce and civil liberties. I don't think that should be something we legislate." Creekmore said he met with Newman because "when people have bills, I like to hear their side." But, he went on, "Gene Newman and I reached an understanding that I'm not going to bring it out [for a vote]." |
| Inside the escalating funding and farm bill battles | |
 | Democrats on the House Education and the Workforce Committee are making a full-court press to include additional WIC funding in the upcoming Ag-FDA spending bill. The White House has requested more than $1 billion in emergency funding to stave off a funding cliff that could cut benefits and push eligible people onto waiting lists in the coming months. Republicans in the House have pushed back on the extra WIC funding, and even sought deeper cuts to regular funding this appropriations season. In the past, WIC has been the most bipartisan nutrition program on the Hill. Senate GOP negotiators are roughly targeting $700 million for a WIC boost beyond regular appropriations funding, according to two lawmakers, who were granted anonymity to discuss private conversations. House Republicans will push for the lowest number possible, according to the two lawmakers. The biggest issue is still deciding which funding offsets to use to pay for the increase, according to the lawmakers. "We're going to have to cut some ag programs," one of the lawmakers added. |
| Kamala Harris Says She Is Ready to Serve as Biden Faces Age Scrutiny | |
 | Vice President Kamala Harris was detailing her priorities for the campaign during a flight on Air Force Two early last week when she was asked a delicate question hanging over the Democratic ticket: Do voters' concerns about President Biden's age mean she must convince them she is ready to serve? "I am ready to serve. There's no question about that," Harris responded bluntly. Everyone who sees her on the job, Harris said, "walks away fully aware of my capacity to lead." The response during an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday came two days before a special counsel report on Biden's handling of classified documents amplified concerns about the 81-year-old incumbent's mental acuity. The report said Biden displayed "diminished faculties" in interviews and called him an "elderly man with a poor memory." The findings have intensified the scrutiny on Harris, 59, the first woman and Black vice president, whose tenure has been marked by criticism of her political skills. What had been quiet talk of whether Harris could step into the presidency is now spilling into the open. With the release of the special counsel report, Republicans are now expected to make Harris's readiness an even bigger line of attack. "She might be the top issue in the election," said Scott Jennings, a GOP strategist. |
| Carville: Biden not accepting Super Bowl interview is a 'sign' | |
 | Democratic strategist James Carville said President Biden not sitting for an interview before the Super Bowl is a "sign" of his administration having little confidence in him. "It's the biggest television audience, not even close, and you get a chance to do a 20, 25-minute interview on that day, and you don't do it, that's a kind of sign that the staff or yourself doesn't have much confidence in you. There's no other way to read this," Carville said in a recent interview on CNN's "Smerconish." This will be the second year in a row that the president has not sat for an interview before the big game. Biden's decision not to participate comes as he's been facing bad press in the wake of the release of a special counsel report on his handling of classified documents. The report from special counsel Robert Hur, released Thursday, concluded no charges should be brought against the president, but it noted Biden had problems with memory and recall. Biden hit back at the report in a fiery press conference Thursday night, defending his memory and mental capability. "My memory's fine ... Take a look at what I've done since I became president ... How did that happen? I guess I just forgot what was going on," he said. In the same press conference, however, the president confused the president of Egypt with the president of Mexico. |
| 'Enough to make Reagan ill': Trump's NATO remarks under fire | |
| Democrats and some Republicans were quick to condemn Donald Trump after the former president said Saturday night he would "encourage" Russia to attack the nation's NATO allies who did not meet their financial targets. "Trump just said he would let Russia take a European country under certain circumstances and I guess the Scolding Industrial Complex is gonna tell us not to say Russia Trump Trump Russia but honestly this seems kinda important," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) posted. At a rally in South Carolina on Saturday night, Trump recounted a conversation with an unnamed head of state about how he would respond if a NATO member who had not paid enough money for its defense was attacked by Russia. "One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?'" Trump said. "'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'" Trump recounted responding. '"No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.'" Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley -- the only high-profile Republican still battling Trump for the GOP nomination -- hammered Trump for showing deference to Russia. "NATO has been a success story for the last 75 years. But what bothers me about this is, don't take the side of a thug, who kills his opponents. don't take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin," Haley said Sunday during an interview on CBS' "Face the Nation." |
| Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin rushed to hospital again Sunday | |
 | Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was rushed to the hospital Sunday for symptoms of an "emergent" bladder issue and admitted to the critical care unit, less than a month after his previous secret stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sparked controversy. Austin, 70, was taken back to Walter Reed by his security detail at 2:20 p.m. Sunday, according to Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary. Just before 5 p.m., he transferred his authority to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks. In a statement late Sunday night, Austin's doctors said they ran tests on Austin and admitted him to the "critical care unit" at Walter Reed for "supportive care and close monitoring." "At this time, it is not clear how long Secretary Austin will remain hospitalized," John Maddox and Gregory Chesnut, Austin's doctors said. Unlike his previous hospitalization that began Jan. 1, Austin notified the White House, Congress and Pentagon officials, Ryder said in a statement. Austin's hospitalization comes at a pivotal moment as he prepares for meeting of key allies in Europe over aid to Ukraine in it defense of Russia's illegal invasion. Austin is scheduled to meet with allies providing military aid, and with defense chiefs from NATO in Brussels. NATO allies will also likely be concerned by comment by former President Donald Trump over the weekend demeaning the value of the alliance. The front-runner for the Republican nomination, Trump renewed a false criticism of how NATO is funded and said he might not defend European treaty members if they are attacked by Russia unless they had paid enough to satisfy him. |
| AI Is Starting to Threaten White-Collar Jobs. Few Industries Are Immune. | |
| Decades after automation began taking and transforming manufacturing jobs, artificial intelligence is coming for the higher-ups in the corporate office. The list of white-collar layoffs is growing almost daily and include jobs cuts at Google, Duolingo and UPS in recent weeks. While the total number of jobs directly lost to generative AI remains low, some of these companies and others have linked cuts to new productivity-boosting technologies like machine learning and other AI applications. Generative AI could soon upend a much bigger share of white-collar jobs, including middle and high-level managers, according to company consultants and executives. Unlike previous waves of automation technology, generative AI doesn't just speed up routine tasks or make predictions by recognizing data patterns. It has the power to create content and synthesize ideas -- in essence, the kind of knowledge work millions of people now do behind computers. That includes managerial roles, many of which might never come back, the corporate executives and consultants say. They predict the fast-evolving technology will revamp or replace work now done up and down the corporate ladder in industries ranging from technology to chemicals. "This wave [of technology] is a potential replacement or an enhancement for lots of critical-thinking, white-collar jobs," said Andy Challenger, senior vice president of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. |
| Surveys favor Wynbridge for new MUW name | |
| Survey says Wynbridge. While results of The Mississippi University for Women's most recent renaming survey were not made public by press time Friday, President Nora Miller confirmed Wynbridge garnered the highest approval among survey respondents, outpacing two other options: Wynbright and Welbright. "We'll be announcing it Tuesday, but I would say that Wynbridge seemed to be the favored concept name," she said. Tuesday is also the deadline to file legislation for the name change. Since MUW is a state-funded university, the legislature must approve its new name. If approved, the name change would take effect July 1. Regardless of what name is chosen, Miller said the current "The W" logo and trademark will still be a large part of the university's identity and marketing. "It will all be retained," she told The Dispatch. "We will continue to be called the W and have the W trademark. We might do some tweaking ... but it will remain." On Tuesday, the university announced a partnership with alumna Laura Prestwich, a naming strategist and creative consultant who helped organize an alumni group proposal of the name The W: A Mississippi University. Prestwich was hired to work alongside the Office of University Relations and university leadership to use "The W" trademark in the next steps of the renaming and brand strategy in response to alumni feedback, according to the university's press release. |
| Jackson State president addresses the public discourse surrounding his path to presidency | |
 | After being in office for more than 70 days, Jackson State University President Marcus Thompson addressed the public discourse surrounding his path to presidency. He talked to the Clarion Ledger exclusively Thursday. It was during the Institutions of Higher Learning's last official meeting of 2023 when the board was about to conclude its meeting without publicly naming a permanent president for the university. Then, just before the meeting adjourned, applause broke out behind closed doors. Executive board members did not explain why the applause was given. The significance was later linked to the appointment of Thompson as the 13th permanent president in the university's history. JSU does not count interim or acting presidents in this total. "That was one of the most exciting moments of my life. Jackson State is one of the most prominent universities in the country and being selected to lead this institution was an amazing experience," Thompson said. "I am still elated, even in my 73 days of being here. It's one of the best feelings I can say that I've had as a leader. Because each day in the role, even though there are challenges, there are so many bright spots." Thompson began his newly assumed role as JSU's president on Nov. 27, 2023, ending his previous position as the IHL's Deputy Commissioner and Chief Administrative Officer. His appointment marked the second time in recent years that the IHL promoted someone from within. Four years ago, the IHL named its own commissioner Glenn Boyce to serve as the University of Mississippi's chancellor. |
| Parents of Jackson State student killed on campus sue university for wrongful death | |
| The parents of a Jackson State student who was shot and killed on campus are suing the university for not taking necessary measures to ensure his safety. Michael Brown and Michele Hill-Brown have filed a wrongful death lawsuit death against Jackson State following the December 2022 death of their son, 22-year-old Flynn Brown. Brown was spotted deceased in a car on campus with gunshot wounds to his head. 20-year-old Randall Smith admitted to shooting Brown but claimed that it was in the act of self-defense following an altercation over a box of doughnuts that had been purchased. Smith reportedly opened gunfire on Brown in their dorm room on the seventh floor of Dixon Hall, with JSU police later stating that bleach was found on the floor where Smith tried to clean up his roommate's blood. The suspect was also said to be wearing a shirt with blood on it. Brown's parents allege that university staff had been notified about problematic behavior from Smith, including theft of possessions owned by their son and other roommates. The parents claim that JSU employees failed to act on the information they were given about the suspected murderer. The parents are now seeking $500,000 in compensation from Jackson State for pain and suffering and expenses related to Brown's passing. |
| JSU issues safety alert after man 'with an assault rifle' spotted near campus building | |
| Jackson State University issued an alert Monday after a man "with an assault rifle" was reportedly spotted near a campus building. The JSU Safety Alert, which was sent at 10:20 a.m., said the unidentified man was allegedly spotted near the College of Liberal Arts. The JSU Department of Public Safety was at the scene. Students, faculty and staff were asked to "shelter in place until further notice." |
| MCC's Huebner to receive PTK's Shirley B. Gordon Award | |
 | Meridian Community College President Tom Huebner will receive the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction from the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at the society's annual convention in Orlando, Florida, April 4-6. PTK is the international academic honor society for community and junior college students, and the Shirley B. Gordon Award is PTK's most prestigious award for community college presidents. It is named in honor of the late Dr. Shirley B. Gordon, the organization's longest-serving board of directors chair and a founder and long-time president of Highline Community College in Washington. To receive this top award, college presidents and CEOs must have served for at least five years to be eligible. Recipients are nominated by students on campus and are only eligible to receive the award once throughout their careers. A field of 604 college presidents is eligible to receive this award. "I am honored by this recognition and will work very hard to live up to the expectations associated with such an honor. I am so proud of our PTK organization here at MCC and the students, faculty, and staff who work hard to make it successful," Huebner said. The award recognizes college presidents who support student success initiatives leading to stronger pathways to completion, transfer and employment. They have taken an active interest in supporting high-achieving students and developing student leaders on campus. |
| Search underway for new MSMS director | |
| The Mississippi Department of Education has started the search for a new executive director at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science. Former director Donnie Cook was fired in September 2023. Since then, Associate Executive Director Ginger Tedder has served as an interim replacement. The executive director will oversee all operations, functions and activities at MSMS, according to the job ad posted on MDE's website. The application window closes March 1. "The ideal candidate will have the skills and confidence needed to be the face of MSMS, shouldering the responsibility of providing strategic direction and implementing a progressive vision for the future," it reads. MDE Public Information Officer Shanderia Minor said interviews for the position will be conducted in March. If a candidate is selected, MDE will submit a recommendation to the State Board of Education no later than the May 2024 board meeting, she told The Dispatch in an email. Minor said there is nothing prohibiting the interim from applying if she chooses to do so. Tedder did not respond to requests for comment by press time as to whether she intended to apply. Qualifications listed in the application include a master's degree in education, experience in educational administration or a similar field, and a valid Mississippi certification in school administration. The application also details several areas of experience that are necessary for the position like successfully creating educational programming for gifted students, experience with school budget review and planning as well as conducting needs assessment. |
| Research looks at the history of enslaved people at the U. of Alabama | |
| Researchers at the University of Alabama have compiled some of the earliest history at the school and have made it available for anyone to see. The project looks at the history of enslaved people on the university's campus before the Civil War. Researchers have identified at least 164 people who were slaves on campus. The history of enslaved people at the UA came from a resolution passed by the Faculty Senate in 2018, requesting a commission be established to investigate the history of race, slavery, and civil rights at the university. A task force consisting of faculty, staff, and graduate students interested in the subject looked at historical documents related to slavery at the school. Now, the names of those enslaved people and some of their histories are compiled in one place for the first time for people to read and study. "I think it's really important to make this information available to the public because it's part of the history of this institution, of Tuscaloosa, and of West Alabama," said Dr. Jenny Shaw, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Alabama. "I think one of the really amazing things about it Is to have people out there in the world able to engage in it in all different kinds of ways." |
| Who will be the next chancellor of the U. of Alabama System? | |
 | Less than a month after Nick Saban retired and Kalen DeBoer was hired as the University of Alabama's football coach, UA will now begin the process of replacing the chancellor of its three-campus system. On Thursday, Finis "Fess" St. John IV announced that he was leaving the chancellor's post he has held since 2018. St. John will become executive director of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership, which will open this fall at UA's Tuscaloosa campus. The UA System board of trustees, which consists of 15 members from across the state, will directly hire St. John's replacement as chancellor, according to the Thursday news release. Scott Phelps, the UA System board of trustees' president pro tempore, has already appointed a search committee to identify candidates to fill the chancellor's role. The search committee consists of some members of the UA System board of trustees. The news release did not say which board members are serving on the search committee. On April 1, St. John will officially depart and Sid J. Trant will begin serving as interim chancellor. The last four UA chancellors -- St. John (2018-2024), Ray Hayes (2016-2018), Robert E. Witt (2012-2016) and Malcolm "Mac" Portera (2002-2012) -- were either employed in the UA system or had previously worked in the system when they were appointed. Portera was president of Mississippi State University before becoming the UA System chancellor, but he had more than three decades of experience in administrative and academic roles at UA before he left for Starkville. |
| Birmingham-Southern College could get $30 million denied loan if new bill passes | |
 | Birmingham-Southern College still has a chance to receive $30 million in state funding they were previously denied if a new senate bill passes. The bill, SB31, was introduced by Alabama Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R- Vestavia Hills on Feb. 6 as a way to amend the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan Program established last year. It was co-sponsored by 20 other state senators. "We are deeply grateful to Sen. Waggoner for his steadfast support, especially through the last long year in pursuit of this critical funding," reads a Feb. 6 press release from BSC. "And we are also deeply grateful to the other 20 senators who have joined him in this effort, as well as to members of the House who have expressed support for BSC." If SB31 is passed, the administration of the loan program will be moved from the Alabama State Treasurer to the Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and a state-regulated bank will be required to review and approve the collateral offered and the restructuring plan submitted, according to the release. SB31 currently awaits a vote from the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. BSC said in their release this week that they would like to have the bill signed by early March but assured students that in the meantime, the college will continue to operate as normal. |
| Auburn University's online programs highly ranked, U.S. News & World Report says | |
 | Auburn University's online programs has once again garnered praise in U.S. News & World Report rankings, which were released on Wednesday. AU was ranked top-10 and top-20 in several graduate, MBA and veterans categories in the magazine's 2024 Best Online Programs rankings. The Harbert College of Business' graduate program for veterans was ranked No. 6 while the College of Education's overall graduate program earned a No. 10 ranking, according to the university. "Auburn's online programs are a critical part of our academic mission thanks to their ability to broaden our access to students worldwide," said Vini Nathan, AU provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs. "Today's rankings demonstrate our commitment to fostering excellence through access and our ability to transcend teaching and learning beyond the classroom." Those were the only online programs to earn a top-10 spot from U.S. News & World Report, but there were several other Auburn programs inside the top 25. Auburn had four programs earn No. 14 rankings in their categories: the Harbert College of Business' graduate program, the Harbert College of Business' Business Analytics MBA, the College of Education's Educational Administration and Supervision graduate program and the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's veterans graduate programs. |
| Aide to Jeff Landry worked for research center that would benefit from Blue Cross sale | |
 | The chief of staff for Gov. Jeff Landry has worked as a lobbyist for Pennington Biomedical Research Center, the institute that the governor has singled out to receive potentially millions of research dollars as part of the controversial proposed sale of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. Landry aide Kyle Ruckert, who also served as a campaign strategist for Landry's gubernatorial bid last year, held the lobbying contract until late last year when his wife Lynnel took it over exclusively. The contract, which is for representation in Washington, pays $40,000 per year, according to federal filings. The Ruckerts have represented Pennington Biomedical since 2020. Landry's ties to Kyle Ruckert, the couple's work for Pennington, and the governor's decision to tap Pennington exclusively have prompted criticism from people closely watching the sale. They point out that Landry's decision means that Tulane, LSU and other higher education entities in the state cannot receive what could be a substantial amount of research dollars that aim to make Louisianans healthier. "Reports that the governor's chief of staff and wife have a financial lobbying relationship with Pennington should heighten scrutiny of this deal by legislators and policyholders," said Melissa Flournoy, a former state legislator who chairs 10,000 Women, a statewide progressive advocacy group, and who believes that the Blue Cross sale would harm health care in Louisiana. "The decision to invest only in research in Pennington is a short-term political decision when the universities across Louisiana are engaged in research on basic science, the development of community initiatives to improve health care." |
| U. of Tennessee's transformative construction vision tops staggering $1.47 billion | |
 | The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is growing and changing its campus to accommodate record student enrollment. It has at least $1.47 billion in construction projects in the works, and some projects will be ready as soon as fall 2024. The 14 projects in construction or design phase will bring more student housing, classrooms and recreation to campus. Updates on these projects were given during UT's advisory board meeting Feb. 1. This investment is happening during a time of significant growth for the university. UT Knoxville enrolled 36,304 students in the fall, a record number despite admitting a lower number of freshmen. Almost 1,800 students graduated at the end of the fall semester. "This spring, our enrollment is the highest it's ever been for a spring semester," Plowman said during the meeting, although UT has not released its actual spring enrollment number. |
| Cold brew coffee comes with chilling health risk, U. of Georgia study finds | |
 | The quality that makes cold brew coffee taste smooth also can make it dangerous, University of Georgia research has concluded. The findings are literally enough to make you sick. Scientists at UGA's Center for Food Safety in Griffin have been pumping cold brew coffee full of bacteria. Strains incude four common pathogens in food-borne illnesses: E. coli, salmonella, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes. "Specifically, I'm looking at the safety of cold brew and whether bacteria can grow in it," said Angela Parra, a graduate research assistant at the center. "I'm also looking at other aspects, like how the quality of ingredients can impact hygiene of the drink, temperature control and what conditions allow for the growth of these potential pathogens." Cold brew coffee is made by steeping coffee grounds in cool or cold water for several hours. Cold brew's popularity has sprung 300% higher since 2016, according to a data trends report from the National Coffee Association. There is cold comfort, though: Bacteria in cold brew don't seem to emerge on their own -- only when they're introduced artificially. That makes contamination prevention simple, according to UGA. When preparing cold brew at home, use clean hands and clean equipment, then refrigerate the brewed coffee. |
| U. of Florida, U. of Miami have Florida's largest endowments -- more than $1 billion each | |
 | How much money a university receives from donors can play a big role in how well it serves its students -- making the size of a school's endowment an important factor. Schools use endowments for a wide range of things, from financing extra professorships and doling out scholarships to constructing new buildings or entire degree programs. Endowments are financed by donations from many sources, but the most prominent are donations from former students looking to give back to the institutions that helped to form them. The university with the largest endowment in the United States is Harvard University, which as of last summer was a reported $50.7 billion. No school in Florida has an endowment anywhere close to that. But two campuses in the Sunshine State can boast endowments worth more than $1 billion each. The distinction of the largest endowment falls to the University of Florida, which was $2.4 billion in 2021. That's nearly double the amount of the state's second largest -- the University of Miami, with $1.4 billion. |
| Texas A&M ag economist: American cattle herd smallest since 1951 | |
 | Cattle numbers in the United States are the smallest in almost 75 years, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist David Anderson says it could get smaller over the next year due to certain trends in the livestock industry. There are around 87.2 million total cattle in the nation as of Jan. 1, which is down 1.9% over the last year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's cattle inventory report released on Jan. 31. That includes 28.2 million beef cows, a 2.5% decline from 2023, which Anderson said is the smallest number in over 60 years. Anderson shared why cattle numbers have declined so much and why they could drop further during his Predictions for 2024 Texas Livestock Markets webinar as part of the Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Stewardship Series last Thursday. "We've been shrinking the cow herd and this just shows, yeah, with the number of cows that have gone to market, what we think are fewer heifers held as replacements, we have even fewer cows," Anderson said. "What that should tell us in the marketplace is that fewer cows means fewer calves, which means fewer beef production over the next several years." Anderson noted a record 28 billion pounds of beef was produced in 2022. Three main issues facing the beef industry, Anderson said, are demand uncertainty, tighter beef production and herd expansion. |
| Regional Public Colleges as a Solution, Not the Problem | |
 | Charles L. Welch has been president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities officially for only a few weeks, but he's already had several reporters ask him how the four-year public universities the organization represents can refute the narrative that college isn't worth it. Perhaps the first encouraging sign is that reporters were contacting him to ask in the first place. The institutions that make up AASCU are perennially underappreciated and often misunderstood. The nearly 350 AASCU universities and state systems span the country, often serving less populous regions that might otherwise not have a four-year college. They award nearly half of the 1.3 million bachelor's degrees given annually by all public four-year institutions, and they typically charge a few thousand dollars in tuition per semester, not tens of thousands. But they rarely garner much attention. Welch, former head of the Arkansas State University system, started his new job during a flood of national media coverage -- including by The Chronicle -- of congressional testimony on campus antisemitism by three elite-university presidents, two of whom ultimately lost their jobs. Welch is concerned that the teaching-focused, broad-access institutions he represents are being unfairly tarnished by the growing public narrative that all colleges are costly and ideology-obsessed. But making the case for regional public universities is part of his new job. |
| Colleges Sing for Their FAFSA Supper | |
 | The U.S. Department of Education announced last week it will allocate $50 million to help make up for the debacle of its much-delayed FAFSA launch. Now colleges are wondering how they can get a piece of that assistance. The department and its nonprofit partners will recruit and dispatch financial aid experts and advisers to what they called "severely under-resourced campuses," with a special focus on minority-serving institutions. Such colleges have been affected more acutely by the FAFSA delays than those that have fewer Pell-eligible students or larger financial aid offices with robust technical resources. But there's little clarity as to how a college qualifies for that extra assistance, or what "under-resourced" means in this context. The department said last Monday only that all historically Black and tribal colleges and universities are eligible to receive direct support from the agency. A department spokesperson declined to answer further questions about the support plan, referring instead to last Monday's press release. Such murkiness threatens to inflame the frustrations of institutions already struggling with a FAFSA rollout beset by delays, errors and technical problems. It could also turn an attempted face-saving move by the department into yet another fraught, complicated process, aggravating rather than mollifying many colleges. |
| FAFSA glitches and delays leave students, states, institutions in limbo | |
 | In nearly three decades of working at colleges, Brad Barnett had seen scores of students get tripped up by the clunky old federal financial aid form, with its daunting array of questions and complicated formulas. A revamped Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- a shorter, simpler version of its infamous predecessor -- promised an easier path for students to access more money to pay for college when it debuted in late December. "We've wanted this for years," said Barnett, the director of financial aid at James Madison University in Virginia. "Anyone who has worked with the old form knows how time-consuming and confusing it could be. How could you not be a fan of a better, easier, faster process?" But the Education Department's launch of the new FAFSA has been far from easy or fast. Technical glitches are locking some families out of the form, while many who have completed the FAFSA probably have incorrect estimates of aid because the agency failed initially to update a crucial income formula. Colleges won't get most data until March, meaning students will have to wait longer for financial aid awards and have less time to weigh offers and make a key life choice. "Do you have a lost class because of this?" Barnett asked. "This whole process was done in large part to help low- and middle-income students, but the delays and glitches are hurting them the most." The breadth of problems with the FAFSA rollout has raised the ire of congressional Republicans. They have accused the Biden administration of failing to meet its basic responsibilities and being too preoccupied with student-debt-cancellation policies. GOP lawmakers have gotten the GAO to launch an investigation. |
| Potential Breakthrough on Federal Student Data System | |
| As conversations swirl about how to improve higher education's return on investment for students and taxpayers, those discussions often return to an issue that has vexed advocates and policymakers -- data, or rather, the lack thereof. The federal government has been barred by law since 2008 from creating a new database of student-level information. But advocates for a new system, including both Republican and Democratic members of Congress, say there's a need for comprehensive information on student outcomes in higher education, citing important gaps in the data that are currently available. "The current system is very incomplete, and piecemeal, and in some places duplicative and kind of convoluted," said Mamie Voight, president and CEO of the Institute for Higher Education Policy, a nonpartisan research organization that has advocated for better data. The federal government collects reams of data about higher education, but data systems are often not connected or inclusive of all students, limiting the information available. The graduation rate, for example, only includes students enrolled full-time and for the first time, leaving out part-time and transfer students. When the Education Department wanted to assess outcomes for transfer students, it had to draw on its National Student Loan Data System, which only includes students who receive federal financial aid, for its analysis. Overturning the ban and improving data collection requires congressional action, and lawmakers have tried and tried over the past decade to address the issue. Now there's renewed hope for a solution after the legislation's staunchest opponent, Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the House education committee, recently put forward a more limited version of the College Transparency Act. |
| Enrollment cliff illuminates lack of state plan | |
 | Columnist Bill Crawford writes: Where are we going, and is that where we want to go? Rare public discussion of that question hit the news recently: "Starting next year, the number of high school graduates will begin to fall in Mississippi," began the story in Mississippi Today. "In Mississippi, this trend, called the 'enrollment cliff,' will force the largely tuition-dependent colleges and universities to compete for a shrinking pool of students." Low birth rates and population decline trends have long-term consequences. IHL Commissioner Al Rankins told legislators that universities have been "talking about the enrollment cliff for years" with a working group focused on regional universities. Kell Smith, the director of the Mississippi Community College Board, said his board does not have a strategic plan for the enrollment cliff but some of the individual community colleges might. "Very simply -- how can we fix the problem to prepare for 15 years from now?" asked Rep. Donnie Scoggin, chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee. |
| Private schools forget their racist origins in trying to collect public funds | |
| Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison writes: Thick with irony is the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools' contention that the provision of the Mississippi Constitution plainly stating that public funds cannot go to private schools should be ruled invalid by the courts because of its racist origins. Perhaps the schools that make up the association should look in the mirror. Many, but not all, of the 125 Mississippi private schools in the association trace their beginnings to the 1950s and 1960s and their founders' objections to the school desegregation mandated by federal courts. The Midsouth Association of Independent Schools previously was known as the Mississippi Private School Association, which was started in the 1960s by parents and others who did not want white Mississippians to go to integrated schools. That nugget of truth was omitted by Buck Dougherty, an attorney with the Chicago-based Liberty Justice Center, in arguing last week before the state Supreme Court that Section 208 was enacted as part of the 1890 Constitution for racist reasons and thus should be ruled invalid. Dougherty was making his ironic argument on behalf of the aforementioned Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, which in 2022 received $10 million in public funds now in question before the state's high court. |
SPORTS
| Hubbard scores 16, Mississippi State pulls away in second half to beat Missouri 75-51 | |
| Josh Hubbard scored 16 points, Tolu Smith III added 13 points and 11 rebounds and Mississippi State rolled to a 75-51 victory over Missouri on Saturday night. Hubbard shot 5 of 13 from the floor and Smith made 6 of 8 field goals. Shakeel Moore chipped in with 14 points for Mississippi State (16-8, 5-6 Southeastern Conference). Hubbard and Moore each had four of the Bulldogs' nine 3-pointers. Smith and Moore scored six points apiece as the Tigers shot 55% (17 of 31) from the floor and made five from long range in the second half. Mississippi State took the lead for good about four minutes into the game and built a 30-26 halftime advantage. The Bulldogs opened the second half on a 20-4 run and cruised from there. Cameron Matthews scored all nine of his points for the Bulldogs, that included a pair of dunks, during the stretch and Moore made two 3-pointers. Mississippi State has a week off before the Bulldogs play host to Arkansas on Feb. 17. Missouri visits Mississippi on Feb. 17. |
| Mississippi State baseball announces opening weekend game times against Air Force | |
| Mississippi State baseball's season opener against Air Force on Friday will feature a 4 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's game will also start at 4 p.m. while the series finale on Sunday will be at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs' opening weekend at Dudy Noble Field will feature a plethora of military appreciation tributes and promotions. Each contest will include a pregame flyover. Friday's flyover will come from the Moody Air Force Base while the final two games will come from the Columbus Air Force Base. Prior to Saturday's game, there will be a jump performance from the Wings of Blue Jump Team from the United State Air Force Academy. Military members will perform the national anthem, join players on the field for the anthem and announce the starting lineups throughout the weekend. On Friday, Mississippi State will give fans a rally towel for opening weekend. Saturday, replica military hats will be given out. Sunday, fans will receive military coins commemorating opening weekend. MSU coach Chris Lemonis spent his collegiate playing career (1990-1993) at The Citadel, a senior military college in his home state of South Carolina. He also served as an assistant there from 1995-2006. |
| Mississippi State baseball 2024 bold predictions: Will Bulldogs return to postseason? | |
| The expectations for Mississippi State baseball entering the 2024 season are as low as the program has seen. The Bulldogs are projected to finish last in the SEC West across various publications and could be headed toward a third straight year with no postseason appearance. However, coach Chris Lemonis' offseason suggests MSU could exceed the lowly expectations. The Bulldogs hired Justin Parker away from South Carolina to serve as the program's pitching coach. After back-to-back years with the conference's worst ERA, MSU parted ways with Scott Foxhall and replaced him with Parker -- who helped guide the Gamecocks to the SEC's second-best ERA last season. Offensively, Mississippi State returns plenty of its production, highlighted by slugging first baseman Hunter Hines and All-American outfielder Dakota Jordan. Throughout its struggles, MSU has continued to collect among the nation's best recruiting classes. With talent still on the roster, could Mississippi State turn its fortunes around this year? Here are three bold predictions that suggest the answer is yes. |
| Softball: Mississippi State tosses two no-hitters, opens 2024 season with four wins | |
| Josey Marron and Matalasi Faapito were both aware of what was happening in the moment, but neither let that moment get too big. Marron, Mississippi State's sophomore ace, completed a five-inning no-hitter against IUPUI on Friday night, and the fifth-year senior Faapito did the same against the Jaguars on Saturday afternoon to highlight a perfect opening weekend for the Bulldogs at The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial tournament. The 24th and 25th no-hitters in program history represented the first time MSU (4-0) has thrown no-no's in consecutive games. "Two no-hitters in the four games was great," Bulldogs head coach Samantha Ricketts said. "This team has really been locked into understanding that every game is important. We're not just waiting for SEC play or postseason, but it starts right now. We treat these opponents just like we would when we get to March or April." In two wins each against IUPUI and Alabama-Birmingham, MSU's hitters struck out a total of five times, while the Bulldogs' pitchers did not walk a single batter. MSU twice scored at least seven runs in an inning, won the first three games in five innings with the run rule in effect and did not allow a run until the fourth inning of the weekend finale against the Blazers. The Bulldogs face a much greater test Tuesday, when No. 21 Louisiana visits Nusz Park for a doubleheader. The Ragin' Cajuns defeated in-state rival LSU to win an NCAA Regional last year before falling to Washington in the Super Regionals. |
| Jackson State's Sonic Boom featured in Super Bowl halftime show alongside Usher | |
| In a Super Bowl full of surprises, one of the biggest may have been Jackson State's Sonic Boom of the South being featured in the game's halftime show. The legendary marching band, which was able to keep its appearance under wraps until the actual performance, accompanied Usher on the field in Las Vegas as the rapper performed some of his biggest hits in front of thousands of cheering fans and millions of TV viewers. After the halftime show, Jackson State's Director of Bands, Dr. Rodrick Little, posted on social media, giving some insight into how the opportunity came about. "In November of last year, our students were hand-selected to join Usher on the field for halftime at Super Bowl LVIII. This honor adds to the Boom's legacy of iconic performances and moments that help elevate our university's name and brand," Little wrote. "I want to give a special shoutout to our students, staff, campus community, and administration for holding one of the best-kept secrets in Jackson State history." The latest performance for the Sonic Boom adds to a long list of celebrities the band has played with over recent years, including Drake, Lil Boosie, Ciara, Big Krit, and J.Cole. The Sonic Boom also played at the Tournament of Roses Parade this past January. |
| Homefield Apparel launches NIL collective program | |
| Homefield Apparel is rolling out a new NIL initiative on Monday that could create a new revenue stream for donor-driven collectives. The vintage college sports apparel brand launched partnerships with five collectives. The campaign -- dubbed the Homefield NIL Partnership Program -- utilizes the company's direct-to-consumer model by managing all aspects of the activation. Homefield inked year-long partnerships with five NIL collectives: Georgia's Classic City, Purdue's Boilermaker Alliance, Florida's Florida Victorious, Indiana's Hoosiers Connect and Kansas State's Wildcat NIL. Through these agreements, and the use of collective-specific codes, Homefield will allocate 10% of sales revenue generated to that collective. The campaign will also allow for six enhanced promotional days for each collective, where Homefield will share 20% of revenue to the collective while offering 20% off to customers. It's a notable move, as the partnerships create a revenue stream to support athletes with direct benefits from apparel sales. "People do this stuff for bake sales, they do this for high school jersey funds," Homefield's marketing director Josh Johns told On3. "Collectives have been driven toward hitting up the big donors over and over for the big bucks. What they haven't been able to do is this, a grassroots-style campaign. Any club you've ever been in does this but also drives revenue. When people are already buying Georgia, Florida and Indiana gear, they're also supporting collectives." |
The Office of Public Affairs provides the Daily News Digest as a general information resource for Mississippi State University stakeholders.
Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.
