College Shorts Syracuse Recalls Students from Abroad

Author: Andrea Gissing

Air Force General Apologizes to Students

Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager, the departing superintendent of the Air Force Academy, met with the cadet corps in Colorado Springs on Monday, March 31, to apologize for the effects the recent scandal involving the sexual assault of female cadets has had on the academy.
Air Force officials announced last week that four top leaders of the academy, including Dallager, were being replaced or reassigned. These changes followed three military investigations resulting from reports made by dozens of women that described incidents of sexual abuse or rapes occurring in recent years at the academy. The reports have also resulted in a new procedure set up at the academy to protect women who have been sexually attacked and file complaints with officers at the Academy. These changes includes "blanket amnesty" which hopes to encourage people who have been sexually assaulted to report it without fear of being punished for other infractions such as drinking.
James G. Roche, Air Force secretary, said that the problems predated the current leadership, which "did not have the authority to carry out new rules that might have encouraged women to come forward."
Dallager will remain at his post until he retires in June. He will be replaced by Maj. Gen. John W. Rosa Jr., the deputy director of current operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Source: The New York Times

SARS Fears Bring Syracuse Students Home

Syracuse University, responding to health concerns about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), has shortened its spring semester program in Hong Kong. Additionally, it has canceled two upcoming programs in the People's Republic of China.
There have been over 600 reported cases of SARS in Hong Kong, including 15 deaths attributed to the respiratory disease. More than 1,600 cases worldwide have been confirmed.
There were 31 students, 15 of whom were from SU, studying in Hong Kong through SU's Division of International Programs Abroad (DIPA). The program is based at the City University of Hong Kong. The closure was prompted by a suspected case of SARS detected at the university last month. Students, who are unlikely to return to SU for the remainder of the semester, will complete the course by correspondence with DIPA staff and professors still in Hong Kong.
SU's decision to cancel the program was based on information from the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, SU Health Services, the New York State Department of Health and medical officials in Hong Kong, as well as a March 28 travel advisory put out by the CDC urging those planning nonessential travel to mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam to postpone their trips until further notice.

Source: Syracuse University News


Kansas Senate Threatens University Funds Because of Sex Class

The Kansas Senate passed a bill that would withhold $3 million in funding to the University of Kansas after a professor showed "upsetting" videos in a sexuality class.
The bill, passed on Wednesday on a 24-13 vote, requiring public universities to ban the purchase of "obscene" material or lose funding for the offending department, targets a popular class taught by Dennis Dailey. Dailey, an award-winning professor, has been teaching the class for 20 years.
The bill was put forward by Republican Senator Susan Wagle, after learning about the class from a student. She said that during class Dailey used material, pictures and videos, that she considered obscene and she "[wanted] to make this type of activity not funded by the taxpayer."
Dailey declined to comment on the vote or Wagle's description of his class, but maintained that the materials he used were designed for classroom use. "These are educational films. They are made by educational organizations and used as part of the educational process," he said.
The class has consistently been fully enrolled. Dailey also leads a weekly seminar for some of the campus' religious groups, including the Ecumenical Christian Ministries.

Source: CNN.com