College Shorts

Author: Thomas Meyell

USF VICE PRESIDENT STEALS BIKE AND RESIGNS

Dr. Abdul Rao, vice president of the University of South Florida's (USF) School of Health, resigned after surveillance footage showed him helping a friend steal a bicycle. The bike belonged to a university student.

Rao, who was earning $384,000 a year, described his friend as "semi-homeless." Rao could face charges of grand theft if the price of the bike surpasses $300, or a misdemeanor if the price ranges from $100 to $300.

Rao resigned days after the allegations surfaced, but his severance package of $60,000 for six weeks of pay caused public scrutiny and USF reopened the case. The case is currently being investigated by the district attorney.

In a bizarre twist, Rao rescinded his resignation two days after submitting it. The university rejected his request, saying it would stand by the resignation document. Rao wrote that he was "convinced that the outcome is not compatible with the level of infraction."

The bike was returned to its owner, who plans to sell it on eBay. Proceeds will go to his preferred charity, the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

- The Oracle

NEWLY PASSED STIMULUS GIVES AID TO STUDENTS

The recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will cut costs for qualifying students and their families. The stimulus package will allow students to receive greater tax credits for a longer duration. Students will now be eligible to receive the scholarship for their first four years of college as opposed to the previous limit of two years.

The act will also increase the tax credit for students from $1,800 to $2,500, and will allow tax deductions on additional expenses, such as textbooks or lab materials. President Obama campaigned on a $4,000 credit in tandem with 100 hours of required community service, but the final stimulus package produced trimmed results.

- The Jambar

NEW YORK STUDENTS AND FACULTY PROTEST TUITION

Students and faculty from New York University (NYU) and the City University of New York (CUNY) protested proposed tuition increases at a 4 p.m. rally on March 5. The protest comes in the wake of Governor David Paterson's proposal to cut funding for higher education in New York.

In November, Paterson announced plans to lower state aid to higher education institutions by $2 million and increase tuition for state-funded universities. CUNY schools last raised tuition in 2003.

Students at CUNY-Hunter walked out of classes at 2 p.m. on March 5 to protest the proposed cuts. The Hunter students were among protestors who marched on city hall hours later in a protest organized by a group of organizations called the One New York coalition.

Weeks earlier, NYU students and others barricaded themselves inside the NYU cafeteria in what became known as the Kimmel Occupation. Among the group's demands were increased transparency in administrative operations and student representation on the board of trustees. The occupation fell apart soon after security officers and administrators forced their way inside.

- Washington Square News