Quick hits
- Wisconsin DEI funding on the chopping block: Republican lawmakers want to cut funding from the state’s budget that goes to diversity initiatives at the University of Wisconsin’s campuses — an estimated $32 million. (Associated Press)
- PIRG student fee cut off: The Montana Public Interest Research Group stands to lose $50,000 after the state Board of Regents didn’t act on a $5-per-semester student fee at the University of Montana. A student vote overwhelmingly supported the fee, but regents last year signaled they wouldn’t keep supporting sending the money to a non-campus-based group. The situation has partisan overtones because MontPIRG helps students register to vote and has in the past lobbied state lawmakers on issues like renewable energy. (Daily Montanan)
- West Virginia college receives nonprofit status: The U.S. Department of Education recognized Huntington Junior College as a nonprofit institution, the institution said Tuesday. The former for-profit says it made the change so it could tap additional grants and a state scholarship program. (Huntington Junior College)
- Cyberattack hits Stephen F. Austin: A weekend cyberattack prompted officials to cut off Stephen F. Austin State University’s internet connection. The institution in Texas said it was working to evaluate the damage and restore systems. (KETK)
Stat of the day
$5 million
That’s how much Jonathan Farley, a Morgan State University professor, asked Jeffrey Epstein to donate in 2019, according to documents obtained by Vice. Farley told the disgraced financier, who was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy, that Morgan State accepting the money would “show the world you are not a pariah and may help you avoid a conviction.”
The professor acted on this own “without the expressive knowledge and/or permission of Morgan State University,” a spokesperson told The Baltimore Sun. The institution is investigating the matter but says it never sought contributions from Epstein.
Quote of the day
“It gives people the audacity to harass our community.”
— Devon Ojeda, a senior national organizer with the National Center for Transgender Equality
Ojeda spoke about efforts by conservative politicians to restrict pride events and campus drag shows, saying they can prompt harassment of LGBTQIA people.
South Dakota’s governor, Kristi Noem, a Republican, recently demanded the state’s Board of Regents ban drag shows on campuses, remove references to preferred pronouns in campus materials, and require American history and government courses for graduation. Noem said “standards of behavior and decency” don’t mean stifling free expression, but such requests raise questions about free speech and who feels safe on campus.
Our Kate Hidalgo Bellows has the full story.
Comings and goings
- Amanuel Gebru, vice president for instruction at Moorpark College, has been named president of Los Angeles City College.
- Kevin Satterlee, president of Idaho State University, will retire at the end of this calendar year.
- Bertie Greer, associate dean of the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University, has been named dean of the Manning School of Business at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
- Kayla Hale, vice president for university advancement and alumni engagement at the University of Tulsa, has been named president of University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma.
To submit a new-hire announcement, email people@chronicle.com.
Footnote
How much cheese is too much? I ask because I’m considering applying for this “descriptive sensory panelist” position at the University of Wisconsin’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
The job entails trying as many as 24 cheese samples per week. Up to 12 pizzas could be heaped on top of that, plus “other food products,” which adds a delicious element of mystery to the enterprise. Hopefully the gig comes with a health-care plan, or at least a recommendation for a good cardiologist.
Sorry to disappoint those of you who expected more cheese puns in this Footnote. I briefly considered wheeling out a few gouda ones, only to tell my beating heart to be stilton and decide I’d cheddar get rennin to the application process before I bleu it.