COLLEGE SHORTS

Author: Peter Simon & Nicha Rakpanichmanee

University of Texas Dean Resigns from Enron Board

University of Texas School of Law Dean William Powers Jr. resigned from Enron's Board of Directors last Thursday. In a letter of resignation to Enron executive John Duncan, Powers said he had finished investigating the company's transactions and wished to focus on his duties as dean of the law school.
Powers was selected on Oct. 31 as a board member and chairman of a special committee reviewing the company's transactions. As a member of the committee, he corresponded with the Securities and Exchange Commission and issued an internal report that accused executives, auditors, lawyers and other board members of creating partnerships to inflate earnings, among other infractions.
Some critics had said that Powers' appointment to the Board of Directors posed a conflict of interest. Enron had made large contributions of the university, including $250,000 to its law school.

Source: U-Wire

Rutgers Faces Life After Lawrence

Rutgers University of New Jersey is as divided now as it was before Francis Lawrence's resignation from presidency. After 12 years, Lawrence ended his tenure with a one-page letter on Feb. 1, offering no explanation for his departure.
Many professors and students are pleasantly surprised by the resignation, which contradicts Lawrence's earlier announcement to stay at Rutgers for at least two more years. The organization Rutgers 1000, founded by a Rutgers English professor, has long accused Lawrence of prioritizing athletics at the expense of academics, allocating millions of limited dollars to fund mediocre sports teams. Acute bitterness towards Lawrence arose in response to his 1994 comment that genetics contributed to low SAT scores among minority students.
No criticism had budged Lawrence's position for over a decade, until Democratic Governor James McGreevey entered office in late 2001. Not only does McGreevey plan to please his minority constituents, but he also looks to implement many educational reforms, including statewide budget cuts and concerted efforts to attract New Jersey residents to attend in-state schools.
While many believe that Lawrence was driven out by state politics, others maintain that he served his term well by increasing fundraising by almost fivefold and doubling the percentage of minority students.

Source: The New York Times


Desegregation Plan Approved for Mississippi Universities

A federal judge has approved a desegregation plan for Mississippi universities, ending a legal battle that began in 1975. The lawsuit, filed by the late Jake Ayers, the father of an African-American college student, accused the state of neglecting its three historically black universities — Jackson State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered remedies in 1992.
The order, put forth by U.S. District Judge Neal Biggers, Jr., directs $500 million, pledged last month by Mississippi lawmakers, to various programs and improvements for the three universities.
"I think every citizen in Mississippi will benefit from this," said Reuben Anderson, a Mississippi state Supreme Court justice and key member of the settlement team.

Source: Associated Press


Bob Jones University to Increase Minority Admissions

Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist Christian school located in Greenville, S.C., is attempting to recruit minorities in order to shake its racist image.
Two new funds sponsored by private donations have been set up to attract minority students. Thus far, 40 minority students have applied, and 9 have been granted scholarships through the new funds. The school currently claims to have few blacks, but provides no precise figures on its racial makeup.
The university began accepting black students in 1970, after the Internal Revenue Service moved to revoke the school's tax-exempt status, citing discrimination. The school's policies, including a ban on interracial dating, were a subject of national controversy when George W. Bush visited the campus during his presidential campaign. The school dropped the ban shortly thereafter.

Source: Associated Press