COLLEGE SHORTS

Author: LISIE MEHLMAN

Apple develops iTunes U for use at universities

ITunes U, a program that partners Apple with universities in order to help them distribute educational content via the Internet using an iTunes-inspired format, has been implemented at six universities nationwide and Apple is seeking to expand the program's usage on college campuses. University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Brown, Duke and Stanford are among six universities currently test piloting the program before its nationwide launch.

While iPods are now ubiquitous on college campuses, the iTunes U program allows students the chance to use them for educational purposes. With iTunes U, students can review lectures with the use of headphones and can download audio-visual course material. It is Apple's hope that this program will make material both more accessible to and more appealing for students.

Lynn Johnson, director of information technology at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, said that "Our students found that they couldn't take notes fast enough. They like being able to review over and over again. They like not having the pressure of having to get all the notes down in class, and instead they're able to concentrate on the content."

Apple is currently discussing the expansion of its iTunes U program with several other colleges across the country. While Johnson noted that "People are really hopping onto this big time," and that "this has been extremely successful for us," but it remains to be seen if this program will become a phenomenon.



Developments in Durham reveal no DNA match

On Monday, Durham County District Attorney Michael B. Nifong reported that the female exotic dancer and North Carolina Central student who accused three male Duke lacrosse players of rape identified at least one of them from a photo montage last week. This new information was released just one day following the release of DNA testing results that failed to show any match from 46 lacrosse players on the woman's body or possessions.

The female claims that she was assaulted on March 13 at an off-campus residence where she was hired to perform for the lacrosse players.

Nifong explained that lack of DNA evidence "is the case in 75 to 80 percent of all sexual assaults" and that he still believes that assault occurred. Even without DNA evidence, Nifong said that anytime a sexual assault victim identifies an assailant, a trial should ensue.

Lawyers representing the Duke lacrosse players, however, maintain that the lack of DNA evidence showed that the rape accusation is false. When Nifong spoke to 400 people at an informational meeting at North Carolina Central Monday, he ensured audience members that, "My presence here means this case is not going away."

The Duke men's lacrosse team's season was officially canceled and the team's coach of 16 years resigned in response to a deragatory e-mail sent by the team's captain.