college shorts Howard U. president retires amidst criticism

Author: Mia Lieb-Lappen

Howard U. president retires amidst criticism

President of Howard University H. Patrick Swygert, 64, announced his planned retirement for 2008 on April 29 after more than a decade as the head of the historically black college.

Since 1995, Swygert has led Howard University through what supporters have called its most successful period. Among his accomplishments as president, Swygert listed the college's production of Rhodes and Fullbright scholars and a new fundraising program that brought in $250 million dollars.

Faculty, however, criticized Swygert's leadership of the university. Faculty members had called for his firing in March. In addition, the chairman of the faculty Senate sent a letter to the school's Board of Trustees criticizing the way in which Swygert handled financial affairs, especially in a time of budget issues, citing specifically an audit that criticized Swygert's management of grant money.
- CNN.com


VTech shootings spur campus copycat threats

The shootings at Virginia Tech University on April 16th have triggered a series of bomb threats in 10 states across the nation as reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse experienced its first bomb threat in a decade on April 18th. Students were evacuated when a note threatening violence against students was found in a dorm bathroom. Although some students were alarmed, fearing it was connected with the Virginia shootings two days earlier, the majority were convinced that it was a false alarm. Students were permitted back onto college premises an hour after the planned detonation time. Director of Protective Services at UW-La Crosse, Scott Rohde, expected the issue to blow over within the next couple weeks.

Similar occurrences were mirrored at the University of Minnesota, San Diego State University, Union College and the University of Delaware. At the University of Minnesota, there was a threat to blow up five buildings, although most students believed it was merely a hoax.
- Uwire.com


Gonzales heckled at Harvard Law reunion

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was received with heckling at Harvard University when he returned to his alma mater to give a luncheon speech at his 25th-year Harvard Law School reunion. The protests came on the heels of recent questions by lawmakers regarding Gonzales' abilities as Attorney General after he condoned the firing of eight prosecutors. A questions of nepotism have surfaced and created controversy regarding his capabilities to head the Justice Department.

Gonzales' unannounced visit was met by student protestors, who greeted him with black and orange jumpsuits in Cambridge. According to the Associated Press, as the Attorney General posed for a photo shoot with former classmates, the protestors booed, heckled and shouted "shame" and "resign." The annoyed Gonzales departed with haste.

"The departure was clearly undignified," said second-year law student,Thomas Becker in an interview with the Associated Press.

Law school spokesman, Mike Armini, downplayed the event, telling the Associated Press that the protest was so small that some attending the photo shoot did not notice it.
≠≠≠≠≠≠-CNN.com