college shorts

Author: Anthony Adragna

Yale to increase funds spent from endowment

Yale University announced plans to increase spending from the school's endowment by 40 percent next year.

The move comes amidst controversy that the nation's wealthiest universities continue to raise tuition annually while the value of their endowments continue to rise. The new funding will assist with financial aid programs and will go to new science initiatives.

"This is a very big boost to our spending," Yale President Richard C. Levin said. "We want to do things that are significant with it."

The announcement comes a month after Harvard University announced it would spend more of its endowment annually. With an endowment currently of 35 billion, the school has the largest endowment of any United States institution.
- New York Times


Gwinnett College aims to find new mascot

Georgia's Gwinnett College is currently asking members of the community for ideas about mascots.

Since opening in 2006, the state's newest public school has hired teachers, opened classrooms and enrolled students. Now the school hopes to find a mascot, by opening a contest until Jan. 31 inviting ideas.

The school does not presently have a football team. However, school officials hope a mascot would help unite the community.

One of the first admissions received by the school came from a 10 year-old girl who chose the gar, a type of fish, as a potential mascot. Other nominations include Fighting Logjammers, the Green Knights, the Buttons and the Cranes.

The winning mascot will be announced Feb. 29.
- Atlanta Journal Constitution


UNC tops Kiplinger list of Best Value in colleges

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill appeared as the top school on Kiplinger's Personal Finance annual list of 100 Best Values in Public Colleges.

Fees and tuition increased by 6.3 percent this year amounted to $344, raising tuition and fees to $5,836 and the overall cost to $12,796.

The rankings give the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill high rankings because the school allows students to attend small classes with good contact with professors.

Other schools which placed high on the list included the University of Florida, the University of Virginia, the College of William & Mary and the New College of Florida.
- The Herald-Times


Former Duke lacrosse players file lawsuits

Three members of the 2005-06 Duke University lacrosse team have filed lawsuits against the university, former District Attorney Mike Nifong and members of the faculty.

In the suit, Ryan McFadyen, Matt Wilson and Breck Archer allege the defendants continued to pursue charges even amid suspicion that the charges against the team were false.

In a statement released by the University the blame for the false charges was placed on Nifong. It claims the suit is falsely leveled against the University.
- The Duke Chronicle