Learning Process

Do Same-Sex Dorms Violate The Law?

Written on July 10, 2011 – 6:01 pm | by Justin Fraser

Single-sex housing is alive and well at this university but the school might get sued as a result.

The Catholic University of America recently announced its intent to move to single-sex only housing beginning next year. College President John Garvey thinks the move will curb binge drinking and casual sex.

Sounds simple enough until you hear the viewpoint of John Banzhaf, a professor at George Washington University Law School.

According to Banzhaf, the change would violate the District of Columbia Human Rights Act by unlawfully discriminating against students on the basis of gender. The idea that separating students by sex will reduce perceived ills is based on stereotypes, he says.

In an initial salvo, Banzhaf served the school with an intent-to-sue notice. Whether that will get the school to reconsider the move remains to be seen.

Should schools be allowed to have single-sex dorms?

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A provocative day

Written on July 9, 2011 – 10:45 pm | by Noah Moroney

At DMU, our faculty believe research is vital, and students are vital to research. A demonstration of that belief is DMUs mentored student research program, which gives student researchers the opportunity to share highlights of their findings. They will present their research today in DMUs Olsen Medical Education Center (better known as the MEC) in an event thats free and open to the public. It begins with registration at 9:30 a.m., followed by welcome comments at 10 a.m. by microbiology and immunology Professor Jeffrey Gray, Ph.D., DMUs interim vice president for research, and physiology and pharmacology Assistant Professor Kim Tran, M.D., Ph.D.

Providing the keynote address today at 10:15 a.m. will be Garland Marshall, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Washington Universitys School of Medicine. Hell discuss therapeutic approaches for AIDS.

The best reason to attend todays program is to absorb the intellectual energy DMU students radiate and their investigative enthusiasm for the topics theyve explored.

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The final summer

Written on July 9, 2011 – 9:08 am | by Noah Moroney

As we come down to the last med-school-free week of our summer, my fellow DO14s and I will soon resume our busy lives as second-year medical students. With boards awaiting us at the end of this coming year, it’s a distinct possibility that this will have been our last truly free summer before starting our busy careers. That being said, any major life goals or dream vacations that had been put on hold until this point were quickly brought into reality as our window of opportunity slid to a close. Some of my classmates took trips overseas, toured across the U.S. or pursued medical mission trips. Even I was able to enjoy an eventful summer, which included a visit with the family and a brief trip to an island resort. It also featured a chain of events that culminated in a freak moped accident that left a second-degree abrasion wound on the palm of my right hand. Part of this chain of events involved a senior citizen’s bachelorette party that passed by at the most inopportune moment (I’m not kidding; it’s a long and bizarre story). As far as I’m aware, no alcohol was involved in the accident just very bad moped drivers. Fortunate

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Tags: Summer

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Preliminary TCAP Data Shows Improvement

Written on July 9, 2011 – 12:51 am | by Christopher Tulloch

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Gov. Bill Haslam is thanking teachers and administrators for improving the state’s standardized test scores.

Preliminary results from the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program released on Thursday showed math scores in grades 3-8 improved by 7 percent this year over last year and reading scores improved by 3.7 percent.

In 18 school systems, student scores improved by 20 percent or more.

Release of the scores follows education reform legislation signed into law by the Republican governor that left many educators unhappy.

The tenure law, in particular, requires a teacher to be on the job five years instead of three to get tenure. And it creates a way for job security to be revoked for poor teaching performance.

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47 Missouri Schools Receive National Health Awards

Written on July 8, 2011 – 4:22 am | by Imogen Fahey

The School Food Services section of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced today that 47 schools in seven districts have received HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) awards.

The national awards program was established in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to recognize schools participating in the National School Lunch Program that have improved their school environment with nutritious foods, physical activity and nutrition education.

To qualify for an award, a school must submit a formal application and meet basic criteria set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, such as offering fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

The HUSSC criteria reflect current U.S.

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Tags: Health, National Health

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Steinberg defends budget bill protecting teachers from layoffs

Written on July 7, 2011 – 1:29 pm | by Justin Fraser

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg defended a last-minute budget bill protecting teachers from further layoffs and reducing district authority, saying that Democrats preserved class sizes and education jobs.

The proposal was backed by the California Teachers Association, which has significant budget influence. About two-fifths of the state’s general fund must flow to K-12 schools and community colleges, and the union has been a reliable Democratic contributor.

“We were intentional,” Steinberg said during a meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau. “We do not want to create a situation where more teachers and classified employees lose their jobs. And we did not want to see class sizes increase.”

Assembly Bill 114 has drawn fire from school fiscal officials because it reduces their authority, especially if the state imposes a midyear $1.5 billion classroom reduction should tax dollars fall short.

The Senate leader said the teachers union made a concession by allowing districts to reduce the school year by as much as seven days if that money gets cut.

But the bill requires districts to negotiate with unions representing teachers and staff to reduce their pay for those seven days.

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Tags: Bill Protecting, Bill Protecting Teachers, Layoffs, Protecting Teachers

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