The New Hampshire Senate has rejected a bill that would decriminalize marijuana, the Associated Press reported Friday. The bill would have made possession of 1.25 ounces of marijuana a violation with a $200 fine. Possession of marijuana is currently a misdemeanor that can carry a sentence of a year in prison and fines of up to $2500. The bill had been approved by the state House of Representatives.
A federal judge ruled that pamphlets used by Georgia Institute of Technology to support gay students were unconstitutional, Inside Higher Ed reported Friday. The judge ruled that the materials showed a clear preference for certain religions, as the pamphlets noted that certain religions allow same-sex unions and others condemn homosexuality. The lawsuit was filed by two Georgia Tech students, assisted by the Alliance Defense Fund, a legal group that defends the rights of religious students. While the materials have already been removed by the institute, the ruling could have an affect on diversity programs at other public colleges. Steve Sanders, a Chicago appellate lawyer and former public university administrator, criticized the decision in an interview with inside Higher Ed. "Some might see it as a bit hypocritical for a religiously partisan group like the Alliance Defense Fund to promote robust public debate," Sanders said.
The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering released a report Thursday revealing the lack of minority students studying engineering. NACME reported that nationally 30 percent of undergraduates are Hispanic, black, or Native American but these groups only make up 12 percent of degrees in engineering. The report also found that only 4 percent of these students graduate from high school with the math and science background needed to pursue engineering. Irving Pressley McPhail, executive vice president of NACME, told the Christian Science Monitor that more minority scientists and engineers are needed for the U.S. to remain competitive in the world economy.
