Projected federal spending cuts scheduled to go into effect on Friday could reduce academic institutions' ability to conduct valuable scientific research, The Harvard Crimson reported. The automatic federal cuts, which the nation's lawmakers passed as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011, was temporarily suspended when a Jan. 1 deal postponed the deadline until Mar. 1. The spending cuts, expected to total $85 billion this fiscal year, will reduce research capabilities at academic institutions. Harvard, for example, relies on the federal government for nearly 60 percent of its research and development funding. The university's two biggest sources of research funding, the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation, could each see several millions of dollars in funding this fiscal year alone. Individual researchers will also face increased competition when applying for research grants and awards.
Hoping to devise ethically responsible investment strategies, Princeton University will host Yale University's Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility chair Jonathan Macey on March 7 to speak about about ethical investment models, The Daily Princetonian reported. Macey will address concerns related to Princeton's investments, and pre-selected students will have the chance to articulate their own thoughts on the university's investments. Macey's lecture is part of an ongoing campus dialogue about ethical investment practices. Princeton students recently protested the University's investments in companies involved with workers' rights infringements and fossil fuel production. Last March, after much criticism from members of the university community, Princeton announced that it would end investing in HEI Hotels and Resorts, which was accused of workers' rights violations.
Harvard University's Undergraduate Council passed the Mental Health at Harvard Act on Sunday in response to a recent anonymous op-ed in The Harvard Crimson and a subsequent rally on mental health services on Friday, The Crimson reported. By passing the act, the Council officially expressed its support for the Coalition to Reform Mental Health Services at Harvard, agreeing to collaborate with the coalition to create dialogue and help foster its efforts. Over 150 students participated in the protest on Friday, which aimed to pressure the Harvard administration to expand the availability of mental health services on campus.
