Otterbein University of Westerville, Ohio, no longer requires victims, perpetrators and witnesses involved in sexual assault investigations to sign a form advising them against sharing information from the cases, Inside Higher Ed reported. The university's administration initiated a change in policy after student journalists for the campus newspaper Tan & Cardinal discovered that the form violated federal law. The U.S. Education Department has deemed nondisclosure agreements illegal in cases of sexual assault. University officials previously argued that the forms should not be considered nondisclosure agreements because they only advised, not required, alleged victims to keep mum about their cases. Experts said discouraging alleged victims from discussing their cases can violate their free speech rights, encourage a culture of blaming sexual assault victims and allow universities to cover up crimes, according to the report.
The University of Pennsylvania is promoting not-for-credit international internships and post-graduate work as an alternate means for students to gain international experience, Inside Higher Ed reported. The number of Penn students studying abroad for a full year has plummeted over the past six years, but summer and short-term programs have grown in popularity. The university increased the number of stipends offered for international internships and created more online resources to assist students looking for international careers. Meanwhile, Penn is expanding its International Internship Program, which will fund 70 university-approved international internships for students this summer, mostly in Central and South America, East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Penn is also reviewing its study abroad programs, and have cut 30 of more than 150 programs have been cut.
After a Harvard University community member recently tested positive for tuberculosis, the Cambridge Public Health Department and university officials are encouraging some students and faculty to be tested for the infection, The Harvard Crimson reported. The infection, commonly known as TB, affects the lungs and can be treated with antibiotics. Though tuberculosis is occasionally fatal, university officials downplayed the severity of the case, adding that the risk of contagion is low. Since it may take twelve weeks for an infected individual to test positive, those at risk of exposure may have to re-test in July. Harvard last reported a tuberculosis case in 2010, when an undergraduate tested positive.
