Around the Ivies
Brown University: In conjunction with researchers from Lehigh and Loyola Marymount Universities, a research team of psychologists and sociologists from Brown has conducted new research on the practice of “pre-gaming” — drinking alcohol before attending a party or event, The Brown Daily Herald reported. The team studied more than 900 students from California universities, and after controlling for total alcohol use, the study showed that higher pre-party drinking is more likely to be associated with drinking to cope or drinking to conform.
Columbia University: The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism released a review of Rolling Stone’s controversial article covering an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity house, The Columbia Spectator reported. Written by two deans and a post-doctoral research fellow, the report emphasizes faults in the manner in which the story was written, edited and fact-check. Since the release of the review, Rolling Stone has retracted the original article, although it has chosen not to fire writers or editors involved.
Cornell University: Following a viral video that allegedly shows Cornell assistant dean of students for student activities Joseph Scaffido saying that he would welcome terrorist groups to campus, Republican lawmakers in New York have called for a removal of funding from the university, The Cornell Sun reported. In addition to stripping the University of both federal and public funding, some lawmakers have also called for a Department of Homeland Security investigation into the school.
Harvard University: Divest Harvard, a group of environmental activists, announced a weeklong blockade of a residence hall on Monday, The Harvard Crimson reported. Members of the group plan to gather 50 to 100 participants to circle the dorm and camp out at night, risking arrest. Ultimately, this protest — which will also include teach-ins, action training and nightly vigils — aims to bring different members of the community to Harvard Yard to take part in the sit-in and demand that the university divest all fossil fuels from its endowment.
Princeton University: Faculty at the University met on Monday, where to discuss publishing a statement on freedom of expression on campus, according to The Daily Princetonian. The motion ultimately passed at the meeting. This was spurred by an email sent by a mathematics professor and signed by 60 additional faculty members in support of adopting principles similar to those at the University of Chicago. One such principle states that it should generally be the role of individuals, and not universities, to decide what kinds of speech and ideas are inappropriate. The motions passed and these ideas will be incorporated into the University’s “Rights, Rules, Responsibilities.”
University of Pennsylvania: Penn recently won the Environmental Protection Agency’s Annual College and University Green Power Challenge, which tracks the amount of renewable energy credits that different universities purchase, The Daily Pennsylvanian reported.. One credit is equal to one megawatt-hour of renewable energy, which primarily pertains to wind power for the University. In every year since the competition began in 2009, Penn has bought more of these credits than any participating institution.
Yale University: The fourth annual TEDxYale event was held on Saturday, drawing hundreds of students, faculty and other community members, Yale Daily News reported. Inspired by the Technology, Entertainment and Design speaker series, this event focused on moments of impact in each of the 15 speakers’ lives. Over the six hours of the conference, audience members heard from people with a wide range of experiences, including a mountain climbing world champion