Marketing, Reputation, and Image Update

When Harvard University's president offends women in a public speech, is it a crisis or a marketing problem for all of higher education? We discussed this issue last month; then George Will -- the renowned conservative columnist -- jumped aboard, spotlighting the gaffe heard 'round higher education.' Since then, the issue has spiraled out of control. How badly are we hurt in higher education when Harvard's president becomes a "serial apologizer," as Will suggests?

• Washington Post
• DailyPrincetonian.com

Virginia frees universities from state constraints: In a move lauded by lawmakers, university leaders, and virtually everybody in between, the Commonwealth's legislative leaders are rapidly moving toward passage of a bill that would loosen the restrictions and regulations facing colleges and universities. Those institutions, in turn, would have more latitude in their business processes and the setting of tuition. And note that West Virginia's governor is proposing something similar. It is a delicate juggling act, but does this portend the future of higher education?

• MSNBC.com
• Charleston Daily Mail

It is far from a seminal change, but note how dorms have transformed in the age of wireless: Cell phones, as ubiquitous as any item college students possess, have supplanted landline phones in dorms. What does this mean for future offerings of students, or does it really matter? If you have to ask that question, you don't understand the cash cow aspect of landlines owned by universities.

• Washington Post

Campus Crises in the News

Ohio State "dental plan" may violate NCAA regulations: Where will it all end for the Buckeyes, who are rapidly becoming known as the bad boys of college sports. Consider the free orthodontics allegedly offered to women athletes.

• USA Today
• NBC4i.com

When it rains, it snows at CU: If the University of Colorado didn't have enough problems in the athletics department, here comes a faculty member -- from way out in left field. Read his controversial comments about 9/11 and the subsequent fallout that is hammering Boulder like a runaway avalanche.

• SignOnSanDiego.com
• 9News.com
• Fox News

And if CU goes down, it is taking Hamilton College with it: The New York school, weathering a string of recent controversies, has another on its hands with ties to the Buffs.

• Hamilton
• New York Times

Massachusetts governor goes after stem cell research at Harvard: Governor Mitt Romney triggers a firestorm by saying the brakes should be put on controversial research.

• Boston.com

Sports house of horrors continues: Who is at fault here, Michigan State or Alabama -- or both? The two schools are accused of buying recruits. When these stories end, can we all shower?

• Washington Post

Columbia University battles charges of anti-Semitism: Charges fly between Jewish students and anti-Israel professors.

• New York Sun
• The Jewish Week

Michigan governor slashes higher education budget -- again: Officials hope that the capital fund offsets pilloried purses on campus.

• Mlive.com
• WZZM13.com
• Detroit Free Press

Student counseling centers battle epidemic of depression: With increasing frequency, students are seeking help at offices once hidden in the bowels of student affairs.

• Psychology Today