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Marketing, Reputation, and Image Update
Princeton faculty and students protest Senate Majority Leader's appearance: What to think when Princeton faculty and students protest an upcoming speech by GOP Senate Leader Bill Frist, whose family ponied up $25 million to construct the Frist Campus Center? No one suggests curbing First Amendment rights, but as private support grows increasingly important, how best to juggle the wishes of donors with the views of faculty, staff, and students?
Do newspapers have any reporting boundries: Though the story below has nothing to do -- implicitly -- with higher education, it contains a chilling note on the depth to which newspapers today will use technology to root out stories about powerful individuals. In a blockbuster story, a Spokane, Washington, newspaper hired a consultant to pose as a 17-year-old boy surfing Internet sites. The newspaper reports that the city's mayor -- their target in the deceptive effort -- was online and developed a sexually tinged relationship with the consultant posing as a young man. The relationship was splashed across the top of A-1, though no charges were ever filed. How far will newspapers go, and what does this tell us about the use of technology -- which often is unchecked on our campuses? Further, does your campus have rules and regulations regarding email use? If it doesn't, perhaps it should.
One last word on blogs, which we covered in recent issues: They are red hot, and many universities are turning to them as online diaries to build stronger communities within and outside of campus. See how blogs are being commercialized, which seems to defeat the point.
On-again, off-again name dogs Marquette: If it is Monday, the name must be Gold. Marquette officials dance an odd pirouette over the name of their sports teams. When Marquette abandoned their historic name of Warriors years back, it set off a chain reaction at a school intent on pleasing everyone -- but in effect angering most. When does the debate over sports team nicknames race beyond reason?
Jobs, jobs, jobs: Michigan lawmaker wants state support to be largely based on the jobs grads receive. If a GOP key lawmaker in Michigan gets his way, schools will be funded based on the skilled workforce they produce. How will that play with faculty?
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