Category Archives: International

Video of Racial Degradation Roils South African Campus

The Chronicle: Video of Racial Degradation Roils South African Campus

Cape Town

A historically conservative, white Afrikaans-speaking campus in South Africa is in an uproar this week after a video circulated online of black, female cleaning-staff members being subjected to degrading treatment by four white male students.

The video comes at a time when the University of the Free State, in Bloemfontein, has been grappling with racial integration in student dormitories.

In the video, which appeared Tuesday, the students are shown preparing a concoction of what looks like dog food and garlic, then urinating into the mixture and serving it to the apparently unknowing women, who are kneeling on the ground, as part of an “initiation” rite. The video ends with one of the students commenting, in Afrikaans: “That, at the end of the day, is what we think of integration.”

The video had apparently been produced last year, in response to a new university policy requiring that all campus dormitories be racially mixed by January of this year. Previously, many of the dormitories had been effectively segregated, with white students gravitating to certain residences and black students to others, says Anton Fisher, director of communications at the university.

Israeli Policies Prevent Gazans From Studying Abroad, Report Says

The Chronicle: Israeli Policies Prevent Gazans From Studying Abroad, Report Says

Palestinian students in Gaza are being denied the right to university study because of Israeli travel restrictions, according to a new report from a human-rights group in the territory.

The eight-page report, “Gaza Students Face Denial of International…

Turk party asks top court to block headscarf reform

Reuters: Turk party asks top court to block headscarf reform

ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s main opposition party said on Wednesday it had asked the Constitutional Court to quash a government-backed reform aimed at easing a ban on women students wearing the Muslim headscarf at university.

The move by the staunchly secularist Republican People’s Party (CHP) comes amid increased tensions between Turkey’s Islamist-rooted government and a powerful secular elite that says the reform will erode the separation of state and religion.

Uganda: All University Staff to Lose Permanent Jobs

allAfrica.com: Uganda: All University Staff to Lose Permanent Jobs

The Monitor (Kampala)

THE Ministry of Education has started drafting a policy document to phase out permanent jobs at all public universities to improve staff performance and efficiency.

All employees, including academic staff, would instead be hired on temporary basis, Mr Gabriel Opio, the state minister for higher education said yesterday.

Turkey: Scarf in knots at school gates

Turkish Daily News: Scarf in knots at school gates

Despite the head of the university watchdog’s circular to rectors demanding universities allow headscarves in, female students aren’t allowed to attend lessons while wearing the headgear

Thai Prime Minister Stirs Outrage With Denials of 1976 Massacre of Students

The Chronicle: Thai Prime Minister Stirs Outrage With Denials of 1976 Massacre of Students

The new prime minister, who recently drew ire by scoffing at reports that 46 people had died in the incident, went before parliament on Monday to swear he had not been involved

UK: Oxford and Cambridge fail to improve state school intake

The Guardian: Oxford and Cambridge fail to improve state school intake

Oxford and Cambridge universities are to overhaul their undergraduate recruitment strategies in recognition that they have failed to significantly increase the number of applicants from state schools.

$20 Million Saudi Gift to Georgetown U Is Questioned

The Washington Post: $20 Million Saudi Gift Is Questioned

A Virginia congressman has asked Georgetown University to explain how it used a $20 million donation from a Saudi prince for its academic center on Muslim and Christian relations.

Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R) sent a letter yesterday to university President John J. DeGioia expressing concern about the donation and asking whether the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding has ever produced any reports critical of Saudi Arabia.

Russia shuts university that displeased Putin

The Guardian: Russia shuts university that displeased Putin

The Kremlin was yesterday accused of mounting an unprecedented attack on academic freedom after one of Russia’s top universities was closed.

The European University at St Petersburg (EUSP) has been forced to suspend its teaching after officials claimed that its historic buildings were “a fire risk”. On Friday a court ordered that all academic work cease, classrooms be sealed and the university’s library shut.

Oxbridge told to take more poor students

Telegraph:

Oxbridge told to take more poor students

Oxford and Cambridge came under criticism from the Government on Monday for failing to recruit enough working-class students.

Bill Rammell, the higher education minister, said just one in five students at the United Kingdom’s top 20 universities came from poor backgrounds.

But at Oxbridge the proportion plummets further still to just one in 10.

Turkey: Rectors in dilemma over headscarf controversy in universities

Turkish Daily News: Rectors in dilemma over headscarf controversy in universities

The ban on the headscarf was lifted in some universities yesterday as Parliament approved constitutional amendments Saturday, however, the amendments still need presidential approval before entering force.

Iran replaces Tehran University chancellor after student protests

International Herald Tribune: Iran replaces Tehran University chancellor after student protests

TEHRAN, Iran: Iran replaced Tehran University’s chancellor, who was the first Islamic cleric appointed by the hard-line government to the post, with a non-cleric economics instructor after allegations of mismanagement, state media reported Sunday.

The government-owned IRAN newspaper said the former university chief, cleric Ayatollah Abbasali Amid Zanjani, was replaced by Farhad Rahbar, a non-cleric who had been an economics teacher at the oldest university in Tehran.

Turkey: Court left as a last stand for secularists

Turkish Daily News:Court left as a last stand for secularists

The constitutional amendments package that will pave the way for women to wear the Islamic headscarf in universities was approved by an overwhelming majority in Parliament Saturday.

Striking Zimbabwe Teachers Union Charges State Intimidation Of Members

Voice of America: Striking Zimbabwe Teachers Union Charges State Intimidation Of Members

The Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe said Wednesday that district education officials in company with suspected state security agents have been visiting schools and demanding the names of union members who are on strike.

The union said it has received reports of such intimidation from Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Harare, Gweru, Masvingo and Matabeleland.

U.S. Universities Rush to Set Up Outposts Abroad

The New York Times: U.S. Universities Rush to Set Up Outposts Abroad

When John Sexton, the president of New York University, first met Omar Saif Ghobash, an investor trying to entice him to open a branch campus in the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Sexton was not sure what to make of the proposal — so he asked for a $50 million gift.

Ban on Head Scarves Voted Out in Turkey

The Washington Post: Ban on Head Scarves Voted Out in Turkey

Turkey’s parliament voted Saturday to end a more than 80-year-old ban on women wearing head scarves at universities, acknowledging the rising influence of conservative Islam in the most determinedly secular republic of the Muslim world.

Professors strike at Uganda’s Makerere I

The Monitor (Kampala): Uganda: Makerere Lecturers On Strike

MAKERERE University lecturers have laid down their tools.

They said yesterday that they would only return to lecture rooms if the university management meets a set of conditions, including payment of arrears of all their teaching and non-teaching allowances of up to December 14, 2007, when the first semester ended.

Move to Lift Head-Scarf Ban Wins First Approval in Turkey’s Parliament

The Chronicle: Move to Lift Head-Scarf Ban Wins First Approval in Turkey’s Parliament

Turkish lawmakers voted early Thursday morning to amend their country’s Constitution to allow observant Muslim women to wear head scarves at universities. The controversial measure, which requires a two-thirds majority for final passage, won preliminary approval on a secret ballot by a vote of more than 400 in favor and about 90 against after a marathon parliament session that had begun 12 hours earlier, according to news reports.

First vote underway on headscarf

Turkish Daily News: First vote underway on headscarf

Turkish lawmakers met during a highly tense session yesterday for a first-round vote on a constitutional amendment to lift the ban on the headscarf in universities � a move that has pitted the Islamist-rooted government against secularists.

Headscarfonomics: Wig shops wig out

Turkish Daily News: Headscarfonomics: Wig shops wig out

Counting female students wearing headscarves among its main customers until now, wig shop owners note that government plans to lift the headscarf ban in universities is bad for business