University System News:
www.chattooga.allongeorgia.com
219,000 students benefit from Georgia’s free online textbook program
http://chattooga.allongeorgia.com/georgia-education-higher-ed/219000-students-benefit-from-georgias-free-online-textbook-program/
The University System of Georgia (USG) is saving students more than $18 million a year with its free online textbook initiative called Affordable Learning Georgia. More than 219,300 students from across the system have benefited directly from the free textbook program. To date, Affordable Learning Georgia has saved students more than $31 million on textbook costs, and the initiative is expected to grow in coming years as highlighted in the USG’s presentation to the Georgia House of Representatives Higher Education Subcommittee of Appropriations on Feb. 14.
www.myajc.com
University of Georgia senior from Sandy Hook: UGA should stand with students in March 14 protest
https://www.myajc.com/blog/get-schooled/university-georgia-senior-from-sandy-hook-uga-should-stand-with-students-march-protest/MM6SAbL75jDa5zqzycAIMN/
By Maureen Downey
Coming from Sandy Hook, Ct., the scene of a horrific shooting in 2012 at an elementary school in which 20 children and six educators died, University of Georgia senior Greg Hennessey understands the devastation wrought on a Florida town by the deadly school shooting there. He is also amazed at the refusal of the students from Parkland, Fl., to remain silent in the face of laws that allow killers to rampage through a school with a weapon designed for maximum military slaughter. And the courage of those Florida teens has set off a chain reaction among students nationwide, thousands of whom plan to walk out of classes on March 14 for 17 minutes to honor the dead of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and demand change so more students and teachers don’t die. Hennessey expected UGA to stand with and for those students. So did many Georgia parents, who are asking why no public college in the state appears on a lengthy list of campuses nationwide that will not penalize students suspended for walking out next week. (You can see the empty response the Regents gave me here.)
www.mdjonline.com
Opinion
AROUND TOWN: Gender-neutral pronouns at KSU;
http://www.mdjonline.com/opinion/around-town-gender-neutral-pronouns-at-ksu-helen-goreham-endorses/article_4e09db20-20d9-11e8-9297-7b8c471d5f6f.html
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY is making headlines after a resource guide KSU designed on “gender-neutral pronouns” attracted national media attention. Called “Pronouns Matter, a guide to gender neutral pronouns,” the guidelines come from the university’s GLBTIQ Student Programs. That mouthful stands for “gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer/questioning.” “Some people,” the guidelines instruct, “don’t feel like traditional gender pronouns (she/her, he/him) fit their gender identities. Transgender, genderqueer, and other gender-variant people may choose different pronouns for themselves.” The guide is therefore a starting point for using pronouns respectfully, you understand. In addition to the traditional he and she, it recommends one may be referred to as a they. As in “They likes themselves.” …For example, there is the pronoun “ne,” as in “Ne laughed.” “I called nem.” “Nir eyes gleam.” “That is nirs.” “Ne likes nemself,” one example illustrates. …Around Town asked KSU spokeswoman Tiffany Capuano what this was really all about. “The information in question is a resource made available by the Kennesaw State Office of Student Engagement for those in the campus community with questions or who have a particular interest in this topic. There is no policy at Kennesaw State University requiring the use of gender-neutral pronouns nor for the wide distribution of these materials,” Capuano said in a statement. State Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, chairs the House subcommittee in charge of funding Georgia’s universities. While he is a fan of KSU interim President Ken Harmon, Ehrhart said the trouble with KSU is that “the activists are running wild up there and that needs to come to an end.” Ehrhart said there was a move to roll out “this pronoun stuff” last year. “We killed that a year ago when Sam (Olens) was going to do it,” he said.
www.bizjournals.com
Georgia lawmakers send richer mid-year budget to Gov. Deal
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/03/05/georgia-lawmakers-send-richer-mid-year-budget-to.html
By Dave Williams – Staff Writer, Atlanta Business Chronicle
The Georgia Senate gave final passage Monday to a $25.4 billion mid-year budget flush with additional spending money made possible by higher-than-expected tax revenues. The spending plan, including a $108.9 million increase over the original mid-year budget requested by Gov. Nathan Deal, now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature. It covers state spending through June 30. …Other late additions to the mid-year budget include:
— $100,000 to finance a request for proposals to identify a college or university to house a proposed Rural Center for Health Care Innovation and Sustainability.
— $82,415 to fund a new position within the Georgia Department of Economic Development of deputy commissioner for rural development.
www.ajc.com
Ehrhart, longest serving Republican in Georgia House, is retiring
https://www.ajc.com/news/state–regional-govt–politics/ehrhart-longest-serving-republican-georgia-house-retiring/tvidD7kNqgRcyPtUNBrBHK/
James Salzer The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rep. Earl Ehrhart, R-Powder Springs, a conservative and sometimes controversial voice for Cobb County for three decades in the House, is retiring after this year. His wife, Ginny, is running to replace him. Candidates are qualifying for this year’s elections at the Capitol this week, and Ehrhart, the longest serving Republican in the chamber, announced his retirement after 30 years in the House Monday.