Marietta Daily Journal
KSU’s Goslow advances to Jeopardy! finals
By Zach Edmondson
Kennesaw State University’s Raymond Goslow came away with another dominant win in the “Jeopardy!” National College Championship, clinching a berth in the finals with a score of $20,779 in the first of four semifinal rounds that began Thursday night. There were two semifinal rounds Thursday, with another two set to air Friday night. Out of the four winners in each semifinal round, only the three highest-scoring winners will advance to the finals. Goslow clinched his place in the finals with his score of $20,779 Thursday night since Isaac Applebaum, a junior computational biology major at Stanford, the winner of his semifinal round, finished with $18,801. …Goslow graduated from KSU in December with a degree in geospatial science, but the episodes were taped in November, when he was a senior.
Fox28 Savannah
Campuses across Savannah celebrate Georgia Arbor Day
by Christian Felt
Both Georgia Southern University Armstrong and Windsor Forest Elementary hosted tree planting events to celebrate Georgia Arbor Day. Grounds Superintendent for GSU Armstrong, Philip Schretter, said the event is the first Arbor Day celebration on the Armstrong Campus, and he is glad students can take part in the activity.
WSB TV
UGA students raise more than $1 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
By WSBTV.com News Staff
University of Georgia students raised more than $1 million for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the university announced Sunday. UGA Miracle, a student charity organization, announced a total of $1,167,175.22 had been raised after its annual Dance Marathon.
11Alive
These Georgia Tech alumni are creating more representation in STEM
From artificial intelligence to biomedical engineering, these two Georgia Tech graduates are making a difference in the scientific community.
Author: Dawn White
A sculpture called Continuing the Conversation sits in the middle of Harrison Square at Georgia Tech. It shows Rosa Parks at 42 years old, when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger and another one shows the Civil Rights icon at 92 before she died. Those at the university said preserving stories like hers is crucial for future generations to know about Black history. Now two Georgia Tech alumni said they’re committed to creating more history and opportunities for Black individuals as well. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Dr. Nashlie Sephus said. Sephus hopes to help the Black community see they can be like her and work in the tech industry. … “That was my background at Georgia Tech as a Ph.D. (student). I studied artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer vision,” Sephus said. She’s using those skills at Amazon and is giving back by creating two organizations committed to helping more Black scientists find their niche. …Sephus is not alone in this endeavor. “Georgia Tech graduates more Black and brown engineers than any other university in the United States,” Dr. Manu Platt said. Platt graduated from Georgia Tech and has taught in the School of Biomedical Engineering for 12 years.
The West Georgian
UWG FACULTY MEMBER HONORED WITH REGENT’S MOMENTUM AWARD
By Trevor Gonzales
Earlier this month, Carrie Ziglar received the Regents’ Momentum Award for excellence in advising and student success. This award was given by the University System of Georgia and represents the best values and standards for schools under the USG banner. Ziglar is the Executive Director for Student Success at the University of West Georgia. She has been working in higher education for over thirty years.
Valdosta Daily Times
Dunn earns Amicus Poloniae Award
Dr. John Dunn, a professor in the Department of History at Valdosta State University, was recently awarded the 2021 Amicus Poloniae Award by the Polish American Historical Association. The Polish American Historical Association, founded in 1942, is a nonprofit organization devoted to the study of Polish American history and culture, university officials said in a statement. The Amicus Poloniae Award recognizes significant contributions enhancing knowledge of the Polish and Polish American heritage by individuals not belonging to the Polish American community. Dunn joined VSU as an adjunct professor in 1997. He was promoted to professor in 2012 and later served as department head from 2016-19.
13WMAZ
MGA professor highlights youth caregivers in a short film documentary
Author: Raime Cohen
According to the AARP U.S. 2020 Report, there are 3.4 million children under the age of 18 who are assisting with care.
Most of the time when people think of caregivers, the image is an adult taking care of youth. But, according to the AARP U.S. 2020 Report, there are 3.4 million children under the age of 18 years who are assisting with the care of others. A Middle Georgia State University Assistant Professor created a short documentary film to highlight one youth caregiver. Lauren Cater spent more than a decade caring for her mother.
The George-Anne
Nayia Worrell, Campus and Lifestyle editor
Georgia Southern University’s student lead University African Student Association will be hosting their date auction.
Phys
Learning in the lab can continue at a distance
by Katie Cowart, University of Georgia
As most of the world came to a halt at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers were trying to find a way to engage students through research at a distance. University of Georgia professor of biochemistry and molecular biology Erin Dolan and her research team carried out a study to appraise the remote programs that grew from this challenge. The study evaluated 23 programs at colleges, universities, and research institutions across the country. Most of these programs were eight- to 10-week internships.
Savannah Morning News
Former Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford returns to coaching
Nathan Dominitz
Former Georgia Southern head football coach Chad Lunsford has officially landed on his feet, as Florida Atlantic University made the expected hiring official Saturday that he is the Owls’ new special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. Georgia Southern had fired Lunsford on Sept. 26 after an 1-3 start to the 2021 season and 28-21 record over parts of five seasons, which included three straight bowl appearances and two victories from 2018-20.
Valdosta Today
Manufacturing company to open facility in Bulloch Co.
Aspen Aerogels, a technology leader in sustainability, plans to open an advanced manufacturing facility in Bulloch County, Georgia creating over 250 manufacturing jobs. …Aspen plans to build a 500,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility situated on a 90-acre parcel in southeast Georgia. The Company plans to begin hiring personnel in the second half of 2022 across a number of disciplines, ranging from skilled manufacturing operators to advanced process engineers, as well as quality and maintenance technicians and professional support. Individuals interested in employment opportunities with Aspen Aerogels are encouraged to visit www.aerogel.com for additional information. “On behalf of the Development Authority of Bulloch County, we are proud to welcome Aspen Aerogels to the Statesboro-Bulloch County community and our region,” said Billy Allen, Vice Chair of the Development Authority. “Along with our great site and logistics advantages, we believe that Aspen’s decision to locate here is a testament to our region’s commitment to innovation, particularly in the electric mobility ecosystem. We are confident that our tremendous education resources, including Georgia Southern University and Ogeechee Technical College, will provide critical support to help Aspen flourish.”
Fox5 Atlanta
Georgia Senate committee debates legalizing horse racing, betting
By Claire Simms
For years state lawmakers have debated whether to legalize horse racing in Georgia, but have never gotten a bill across the finish line. A Senate committee held a hearing on four horse racing bills Thursday and heard testimony from both sides of the argument. “Right now, we’ve got millions of dollars, literally millions of dollars that are moving outside of Georgia to Kentucky and to Florida each year because horse racing is not legalized in Georgia,” said state Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro. Sen. Hickman told his fellow lawmakers that he and his wife breed and race horses in other states. He was one of a group that hired Georgia Southern University to do an economic impact study on horse racing. According to that report, the equine industry currently employs 7,212 people in Georgia directly and indirectly. The economic impact is about $282 million.
Macon Telegraph
‘A monster.’ Discovery of snake nearly 8 feet long is cheered in Georgia. Here’s why
By Mark Price
A huge indigo snake found in Georgia is impressive, experts say, even for a species known for surprising length. The 7-foot, 7-inch beast was found at Fort Stewart, in eastern Georgia, and a photo shared on Facebook shows the snake resembles a black garden hose. Indigo snakes typically get 5 to 7 feet in length, according to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. “Indigo snakes are the longest (native) snake in the US, but this is still a noteworthy size,” the Georgia Southern University Department of Biology wrote Feb. 17 on Facebook. …An alumnus of the university, Dee Mincey, is a wildlife biologist and was involved in the discovery, university officials said. The exact date and place of the find was not released.
Albany Herald
Winning the war for talent: Higher education
By Chris Clark
No other issue so dominates boardroom and shipping docks as the lack of skilled workers. In the next three years, Georgia will need to fill 122,000 health care positions, 27,000 manufacturing jobs will be open and 13,000 construction workers will be needed. Looking out to 2030, and you’ll see a need for 40% more energy sector workers, 30% more logistics employees and 25% more jobs will be open in hospitality. The list goes on and on. While many businesses are focused on short- and mid-term adjustments to attract and keep talent like raising wages, increasing benefits, offering flexible work schedules, the long-term job market requires the engagement of our K-12 and post-secondary institutions. …Critical to building that long-term talent pipeline in Georgia is the Board of Regents and the chancellor of the University System of Georgia. This pivotal public servant is the most critical link back to the business community, and Georgia has a long history of partnership between business and the Board of Regents. That’s why it is exciting to learn that former Gov. Sonny Perdue was named the sole finalist for the next system chancellor. That role is one of the most important in state government and most vital for long-term economic prosperity and mobility.
Inside Higher Ed
‘A New Low’ in Attacks on Academic Freedom
Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick threatens to end tenure over the teaching of critical race theory, further escalating the ongoing war on the teaching of CRT and other so-called divisive concepts in many states.
By Colleen Flaherty
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick of Texas said Friday that he would see to the end of tenure at the state’s public colleges and universities. His reason? The University of Texas at Austin’s Faculty Council had recently gone “too far” in asserting professors’ right to teach critical race theory. …In Georgia, faculty members are already dealing with unpopular changes to public universities’ posttenure review system and the imminent appointment of higher education neophyte Sonny Perdue as chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Now professors are facing two divisive-concepts bills that mention postsecondary education and a legislative inquiry into such concepts. In an initial, 11-page letter to the university system, David Knight, chair of the Georgia House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, asked for detailed information on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and DEI spending on each campus for the last five years.
Gwinnett Daily Post
YARBROUGH: George E. Perdue is back in town and ready to roll
By Dick Yarbrough
He’s b-a-a-c-k. I’m talking about George. George, as in former Gov. George E. Perdue. He is back from his stint in Washington as Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump Administration and it is a foregone conclusion that the Georgia Board of Regents will officially appoint him Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The Regents voted unanimously last week to approve Perdue as the finalist for this powerful post. By state law, the regents must wait at least 14 days between naming a finalist and voting to approve them. Assuming Perdue gets the nod, which is akin to assuming the sun will rise in the east, he will take over from interim Chancellor Teresa MacCartney, who has been leading the system’s 26 public colleges and universities since former Chancellor Steve Wrigley retired in July.
The Uproar
Opinion: Sonny Perdue should not become USG chancellor
Former Georgia governor, Sonny Perdue, has been named as the sole finalist for chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Here’s why he shouldn’t be.
Jessica DeMarco-Jacobson, Senior Copy Editor
Keeping up their streak of questionable decisions, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia announced that they selected Sonny Perdue as the finalist for its chancellor position. Perdue was a former Georgia governor from 2003 to 2011 and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under former President Donald Trump. BORUSG voted unanimously to approve Perdue as the finalist, and they will finalize the nomination within 14 days. …Current Georgia governor Brian Kemp released a statement congratulating Perdue, saying that the nominee was “exceedingly qualified for the position.” He expressed confidence that Perdue’s years in government office would allow him to succeed as chancellor. It’s true, Perdue does have much experience in public service. Aside from his time as governor and Secretary of Agriculture, Perdue has also served as chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, during his time in the Georgia General Assembly. Or at least that’s what Board Chair Harold Reynolds had to say about the man he considered an “ideal candidate.” Perdue is far from the ideal candidate, as many USG faculty and staff members have pointed out.
Other News:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Map: Coronavirus deaths and cases in Georgia (updated Feb. 18)
An updated count of coronavirus deaths and cases reported across the state
CONFIRMED CASES: 1,902,211
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 29,151 | This figure does not include additional cases that the DPH reports as suspected COVID-19-related deaths. County is determined by the patient’s residence, when known, not by where they were treated.
Higher Education News:
The Washington Post
College faculty are fighting back against state bills on critical race theory
Professors in Texas, Alabama and elsewhere approve resolutions supporting academic freedom
Appalled at efforts to limit what they can teach about race and other sensitive subjects, faculty leaders at prominent public universities around the country have rallied in recent weeks behind resolutions to reaffirm academic freedom and denounce legislation that would undermine it These declarations show that the heated debate over state regulation of lessons on race, centered so far largely on K-12 public schools, is rapidly expanding onto college campuses. In this case it pits politicians, mainly Republicans, who depict themselves as guardians of objectivity concerning “divisive concepts,” against professors who say the state has no business meddling in the content of lectures, syllabi and seminars. The latest skirmish has erupted in Texas.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
‘A Naked Attack’: Texas Lieutenant Governor Pledges to End Tenure for All New Hires
By Megan Zahneis
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick of Texas said on Friday that he wanted to end tenure for all newly hired faculty members at the state’s public universities and to revoke the tenure of those who teach critical race theory. Legislation to do so will be a “top priority” in the state Senate’s next session, Patrick said. “We are not going to allow a handful of professors who do not represent the entire group to teach and indoctrinate students with critical race theory, that we are inherently racist as a nation,” Patrick, who is running for re-election in the Republican primary, on March 1, said at a news conference. “Tenure, it’s time that that comes to an end in Texas.”
Forbes
Education Department Halts Collection Action On Student Loans Through November
Zack Friedman Senior Contributor
There’s good news for student loan borrowers who are struggling to make student loan payments. Here’s what you need to know.
Student Loans
The U.S. Department of Education said it will halt the collection of tax refunds, Social Security, child tax credits and other government payments to pay off student loans in default. As first reported by CNBC, the moratorium will now be extended from May until November. This is a major win for student loan borrowers, especially financially vulnerable borrowers who have been concerned about the end of temporary student loan relief on May 1, 2022.