Kurupassery Elected RHA President
The Residence Hall Association (RHA) announced on Feb. 20 that Akash Kurupassery (22C) was elected RHA president. Kurupassery ran unopposed and collected 83.4% of the vote. Qiao Jiao (22C) was elected executive vice president, obtaining 61.92% of the vote. Emily Wang (23C) did not secure a majority in the election for vice president of programming but obtained a plurality of first- and second-choice ballots, granting her the victory. This was the first set of contested RHA elections in four years, according to a Feb. 16 email from the RHA Elections Board Chair Danyanara Gonzalez (21B).
One-third of U.S. Children Don’t Follow CDC’s Vaccine Schedule, Emory Researchers Find
According to a recent Emory University study, around one-third of American children do not receive their immunizations on the schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Failure to adhere to these guidelines causes patients to make more immunization visits and increases their chances of contracting a preventable illness, according to the committee. While most children follow the recommended schedule, researchers say that there is still a need to limit vaccine delays as they put individual and public health at risk.
Bloomberg Pledges to End Legacy Admissions if Elected President
Former New York City Mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg promised on Feb. 18 that, if elected, he would not allow colleges and universities to give preferential treatment to relatives of alumni, a practice known as legacy admissions. According to The Washington Post, Bloomberg believes that ending legacy admissions will level the playing field and bring fairness back to higher education. The Harvard Crimson reports that 14% of the Harvard Class of 2022 was admitted through legacy status.
According to The Washington Post, Bloomberg would carry out this plan by requiring colleges to publish statistics about their admission rates for legacy and non-legacy candidates. He would also require institutions to report on enrollment and graduation rates by race, income and legacy status. The proposal is part of Bloomberg's larger education plan that would address early childhood education and technical education. The plan would also eliminate tuition costs at two-year public colleges.
USC Offers Free Tuition to Low-Income Students
Starting in Fall 2020, the University of Southern California (USC) will waive tuition for students whose families earn less than $80,000 per year, paralleling the threshold set by the University of California system, according to The New York Times. USC President Carol Folt hopes that the tuition waivers will convince students to attend USC over public California universities. The move also aims to cope with the rising cost of living in California.
Bernie Sanders Wins Nevada Caucuses
U.S. Sen. and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) won the Nevada Democratic primary in a landslide, as the diverse state gave him a share of votes more double that of his nearest competitor, former Vice President Joe Biden. According to The New York Times, Sanders has become increasingly popular with various demographics despite opposition from some moderate Democrats. The Nevada caucus is now a race for second place, and both Biden and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg have claimed second place. The next primary election will take place in South Carolina on Feb. 29, and 14 states will hold their primary elections on March 3, known as Super Tuesday.
Harvey Weinstein Convicted of Sex Crimes
Harvey Weinstein, the once-acclaimed film producer who has become a symbol of sexual harassment in the Me Too era, was convicted of third-degree rape and a first-degree criminal sexual act on Feb. 24. Though Weinstein, 67, was convicted of these crimes against Jessica Mann and Mimi Haley, respectively, he was acquitted on two counts of predatory sexual assault and one count of first-degree rape against Haley, according to NBC News. Weinstein, who faces up to 25 years in prison, was hospitalized after the verdict due to heart palpitations and high blood pressure. As of Feb. 25 Weinstein was still being treated at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. according to CNN News.
