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Volume CXXXIII, Number 18 |
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News briefs
Harvard to change AP score policy
Harvard University announced this week that only students with a score
of five on high school Advanced Placement tests would receive academic
credits.
Many schools, including Bowdoin, offer placement for scores of four or three, often on a departmental basis.
This new policy was approved when findings concluded that lesser scores had not prepared many students for upper-level courses.
This fall's incoming class will receive exemption from the new policy, as it is slated to begin with the class of 2007.
Maine Indians consider opening casino
Maine's Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes have begun discussions regarding
the opening of a casino in southern Maine.
Several sites are under consideration, though Democratic Representative Stephen Estes says the tribes have approached him regarding Kittery, which he represents.
A casino would require the approval from the state legislature and the governor. A Passamaquoddy casino proposition was refused in 1994.
Teen drinking report provides questionable numbers
News sources nationwide covered a report this week which estimated that
25 percent of America's alcohol was consumed by minors. The study was
released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia
University.
The Center's figures were based on statistical data collected by the
government that found that 5 million high school students admitted to
binge drinking at least once a month. The study defined binge drinking
as having five or more drinks in one sitting.
Government officials responded to the Center's report by stating that by their calculations, 11.4 percent of all alcohol is consumed by minors. They did not dispute the figure of five million binge drinking high schoolers.
Pakistan to turn over prisoner
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has agreed to American requests to
turn over Ahmed Omar Sheikh, the prime suspect in the murder of Wall Street
Journal reporter Daniel Pearl.
Musharraf spoke with American ambassador to Pakistan,Wendy J. Chamberlin, making it clear that American requests for Ahmed Omar Sheikh would be met as soon as Pakistan completes its own criminal investigation. Musharraf gave no indication of how long it would take to conclude their investigation.
Former Enron chief exec takes the stand
Jeffrey K. Skilling took the stand Tuesday before a Senate panel, contending
that his statements to Congress were truthful, and maintaining his innocence
in any improper financial dealings that might have lead to the bankruptcy
of Enron.
Skilling, a former Enron chief executive, cut off interrogating Senators and criticized their investigation, while denying having played any role in the financial collapse of the Houston power company.
Future of Afghan detainees remains uncertain
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld addressed the uncertain future of
several hundred Afghan prisoners who are currently detained in Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba. The U.S. naval base there is currently holding 300 men who
have been picked up in Afghanistan and the surrounding areas.
Rumsfeld said that the men may be sent back home or detained with no immediate
plans for release. Guidelines for military tribunals are still being drafted.
The detainees have not been formally charged with any crimes, and according to President Bush, will not receive prisoner-of-war status.
Grammys doled out
The 44th annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held Wednesday night. Below
are some of the winners:
Record of the Year: "Walk On," U2
Song of the Year: "Fallin'," Alicia Keys
Album of the Year: "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack,
Various Artists
Rap Album: "Stankonia,"Outkast
New Artist: Alicia Keys
Alternative Music Album: "Parachutes," Coldplay
Bluegrass Album: "New Favorite," Alison Kraus and Union Station
Contemporary Folk Album: "Love and Theft." Bob Dylan
Spoken Word Album: "Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones," Quincy
Jones
Short Form Music Video: "Weapon of Choice," Fatboy Slim
-compiled by Daniel Jefferson Miller