Faithful readers,
The Spectator is back up and running again bringing you your hand-curated and aggregated daily digest of all things higher ed in Florida. Glad to know the blog was missed (even if only for a minute) by so many. Thanks also for the unexpected and numerous well-wishes in my inbox over the last 48 hours. My role as co-chair of the presidential debate on Lynn University’s campus was especially rewarding. You’ll notice that today’s round up of headlines includes no references to the debate or Lynn University. A quick Google search will illustrate that there are literally thousands of articles referencing Lynn and the debate that occurred on Monday, Oct. 22. I would not even attempt to serve that up in this forum. I invite you to check out the extensive coverage on your own and thanks again for your understanding for the Spectator‘s brief hiatus. Special gratitude also goes out to Dr. Kevin M. Ross, president of Lynn University, for the opportunity to serve as debate co-chair and his unending patience with my blogging avocation.
JLW
State University System
FAU, Boca hospital team up to prevent breast cancer
Sun-Sentinel
Florida Atlantic University has teamed up with Boca Raton Regional Hospital to try to find ways to predict and prevent breast cancer. Their goal will be to develop therapies that would block the metastatic process of the disease…
South Florida colleges ranked on sexual health
Sun-Sentinel
For the seventh year, the prophylactic manufacturer [Trojan Condoms] ranked 141 U.S. colleges on how healthy students’ sex life is. The company based rankings on the amount of sexual health information and resources available on campus. FAU was ranked 31, up 22 spots from its 2011 standing. FIU was listed at 56, up 20 points…
FGCU to display space shuttle artifacts
Naples Daily News
Florida Gulf Coast University‘s fledgling museum studies program is preparing for take-off after recently acquiring several space shuttle artifacts from NASA…
Late-night dining solution rolls onto FGCU campus
The News-Press
The truck is the result of months of planning. Students wanted more late-night dining options; something more convenient than the 24-hour McDonald’s eight miles away on U.S. 41. FGCU’s leaders wanted to keep students close to home…
Student debate generates interest in Presidential politics
Wink News
Students and teachers at Florida Gulf Coast University organize student debate ahead of Monday’s final presidential showdown…
FSU leads nation with retail education program
Holmes County Times Advertiser
The second most successful business in Florida, behind tourism, is the retail business — and the Retail Center at Florida State University in Tallahassee is leading the nation in training young professionals for a career in the retail field…
Sen. Bill Nelson stumps for votes on Rep. Connie Mack’s turf
Palm Beach Post
Mack’s signature “penny plan,” which could cut federal spending by $7.5 trillion over 10 years, also was singled out by Nelson for reducing money available for defense spending, which helps finance the MagLab, housed at Florida State University.
State tries to recoup part of millions it gave Digital Domain studio
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Among Digital Domain’s top 50 creditors are Florida State University, which is owed $500,000…
Florida amendments 3, 5, and 12
MyFox Tampa Bay
Amendment 12 involves some politics surrounding state universities and the Board of Governors, which is in charge of them. If you vote “yes” on Amendment 12, it means you want the state to create a new council of university student presidents, from which the student representative to the board of governors will be chosen. A “no” vote means you want to keep it the way it is. Florida State University has objected to the way it is now, and hasn’t participated in years. That’s because membership dues are now required to be eligible to send a student representative to the Board of Governors. A “yes” vote on 12 would get rid of the dues and Florida State would likely come back…
STEM awarded $50000 grant
The News Herald
The STEM Institute at Florida State University had a happy Monday morning after receiving a $50,000 grant from the AT&T Foundation…
Florida State Law Students Wins National Mock Trial Competition
WCTV
The Florida State University College of Law Mock Trial Team has won first place in the 2012 National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition held in San Francisco on October 11-14…
UCF hosts CNN focus group for presidential debate
Orlando Sentinel
The University of Central Florida hosted a CNN focus group for the debate, which was broadcast before the event began and then again minutes after it wrapped up, with quick reactions from people described as likely, but previously undecided, voters…
Panther road deaths on state record pace
The News-Press
Researchers with the University of Central Florida are studying an animal detection device that the Florida Department of Transportation installed earlier this year along U.S. 41 near Turner River Road…
Search for next UF president won’t be easy
Ocala
The University of Florida might boost the pay and build a new home for its next president but still is facing challenges attracting top candidates for the job. UF has competition from 23 universities also seeking presidents or chancellors. But UF’s search consultant, Jan Greenwood, said the biggest problem for UF in drawing quality candidates is the state’s Sunshine Law requiring open meetings and public records…
UNF students host clothing drive
Florida Times-Union (blog)
The Honors Program students at the University of North Florida have created a clothing drive for children of refugee families. North Florida is eyeing down a cold winter, and so, the UNF students are particularly looking for coats, jackets and sweaters …
School Notes: USF Sarasota-Manatee hosts research symposium
Bradenton Herald
Nineteen USF Sarasota-Manatee students will present their research at a symposium to be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the Main Rotunda and the Selby Auditorium of the school. Researchers will talk about their findings and take part in two oral presentation sessions consisting of four presentations each…
State College System
First lady makes appeal in front of 2000 in Davie
Sun-Sentinel
The three, students at College Academy, a high school gifted-student program at Broward College, were clearly dazzled and seemed extra appreciative that a woman so powerful shared their skin color and their working-class background.
Michelle Obama visits Broward College
Sun-Sentinel
First lady Michelle Obama makes a campaign appearance at Broward College on Monday…
DSC earns top college prep ranking
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Daytona State College ranks first out of the 28 community and state colleges in the Florida College System in success …
FSCJ trustee Jim McCollum says he doesn’t want Gov. Rick Scott to …
Florida Times-Union
A Florida State College at Jacksonville board member plans an early exit from his duties, a move one political scientist said could guide future appointments’ approaches to their jobs. FSCJ trustee Jim McCollum sent Gov. Rick Scott a letter saying he doesn’t want to be reappointed and hopes he will be replaced by year’s end. McCollum’s note is dated Oct. 9, the day the board approved a $1.2 million exit deal for FSCJ President Steve Wallace.
Veterans Summit at IRSC to focus on educational opportunities
TCPalm
Veterans and military service members are invited to attend the Veterans Summit on Thursday, Nov. 8 at Indian River State College to learn about programs, services and educational opportunities to benefit veterans. Information will be provided on IRSC educational programs especially developed to promote the success of veterans in college, as well as financial aid and community services. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches gives $20000 grant
Sun-Sentinel
The program will partner with Palm Beach State College and focus primarily on the educational achievement of young women who have aged out of foster care…
SCF’s Hafner appears poised for an exit
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
It’s not quite the end for State College of Florida President Lars Hafner, but now it is likely just a matter of days. In a move to avoid litigation, college trustees on Tuesday agreed to try to negotiate a settlement to end Hafner’s four-year run as college president…
SF College to host four-day theater conference beginning Wednesday
Gainesville Sun
The curtain goes up Wednesday on the 55th annual Florida Theatre Conference Festival at Santa Fe College…
Santa Fe College To Host Last Congressional Candidates’ Forum Oct. 29
Santa Fe College
Voters will have an opportunity to meet, listen to and question the candidates for US Congress District 3 at a Candidates Forum on the Santa Fe College …
Independent College and University System
Bethune-Cookman University awards scholarships to Duval students
First Coast News
Bethune-Cookman University donated scholarship money totaling nearly $700,000 to 21 Duval students, even awarding acceptance letters to the students on the spot…
UM Students Protest Firing Of Miss Betty
StateImpact Florida
Students at the University of Miami (UM) are protesting the firing of a popular cafeteria worker. Betty Asbury was fired two weeks ago by the food service company Chartwells.
Yip Yap: Noted and Quoted FLHE Voices from Around the State
Create fairer process for university representatives
Orlando Sentinel
Government works best when it is open, honest and unshackled from the control of special interests. No part of government, no matter how big or small, should operate as a pay-to-play racket. This is the fundamental premise underlying the proposed Amendment 12 to the Florida Constitution…Matt Gaetz, 30, is an attorney and a Republican state representative from the Florida Panhandle. He’s the vice chairman of the K-20 Education Innovation Subcommittee and the former chief of staff for the Florida State University Student Government Association…
Don’t amend constitution to establish redundant group
Orlando Sentinel
Amendment 12 asks Florida’s voters the toughest question on the 2012 ballot. … Not really. Yet for this question, the 2012 Legislature suspended discussions on rebuilding Florida’s economy, reforming the state’s higher education system, and drawing 10-year legislative district maps so that they could ensure that Amendment 12 passed through multiple committees and the floor of both the Florida House and Senate…Michael Long is a student at New College of Florida, a board member of the Florida Student Association and a former member of the Florida Board of Governors…
Bundy: Protect children from sex trafficking
Tallahassee.com
Recently, Florida State University hosted the first summit in Florida devoted to educating professionals about the prevalence of sex trafficking in our state, the warning signs and the resources — or lack thereof — dedicated to helping victims…
Landon: Central Florida ‘golden’ no more
Huntington Herald Dispatch
I have been informed that the University of Central Florida no longer wants to be called the Golden Knights. UCF wants to be known as just the Knights. Drop the “Golden,” the Knights request…
Harding: Florida, Georgia alumni say council made wrong call on human …
Florida Times-Union
Dozens of local University of Florida and University of Georgia alumni have signed onto a letter that calls on the presidents of both universities to “use their influence” to encourage Jacksonville to make changes to its human rights ordinance
1st Defendendent In FAMU Hazing Case Sentenced to Community …
WFSU
The first of 12 former Florida A&M University band members facing felony charges in the hazing death of a drum major has been sentenced to community service and probation after an Orange County judge said he played only a minor role in the hazing death of Robert Champion. Brian Jones will spend the next six months under community control, which means he’ll be under close supervision and will have to make frequent check-ins with probation officials. After that, he’ll be on probation for two years and have to perform 200 hours of community service…
Doesn’t pay to make regional films: Suman Ghosh
Hindustan Times
Suman Ghosh manages to toggle between two disparate professions. When he isn’t in Kolkata making a certain kind of intellectual, socio-politically aware Bengali film, he teaches economics in the US (at Florida Atlantic University).
Apathy deters some, but youth voters still factor in tight presidential race
Palm Beach Post
[Jon] Rosen is 22 and a student at Florida Atlantic University, and he only shrugs when asked whether he’ll vote in the upcoming November election. “I’m not sure who I’d vote for,” said Rosen, who is studying entrepreneurship. He said he and many of his friends feel jaded about the election and politics in general. “I don’t care about politics,” Rosen said. “I just think about what’s in front of me.”
ABC Action News poll: President Obama and Governor Romney in virtual tie for …
ABC Action News
“Looks like it’s going to be another nail-biter,” said Kevin Wagner, an associate professor in the political science department at Florida Atlantic University.
FL: Which candidate is better prepared to navigate the fiscal cliff?
Watchdog.org
“Florida, like Texas, is one of those States that is expanding the population and has a low tax rates in general, and particularly it has no income taxes,” says Jorge Salazar Carrillo, professor of economics at Florida International University.
In Florida, Latinos in both campaigns prepare for final, high-stakes debate
NBC Latino
“In terms of the Hispanic vote, Florida is a robust, pluralistic Latino community and it’s like a little country unto itself which produces right/left dynamics,” says Jose Gabilondo, a professor of law at Florida International University…
Poll: Romney outpolling McCain among Florida Latinos
Human Events
“Latinos have more power than ever this election,” said Florida International University political science Prof. Eduardo Gamarra, who conducted the poll with the assistance of Newlink Group, a Miami-based consulting firm…
Write-in candidates can create havoc in Florida elections
Bradenton Herald
When Raul Robayna filed to run as a write-in candidate in House District 105, he cost more than 42,000 people the right to vote in Broward, Collier and Miami-Dade counties. “That kind of sucks,” Robayna said. “I didn’t realize that would happen.” Robayna does not have a political background. A 24-year-old construction management student at Florida International University, Robayna said he decided to run as a lark. “I just wanted to see how the whole system worked,” Robayna said…
Will the World End on December 21, 2012
Naples Daily News
Southwest Florida Archaeological Society meeting, November 14 at 7:30 pm at the Bonita Springs Community Hall, a presentation by Mayanist Dr. Gabielle Vail, Will the World End on Decmber 21, 2012?… The meeting is free to the public. Gabrielle Vail is a Adjunct Assistant Professor of Anthropology at New College of Florida and a specialist in Maya hieroglyphic writing…
Bill Nelson to campaign at Stetson Wednesday; touts education funding
Orlando Sentinel
Bill Nelson will be appearing at Stetson University in DeLand Wednesday … Nelson’s stop at Stetson comes as the university is hosting its first straw poll …
UCF hospitality instructor was a true mentor
Orlando Sentinel
Gregarious, energetic and funny, Robert Ashley made an impression on nearly 30 years’ worth of students who studied hospitality at University of Central Florida. After suffering from fibrosis of the lung, Ashley, of Oviedo, died Friday…
Housing and rhetoric: Under water, out of mind
Cincinnati.com
“I think the candidates are hesitant to open up that can of worms,” said Sean Snaith, economics professor at the University of Central Florida.
Mourners remember slain University of Florida student Christian Aguilar of Miami
Bradenton Herald
Family, friends and dozens of others touched by the death of University of Florida student Christian Aguilar filled St. Dominic Catholic Church in Miami Tuesday to bid a final farewell to a young man whose death devastated a family and brought together a community…
Truck backs over head of one of UF’s ‘Jersey Shore twins’
Gainesville Sun
Brittany Taltos was listening to music through headphones and sunbathing on a yoga mat in the grass of her front yard Sunday afternoon when a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck backed up and rolled partially over her head…Taltos, a recent graduate of UF, gained notoriety last summer when she and her twin sister, Erica Taltos, made an appearance on the reality show “Jersey Shore” while studying abroad in Italy. The twins also were briefly on ABC’s “Bachelor Pad.”
Election 2012: Senate 4 candidates Bean, Soderberg see econony as the …
Florida Times-Union
Democrat Nancy Soderberg, 54, says that focusing on infrastructure improvements is the best way to spur job creation. The University of North Florida professor and a foreign policy advisor for Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to expand Jacksonville’s port and create a Northeast Florida-specific incentive program to attract companies to relocate…
How Coffee Works in the Brain to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease
eMaxHealth
In June of this year, Dr. Chuanhai Cao, a neuroscientist at the University of South Florida, published research that gave “direct evidence” that drinking coffee was linked to protection against mild cognitive impairment (MCI)…
Can Mitt Romney sway Jewish voters with ‘apology tour’ quip?
Christian Science Monitor
Every four years, the Republicans think they will make inroads with Jewish voters in Florida, says Susan MacManus, a professor at the University of South Florida. “And every four years it does not come to fruition.”
Florida Voters Share Election Expectations Ahead of Third Presidential Showdown
PBS NewsHour
JUDY WOODRUFF: Political science professor Susan MacManus at the University of South Florida says women and younger voters are especially repelled by the negative tone of most of the TV ads and the last two debates…
Obama campaign struggling to win over Florida voters as enthusiasm wanes
The Guardian
Susan MacManus, a former chair of the Florida elections commission and University of South Florida professor of political science, said that turn out by people under 30 is likely to be decisive in deciding who wins the state…
Connie Mack III mentor to many more than IV
The News-Press
“He had that statesmanlike quality,” said Susan MacManus, political science expert at the University of South Florida. “He had an air about him. One of the best teams (of senators) the state ever had was when he and (Democrat Bob) Graham worked together…
Historian to lead coffee-themed walking tour of Ybor
Tbo.com
Historian Gary Mormino, a retired professor from the University of South Florida, will lead The Ybor City Coffee Experience, a walking tour Nov. 3 highlighting Ybor City’s coffee and café culture…
Uninsured Rate for Florida Kids Drops Below 12%
WUSF News
Jodi Ray, director of the Florida Covering Kids and Families project at the University of South Florida, said the report shows “we’re working very hard on this issue. “I’m glad to see we’re still making progress,” she said…
