Stanford requires student DEI statement, raising ‘compelled speech’ concerns
Students at Stanford University must submit a diversity and inclusion (DEI) statement to enroll in the Global Entrepreneurial Marketing course. This statement requires students to describe how they will contribute to a culture of diversity and inclusion in the class. An answer is mandatory for enrollment.
The requirement was first shared on social media by Jonathan Rauch, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Rauch expressed concerns that the DEI statement could unfairly exclude students with differing political views.
“While Stanford as a whole should expect students to conduct themselves in a civil, respectful manner, conditioning participation in academic programs or activities on social or political commitments treads dangerously close to compelled speech, if it does not actually cross that line,” Rauch told the Center Square.
“Moreover, the term ‘diversity and inclusion,’ in today’s academic context, has acquired controversial political overtones which students may justifiably hesitate to endorse,” Rauch said. “A student could reasonably conclude that the teachers of this course intend to screen out students who disagree with them politically.”
The Global Entrepreneurial Marketing course is offered by the Department of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford, and focuses on marketing technology-based products globally.
The course instructors, the dean of engineering and the public relations department at Stanford have not responded to media requests for comment regarding the DEI statement requirement.
However, Stanford’s Department of Management Science and Engineering has an online page dedicated to its DEI efforts, stating, “Diversity is a fundamental value of the MS&E department. We value the academic, social, and broader community benefits that come from engaging with different viewpoints. We want our community to include and be supportive of perspectives from varying backgrounds.”
To be considered nonalcoholic in the U.S., a drink must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). Because these drinks are considered nonalcoholic, even if they look and sound like they’re not, they can pretty much be sold anywhere in the country to anyone, even minors.
One doctor with the Stanford Prevention Research Center said while they won’t get kids drunk, these nonalcoholic beverages often have the same look, flavor, and smell as real alcohol. In fact, one study did find a link between alcohol-flavored nonalcoholic beverage consumption and alcohol use among adolescents.
The study – which was done in Japan, where the legal drinking age is 20 – found up to 30% of elementary, middle, and high school students drank the nonalcoholic beverages. Additional studies found elementary school students who drank the nonalcoholic versions of drinks were more interested in drinking real alcohol than the kids who didn’t.
The Distilled Spirits Council, a U.S. group that represents alcoholic drinks makers, said its members agree that nonalcoholic beverages that are made to look like the real thing should not be consumed by kids and teens, however, it has no say in state-mandated age restrictions.
One researcher said after looking into laws in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., she found only 12 have regulations limiting the sales of nonalcoholic beverages to minors to some degree.
For example, Georgia and Idaho don’t sell nonalcoholic drinks to minors because they’re regulated in those states based on the way the drinks are made, rather than alcohol content. So essentially, if it’s brewed like beer, it’s considered beer.
Meanwhile states like Florida and Kansas have stricter definitions of what counts as alcohol than the federal government does. While anything with an alcohol content of 0.5% or less is considered nonalcoholic by the federal government, Florida and Kansas’ state governments have decreed any alcohol content at all makes a drink alcoholic, so minors can’t buy them.
Arizona Supreme Court rules 1864 near-total abortion ban can be enforced
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled a Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions can be enforced. Toyota announced a major change to its 4Runner SUV. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
Arizona Supreme Court rules near-total abortion ban is enforceable
The ruling subjects doctors or anyone assisting in an abortion to two to five years in prison, with additional sanctions possible for abortions performed after 15 weeks. Notably, the law lacks exceptions for rape or incest.
The Arizona Supreme Court has delayed the decision’s implementation for 14 days to allow a lower court to address “additional constitutional challenges.”
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, including Arizona’s Attorney General Kris Mayes, who vowed not to enforce the law, and President Joe Biden, who labeled the ban “cruel.” Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Arizona on Friday, April 12. Following the ruling, a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 election, reiterated Trump’s stance that abortion decisions should be left to the states.
Brian Dorsey, dubbed a “model inmate” by prison staff, was Missouri’s first execution this year, despite the Supreme Court rejecting his appeals. Concerns about Dorsey’s health potentially complicating the execution led to a settlement to mitigate severe pain, though specifics weren’t disclosed.
Around 85 protesters rallied outside the prison in support of Dorsey. A Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed the execution proceeded smoothly without the need for a cutdown procedure.
Biden calls Netanyahu’s approach to war in Gaza a ‘mistake’
Biden described the attack on humanitarian vehicles as “outrageous” and advocated for a ceasefire to allow unhindered access to food and medicine for Gaza residents. Biden has previously described Israel’s actions as “over the top” and hinted at a potential shift in U.S. policy toward Israel if Israel does not minimize civilian harm in Gaza.
Following an internal review of the strike that killed aid workers, Israel acknowledged serious military errors, leading to the dismissal of two senior officers. World Central Kitchen has demanded an independent investigation into the incident.
Biden, Kishida hold summit to boost cross country alliance
Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to announce an expanded defense and intelligence partnership this week, marking a significant step in military cooperation between the two nations.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Japanese counterpart will detail the enhanced alliance in the upcoming months, with Japan anticipated to play a larger role in military and defense manufacturing.
The plan includes modernizing military bases in Japan for improved collaborative operations. Currently, Japan hosts about 50,000 U.S. troops, with the Japanese Self Defense Force moving toward a unified command for its services by March 2025.
Toyota selling 4Runner SUV with hybrid engine for first time
Toyota is revamping its 4Runner SUV for the first time in nearly 15 years and introducing a hybrid engine option for the first time ever. The 2025 model’s hybrid option reflects the growing popularity of hybrids, with their market share nearly doubling to almost 10% at the end of 2023, according to Edmunds.com.
Toyota’s U.S. auto sales surged 20% in the first quarter, with sales of electrified vehicles, including hybrids and EVs, jumping about 74%. The automaker has sold over 3 million 4Runners over the SUV’s 40-year history. Pricing for the 2025 4Runner will be revealed closer to its market launch later this year.
“This all-new 4Runner has incredible versatility and capability that nicely rounds out our truck family,” Dave Christ, Toyota group vice president and general manager, said in a release.
Starting prices for the 2024 model range from about $41,000 to more than $55,000.
As the college basketball season concludes, so does the career of a sports legend. Stanford’s head coach Tara VanDerveer is retiring after 45 years, including 38 at the helm of Stanford. VanDerveer, the NCAA’s all-time winningest basketball coach, boasts 1,216 victories.
Her illustrious tenure at Stanford includes three national championships and 14 Final Four appearances. VanDerveer’s retirement follows a historic women’s tournament, with the championship game attracting more viewers than the men’s title game for the first time, averaging 18.9 million viewers.
Study shows virtual reality helping seniors as ‘silver tsunami’ approaches
Virtual reality (VR) is giving some senior citizens a new lease on life. According to The Associated Press, Stanford University studied the use of VR at 17 senior living communities. Researchers found that out of 245 participants between the ages of 65 and 103 years old, most saw improvement in their reported emotional well-being and interactions with staff.
The study is now being used to adapt VR technology to patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia in an effort to improve their emotional well-being.
According to the study, around 80% of seniors involved in the testing reported having a more positive attitude after using VR, and 60% said they fell less socially isolated.
“Part of what triggers the memory with virtual reality is the idea of immersion,” Mynd Immersive CEO Chris Brickler said. “Right, so, when we take somebody out of the four walls of their current environment and place them into a different place, the mind treats that experience differently. The mind thinks that we’re actually close to being that reality. So, that can bring back a tremendous amount of joy, a tremendous amount of memories.”
The findings by Stanford University researchers come as America braces for a “silver tsunami,” with a record 4.1 million people set to turn 65 this year, according to Axios.
With a potentially large pool of customers, companies who manufacture VR headsets will need to be ready to address issues of price and comfort.
Many Vision Pro owners returned the $3,500 headsets to Apple, as a flurry of posts on social media showed users boxing up their headsets right when the 14-day window for a full refund was closing, according to The Verge.
The reasons customers cited for returning their Vision Pro headsets ranged from complaints of motion sickness to the weight of the device being too heavy. One customer told The Verge that he burst a blood vessel in his eye using the Apple headset.
Mynd Immersive, which creates virtual reality headsets for seniors, said comfort is something the company is working on. Mynd Immersive said that common complaints relate to weight, heat and nausea. So, the company introduced new headsets.
Mynd Immersive’s new headsets reportedly weigh 6 ounces, which is down from a pound on previous headsets, and they have a built-in fan for cooling.
Muslim Stanford student speaks out after suspected hate crime hit-and-run
A Stanford University student is speaking out after a hit-and-run that sent him to the hospital is being investigated as a hate crime. The suspected hate crime marks the latest happening amid growing tensions on college campuses as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
According to a public safety statement from the university, the victim, Abdulwahab Omira, who is Arab Muslim, said he was walking to class on Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, when a white man driving a Toyota 4runner made eye contact with the student, sped up and hit him.
“The driver is reported to have made eye contact with the victim, accelerated and struck the victim, and then driven away while shouting “f*** you and your people” out the lowered window of the vehicle,” the release said.
Omira told authorities he got a look at the man who hit him looked to be in his mid 20s with dirty-blond hair and a short beard.
University police said Omira’s injuries were not life-threatening, and California Highway Patrol is now investigating the incident as a hate crime.
From his hospital room over the weekend, the Stanford student released a statement, denouncing hate.
“…grappling with a reality I had never imagined, I reflect on the importance of spreading love, kindness, and compassion in a world that seems to be steadily succumbing to hatred and prejudice. This ordeal has solidified my resolve to advocate for love, understanding, and inclusivity,” Omira said.
Omira called out Stanford for its slow response to the situation. The university said it issued a notice as soon as it had enough details from the police.
Stanford’s independent newspaper, The Stanford Review, published a piece Monday, Nov. 6, calling Omira’s account “dubious.”
BREAKING: Stanford's Hit-and-Run "Hate Crime" is Dubious.
The reported victim is described by his fellow students as a "pathological liar" and has a history of making false claims.https://t.co/ueAtQiR9FA
“This disturbing apparent hate crime at Stanford University underscores the urgent need to address the growing Islamophobia and hatred that have been plaguing our communities, and here specifically putting our students in grave danger,” The release read. “The Arab and Muslim students have repeatedly sought assistance from the University in the last several weeks and remain concerned about the inadequate response that has left them vulnerable.”
The hit-and-run comes days after a student at Cornell University was arrested on federal charges after prosecutors say he “posted threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish people and a post that said “gonna shoot up 104 west.”
Prosecutors in the Cornell case say if convicted, the offense carries a maximum of five years in prison with a $250,000 fine, along with three years of supervised release.
Polls: Trump leads Biden in most key swing states: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 6, 2023
With one year until the presidential election, voters in key swing states are sharing their views. And check your freezers — Tyson is recalling nearly 30,000 pounds of chicken nuggets. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Nov. 6, 2023.
Polls: Trump leads Biden in 5 of 6 swing states one year before election
With one year to go until Americans head to the polls for the 2024 presidential election, a new survey is showing what voters in key battleground states are thinking.
A New York Times and Siena College poll show President Joe Biden trailing former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, in five swing states.
The polls were conducted over the last two weeks with over 3,600 registered voters surveyed. According to the results, Biden is behind Trump in five states by margins of four to 10%.
Arizona
Georgia
Michigan
Nevada
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin is the only state in the Times’ polls with Biden ahead of Trump by two percentage points.
If you combine the polling data from all six states, Trump leads Biden 48% to 44%.
Most voters polled said Biden’s policies have personally hurt them, and at least 60% of voters in each state said the nation was headed in the wrong direction. At least 47% of voters in each state said there was “not really any chance” they would support Biden, whereas at least 44% in each state said that about Trump.
The former president is set to take the stand today in his $250 million civil fraud trial in New York.
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Late last night, Nov. 5, Israel said it fully encircled Gaza City as it is carrying out a “significant operation” in Gaza with the Israeli army searches for senior Hamas commanders.
Blinken met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who, according to the Palestinian news agency, called for “an immediate halt” to the attacks in Gaza.
The United States has been urging Israel to allow “humanitarian pauses” in its response against Hamas for the terror attacks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, Nov. 3, there would be no ceasefire until the more than 200 hostages taken by Hamas are freed.
Following the trip to the West Bank, Blinken traveled to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, where he repeated America’s warning to Iran and its allies not to get involved in the conflict. U.S. forces in Iraq and other locations in the region have been facing a surge of attacks from militia groups aligned with Iran.
“To anyone who might seek to take advantage of the conflict in Gaza, to threaten our personnel, here or anywhere else in the region, don’t do it,” Blinken said. “I made it very clear that the attacks, the threats coming from the militia that are aligned with Iran are totally unacceptable, and we will take every necessary step to protect our people.”
On Sunday, Nov. 5, officials said the U.S. military shot down an attack drone that was targeting American troops near their base in Syria. After visiting Baghdad, the secretary of state traveled to Turkey.
Stanford student hit-and-run being investigated as a hate crime
According to a public safety statement from the university, the victim, Abdulwahab Omira, who is Arab Muslim, said he was walking to class on Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, when a white man driving a Toyota 4runner made eye contact with the student, accelerated and then struck him while shouting at the victim.
University police said Omira’s injuries were not life-threatening. From his hospital room over the weekend, the Stanford student released a statement denouncing hate.
“…grappling with a reality I had never imagined, I reflect on the importance of spreading love, kindness, and compassion in a world that seems to be steadily succumbing to hatred and prejudice. This ordeal has solidified my resolve to advocate for love, understanding, and inclusivity,” Omira said.
According to authorities, the girl’s mother notified police that her father had abducted her in a possible custody battle. The hostage situation ended peacefully, with authorities taking the man into custody after 18 hours of negotiations.
While no one was hurt during the stand-off, more than 100 flights were canceled, and several planes were rerouted, ultimately affecting the plans of thousands of travelers.
Tyson recalls nearly 30,000 pounds of dino chicken nuggets
The products were shipped to distributors in several states.
Tyson said it issued the recall after a few customers reported they found small “pliable” metal pieces in the chicken.
According to the USDA, there has been one minor oral injury reported. Tyson Foods said anyone who purchased the nuggets should cut the UPC and date code from the packaging, throw out the product and contact the company.
Mark Zuckerberg injured while training for MMA match
You may remember that proposed MMA fight between tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. Though that match never came to be, Zuckerberg has been preparing for another one. However, his training took a turn last week, and the Meta CEO ended up in the hospital.
Zuckerberg recently posted a photo to his Instagram account showing him in a hospital bed with his left knee in bandages, revealing he is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered during a martial arts sparring session.
This isn’t the first injury Zuckerberg sustained from his MMA training; last month, he posted a photo of himself sporting bruising on his face, with the caption “sparring got out of hand.”
Zuckerberg said he has been training for an MMA fight early next year, but as he recovers from surgery, he said that fight has been delayed “a bit,” but he’s looking forward to having the match once he’s back on his feet.
New controversies at SFSU, Pitt fan flames over free speech on campus
San Francisco State University (SFSU) has found itself in the middle of another free speech controversy after blocking a scheduled event by the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The event, titled “How Wokeness is Destroying America,” was to feature TPUSA contributor Jon Root as a speaker.
The move by SFSU comes in the wake of an incident earlier in April where former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was physically attacked and barricaded in a room for hours following protests over her scheduled speaking event on the SFSU campus about women’s sports and transgender athletes. Gaines’ event was also sponsored by the school’s chapter of TPUSA.
“It’s more than apparent SFSU condones violence, doesn’t uphold free speech, and is scared of perspectives that differ from their own,” Gaines tweeted about the incident. “They have now cancelled Jon’s [Turning Point USA] event with no reason why.”
Two days before the scheduled talk, SFSU revoked the room that had been booked for the event. The chapter’s president stated that the group had been warned in an email that the event should be understood to be unapproved by the administration if students attempted to host the discussion in person. The school’s Academic Affairs Office had also been advising professors with evening classes on the day of the talk to move online due to an “uncertain level of disruption.”
A spokesperson for the school reportedly informed TPUSA that accommodations would be made if the event occurred virtually. SFSU cited concerns about its capacity to safely hold a potential protest like the one seen during the Gaines speech as the reason for canceling the event’s reserved room.
Stanford Law to hold mandatory ‘free speech’ session after protest: Media Miss
Stanford Law School students will be required to participate in a half-day session in the spring quarter to educate them on freedom of speech and the “norms of the legal profession.” Dean Jenny S. Martinez announced the move in an open letter on Wednesday, weeks after students and an associate dean disrupted a federal judge’s address earlier this month.
The school’s chapter of the conservative Federalist Society hosted the disrupted event and invited Stuart Kyle Duncan, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, as a guest speaker. Kyle Duncan was appointed by former President Trump. In 2022, Kyle Duncan joined an unsigned opinion stating that the COVID-19 vaccine requirement violated Navy service members’ religious liberties.
When he attempted to speak at Stanford Law School, students interrupted him, and the school’s associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Tirien Steinbach, took the microphone to voice her thoughts.
“For many people in this law school who work here, who study here and who live here, your advocacy, your opinions from the bench, land as absolute disenfranchisement of their rights,” Steinbach said in video of the incident.
In the open letter, Martinez said Steinbach is now on leave and that “commitment to diversity and inclusion means that we must protect the expression of all views.” Martinez acknowledged the school’s policy that “protest is allowed but disruption is not,” and said faculty will receive additional training.
Straight Arrow News aims to identify when stories are being underreported on either side of the political aisle and media landscape. This story is a Media Miss for left-leaning outlets, with most sources reporting it being either right-leaning or center-oriented outlets, according to Ground.News.
Stanford University creates index of ‘harmful language’
In today’s crazy world, the success of many young Americans depends on using the right language. No one wants to be blackballed for saying something stupid or tone deaf. However, based on a newly released document from Stanford University, many of the words just used in the previous sentences are enough to get a person blacklisted.
The Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative is a multi-phase project by Stanford’s IT Department. According to its website, the Initiative is geared toward helping individuals “recognize and address potentially harmful language.”
This week, a 13-page list surfaced containing more than 150 of the now verboten words or phrases. Stanford breaks down the bad words into categories like ableist, ageism, colonialism, gender and others.
Instead of saying things like “blind review” or “blind study”, which furthers ableist culture, “anonymous review” or “masked study” are preferred. A person should never go somewhere for a “walk-in” appointment, again, because of ableist culture propagation. Stanford’s index indicates it’s a “drop-in” appointment.
For readers feeling as if they might never master this subject, that’s good. “Master” is also a bad word since historically masters owned slaves. Instead, readers should look to become adept at choosing the right word.
If this all sounds a bit uppity, that is still wrong according to Stanford. “Uppity” was used by both white supremacists and members of the Black community to describe someone who was acting unexpectedly. Instead it should be said this all sounds arrogant or stuck up.
Stanford said the Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative is made up of IT leaders at the university. Stanford said a team of stakeholders met for 18 months to compile the list, which is now password protected on Stanford’s website.
Scientists grow human brain cells in rats, neurons in a dish play ‘Pong’
Scientists are growing human brain cells in rats to study diseases and help keep you alive. Stanford University scientists transplanted human brain cells into the brains of baby rats, where the cells grew and formed connections.
A psychiatry professor at the Stanford School of Medicine, says it has created “the most advanced human brain circuitry ever built from human skin cells.” And that it demonstrates “implanted human neurons can influence an animal’s behavior.”
Scientists have also for the first time proven that human brain cells living in a dish can perform tasks like playing the classic computer video game Pong. Researchers say the experiment provides evidence that brain cells exhibit inherent intelligence.
In time, this could help scientists understand the cause of diseases, develop new drugs and help them better understand how the brain functions.