Afternoon Update: Is this the end of reading?

Antisemitism group has a message for colleges; changing minds on DEI; arrests at Penn, MIT, and Arizona; Florida A&M's huge gift on hold; and more. ADVERTISEMENT [Afternoon Update Logo]( You can also [read this newsletter on the web](. Or, if you no longer want to receive this newsletter, [unsubscribe](. THE STUDENT MIND-SET [Is This the End of Reading?]( By Beth McMurtrie [STORY IMAGE]( Students are less able and less willing to read. Professors are stymied. What needs to change? ADVERTISEMENT FACEBOOK ACTIVISTS [Mothers Against College Antisemitism Has a Message for Higher Ed — Thousands of Them, in Fact]( By Emma Pettit [STORY IMAGE]( The group says it’s protecting Jewish students. Some professors argue it’s stifling speech. THE REVIEW | OPINION [Why It’s So Hard to Change Minds About DEI]( By Ilana Redstone [STORY IMAGE]( Assumptions are ingrained, and they break entirely along political lines. CAMPUS UNREST I [Police in Riot Gear Arrest 33 Students and Other Protesters at U. of Pennsylvania]( Campus and city police officers moved on an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters early this morning and dismantled tents. Many arrests took place around a statue of Benjamin Franklin. Some of those arrested were later released; at least two were taken to a hospital. (The Daily Pennsylvanian) CAMPUS UNREST II [Police Dismantle Pro-Palestinian Encampment at MIT and Arrest 10 Protesters]( The raid early Friday at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology followed a clash between protesters and police officers on Thursday night at a campus garage that led to nine arrests. (WCVB) CAMPUS UNREST III [Police Use Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets to Break Up 2nd Encampment at U. of Arizona]( In a confrontation that began on Thursday, police officers and state troopers dismantled an encampment that had been rebuilt after a prior raid. Protesters responded by throwing rocks and bottles. It was not clear whether anyone had been hurt, but at least two faculty members were arrested. Commencement is scheduled for today. (The Arizona Republic) CAMPUS UNREST IV [Arizona State U. Postdoc Resigns After Harassment Incident Appears on Viral Video]( Jonathan Yudelman stepped down from ASU’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership before he was identified from the video as having physically and verbally intimidated two people at a pro-Israel rally this week in Tempe, a university spokesperson said. ASU’s president said the postdoc “is no longer permitted to be on campus and will never teach here again.” (The State Press) PHILANTHROPY [Florida A&M President Says Huge Gift Is on Hold Amid Crisis of Confidence]( Larry Robinson said on Thursday that the university was pausing the $237-million donation, which was revealed at last Saturday’s commencement. The donor is a farmer whose $95-million gift last year to Coastal Carolina University fell through. The money is in the form of shares of stock in his company that are not publicly traded, so their value cannot be determined. (Tallahassee Democrat) LEADERSHIP [Utah’s Former Higher-Ed Leader Quit During Investigation for Alleged Sexual Misconduct]( When Dave Woolstenhulme [abruptly resigned]( in September as commissioner of higher education, he was under investigation after at least two Utah State University employees accused him of sexual misconduct. At the time, he said he was leaving “to pursue other opportunities” and the Utah System of Higher Education ended the inquiry. He has since denied wrongdoing. (The Salt Lake Tribune) CAMPUS CUTS [Ohio’s Columbus State Community College Pares Staff to Close Budget Gap]( Facing a $6.8-million deficit, the college is cutting 14 nonteaching posts. Enrollment fell 7.6 percent from 2017 to 2022, and the college is receiving less state funding than expected. 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