Afternoon Update: Is a celebrated STEM program engaged in hazing?

The war over creative nonfiction; Colorado will cover two years of college; many arrested at UC-Santa Cruz; Oberlin settles with insurers; 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](. 'YOU DROP OUT, YOU LOSE EVERYTHING' [Is a Celebrated STEM Program Engaged in Hazing?]( By Maggie Hicks and Katherine Mangan [STORY IMAGE]( Alums of a summer boot camp created to nurture Black Ph.D.s say it’s both transformative and traumatic. ADVERTISEMENT [Is a Celebrated STEM Program Engaged in Hazing?]( THE REVIEW | ESSAY [The War Over Creative Nonfiction]( By Eric Bennett [STORY IMAGE]( The field won its battle with literature. Now what? AFFORDABILITY [2 Years of College Are Covered for Colorado Students Under New Law]( Under bipartisan legislation signed on Thursday by Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, lower-income students and their families can receive a refundable state income-tax credit to cover the gap between scholarships and the balance of their tuition and fees at a public four-year college, community college, or trade school. (Colorado Newsline) CAMPUS UNREST [Police Arrest ‘Many’ at Protest of Israel-Hamas War at U. of California at Santa Cruz]( Campus, local, and state police officers, equipped with riot gear, moved to dismantle tents and barricades early Friday. A count of arrests was not immediately available. The university, which is holding classes remotely, has [faced a strike]( since last week by graduate-student workers to protest the UC system’s treatment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) RISK MANAGEMENT [Oberlin College Settles With Insurers in Wake of $37-Million Judgment to Local Bakery]( The case stemmed from [student shoplifting at Gibson’s Bakery]( that led to accusations it was racist. In 2019 a jury ordered the Ohio college to pay damages for the role of its employees in whipping up such baseless accusations. After [losing an appeal]( Oberlin paid the award, then accused its insurers of trying to renege on coverage. The settlement is confidential. (The Chronicle-Telegram, The Chronicle) CAMPUS CUTS [U. of Lynchburg Lays Off 40 Employees and Dissolves 12 Programs]( The private university in Virginia said the moves were intended to make up for financial problems that stem from the pandemic and from the disastrous rollout of the new federal student-aid form. Students in the underused programs that are closing will be able to complete their degrees, the university said, and 40 more jobs will be cut over the next three years. (WFXR) CAMPUS SAFETY [U. of Virginia and State to Pay Millions to Families of Victims in 2022 Campus Shooting]( The families of Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr., and D’Sean Perry will each receive $2 million in settlements approved on Friday by a judge. Settlements totaling $3 million were previously reached for two students injured in the shooting, which [took place on a bus]( returning from a class trip. The [accused gunman]( is scheduled to stand trial for murder in January. (The Washington Post, The Chronicle) HONORS [Education Writers Association Confers Awards on 2 Projects With Chronicle Ties]( The [award for collaborations]( went to the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism at WHRO and ProPublica for [articles]( copublished by The Chronicle, on [how Virginia colleges]( uprooted [thousands of Black families](. The award for the [top student journalist]( went to Alex Walters, now a Chronicle intern, for investigations, published in The State News, of Michigan State University’s Title IX office. UPCOMING PROGRAM [The Chronicle's Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs | June 2024] [Join us in June]( for a professional development program tailored to the needs of department chairs. Experienced academic leaders will provide insights on the current trends in higher ed, effective ways to manage a department, strategic planning, and more. [Register today!]( SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Virtual Events: Tune In Live RURAL COLLEGES [College Partnerships to Fuel Rural Development]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: June 11, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. Rural colleges are often hundreds of miles from other higher-education institutions, so they must form partnerships outside the sector to achieve their goals. 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