Afternoon Update: Supreme Court to Hear Another Case on Biden’s Loan-Forgiveness Plan

Writing a great statement of purpose; S.D. universities to comply with TikTok ban; Chico State suspends professor over alleged threats; and more. [Afternoon Update Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now read The Chronicle on [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. STUDENT DEBT [U.S. Supreme Court Takes Up Second Case on Biden’s Loan-Forgiveness Plan]( Two weeks after [agreeing to consider a case]( brought by six Republican-led states, the justices said on Monday they would [also hear a lawsuit]( filed by a student-loan borrower. Both cases are to be heard in February, with a ruling expected by late June. (USA Today, The Chronicle) ADVERTISEMENT ADVICE [How to Help Doctoral Applicants Write a Great Statement of Purpose]( By Roman Feiman [STORY IMAGE]( To have the best chance of revealing their strengths, would-be Ph.D.s need a clear idea of what we’re looking for. THE REVIEW [A Shameful, Useless, Counterproductive Dispute in Psychology]( By Len Gutkin [STORY IMAGE]( No one looks too good here. TECHNOLOGY [State-University Head in South Dakota Orders Compliance With Governor’s TikTok Ban]( The Board of Regents’ executive director said universities would obey Gov. Kristi Noem’s policy for state-owned devices, and would delete their accounts on the social-media app. Noem cited security concerns about the Chinese company that owns TikTok. (South Dakota Searchlight) FACULTY [Chico State Suspends Professor Who Allegedly Threatened Colleagues]( The California State University campus acted a day after [EdSource reported]( that the biologist had allegedly threatened to shoot two female colleagues who cooperated in an investigation that found he had a sexual relationship with a graduate student in violation of university policy. The professor denied the accusation and said the relationship was consensual. (EdSource) STUDENTS [Georgetown U. Police Lose Evidence of On-Campus Hate Crime]( After the incident last April, in which students shouted the N-word and said Black people should die, among other things, the offenders were identified on security footage. But the video was later lost, for murky reasons. The university says what happened is now under review. (Washington City Paper) GOVERNANCE [Board Chaos Creates Leadership Vacuum at North Idaho College]( The president of the [troubled college]( Nick Swayne, questioned the legality of the [divided board’s]( actions on open records and procurement. Three days later, he was put on administrative leave. (Inside Higher Ed, The Chronicle) COMPUTER SECURITY [Knox College President Addresses Ransomware Incident]( C. Andrew McGadney, the president, said the Illinois college had been working around the clock to restore normal operations. Hive Ransomware Group, identified by the FBI as a criminal organization, has claimed credit for disrupting Knox’s computer systems. (The Register-Mail) CAMPUS SAFETY [Fordham U. to Ban E-Scooters From All University Property]( The new policy, which resembles similar rules imposed by other New York City colleges, stems from concerns following a recent string of fatal fires that were blamed on faulty lithium-ion batteries on e-bikes. Pedestrians have also complained about being nearly run down by them. (WABC) RESEARCH [Major Fusion-Energy Breakthrough to Be Announced by Scientists]( The Department of Energy plans to announce on Tuesday that scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory — managed in part by the University of California — have produced a fusion reaction with a net energy gain, a major milestone in the decades-long, multibillion-dollar quest to develop a technology yielding unlimited, inexpensive clean power. (The New York Times) EVENTS [Browse Upcoming and On-Demand Virtual Events]( [STORY IMAGE]( Join a discussion with national experts and leading practitioners on how to navigate an uncertain future and what new ideas your institution can pursue. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. SPONSOR CONTENT | Boston University [Bringing clarity and rigor to the complex field of data science]( FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [Reimagining the Student Experience - The Chronicle Store]( [Reimagining the Student Experience]( Many colleges are intentionally rethinking and reshaping what has broadly become known as the student experience. [Order your copy today]( to explore the many forces affecting the student experience with the goal of making students’ time on campus more engaging. NEWSLETTER FEEDBACK [Please let us know what you thought of today's newsletter in this three-question survey](. This newsletter was sent to {EMAIL}. [Read this newsletter on the web](. [Manage]( your newsletter preferences, [stop receiving]( this email, or [view]( our privacy policy. © 2022 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037