Afternoon Update: Under fire, Michigan State’s board chair decries "old-style political hit job"

Uses and abuses of the Kalven Report; sociology of literature; precarious diversity statements; 230,000 hit by data breach at Michigan; 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](. ANOTHER FIGHT IN EAST LANSING [Under Fire From All Sides, Michigan State’s Board Chair Decries ‘Old-Style Political Hit Job’]( By David Jesse [STORY IMAGE]( State politics and enduring wounds from past scandals lurk beneath a sudden effort to unseat Rema Vassar. ADVERTISEMENT THE REVIEW | OPINION [The Uses and Abuses of the Kalven Report]( By Jennifer Ruth [STORY IMAGE]( Do current events really affirm the wisdom of the Kalven Report? THE REVIEW | ESSAY [The Sociology of Literature Comes of Age]( By Lee Konstantinou [STORY IMAGE]( Two new books investigate how capitalism and culture collide. RACE ON CAMPUS [The Precarious State of Diversity Statements and What’s Ahead]( By Daarel Burnette II [STORY IMAGE]( A reading digest on all you need to know about diversity statements and what colleges are (and are not) doing to fix inequitable academic outcomes. TECHNOLOGY [U. of Michigan Says 230,000 People’s Data Were Affected by Data Breach in August]( The university said it had cut off internet access on its three campuses just as the fall term was opening because of a hack that [exposed personal data]( of students, applicants, employees, medical patients, research participants, alumni, and donors. The data included Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and financial and health information. (WXYZ, The Ann Arbor News) FREE SPEECH [Citing Safety Concerns, U. of Vermont Cancels Event With Palestinian Writer]( The university told event organizers that it could not “adequately provide safety and security” for a lecture, planned for Thursday, by the poet and journalist Mohammed El-Kurd. The university did not offer details on the safety concerns, and a professor involved in planning the event said she was unaware of any threats. (VTDigger) LEADERSHIP [When the Going Got Tough, This President Left Town]( As Union Institute and University [spiraled downward]( — missing payroll, running afoul of its accreditor and the U.S. Education Department, and canceling its fall term — the president of the Cincinnati institution relocated to Bloomington, Ind., where last December she bought a $381,500 home in an all-cash transaction. (WCPO, The Chronicle) NEWSLETTER [Sign Up for the Teaching Newsletter]( Find insights to improve teaching and learning across your campus. Delivered on Thursdays. To read this newsletter as soon as it sends, [sign up]( to receive it in your email inbox. SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHRONICLE Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for unlimited access to essential news, analysis, and advice. Virtual Events: Tune In Live STUDENT SUCCESS [Student Success: the New Year Ahead]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: November 7, 2023 | 2 p.m. ET: As colleges try to improve post-pandemic student retention and graduation rates, join us to discuss what students need on campus. With Support From University of South Florida. [Register here.]( SPONSOR CONTENT | Stevens Institute of Technology [Stevens Institute of Technology Is All in on AI]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [College as a Public Good - The Chronicle Store]( [College as a Public Good]( Public confidence in higher education has fallen in recent years, with barely half of Americans seeing it in a positive light. [Order this report today]( to examine the many roles colleges play in their local communities and how institutions are reimagining their outreach to rebuild public trust. 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. © 2023 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037