Afternoon Update: Historians worry about weaponization of plagiarism

Congress demands Harvard documents for inquiry; Education Dept. says it's gotten a million new FAFSAs; settlement in shooting death of prof; 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](. CITATION ANXIETY [‘You Hand Them a Knife’: After Claudine Gay’s Ouster, Historians Worry About Weaponization of Plagiarism]( By Stephanie M. Lee [STORY IMAGE]( At their annual conference, the scholars pondered a new reality in which citations and footnotes become new fronts in the culture wars. ADVERTISEMENT THE REVIEW | OPINION [Reviving Critical Community on Campus]( By Paul Brest [STORY IMAGE]( How to make campus culture welcoming, but still argumentative. RACE ON CAMPUS [How DEI Administrators Came to Be Seen as Censorious Antisemites]( By Daarel Burnette II [STORY IMAGE]( The movement to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts has accelerated tenfold. What happened? ON THE HOT SEAT [Congress Gives Harvard 2 Weeks to Produce Documents for Antisemitism Investigation]( In a [nine-page letter]( the House Committee on Education and the Workforce [requested]( a host of information, including text messages and emails among members of the governing board, information on Jewish enrollment and on punishment of anti-Jewish harassers, and data on foreign donations and other funding. (The Wall Street Journal, committee documents) STUDENT AID [Education Dept. Says More Than a Million New FAFSA Forms Have Been Submitted]( The department also said the [problem-plagued redesign]( of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Department statement, The Chronicle) CAMPUS SAFETY [Settlement Is Reached in Shooting Death of U. of Arizona Professor]( The university and the Arizona Board of Regents will pay an unspecified amount — a “multimillion-dollar resolution,” [lawyers said]( — to the family of Thomas Meixner, who was [killed on campus]( in 2022 by a former graduate student who had [repeatedly threatened]( him. The family will also have “a voice” in [campus-safety changes]( made as [a result of the shooting](. (KOLD, lawyers’ statement, The Chronicle) POLITICS [How Hillsdale College Got Mixed Up in the 2020 Election Plot]( The conservative campus in Michigan has quietly become involved in many political fights, including former President Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn his defeat. (The New York Times) RESEARCH INTEGRITY [Journals Retract 6 Papers by Didier Raoult for Ethics Violations]( The retractions, by two American Society for Microbiology journals, are the latest actions against Raoult’s articles over alleged violations of ethical standards on the treatment of human research subjects. Raoult, who retired as director of a French research institute in 2022, has [blamed the criticism]( on censorship and on ignorance of French ethics laws. (Retraction Watch, 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 STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP [Modern Strategy for Presidents and Trustees]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: January 10, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. To help navigate a turbulent higher-ed landscape, The Chronicle and AGB offer this webinar for board members to advance their strategic thinking and ensure their institutions’ long-term success. [Register here.]( LEADERSHIP AND AI [Loughborough U. Vice Chancellor Speaks on AI]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: January 23, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. With AI on the rise, how can universities harness its advantages and navigate its drawbacks? Join us to discuss how AI is used in teaching and learning. With Support From Loughborough University. [Register here.]( ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE CHRONICLE STORE [The Unionized Campus - The Chronicle Store]( [The Unionized Campus]( The number of graduate-student unions has increased more than four-fold since 2019. [Order your copy]( to learn what’s at stake as union membership grows, and explore effective strategies for colleges to build relationships with new and existing unions. 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. © 2024 [The Chronicle of Higher Education]( 1255 23rd Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20037