Afternoon Update: After a politician vying for a Florida presidency complained, the search was suspended

Scientist wins $1 million in defamation lawsuit; regional public colleges as solution, not problem; our latest DEI-legislation tracker; 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](. POLITICS AND LEADERSHIP [A Politician Vying for a Florida Presidency Complained About the Search. Hours Later, It Was Suspended.]( By Emma Pettit [STORY IMAGE]( A public-records request by The Chronicle sheds new light on Florida Atlantic University’s thwarted effort to hire a new leader. ADVERTISEMENT Q&A [Regional Public Colleges as a Solution, Not the Problem]( By Lee Gardner [STORY IMAGE]( The new head of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities wants to counter the growing narrative about college as costly and ideology-obsessed. ADVICE [We Still Think Online Teaching Isn’t Real Teaching]( By Flower Darby [STORY IMAGE]( How to find meaning, purpose, and even a little joy in your asynchronous courses. JUST UPDATED [DEI Legislation Tracker]( By Chronicle Staff [STORY IMAGE]( We’ve updated the tracker with bills from Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wisconsin that seek to dismantle colleges’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. ATTACKS ON SCIENCE [Jury Awards Climate Scientist Michael Mann $1 Million in Defamation Lawsuit]( The [prominent researcher]( now at the University of Pennsylvania, sued Rand Simberg and Mark Steyn in 2012 after they likened his work on global warming to a convicted child molester. The jury found that the two libertarian writers had made false statements with “maliciousness, spite, ill will, vengeance, or deliberate intent to harm.” The writers vowed to appeal. (Associated Press, The Chronicle) FACULTY HIRING [U. of Wisconsin at Madison to Embark on Faculty-Hiring Spree, With Focus on AI]( The university expects to recruit 120 to 150 new faculty members over the next three to five years, on top of its regular pace of 130 faculty hires per year. Among them are up to 50 artificial-intelligence experts. The flagship’s chancellor said the focus would be on “audacious, interdisciplinary inquiry leading to groundbreaking discovery and education.” (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) TEACHING [Lafayette College Faculty Votes to Mandate AI Statement in Syllabi]( All professors at the Pennsylvania college will be required to state a policy on [artificial-intelligence tools]( but the nature of the policy will be left up to each instructor. (The Lafayette, The Chronicle) FACULTY [Kansas Wesleyan U. Cancels Classes After Professor’s Death on Campus]( Eileen St. John, head of the teacher-education department, [died in her office]( on Thursday. An inquiry is underway, but the university said the campus was never in danger. (Salina Journal, KAKE) 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. SPECIAL OFFER FOR NEW SUBSCRIBERS Enjoying the newsletter? [Subscribe today]( for less than $20 and get unlimited access to essential reporting, data, and analysis. And as a special bonus, you'll get the 2024 Trends Report, our annual issue on the major trends shaping higher education — coming in March. Virtual Events: Tune In Live STUDENT SUCCESS [Creating Summer-Bridge Programs]( [STORY IMAGE]( UPCOMING: February 13, 2024 | 2 p.m. ET. The summer before students start college is an ideal time to lay foundations for their success. Many colleges have programs to help. Join us to explore how they work best. With Support From Mongoose. 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