The hidden roots of workplace harassment

Targeting hidden roots of workplace harassment is key to fulfilling Oprah's promise to girls [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 11 January 2018 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note The sexual abuse and harassment scandals of 2017 felled many powerful men in Hollywood, Congress, Silicon Valley and elsewhere. Given how widespread workplace harassment is, what can be done to undo the system that has made it possible? The Time’s Up initiative plans to pursue justice for victims and accountability for wrongdoers. To get to the root of the problem, however, [lawmakers must address the serious flaws in how workplaces are regulated](, writes Elizabeth Tippett, an associate professor of law at the University of Oregon. With news that the number of colleges and universities with test-optional admissions has topped 1,000, Joseph Soares of Wake Forest University offers insights into [why that milestone is a welcome one for students](. Soares draws on his research to explain why college entrance exams favor wealthy white students and why they don’t tell us more than high school grades about how well a student will fare in college. A hundred years ago, [a deadly flu swept around the world](, killing an estimated 50 million people. Many know the “Spanish flu” as one of the biggest pandemics in history – but they may not realize that it didn’t actually start in Spain. Richard Gunderman of Indiana University busts 10 myths about the famous virus of 1918. Bryan Keogh Economics + Business Editor Top stories Oprah Winfrey spoke about the women of the #MeToo movement as she accepted a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes. HFPA [Targeting hidden roots of workplace harassment is key to fulfilling Oprah's promise to girls]( Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon At the Golden Globes, Oprah Winfrey assured girls that the harassment scandals of 2017 will eventually lead to a brighter future. But deep workplace issues will have to be addressed first. The number of colleges and universities with test-optional admissions policies recently topped 1,000 – a milestone that one expert says is a welcome trend. Shutterstock.com [More colleges than ever have test-optional admissions policies — and that's a good thing]( Joseph Soares, Wake Forest University The number of colleges that have test-optional admissions policies has now surpassed 1,000. An admissions specialist explains why that milestone is a welcome one. Influenza victims crowd into an emergency hospital near Fort Riley, Kansas in 1918. AP Photo/National Museum of Health [The 'greatest pandemic in history' was 100 years ago – but many of us still get the basic facts wrong]( Richard Gunderman, Indiana University Don't believe these 10 common myths about the 1918 Spanish flu. Arts + Culture - [For black celebrities like Oprah, it's impossible to be apolitical]( Lauren Rebecca Sklaroff, University of South Carolina Throughout American history, being a black celebrity has been a political act in and of itself. When viewed through this lens, the transition into politics for someone like Winfrey is more natural. Science + Technology - [Autonomous vehicles could help millions of people catch up on sleep, TV and work]( Eric Williams, Rochester Institute of Technology Letting cars drive themselves could save some people huge amounts of time. What might they do when they would have been driving? Environment + Energy - [Turning power over to states won't improve protection for endangered species]( Alejandro E. Camacho, University of California, Irvine; Michael Robinson-Dorn, University of California, Irvine Congress is moving to cut back the Endangered Species Act and give more power to states. But a recent study shows that state laws are weaker and states have few resources to protect species at risk. Health + Medicine - [When sexual assault victims speak out, their institutions often betray them]( Jennifer J. Freyd, University of Oregon In sexual harassment cases, schools and workplaces often harm those that they claim to protect. These tips can help them avoid those painful mistakes. Trending on site - [How California's megachurches changed Christian culture]( Richard Flory, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences California megachurches played a significant role in how millions of people - Christian or not - understand Christianity. - [Super-black feathers can absorb virtually every photon of light that hits them]( Dakota McCoy, Harvard University Male Birds of Paradise have patches of super-black plumage that absorb 99.95 percent of light. New research identified their feathers' microscopic structures that make them look so very dark. - [Young doctors struggle to learn robotic surgery – so they are practicing in the shadows]( Matt Beane, University of California, Santa Barbara There are more robots than ever in the operating room – but that's led to fewer opportunities for surgical trainees. Now, some new doctors are teaching themselves in secret. Today’s interesting fact [There are over 200 mega-churches in California – Protestant, theologically conservative churches with at least 2,000 attending worship each week.]( [How California's megachurches changed Christian culture]( Richard Flory University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences [Richard Flory] [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111