How affirmative action in education can make up for anti-diversity practices of the past

For universities, making the case for diversity is part of making amends for racist past [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 9 August 2018 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Editor's note When it comes to affirmative action, it’s not just a means to achieve greater racial diversity in higher education. Scholars Juan Miró and Edmund T. Gordon argue it’s also a way for universities to make up for a period in the early 20th century when [many universities helped lay the intellectual foundation for eugenics](, a pseudoscience used to justify racism. In 2015, more than 320 million tons of plastic polymers were manufactured across the globe. Today, we kick off a series of articles on plastic – how it’s affected our lives and the incredible amount of waste it creates. Eric Beckman of the University of Pittsburgh starts us off with[a deep dive on the many materials we call “plastic”]( and the sometimes surprising ways in which they’re used. Over the past couple of seasons, the WNBA has seen increases in revenue, attendance and TV viewership. According to University of Nevada, Las Vegas marketing researcher Nancy Lough, the league has been able to tap new revenue streams and creatively market its product to build up its fan base. [So why aren’t the players getting their fair share of the pie](? Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor Top stories Historically, many American universities helped lay the foundation for eugenics, a pseudoscience used to justify racism. Helioscribe/www.shutterstock.com [For universities, making the case for diversity is part of making amends for racist past]( Juan Miró, University of Texas at Austin; Edmund T Gordon, University of Texas at Austin Since US universities once stood at the forefront of the eugenics movement and its racist ideas, they should right the wrongs of the past by pursuing diversity on campus, two scholars argue. Millions of tons of plastic are manufactured every year. Bert Kaufmann/Wikimedia [The world of plastics, in numbers]( Eric Beckman, University of Pittsburgh In 2015, over 320 million tons of polymers, excluding fibers, were manufactured across the globe. Through the 2018 WNBA All-Star game on July 28, viewership was up 38 percent compared to the same point last year. AP Photo/Stacy Bengs [The case for boosting WNBA player salaries]( Nancy Lough, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Like the WNBA, the NBA went through fits and starts in its early years. Yet despite drawing similar crowds in the 1960s, NBA players earned far bigger paychecks than today's WNBA stars receive. Economy + Business - [What is insider trading, the crime Rep. Chris Collins was charged with?]( Jena Martin, West Virginia University; Karen Kunz, West Virginia University Insider trading, like what Rep. Chris Collins is accused of engaging in, is one of the sexier crimes in securities law. 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Today’s quote ["For much of the 20th century in the U.S., insider trading was not generally considered illegal."]( [What is insider trading, the crime Rep. Chris Collins was charged with?]( Jena Martin West Virginia University [Jena Martin] Karen Kunz West Virginia University [Karen Kunz] [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