Pandemic laid many college sports teams to rest

+ people who live in airports, shorebird migration US Edition - Today's top story: Colleges are eliminating sports teams – and runners and golfers are paying more of a price than football or basketball players [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 March 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair When it comes to assessing the economic impact of COVID-19, the focus is often on businesses and jobs. But as noted by Molly Ott and Janet Lawrence, higher education researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Michigan, respectively, the economic fallout from the pandemic has also shut down hundreds of college sports teams. More than just entertainment, college sports offer a chance for student athletes to go pro. For others, Ott and Lawrence observe how college sports teams serve a variety of functions that [transcend what takes place on the fields in front of fans](. Also today: - [Christianity under threat in Iraq]( - [The tangled history of the filibuster]( - [Peru reckons with legacy of its forced sterilization program]( Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor Over 5,000 student-athletes were directly affected by a recent wave of shutdowns of intercollegiate sports teams. Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images [Colleges are eliminating sports teams – and runners and golfers are paying more of a price than football or basketball players]( Molly Ott, Arizona State University; Janet Lawrence, University of Michigan Shutting down sports teams can save schools millions of dollars but create longer-term challenges for enrollment, fundraising and campus life. Ethics + Religion - [Pope’s upcoming visit brings attention to the dwindling population of Christians in Iraq]( Ramazan Kılınç, University of Nebraska Omaha The events that followed the 2003 US invasion of Iraq started a cycle of violence against the country's minority Christian population. The pope's visit is meant to bring some 'healing and comfort.' Politics + Society - [Why repressive Saudi Arabia remains a US ally]( Jeffrey Fields, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Saudi's crown prince approved the killing and dismemberment of a Washington Post columnist in 2018, the Biden administration says. So how can the US still see the Saudis as good partners? - [Forcibly sterilized during Fujimori dictatorship, thousands of Peruvian women demand justice]( Ñusta Carranza Ko, University of Baltimore Forced sterilization of Indigenous women was a covert part of 'family planning' under Fujimori. Over 200,000 Peruvians underwent tubal ligations between 1996 and 2001 – many without their consent. - [News organizations that want journalists to engage with their audience may be setting them up for abuse]( Jacob L. Nelson, Arizona State University News organizations are in low repute. To enhance their credibility, they've encouraged interaction between their journalists and audience members. Is that the best way to build the public's trust? - [Most US states don’t have a filibuster – nor do many democratic countries]( Joshua Holzer, Westminster College The US system was designed with more checks and balances than many other successful democracies – the filibuster's main function is to give undue power to a vocal minority. Environment + Energy - [Scientist at work: Tracking the epic journeys of migratory birds in northwest Mexico]( Julián García Walther, University of South Carolina In northwest Mexico, biologists are building a network of radio towers to track how individual migratory birds move among important wetland areas. Economy + Business - [Elizabeth Warren’s wealth tax would reduce inequality – the problem is it’s probably unconstitutional]( Beverly Moran, Vanderbilt University Economists estimate the tax on households worth over $50 million could bring in $3 trillion over 10 years, but it will run into constitutional challenges. Arts + Culture - [How some people can end up living at airports for months – even years – at a time]( Janet Bednarek, University of Dayton Some do so of their own accord, using airport amenities to meet their basic needs. Others, however, would rather be anywhere else – and find themselves at the mercy of bureaucratic wrangling. Health - [Two gaps to fill for the 2021-2022 winter wave of COVID-19 cases]( Maciej F. Boni, Penn State The US was not ready for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. What can public health leaders and policymakers do to make sure we don't face another winter of rampant disease? Trending on site - [How does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine compare to other coronavirus vaccines? 4 questions answered]( Maureen Ferran, Rochester Institute of Technology The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is different from the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines in a few important ways that could make it a huge help to global vaccination efforts. - [Can vaccinated people still spread the coronavirus?]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington You've been vaccinated; can you now safely see your friends and family? New research hints that vaccinated people may be less likely to transmit the coronavirus, but they are not 100% in the clear. - [Women of color spend more than $8 billion on bleaching creams worldwide every year]( Ronald Hall, Michigan State University Fair skin as a beauty ideal underpins the global bleach cream industry – valued at $8.6 billion. There is a nascent backlash against the practice, which endangers health and can perpetuate racism. --------------------------------------------------------------- [college sports programs cut in 2020]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451