AKA Review - 07.12.2024

From University World News
Higher education can make a key contribution to peace

In light of recent campus turmoil around the Hamas-Israel war, this set of articles on "peace education" are relevant and useful. Three in particular—"We need to forge peacebuilders to tackle ‘wicked problems’," "How to advance a peace-building agenda in your institution," and "Building cross-disciplinary skills for peace through HE"—suggest specific programs, pedagogies, and tools to educate students about conflict—its underlying social, political, and environmental causes—and how to manage it globally and on campus. Read this article

From The New York Times
What Happens to Gifted Children
By David Brooks

Superhigh intelligence correlates strongly with educational and career success. But when one looks closely at the lives lived by the intellectually gifted, there are not as many creative, world changers as one would expect. Intelligence interacts with each person’s other qualities—drive and hard work are particularly characteristic of transformational geniuses. The author discusses implications for magnet schools and college admissions, noting that intelligence tests are helpful, "but it’s more important to know who is lit by an inner fire." Read this article

From The Washington Post
Millennials had it bad financially, but Gen Z may have it worse
By Abha Bhattarai and Federica Cocco

Although members of Generation Z are more likely to go to college, have jobs, and earn more than millennials did at the same age, they pay more for necessities like housing and insurance, and more of them accumulate debt than did their millennial counterparts. Near term, these burdens contribute to lukewarm support for President Biden among younger voters, who cite inflation as their top concern. Longer term, rising inflation and interest rates may create significant future impacts for Gen Z, such as difficulty in buying a home. Read this article

From The New York Times

Critics of DEI Forget That It Works
By Caroline Elkins, Frances Frei and Anne Morriss

With DEI under political attack and organizations pessimistic about their progress on diversity, the authors remind us of persuasive research demonstrating that the most effective leaders collaborate with people who do not already think like them. Further research, however, shows that diverse teams outperform more homogenous groups only when members feel included. Using vivid examples of effective inclusion work, the article illustrates how making inclusion a goal builds on our near-universal hopes for a true meritocracy. Read this article

From The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Impossible College Presidency
By Brian Rosenberg

"The flaying of college presidents reflects a deep misunderstanding of the power of the college in the world," argues the former President of Macalester College, looking at the modern presidency at a time of campus turmoil and conflicting stakeholder demands. When campus protests channel anger at death and barbarity toward the actions of colleges, he notes with irony, they direct students away from actions that might have at least a chance of making a difference and toward steps that feel virtuous but have little impact. Read this article