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Volume CXXXIII, Number 14 |
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News Briefs
Pope calls on Roman Catholic laywers to halt divorce
In a move that sent shockwaves through the Italian legal community, Pope
John Paul II suggested last Monday that divorce could be ebbed if Roman
Catholic lawyers refused to take on divorce cases.
Italians feel that their legal rights might be in jeopardy if lawyers were to follow through with the Pope's wishes. Instead of jumping to legal measures, the Pope stressed the importance of seeking guidance within the church.
Bush calls for action on patients' right bill, new HMO practices
In attempts to revise the current state of national health care, President
Bush asked for bipartisan support of the patients' right bill. Included
in his proposals is the controversial idea of adding prescription drugs
to the Medicare package.
Bush has proposed the spending of $77 billion in the next ten years to
adequately meet the medical needs of elderly Americans, especially those
who fall below the $13,000 poverty line.
This Republican approach to national health care is likely to meet controversy in Congress.
San Francisco airport evacuated after bomb scare
San Francisco International Airport was evacuated Wednesday morning after
a passenger's shoes indicated the presence of RDX, an explosive found
in ammunition and lawn fertilizer.
As a protective measure, airport officials evacuated the airport in hopes
of locating the man. Bomb teams swept the airport, but all searches were
inconclusive.
According to reports, when the security screener saw that the explosives
test had turned up positive, he went to alert his supervisor, thus leaving
the man and his shoes unattended.
It appears as if the man, who had been selected for a random search,
thought that he had cleared security, and then proceeded to board his
flight. By the time security personnel was alerted of the incident, the
man had slipped into the crowd of passengers.
This incident, given the great inconvenience and expense that ensued, has raised further questions about the competence and qualifications of airport security.
Bush addresses the nation
On Tuesday night, President Bush delivered his first State of the Union
address. Not surprisingly, he pledged to continue fighting the war on
terrorism, calling upon all Americans to play a more active role in strengthening
our nation. Ideally, he said, each American should pledge two years, or
4,000 hours of service to volunteer organizations.
Bush spoke words of encouragement, suggesting that our nation, despite
hardships throughout the past few months, is at its pinnacle of strength.
In his address, Bush did not address the current Enron situation, nor
did he speak the name Osama bin Laden. Bush hinted towards increasing
military action in the potential terrorist nations of Iraq, Iran, and
North Korea.
Despite the many somber issues addressed in his speech, Bush managed to promote a sense of optimism and American strength.
BIW could soon begin work on destroyers
In what appears to be a sign of the times, Bath Iron Works is contemplating
a shift in production that would mean the building of Naval Destroyers,
lending their current contract for the production of other naval ships
to Ingalls Shipyard of Pascagoula, Mississippi.
The current contract consisted of 12 amphibious assault vessels, eight of which were to be built in Pascagoula, four of which were to be constructed by Bath Iron Works. By placing the order for all 12 ships in the hand of once contractor, the Navy aims to save money on the production of these ships.
Bates appoints new president
The single-sex beginnings of Bates College were updated once again last
week as Elaine Tuttle Hansen was selected as the seventh president of
the fellow NESCAC school. Hansen comes from Haveford College in Pennsylvania,
where she has taught English since 1980.
The single-sex beginnings of Bates College were updated once again last
week as Elaine Tuttle Hansen was selected as the seventh president of
the fellow NESCAC school. Hansen comes from Haveford College in Pennsylvania,
where she has taught English since 1980.
Retiring from his post as president of Bates is Donald Harward, who has held that position for 13 years. When Hansen is inaugurated next fall, she will become the second woman to serve as president of a NESCAC school.
Amidst uncertainty, Harvard hires African American Prof.
Harvard, which boasts one of the strongest Afro-American studies departments
in the nation, has been faced with a great deal of uncertainty as Princeton
threatens to draw away more of their well-regarded professors.
Among those considering leaving Harvard for Princeton are chairman of
the Afro-American studies program Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Dr. Cornel
West. These considerations of departure come in the wake of black philosophy
professor, K. Anthony Appiah's decision to accept Princeton's offer.
Many are attributing this trend to the questionable affirmative action
policies of newly inaugurated president Lawrence H. Summers.
Recently acquired in the midst of the controversy, however, is Michael C. Dawson who currently serves as director of the University of Chicago's Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture. Once at Harvard, Dawson will serve as a professor of Afro-American studies and government.
-Compiled by Daniel J. Miller