Harvard Class of 2011 Reflects Diverse Group
Harvard College's acceptance rates may have dropped, but the college is seeing a significant increase in racial diversity in its incoming freshman class. The school's admissions office reported that the 2,058 freshman accepted from a total of 22,955 applicants represent the most socio-economically and racially diverse group ever accepted to Harvard. They report record highs for blacks, Asians, Latinos and Native Americans. Meanwhile, the percentage of female admits fell by about 1 percent to slightly more than 50 percent, and the percentage of international students rose slightly from 8.7 percent to 9.1 percent. Read more.
Obama As Jesus?
What began as an innocent political expression in the form of art is now up for auction. David Cordero, 24, a student at the School of Art Institute of Chicago created a paper mache sculpture of the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama depicting his as Jesus. Word of the art piece spread quickly that by the time the school was made aware of it they had already received a flood of calls. Jen Psaki, a spokesperson for the Obama campaign, tried to distance themselves from the controversial subject, said Obama is not a fan of art that offends religious sensibilities, reports The Chicago Tribune.
Obama Built Donor Network From Roots Up
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama reportedly raised $15 million during his winning 2004 Senate race. His fundraising prowess has helped make him the chief rival to Senator Hillary Clinton. Obama's aides say that during the first three months of the campaign, he collected more than $20 million in donations. However, the Obama campaign has yet to release its total donations or contributors while Clinton has already announced it raised $26 million. Read more.
Oprah to Speak at Howard Commencement
Oprah Winfrey has agreed to give the commencement speech for the 2007 graduating class at Howard University. President Bush will speak at several colleges this year as well. Best-selling author John Grisham is expected to speak at the University of Virginia's ceremonies and Harvard napped Bill Gates. Read more.
New Orleans' Lawyer Challenges Race Bias Ruling
A New Orleans' district attorney has been accused of discriminating for firing dozens of white employees. When Eddie Jordon, the city's first black D.A. took over from longtime D.A. Harry Connick Sr. in 2003, he fired 53 of 77 employees. Jordon's lawyer said jurors had too little evidence proving discrimination against whites, but Clement Donelon, an attorney for plaintiffs in the case, said that of the 10 highest paid blacks under Connick, nine were kept by Jordan, while only two of the highest paid whites stayed on. Read more.
Tuskegee Airmen Lost 25 Bombers
A new report released by the U.S. Air Force found that at least 25 bombers from the Tuskegee Airmen were shot down by enemy aircrafts during World War II. The report however contradicts the legend that the famed black aviators never lost a plane to fire from enemy aircraft. But historian William Holton said the discovery of lost bombers does not tarnish the unit's record. Read more.
Relatives of Interned Japanese-Americans Side With Muslims
Many scholars have compared the internment of Japanese-Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor to the treatment of hundreds of Muslims swept up after the Sept. 11 terror attacks. Both were held captive for months before they were eventually cleared of links to terrorism. Several were deported. A briefing filed today showed a rare case of third-generation Japanese coming forward to defend the legal protections that were lost to their grandparents, and that their parents devoted their lives to reclaiming. Read more.
More King Documents Headed for Auction
A new collection of old Martin Luther King Jr. papers has turned up again. They reportedly were sitting inside the basement of one of King's friends for nearly 40 years. The documents are now being put up for auction in upcoming weeks, but the King estate wants the sale effort stopped. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, said she got the papers in a debt settlement with a radio station connected to King, according to Gallery 63 in Atlanta, which is hosting the April 15 auction according to The Houston Chronicle.
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