Can a Woman Ever Be a Political Frontrunner?

Will a woman never be a political frontrunner because of her gender? That's the question Gloria Steinem, renowned author and cofounder of the Women's Media Center, asks those who allege Sen. Hillary Clinton is unqualified to "head the most powerful nation on earth," in a New York Times editorial. "Gender is probably the most restricting force in American life, whether the question is who must be in the kitchen or who could be in the White House. This country is way down the list of countries electing women," writes Steinem. Gender has long played a role in stifling the progress of women in corporate America, but are there even more double standards for women in the Oval Office? Get up-to-date Election '08 coverage from DiversityInc and find out why some black leaders who backed Clinton are second-guessing their endorsement.

Yale Becomes More Affordable

Yale University announced it will up spending from its endowment by 40 percent to improve financial-aid services and finance a proposed expansion of its undergraduate body. Yale, like the other Ivies, is facing pressure from Congress and some donors to spend more of their endowments, reports The New York Times. The announcement comes one month after $35-billion-endowment-toting Harvard announced beginning next academic year it will slash tuition for middle-class families. Yale has the second-largest endowment at $22.5 billion. Find out how to get a debt-free education from Princeton or Yale.

Ward Connerly Tries to End Affirmative Action in Missouri

A Missouri judge rewrote ballot language for a proposal banning affirmative action in state public employment, contracting and education after ruling that the original language misled voters, reports The Associated Press. Cole County Judge Richard Callahan deemed the language "troubling" and said it wrongly gave the impression that voters would be authorizing new kinds of preferential-treatment programs if they passed the measure instead of doing away with it. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan issued a statement in which she says she will appeal the judge's decision. Read more about the battle in Missouri and find out if your state could be next.

Want to Reach an $860-Billion Market?

Latinos are the fastest-growing racial/ethnic market in the United States, and many marketers are crafting campaigns to appeal to them in more relevant ways. As early as this week, Microsoft's MSN Latino, a Spanish-language web site boasting some 11 million visitors per month, will open its doors to allow markets an ad service that targets second-generation Latinos, reports The Wall Street Journal. With the Latino population topping 42 million, accounting for 14 percent of the population, marketers are changing the way they advertise to the Latino community. "Hispanic marketing has been painted with too broad a brush," Mike Hard, vice president of advertising sales for Microsoft, told the Journal. Hard also said MSN Latino will roll out more bilingual content. According to the Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies, more than $5.2 billion, up from $5 million in 2006, is spent on targeted marketing to Latinos in the United States. Download DiversityInc's webinar on multicultural marketing to learn proven tips for reaching this and other burgeoning markets.

Are You a Victim of Bad Loans? Baltimore Mayor Joins Lawsuit

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon joined the city's council in a lawsuit against Well Fargo Bank, alleging its lending practices discriminated against black borrowers and led to a wave of foreclosures that reduced city tax revenues and increased its costs, reports The New York Times. According to the lawsuit, in 2006, Wells Fargo issued high-cost loans with interest rates at least three percentage points above the federal benchmark to 65 percent of its black customers in Baltimore versus only 15 percent of its white customers. "We do not tolerate illegal discrimination against or unfair treatment of any consumer," Kevin Waetke, a spokesperson for Wells Fargo, told the Times. "Our loan pricing is based on credit risk. We are committed to serving all customers fairly--our continued growth depends on it." The lawsuit also claims that half of Wells Fargo foreclosures in 2006 occurred in areas where the population was 80 percent black.

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