Religion and Society

See this New York Times editorial re: Mitt Romney's speech concerning his faith (free registration required). See also Charles Krauthammer's op-ed piece in the Washington Post about religion and politics.

Hons 101: The Environment

Legislation will be proposed in Congress to increase vehicle fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

Here's an NPR story on globalization's impact on the sock industry.

Hons 101: The Environment

The United Nations Panel on Climate Change has issued its final report, which is more forceful in describing the increasing risks of climate change than its previous assessments (New York Times, free registration required). Here's the New York Times' 'Dot Earth' blog on the report. Here's the Times' Science Topics feature on Global Warming. Here's coverage from the PBS NewsHour.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The Writers' Guild has struck the television and motion picture studios for the first time since 1988, a strike which lasted five months. Businesses that depend on Hollywood are worried about the economic impact of this strike. Meanwhile, Chrysler has announced that it will layoff another 12,000 workers, causing some UAW members to feel betrayed.

Campus Life

Congratulations to USI's winning team in the Indiana CPA Society Case Competition! USI has now won this competition four straight years, underscoring the fact that USI's top students are as good (or better) than any in the state.

Campus Life

Assorted thoughts as we move into November...

I'm greatly saddened to learn of Ron Roat's resignation. I'll truly miss my fellow Michigan native. Best of luck to you, Ron, and I'll pray that you're able to conquer your depression....

I'm just not persuaded that allowing faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons will make any campus safer. A number of employers have policies similar to USI, and have lobbied vigorously against proposed laws in some states which would give employees the right to have a concealed weapon on private company property, despite the employer's preference. I guess the gun rights lobby believes that gun rights should trump property rights. (Note to the Shield's news editor, "College Republicans" is a proper noun and should be capitalized in your news stories.)

Apparently Jon Webb's "Worthless movie review" of Rushmore in the Shield was intended to be amusing. I wasn't amused or entertained, but instead was annoyed.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The UAW has ratified its collective bargaining agreement with Chrysler, although by a smaller-than-expected margin. Bargaining now focuses on Ford.

Campus Life

So Shield Et Cetera editor Jon Webb believes the new quad fountain is "stupid" and "a waste of money." I disagree; I think the fountain in particular and the quad project in general significantly improves the aesthetic appeal of campus. Webb apparently believes that instead of the quad project the University should be addressing other needs, a lack of "ample parking, decent food selection or any kind of legitimate student health care plan." Perhaps Webb would rather the quad have been paved over so as to provide more ample parking -- then campus would have all the aesthetic appeal of the Eastland Mall parking lot. But at least one wouldn't have to walk a whole ten minutes from one's vehicle to class... Re: food selection, yes, more choices would be nice and we'll have them with the library renovation. As far as a student health care plan, what makes the current services less than legitimate?

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings

Here's another story on the 'sagging pants' issue, which we discussed earlier this semester. And here's a commentary.

Campus Life

Is anyone proofreading items for publication in the Shield? From last week's issue, the Perspectives & Viewpoints column by Shield staff member Seth Grundhoefer, "McDonald doesn't stop the party": "since" rather than "sense," "vigilantly" rather than "vigilante," "boast" rather than "boost," and "setting" rather than "sitting." C'mon guys, if you want us to take the Shield seriously (you do, don't you?) at least proofread what is being printed. And kudos to Grundhoefer for his rant about law enforcement -- after all, why should we bother to enforce any law that Seth and his buddies disagree with? Darn it all, police officers have the nerve to monitor the roadways for traffic violations, and Excise monitors places students drink for alcohol violations. What will they think of next?

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The tentative agreement between Chrysler and the UAW may be in jeopardy; union members at several large plants have voted against the agreement, and contract ratification votes continue.

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings

Dani Palmer, Shield staff member, authored a Perspectives & Viewpoints column in the October 11 issue, "Jena 6: proof some things never change." Palmer concludes that we as a society have not "matured enough to learn to work together and not hate others based on skin color," that we haven't learned from our past mistakes, and that we never will. Do you agree?

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations: Comparative Labor Relations

The Gdansk shipyard in Poland is being sold to a Ukrainian company. This shipyard was the site of a historic strike in 1980 that changed the course of Polish history.

Hons 101: The Environment

Despite a tradition of minimalism, Japanese household CO2 emissions are up 40 percent since 1990, an increase attributed to rising consumerism. What can a household do to be 'green'?

Mngt 408: Collective Barganing and Industrial Relations

Having reached agreements with General Motors and Chrysler, the UAW now turns its attention to negotiations with Ford.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

Strikes have become less frequent and of shorter duration in the United States. At one time, strikes were a powerful weapon for organized labor. Younger workers have mixed feelings about strikes. Regarding comparative labor relations, textile workers in Egypt have recently struck and won significant concessions from the Egyptian government.

Hons 101: The Environment

Climate change has become a global and diplomatic issue; former Vice President Al Gore has won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work, along with the United Nations Panel on Climate Change. Critics argue that Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" contains errors, inaccuracies, and misrepresentations; see The Washington Post's "Fact-Checker" for background and links.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The UAW has reached a tentative agreement with Chrysler and has ratified the contract reached with GM.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

UAW members at Chrysler have begun walking off the job following the passing of the strike deadline at 11 a.m. ET today, given that no agreement has yet been reached...

Campus Life

Who wrote that page one headline in last Thursday's Shield? "U.S. Senate passes amendment to approve invading Iranian forces." The headline makes it sound as if the Senate approves of Iranian forces invading someone or something, which is not quite what the resolution in fact approved...

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

A student at the University of Southern California who has lived in Myanmar reflects upon whether she'd have the courage if she were there now to smuggle news to the outside world.

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings: The Basic Problem: "Mine Is Better"

Americans tend to give themselves overly positive self-appraisals of their accomplishments and abilities.

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

American evangelical Christians are increasingly vocal in their support of Israel; many Jews in Israel, however, are concerned about Christian evangelizing.

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings: What Does It Mean To Know?

Much of what we know of the Revolutionary War comes not just from diaries and letters of the period, but also artwork.

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

Women are playing an increasing role in U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hons 101: The Environment

To begin our deliberation re: the environment, which will lead to the Honors Program Issues for the 21st Century Forum (Tuesday, December 4, 2007, 7-830p, UC 201-202), please consider the "A Difference of Opinion" at pp. 51-52 of Beyond Feelings. (1) Read the passage re: Is the threat of global warming real or imaginary? (2) Use the Rice Library and/or the Internet and find what knowledgeable people have said about the issue. For the purpose of this assignment it will be difficult to cover the entire range of views; identify at least two knowledgeable sources with differing views. (3) Assess the strengths and weaknesses of each. (4) Based on this critical assessment, develop your own view and explanation as to why that view is reasonable. (5) Post your assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of others' views and explanation of your view as a comment. Be reminded of the basic activities of critical thinking: investigation, interpretation, and judgment. We start the critical thinking process with inquiry -- what knowledge would we need in order to reach an informed opinion?

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

President Bush announced additional sanctions against Myanmar's military junta in his speech at the United Nations last week. The president called on U.N. members to support nascent democracies and to oppose autocratic and tyrannical governments. Troops in Myanmar opened fire on anti-government protesters, resulting in at least ten fatalities. Here's an assessment of recent developments. Here's some background on Myanmar's recent history. Here's a discussion of the value of sanctions. Some experts believe engagement is the preferred course of action.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reports that the UAW's core strategy for protecting jobs has changed. The Journal examines whether U.S. unions are still a political power. The Journal also editorializes re: the UAW's "new awareness of global competition." Here's analysis from the PBS Newshour. Here's analysis from the Detroit Free Press.

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

Here's a debate on the topic of spreading democracy in the Middle East.

Mngt 341: Human Resource Management

A British firm with operations in the U.S. has banned decals on hardhats, including those of the U.S. flag.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

GM and the UAW have reached a tentative agreement; reports suggest it may reshape the U.S. auto industry. Analysis is provided by Cal-Berkeley's Harley Shaiken and Case Western's Susan Helper. Here are the views of some retirees. Strikes such as this are much less common today than in the past.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The UAW's strike against GM which began yesterday appears to have the objective of securing job security commitments in exchange for concessions on retiree health care and other labor costs. The strike is not expected to be of long duration, although it's not necessarily easy to project the length of a strike. Here's analysis of the strike's impact from an industry analyst and a professor.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The UAW has set a strike deadline of 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CST) today in its bargaining with GM...

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

See this item from NPR re: the stakes in the UAW-GM bargaining.

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings

Here's an NPR story re: the integration of Little Rock (AR) Central High School in 1957; here's another. Political analyst Juan Williams observes that the Little Rock Nine show why integration matters.

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

Former USI English professor John Gottcent has recently suggested in his column "Retiring Thoughts" that the U.S. may be more inclined to military interventions elsewhere given that we've not had a war on the U.S. mainland in 150 years. What do you think?

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings

Here's a link to the NPR coverage of the 'Jena Six,' six African-American teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate in Jena, Louisiana. The disparate treatment between the white and black students involved has caused outrage and brought national media attention to the small town.

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

The UAW has, for the time being, ended discussion with GM of creating a trust fund to manage retiree health-care obligations (Wall Street Journal, subscription required).

Mngt 341: Human Resource Management

In India, members of the Hindu Dalit caste (the former "untouchables") who convert to Christianity or Islam lose their affirmative action privileges (Wall Street Journal, subscription required).

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

Related to Approach Four, using military power to secure the peace, see the Washington Post's PostGlobal debate blog which today is dealing with the following question (with particular focus on Pakistan): Is a strong military the path to a strong and democratic state, or is it an obstacle?

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

Americans' attitudes toward the Iraq war are mostly unchanged in the wake of last week's testimony by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, according to a new poll.

Hons 101: Beyond Feelings

As part of our discussion re: "Who Are You?" we considered the application involving parental notification re: minors prescribed birth control. In that discussion we touched on sex education. Here's an item of note from the NPR News Blog related to that topic -- a woman who removed a sex ed book from a public library in Maine because she contended it was pornographic (the various comments on this blog item are of particular interest).

Mngt 408: Collective Bargaining and Industrial Relations

Today's Evansville Courier & Press reports that PPG is selling its glass operations, including its plant in Vanderburgh County. Note that workers at this plant recently voted in favor of union representation.

Hons 101: Americans' Role in the World

See this Washington Post article re: the linkage of 9/11 to Iraq.