The Observer, March 23, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 21
Outside the Circle
Fisk University seeks to sell painting to solve financial crisis
Fisk University has received offers "at or in excess of $20 million" for "Radiator Building," one of Georgia O'Keeffe's most famous paintings, according to Fisk spokesman Ken West. However, the offers do not match requirements negotiated between the university and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.
The school is seeking to sell "Radiator Building" and Marsden Hartley's 1913 "Painting No. 3" to help bolster its endowment and pull its finances out of crisis.
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum agreed to purchase "Radiator Building" for $7 million if a sufficient buyer could not be found.
The director of the Yale University Art Gallery said that Radiator Building would sell for no less than $20 million. He accused the museum of taking advantage of Fisk and referred to the $7 million sale as "ridiculous."
Canadian student detained at U.S. airport
Northern Ontario student Mahmoud Zeitoun was detained at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport for 12 and a half hours after intense questioning. A Muslim, he said he was interrogated all day about whether he has ties to Hezbollah or knows anyone with hatred toward America.
"I felt insulted. I felt frightened. I felt very, very weak," said Zeitoun.
The officials at the airport told Zeitoun that he could only depart the country between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., which conflicted with his plans. He was then told that he needed a visa to enter the U.S. This is not usually required for Canadians unless they are coming in to work.
Airport officials also searched his luggage and took his $3000 laptop. There is no guarantee that it will be returned. The laptop contained all the work he needed for the rest of the semester. "This will bring me to an F," said Zeitoun.
Communist Party USA donates historical documents to NYU
Communist Party USA recently gave 12,000 cartons of history to New York University. The cartons contain documents, photographs, and paraphernalia from decades of party operation.
Some of the most exciting pieces uncovered so far include Joe Hill's famous will, which he wrote the night before he was executed before a firing squad in 1915. He wrote the will in verse, and it has since been put to music. The will, written in pencil, now resides at NYU. Other treasures include Lenin buttons, code words, personal letters, the party's first constitution, and photographs.
While not all the documents have been explored, it is thought possible that things could be found that drastically change the nation's opinions of the Communist Party during that time.
Helicopter parents smother college students
A recent survey of 1700 parents of college students, released by College Parents of America, found that parents are more involved in their students' lives than they ever were before. These hyper-involved parents are given the nickname "helicopter parents" because of how they hover over their adult children.
Of those surveyed, 30 percent communicate daily with their child, and 73 percent communicate at least two or three times weekly. Mothers are in contact more often than fathers. Most parents (82 percent) use the cell phone most frequently, and 50 percent like e-mail. Parents of students at private universities are more likely to send texts or instant messages than parents of students at public colleges. Only 5 percent of parents use postal mail frequently.
The issues that they are most concerned about for their children are finances, safety, schoolwork, career track, and relationships. The parents recognized their level of involvement. eighty-one percent said that they were more involved than their parents were when they were in college.
Student deaths in off-campus housing lead to increased fire safety education
After three students died in two off-campus fires at Boston University, university officials are planning to improve their fire safety education programs. They plan to include sending e-mails, posting fliers, and creating a new website.
President Robert A. Brown and dean of students Kenneth Elmore wrote in an e-mail to students Sunday, "It is true that the recent fires were accidental; however, we should increase our collective obligation to do what we can to avoid similar tragedies in the future."
The university is conducting an extra inspection of campus buildings to make sure that the safety systems are working properly. Other area colleges have responded similarly.
The first fire, which killed two students and seriously injured another, was started by a burning candle, which was thought to have been lit after a power outage. The second fire was caused by hot embers from a grill on the back porch. They smoldered on the deck's wood and on a couch and finally burst into flames at 6 a.m. It's prohibited for residents to have grills on porches.
