Editor’s Note: All opinion section content reflects the views of the individual author only and does not represent a stance taken by The Collegian or its editorial board. Today is the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. This school shooting shook the nation, and since then mass shootings have become a regular occurrence in […]

What began as a debate in 1981 between Professor of Biology Kenneth Miller ’70 and scientific creationist Henry Morris has evolved into the publication of a biology textbook, appearances on television programs, involvement in court cases and the publication of books such as “Finding Darwin’s God” and, most recently, “The Human Instinct: How We Evolved to Have Reason, Consciousness, and Free Will.” Following the book’s release, Miller spoke at the Brown Bookstore Thursday evening to discuss the material of his book and its implications.

At the event, Miller quoted excerpts from his book while explaining the prevailing topics. “The Human Instinct” aims to explain the presence of free will and consciousness and how evolution is not a degradation of human significance, but rather evidence to support humans’ true nature and importance. “Of all the creatures of all the forms of life, … only the human creature seeks answers to questions in the stars,” Miller said, quoting his book. On free will, Miller maintains that a purely deterministic approach would oppose the human choices that define the scientific process.

Though Miller’s academic work is more focused on cellular biology, he has become a notable spokesperson for the teaching of evolution, serving as an expert witness in two federal court cases regarding the use of his textbook in school districts. Additionally, his writings advocate for connecting religious faith and evolutionary principles. “I wanted to convince other people that you can look at the evolutionary history of our species and use that evolutionary history to confirm the special place and the special responsibility that human beings have,” Miller said.

During the event, Miller mentioned notable names as inspirations for his work, including Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking and Marilynne Robinson ’66, a novelist. Miller identified Robinson’s work as one of the inspirations for his treatment of “bigger picture issues,” he said.

“This woman is not a science denier, and yet, she fnds these Darwinian implications to be, as she put it, ‘chilling,’” Miller said. Robinson’s work, which includes “Absence of Mind” and “The Death of Adam,” speaks to the issues with a purely evolutionary foundation of thought. “Natural selection produced a species … that was capable of transcending the mere demands of survival and reproduction,” he said. “From that transcendence, we derive the great characteristics of civilization.”

In attendance were friends, family and colleagues anxious to hear about Miller’s newest work.

Clare Grossman ’21, a student in Miller’s biology course, attended to support her professor and because of her general interest in science. “It’s very important work to reconcile the theory of evolution with the belief that so many Americans hold, because evolution is such an important part of understanding science,” she said.

Following his talk at the bookstore, Miller plans to attend a plethora of events  in the coming months and hopes that his book will further the discussion of scientific inquiry as complementary to religious faith, he said. He also said he hopes the book serves as a “pep talk for the human race” and generates “a sense of optimism about human nature, about the capabilities of the human species and a sense, also, that evolution … doesn’t limit and define what human beings are capable.”

“We really do have a special place, not just on this planet, but even in the universe itself,” Miller said. “This book attempts to provide scientific support for that.”

1,000 students to receive free access to the first-of-its-kind, all-access subscription for course materials

KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 20, 2018 — Cengage, an education and technology company, today announced it is providing 1,000 college students with a free semester of Cengage Unlimited, the new subscription service for college course materials. The announcement was made by Cengage CEO Michael Hansen at PTK Catalyst 2018, the Society’s annual convention, in Kansas City.

Cengage Unlimited is a first-of-its-kind subscription service that gives students access to all the company’s digital higher education materials — more than 22,000 products across 70 disciplines and 675 courses— for $119.99/semester, no matter how many Cengage materials they use.

The subscriptions will be made available through a partnership with the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Foundation. PTK is the international honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges.

“The cost of course materials, which can rival tuition at some two-year schools, can have a big impact on whether college students are successful,” said Michael Hansen, CEO, Cengage. “With an affordable subscription to high quality, proven course materials, we’re removing those barriers and increasing access to learning. These awards demonstrate our commitment to giving students a more impactful, quality learning experience.”

Students pursuing associate degrees deal with many financial challenges. More than half face food and housing insecurity and nearly 13% experience some form of homelessness, according to recent reports.

“While PTK members have very similar financial struggles as other college students, they dramatically outperform their peers in completion and transfer outcomes,” said PTK President and CEO Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner. “We appreciate Cengage’s investment in their success.”

PTK Members and alumni attending a U.S. college or university can enter online at http://www.ptk.org/cengage. Cengage Unlimited will launch in August 2018 and subscriptions can be used for the 2018/19 academic year. The deadline to apply is May 15, 2018.

For more information about Cengage Unlimited, please visit Cengage.com/unlimited or stop by the Cengage booth at PTK Catalyst, April 19-21.

About Cengage
Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher ed, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service.  We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 10 nations. Learn more at ptk.org.

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Media Contact
Kristina Massari
Cengage
203-965-8694
kristina.massari@cengage.com

Two Emory students have been recognized for their achievements with prestigious academic scholarships. Lamar Greene (19C) received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship and Ashley Diaz (20C) won the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship.

The Truman Scholarship honors college juniors for their commitments to public service, according to its website. Recipients receive $30,000 for graduate study and professional development for a career in public service. Greene, recognized for his work in healthcare innovation, was one of 59 chosen out of 756 applicants across the United States to receive the scholarship.

Greene, a recipient of the Bill and Melinda Gates scholarship, said that his interest in health care first began in high school, but he discovered his passion for human health through an internship at a cardiovascular lab in Richmond, Va.

“I ended up interning through a college access program at a lab for early prevention and detection research for cardiovascular disease,” Greene said. “I became more interested in public health through that program.”

Greene then narrowed his interests through his work with Emory’s Office of Health Promotion (OHP) the summer after his freshman year, where he helped to promote HIV prevention initiatives. Greene wrote a portion of the new “sexpert” curriculum and researched 20 HIV prevention clinics at other colleges across the U.S.

Greene is currently working with OHP on the national college health assessment, which he described as a “health needs assessment for all of Emory.” Greene also plans to write an honors thesis next semester in which he examines racial disparities in maternal health.

“It seemed surreal that I was able to do this fresh out of my first year,” Greene said.

Greene said that his primary focus was on the existing inequities in health care.

“I would say I’m most passionate about health disparities,” Greene said. “Specifically focusing on race and sexual orientation … I think it’s important to guarantee that everyone has access to [health care] on that level.”

Professor of Human Health Jennifer Sarrett said that Greene was extraordinarily passionate about his work.

“Lamar is one of the brightest and most engaged students I’ve come across at Emory,” Sarrett wrote in an April 17 email to the Wheel. “His passion for improving health and quality of life among disenfranchised groups is evident in his many academic and extracurricular activities.”

The Truman Scholarship Foundation also allows students to choose an organization to work with and tries to match the student with the organization of their choosing. Greene chose America’s Essential Hospitals, a political action committee (PAC) in Washington, D.C.

“They structure [hospitals] to be more vision focused and align more with the social determinants of health, which I think is really phenomenal,” Greene said. “It’s definitely something I could see myself doing long term.”

Diaz was awarded the Goldwater scholarship for her research in organic chemistry, which provides up to $7,500 per year while pursuing their undergraduate degrees. She was one of 211 students chosen out of 1,280 applicants.

The Goldwater Scholarship is bestowed upon college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics or engineering and potentially make significant future contributions in the field, according to its website.

Ashley began her scientific research in high school at a Howard Hughes Medical Institute program in the summer before her senior year, researching spinal cord injuries.

“I was just really interested in neuroscience in general at that point,” Diaz said. “That was my very first research experience.”

Diaz continued her work in neuroscience by studying occipital neuralgia, a type of headache, during her freshman year at Emory.

“We did research on something called occipital neuralgia,” Diaz said. “There aren’t that many therapeutic strategies at the moment, so we researched deep brain stimulation and how that affected whether or not it would help with symptoms.”

Diaz transitioned into the organic chemistry lab after receiving an offer from Associate Professor of Chemistry Bill Wuest.

“I just really liked chemistry a lot,” Diaz said. “I had already done so much research in neuroscience, I wanted to explore.” Diaz currently researchers antibiotic resistance in the Wuest Laboratory.

“Ashley is the most talented sophomore I have ever had work in my lab,” Weust wrote in an April 17 email to the Wheel. “When it comes to chemistry, and organic chemistry in particular, she just gets it.”

Diaz said that she was hesitant to apply for the scholarship at first, but her adviser and Wuest encouraged her to do so.

“It’s so competitive,” Diaz said. “I really didn’t even expect it at all.”

Diaz said that she believes that the amount of publications she’s been involved in probably made her stand out as a candidate for the award.

“Most people at my level don’t have a lot of publications,” Diaz said. “That was probably the tipping point.”

Diaz is currently working on a project involving molecular biology and multiple sclerosis that she began last summer at the University of Miami.

Diaz said that the award made her research feel more significant.

“It just validates that the research I’ve done so far is important,” Diaz said. “Enough that it can

be nationally recognized.”

Diaz is unsure of her future plans but is considering pursuing graduate degrees in organic chemistry and emergency medicine.

“If I could find a way to synthesize the stuff that I like, then I’ll definitely do an M.D. and Ph.D.,” Diaz said.

The post Emory Students Selected for Truman and Goldwater Scholarships appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

Back in early December, Willie Taggart visited Oregon quarterback commit Tyler Shough at Shough’s home in Chandler, Arizona.

The two, along with Oregon’s quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, discussed everything Oregon, an obvious subject on a visit like this one. But Shough said the meeting had a “weird vibe to it.”

That’s because at the time, rumors were flying about how Taggart was a top candidate for the Florida State head coaching job.

Two days after his visit with Shough, Taggart left.

“It was definitely weird,” Shough said on Tuesday, his first time speaking to the media. “I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen. He was definitely promoting Oregon at the time.”

But once Shough (pronounced “Shuck”) heard that Oregon would retain Mario Cristobal and Arroyo, he upheld his commitment. He is now a Duck and excited to be one. He enrolled at Oregon in January and has been taking classes and practicing with the team since his arrival.

“The speed and the tempo, everything is definitely faster up here,” Shough said. “It’s definitely been a good ride so far. I’ve learned a lot.”

The former 4-star recruit has also impressed coaches in his first several weeks with the Ducks. As spring practices come to a close, Shough and Braxton Burmeister are locked in a competition for the backup quarterback role.

Freshman quarterback Tyler Shough walks to the field for a spring practice.
(Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)

Shough said the two have become good friends through the competition and have enjoyed battling in practices.

“We make each other better,” Shough said. “He does some things I can’t. I do some things he can’t. So we just learn from each other and just get better overall.”

Being an early-enrollee, Shough is trying to take advantage of all the opportunities he can. Cristobal said he’ll jump into drills voluntarily and hasn’t backed away from any challenges.

“Tyler is really talented. He’s really smart,” Cristobal said. “What stands out about him most in the offseason is that he’s a relentless competitor.”

In addition to learning from Burmeister, Shough is leaning on fellow quarterback Justin Herbert as mentor.

“I’ve definitely been asking him about plays,” Shough said. “You know, ‘What do you think about this coverage?, what do you think about this?, what classes are you taking?’ Stuff like that, because he’s definitely been through it.

“I definitely look up to him.”

Oregon’s lack of quarterback depth last year doomed its season as it went 1-4 in the five games that Herbert didn’t start. Now, with Shough and a more experienced Burmeister, Cristobal feels more confident with the options he’ll have at backup this season.  

“Tyler, him and Braxton, they’re what you want at that position,” Cristobal said. “Competitors that are tough and hard-nosed and that want to get better.”

They’ll get the opportunity to showcase their skills in Oregon’s spring game on Saturday. Cristobal said the two will get even reps in the scrimmage, which will also be Shough’s first experience playing in front a crowd at Autzen Stadium.

“That’s definitely going to a first experience for sure,” Shough said. “I’m definitely excited for it.”

Follow Gus Morris on Twitter @JustGustMorris

The post Tyler Shough stayed committed to the Ducks, now he’s battling for key backup quarterback position appeared first on Emerald Media.

As the Daily Trojan reported on Feb. 13, the Central American Network released a petition to change the name of El Centro Chicano to El Centro. With a growing population of Caribbean, Central and South American students, there have been many voices echoing the petition’s sentiment.

Approximately 300 students signed the original petition put out by CAN.

CAN realized that although many students signed the petition, it was important to develop an inclusive and collaborative process for finding the right name for El Centro Chicano to ensure that the cultural center’s name represented a larger majority of the Latinx community at USC.

Since then, CAN, the Latinx Student Assembly, Latina/o Graduate Student Association and El Centro Chicano have formed a coalition to find a more inclusive name for the Latinx resource center. Each organization brings a different perspective to the group and continues to focus on elevating the voices of students. Given the demographic changes and political climate in the country, all four organizations agree that the time for change is here.

A name change for El Centro Chicano would affect 14.1 percent of the student population at USC — almost 7,000 students.

During the 1970s, when El Centro Chicano was created, the Latinx population in California and Texas was comprised primarily of Mexican Americans.

USC was located in a community that made up the largest Mexican population outside of Mexico. At that time, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MeChA) student leaders requested a student office space but were denied the request. These students were persistent and MeChA student leaders petitioned the USC administration for a student space in the Student Union Building which eventually led to the creation of the Chicano Taskforce at the University.

After years of struggle and fighting, El Centro Chicano was established in 1972. The term “Chicano” was chosen to symbolize the struggle for political consciousness and inclusion.

Forty-six years later, the term Chicano continues to mean many different things to different people. At its foundation, Chicano was a term used to emphasize a collective consciousness, a collective race called la raza cosmica (the cosmic race). The Chicano movement sought to empower Mexican-Americans by creating an identity for themselves, as “Mexican” had become a derogatory label. After a large influx of Caribbean, Central and South American  people immigranted in the 1980s — many of them refugees of civil war and dictatorships — many Latinos in the United States that do not feel included when they see the term Chicano.

The request for a name change for El Centro Chicano is not new to the cultural center; students have been asking for this change since at least 2005. As we face another era of political instability, it is imperative that we stay united as a community and be more inclusive than ever before.

The coalition has begun a research phase to ensure that El Centro Chicano can better fulfill its mission of inclusivity. Since February, we have hosted several events where we have brought each of our members to discuss how they feel about the current name. We hosted a Power Pan Dulce meeting where we invited Mary Ann Pacheco, an El Centro Chicano founder, to learn more about the center’s history. We also hosted a second Power Pan Dulce meeting with a panel of alumni and Carol Sigala, who helped found El Centro Chicano. They spoke about their experiences at El Centro Chicano and how they feel about the proposal to change the name of the cultural center. Each organization in the coalition has hosted other satellite events to keep the conversation going.

We sent out an anonymous survey through each of our organizations and to USC alumni, faculty and staff to learn more about how each individual perceives the term Chicano and how they identify themselves. The survey received 200 responses, 129 of which were from current students.

In the survey, 86 percent of current USC students viewed the term “Latino/Latina/Latinx” as a broader, more inclusive way to describe our population. The survey also allowed for respondents to provide input on not only a new name but also what El Centro Chicano can do to have more inclusive practices.

We are hosting a town hall on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. next week in TCC 302 to hear the voices of the entire USC Latinx community — students, alumni, faculty, staff and community partners.

The Central American Network, latinx student assembly, latino/a graduate student association, el centro chicano

The post Letter to the Editor: El Centro name change is a necessity for inclusivity appeared first on Daily Trojan.

Studying abroad is a trip in itself, but when the classroom becomes crowded, branching out to a new city can seem like a great way to experience not only the country you’re in but the cities and places that surround it.  Andy Steves, the creator of Weekend Student Adventures and the author of “Europe: City-Hopping […]

Editor’s note: 4/20 blaze it 2018

April 20 is a big day, especially in Berkeley and especially on the Glade, if you catch our drift. Today’s all about getting lit — figuratively or literally. You do you.

Peace, love, blaze it, Clog.

Roll up, you Bears! The dopest 4/20 playlist

Student gets lost in cloud of smoke on Memorial Glade

6 UC Berkeley-inspired strains of weed to smoke this 4/20

It’s not lit: Dope ways to avoid the 4/20 blazers on campus

A definitive ranking of the best cheesy snacks to eat this 4/20

A pocket-sized guide to Yay Area weed

Contact Avanti Mehrotra, Chelsea Song and Chloe Lelchuk at blog@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

A student dressed as a pancake caught people’s attention on the Gregory Gym Plaza on Wednesday and attracted people to the Pancakes for Parkinson’s fundraiser. 

The fundraiser, which was hosted by Texas Round Table and held in honor of Professor Jim Vick, benefited the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s research on Parkinson’s disease. The disease is a central nervous system disorder that affects the daily lives of about one million people across the United States with symptoms such as muscle stiffness, fatigue and tremors. There is currently no cure for it.

Business freshman Ethan Escudero said he thought Pancakes for Parkinson’s was for an exemplary cause such as other events and organizations on campus, but stood out because it was personal. Texas Round Table set a goal of raising $5,000. 

“Pancakes for Parkinson’s seems more personal compared to others because it affects people, their parents and their grandparents,” Escudero said.

Jim Vick, UT mathematics professor since 1970 and former vice president for student affairs, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 10 years ago.

“About six months after I was diagnosed, my family worked with students to start Pancakes for Parkinson’s at UT,” Vick said.

Vick said he has worked with many people, had a lot of fun raising to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation, named after the famous actor who has Parkinson’s and would love to see a cure found.

“It’s great for students to reach out to those who have a need,” Vick said. “The students have done a really great job; I’m very proud of them.”

Sociology senior Divine Ntomchukwu has been volunteering with Pancakes for Parkinson’s since his freshman year.

“At first, it was just the idea of having a normal event every year, but then the University found out Dr. Vick had Parkinson’s,” Ntomchukwu said. “The president at the time wanted to have an event in Dr. Vick’s honor.”

Ntomchukwu said Vick was an incredibly humble professor whom every student loves because he was able to smile and brush off the challenges of his disease.

“I think it’s so cool they were able to dedicate an event to Dr. Vick as well as everyone fighting Parkinson’s disease,” Ntomchukwu said. “Whatever physical issue you may have does not dictate your self worth or who you are. That is what’s important about Pancakes for Parkinson’s. It’s brought awareness in the best way possible.”

University police are searching for a man who allegedly sexually battered a UCLA student Wednesday.

The student was at the crosswalk near De Neve Plaza at 10:30 p.m. when the man asked her sexually explicit questions and grabbed her buttocks, according to a UCPD alert.

UCPD described the man as black, 5 feet, 11 inches and about 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hat with “Compton” in silver writing, a white shirt and blue jeans.

UCPD advises students to report suspicious activity to the police, remain aware of their surroundings and travel in groups.

The case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case can call UCPD at 310-825-1491.