On campus, March 20
1. University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier is facing a nightmare: 15 years with hard labor in a North Korean jail. Detained by North Korea since January for trying to steal a political banner from a hotel — he said he wanted it as a trophy for a church member in Wyoming, Paste BN reports — and charged with subversion by North Korea’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, his immediate future looks bleak. The Cavalier Daily reports that the university is not commenting, but Paste BN College spoke with students at U.Va. to get their reactions to the news.
“I was shocked. … I know it’s North Korea, but at the same time, for such a petty crime as stealing something like a flag, I didn’t expect it. (And while) maybe (his going there) was not the best decision, I’m optimistic that he’ll get out,” says first year student Evan Davis.
"I kind of expected it. I was surprised that people were actually surprised that he was sentenced for 15 years and detained. I mean, North Korea’s not exactly a nation known for its hospitality or easy laws," first year student Dominick Candelieri-Marcari says.
2. Say goodbye to Harvard Law's seal, which has been under protest for being derived from a slave-owning family, according to The Harvard Crimson. The school’s highest governing body, The Harvard Corporation, agreed on Monday that Harvard Law School could drop the shield; the decision came less than a week after a Harvard law committee released a report recommending it be abandoned. Harvard President Drew Faust and Corporation Senior Fellow William F. Lee approved of the recommendation in a letter penned to the committee, according to The Harvard Crimson. “Following a review of the committee report, the ‘different view’ conveyed by Professor Gordon-Reed and Ms. Rittgers, and your own memorandum, the Corporation agrees with your judgment and the recommendation of the committee that the Law School should have the opportunity to retire its existing shield and propose a new one.”
3. A student found responsible for sexual assault by Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn., got off with not much more than a typical homework assignment — a 500-word essay about consent. That is, at least, the claim of students “and concerned alumni” who organized protests last week at the small liberal arts school, according to a report from Inside Higher Ed. Shantoria Cobbs, a student at Gustavus, told the publication that the student successfully appealed a suspension and his punishment was reduced to the essay, working with a mentor and suspension from some campus activities. Citing privacy laws, Gustavus declined to discuss the case or confirm Cobbs’ account.
4. If softball is your passion you may be wondering if it’s possible to play in college, or even make it a career (playing, or coaching). But which school is right for you? College Factual has ranked the best colleges for softball taking into account the athletic success of the team, as well as the academic success of the players and other quality measures. According to College Factual, the top colleges for women's Division 1 softball are:
- University of Florida
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- University of California-Los Angeles
- Hofstra University
- Baylor University
To read the entire list, head over to college.usatoday.com.