Harvard University
Harvard announced that it will follow Penn’s lead in establishing an anti-hazing task force. While Penn's task force was created in December 2013, Harvard’s Office of Student Life recently released plans to collaborate with the university's Department of Health Promotion and Education in a series of initiatives to combat hazing at Harvard. Leaders of all recognized and unrecognized student organizations — including club sports, Greek organizations and finals clubs — are required to sign a non-hazing attestation form at the beginning of each year.
Yale University
Two graduate students at the Yale School of Public Health are planning on taking precautions to prevent a possible spread of Ebola. The students are returning from a trip to Liberia where they set up a computer system for the Liberian Ministry of Health to monitor the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa. They have agreed to sequester themselves for three weeks after their return. They have reportedly not come into direct contact with disease.
Cornell University
Just in time for its 150th anniversary, Cornell University announced that its Board of Trustees has approved a candidate for the next university president. The board concluded its six-month search with the choice of Elizabeth Garrett , currently the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at the University of Southern California.
New York University
In a Sept. 30 email, NYU announced the release of its updated sexual misconduct policy. Notable changes include a clearer definition of consent, a simplified investigation process and an identification of resources available for complainants and respondents. The University will be looking for feedback from the community regarding changes to the policy.
Stanford University
On Friday, President Barack Obama named two Stanford professors as recipients of the National Medal of Science. Thomas Kailath , a professor emeritus of the School of Engineering, is known for his work on information and system sciences, and Burton Richter , a professor emeritus in the Physical Sciences department, is a Nobel Prize winner who helped discover a subatomic particle called the J/Psi meson.
