Articles & News About Student Loans & School

Northwestern University Commencement Controversy Swirls as Alumni, Students and Staff Raise Questions

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) June 12, 2008 -- An online petition is racing through Northwestern alumni, students and the larger community challenging a decision to rescind an honorary degree awarded to Rev. Jeremiah Wright that was supposed to be presented at the upcoming commencement exercises. The petition started by the Northwestern Black Alumni Association (NUBAA) demands among other things, that the honorary degree be restored. In 10 days, the petition has garnered more than 1,350 signatures. The petition can be found on line at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?JWHD1&1.

Reverend Wright is the only candidate from the fall of 2007 whose degree was rescinded. In a statement released on May 1, 2008, Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage said the university was concerned that the furor over Wright would disrupt the June commencement ceremonies. 'In light of the controversy around Dr. Wright and to ensure the celebratory character of commencement not be affected, the university has withdrawn its invitation to Dr. Wright,' Cubbage said. There are few people awarded an honorary degree that are later subjected to a serious effort to rescind the degree.

However, questions also have been raised about both the law school graduation and the university graduation. The law school commencement speaker is television host Jerry Springer. The university commencement speaker is Mayor Richard Daley.

On April 28, 2008 the Chicago Tribune ran an article about the controversy over Jerry Springer being a speaker at the law school commencement. Most recently, the media has done stories regarding the student controversy over the speaker at the University graduation, Mayor Richard M. Daley. Students have complained loudly to the University about this choice. The Chicago Business Daily, hundreds of students have criticized the choice, calling it "lame" and a "letdown" in comments on the Web site of the Daily Northwestern, the student newspaper. One student even wrote to Mr. Bienen, saying he would not attend the ceremony because Mr. Daley will speak. Mr. Bienen fired back, telling the student to "grow up." No students have complained to the Administration about Wright's degree.

NUBAA raises a specific question of fairness. In February 2007, Northwestern University's Law Clinic issued a press release when it named Mayor Daley as a defendant in the notorious Burge civil case. On February 14, 2007, cbs2chicago.com reported 'Mayor Richard M. Daley was added Wednesday as a defendant in a civil suit alleging that city officials have conspired for 25 years to cover up the torture of suspects by Chicago police.' The cbs2chicago.com report stated '[the mayor has done nothing about a pattern of torture -- a shameful episode in the history of this city,' [Daryl Cannon attorney G. Flint Taylor said during a news conference at which he announced the fresh complaint naming Daley. The cbs2chicago.com report goes on to say '[the newly filed complaint alleges that Daley, Byrne and top police officials were aware of 'the pattern and practice of torture and abuse at Area 2, the cover-up of that abuse and the wrongful prosecutions and convictions which resulted therefrom.'

The cbs2chicago.com report says that Daley, Byrne and police officials 'failed to intervene to stop defendant Burge and his Area 2 coconspirators from continuing their coercive interrogations and torture tactics.' Burge is accused of torturing confessions out black defendants in Chicago. The mayor is accused of participating in a conspiracy to cover up the facts of torture that occurred while he was the State's Attorney. The press release can be found on line at http://www.law.northwestern.edu/macarthur/documents/police/2_14_07_PressRelease.pdf. NUBAA contends that Northwestern has specific knowledge of controversy regarding the Mayor, yet will allow him to speak and receive an honorary degree, while Reverend Wright has been humiliated and disgraced for an alleged thought crime

"It seems clear that the University maintains a color line for controversial people. Controversial white people can speak and receive honorary degrees. Controversial black people can't be given a degree. We believe the University must use the academic tradition to get to the bottom of any controversy serious enough to warrant rescinding a degree," said Ce Cole Dillon, President Black Alumni Association (NUBAA).

The petition asks for Rev. Wright's degree to be awarded, as previously planned, at the upcoming commencement. The petition also asks for a complete inquiry into the process that was involved in the decision to not award the degree. NUBAA contends the degree rescission is the latest in a series of negative portrayals for Northwestern University, which was just listed by the Journal of Black Higher Education as one of the four highest-ranked universities to show a decrease in black first year enrollments during the period of 1998 to 2007...under the presidency of Henry Bienan.

# # #

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

Academic Financial Solutions Announces New Private Education Loans and Private Student Loan Consolidation Products
Leading student loan consolidation company, Academic Financial Solutions, now offers private education loans and private consolidation loans, adapting to the changing student loan industry.

Student Loan Debt Consolidation Can Help You Control Your Debt
Student Loan Debt Consolidation Can Help You Control Your Debt

Student Loan Servicing Web Site Responds to Recent Survey on College Loans
StudentLoanCenter.biz, and online center for student loan information and assistance, is responding to the results of a new survey about how students are paying for college.

College Student Loans- Useful Roadmap For Student Loans
If you are searching for information related to college student loans or any other such as federal student loan consolidation rates, BC government student loan, federal government student loans or federal student loan forgiveness programs you have come to the right article. This piece will provide you with the not just general college student loans information but also specific and helpful information. Enjoy it.

SimpleTuition Adds Discover Student Loans: Expands Student Loan Options for Students and Parents
SimpleTuition, Inc., a company dedicated to helping students and parents make sense of education financing choices, today announced an agreement with Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) to include its full line of student loan products - Discover Student Loans - among SimpleTuition's online offerings. Discover Student Loans include federal Stafford, federal PLUS, and private loans that cover the costs of higher education - tuition, housing, books and more.

Student College Loans  The Money for College Students
Introduction On promoted from the school academics, some students try their destiny for securing a brighter future prospect. For that, the students may either continue their studies or go in for their personal objectives. Once the students determine the academics, they may have to ponder over for the required expenditure on the structural figure of the educational institutions. For this purpose, the banks and other commercial institutions have provision of student college loans. These loans have hit upon for the cash deficit, and found ways for the aspired students who face some financial predicaments while getting admission in an institution.

College Student Loan Site Looks to Government Report for Insight
StudentLoanCenter.biz, a Web site that provides student loan assistance, is awaiting a government report that should signal the need for credit reform.

Student Loan Financial Group Launches Site for Law Students to Consolidate Student Loans
Student Loan Financial Group, the premier financial center specializing in consolidating student, college, private and federal loans, today announced the launch of its Law Student Loan Consolidation program, a special program for law students and practicing attorneys.

Government Student Loans- Useful Hint For Government Loans
As you devour this article, remember that the rest of it contains valuable information related to government student loans and in some way related to federal student loans deferment, student loans even with bad credit, paying federal student loans or consolidating federal and private student loans for your reading pleasure.

College Loan Consolidation: You Solution To Student Loan Payback
For those students wishing to get a college education who do not qualify for scholarships and who cannot work who can?t work enough to cover their college expenses, student loans can provide an answer. While borrowing money is never the ideal way to pay for anything, there are hundreds of thousands of people for whom a college education would have remained out of reach were it not for student loans. Even state colleges and universities can cost state residents upwards of $15,000 per year.

Student Loan Alternatives or Private Student Loans
"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation." John F. Kennedy.

Student Consolidation Loan: How Consolidating Student Loans Can Keep You Out Of Debt
The repayment of Federal student loans generally begins after the borrowing student has completed his or her education and an additional grace period after that. However, due to various reasons students opt for student Federal loan consolidation. However, there is certain eligibility criterion that you must fulfill and a process that you must follow before you can be entitled to Federal debt consolidation of student loans. Again, it is important to note here that such processes and criterion might be reviewed and revised from time to time. So, it?s important that you check on them with the concerned authority.

Loan Company Responds to Confused Students Seeking Answers About Their Student Loan Debt
College costs continue to increase while federal money falls further and further behind these rising costs. As students begin looking for more options for financial aid, they turn to companies like Student Loan Center, which specializes in providing answers and solutions regarding financial aid, for answers.

Consolidating Your Student Loans - Tips For College Debt Management
Getting through school is a worthwhile accomplishment You start a new life, hopefully launch into a new career, and have to start paying those college bills