After 125 years or so of being the most collectively Joe College nation on Earth, many Americans have turned sour on the idea that a higher education — or at least the four years we have traditionally set aside for young adults to get a bachelor’s degree — is key to an informed, successful life. Not me. But the varsity blues are otherwise rampant. Perhaps our culture had gone a little bit too all-in on the tradition, and this is just a course correction. I have noted before in this space that in my observations of car rear windshields in dozens of countries around the world, we are the only one that is positively bonkers in identifying the schools in which we, or our children, have matriculated, through decals and bumper stickers. The Citroens of Paris and the Jaguars of London are not adorned with signifiers bragging “Sorbonne” or “Oxford.” I don’t quite know if it’s simple humility or a lack of school spirit, but the fact is their license-plate holders do not announce, as does mine, “Go Bears!,” or the equivalent, to the driver behind them at the stop light. I do realize I was lucky in having been accepted into the University of California system during its golden age of taxpayer support. I got to study at the greatest public university in the world for a tuition that never varied from its annual $637.50 price tag from September 1973 through June 1977. That, the $200 monthly check my (sainted) mother sent me and the $15 a week I made for writing for the student newspaper covered everything: rent, books, meals, beer, whatnot. Undergraduate bliss. Or, if not always entirely that — there were inevitable heartbreaks, and the vague existential dread of adult life around the corner, in which you’d somehow have to make ends meet — four formative transitional years in between living under your parents’ roof and having to fend entirely on your own. If I was lucky, at least I knew that I was, and never took it for granted. I wasn’t smart enough to be a slacker. I never missed a single class, freshman through senior years. Of course, the information imparted wasn’t always at the hands of the professors. On a university campus, you have your beliefs challenged, or at least you ought to. For instance, as a perhaps naive believer in the essentially correct nature of American foreign policy, the Vietnam debacle aside, I had never for a minute as a high school student been exposed to any notion that Israel was anything but entirely righteous and correct in its dealings with its Arab neighbors. But walking through Sproul Plaza one day, with its ubiquitous “tablers” espousing various political causes, from Young Communists through Young Republicans, I stopped to read some pamphleteering giving the Palestinian side. You mean land was taken from families with an ancient claim to it without proper compensation? The world was more complicated than one had been led to believe. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | Thomas Elias: Expect Newsom to start his much anticipated run for president Opinion Columnists | Wishing for Santa-like efficiency in the USA Opinion Columnists | Jon Coupal: Santa Jarvis’s naughty and nice list Opinion Columnists | California is battling the future to protect performers Opinion Columnists | Politicians truly are the worst among us And now, as is only fitting, it’s time to play the role of old grouch. Students arrive on campus these days more set in their views, less open to conversion. You hang with the like-minded and issue trigger warnings to those who would challenge you. The Palestine-Israel situation is a sadly perfect example of that. And so, as someone who still spends a lot of time on college campuses, I was glad to read recently of efforts by college administrators to get young people to open up. In a story headlined “To Dial Down Campus Tensions, Colleges Teach the Art of Conversation,” New York Times reporter Anemona Hartocollis writes: “On a warm November day, a group of Columbia University professors set up ‘listening tables’ near the center of campus and hailed students rushing to class, inviting them to stop and talk.” They smartly bring pizza as an enticement, so some things never change. But it’s often the dire wolf of Gaza that still howls loudest at the tables. A woman in a kaffiyeh in one conversation talked about “this genocide.” “I wouldn’t call it a genocide,” said Scott Barry Kaufman, a psych prof moderating the group. “Do you hate me because I disagree with you?” “No, she did not hate him — ‘for that reason,’ she said,” Hartocollis reports. “Ouch,” Dr. Kaufman replied. Hey, at least they’re talking. Larry Wilson is on the Southern California News Group editorial board. lwilson@scng.com.Hollywood has stopped taking Meghan’s calls: Bombshell report
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DENVER , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has been awarded one of PepsiCo Foundation's 2024 Community Impact Awards. The PepsiCo Foundation is the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP ), one of the world's leading food and beverage companies. The program supports local communities by offering resources for employment services to justice-impacted job seekers. CEO Denver is one of 100 public charities and organizations across the United States and Canada to receive a Community Impact Award for its dedication and commitment to the communities it serves. Through strategic partnerships, such as the Community Impact Awards, the PepsiCo Foundation aspires to provide lasting change by tackling the challenges of inequality, whether through access to economic opportunity, clean water, or food security. "This award enables us to expand our reach and provide justice-impacted individuals with the support they need for long-term employment and economic stability," said Sam Schaefer , Executive Director of the Center for Employment Opportunities. "Since 2017, CEO Denver has helped countless individuals secure steady work, build skills, break employment barriers, and achieve socioeconomic mobility. This award will empower individuals to build brighter futures for themselves and their families." "At the PepsiCo Foundation, we believe that the strength of our communities lies in the hands of local leaders and nonprofit organizations who understand the unique local social challenges and opportunities of their community. The PepsiCo Foundation Community Impact Awards allow us to celebrate these trailblazers who are driving meaningful change in our communities across North America ," PepsiCo Foundation President and Global Head of Social Impact at PepsiCo, C.D. Glin said. "We invited PepsiCo employees to nominate local organizations of their choice and our employee's most admired nonprofits were selected as Community Impact Award recipients. We are honored to work alongside these inspiring organizations to amplify their efforts to create lasting positive social impacts across North America ." CEO currently operates in 30 cities and believes that anyone with a recent criminal history who wants to work has the preparation and support needed to find a job and stay connected to the labor force. The PepsiCo Foundation's dedication to partnering with local nonprofits stems from its understanding that these organizations are deeply rooted in the communities where PepsiCo employees live and work. By collaborating with local partners, the Foundation can more effectively address community-specific needs and leverage each organization's unique strengths to foster local, leading, and lasting solutions. The full release can be found here . Contact: Tiffany Elder , Regional Communications Manager [email protected] | (323) 973-7775 SOURCE Center for Employment OpportunitiesCHANGSHA, China , Dec. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Modern China's rural revitalization strategy is crafting a remarkable narrative of transformation across the countryside, while progressive opening-up policies encourage foreign visitors to delve deeper into the nation's heartland. On December 26th , VOC.com.cn premiered the second season of its acclaimed series, I Am in Rural China. The show follows Teona Kvartskhava, an international guest, as she explores the villages of Hunan Province , offering viewers a firsthand look at the dynamic implementation of comprehensive rural revitalization. This captivating series invites a global audience to witness the dawn of a new era in China's rural landscapes, showcasing the country's evolving countryside to viewers worldwide. Rice field came as the first surprise. Hunan is the largest rice grower and producer in China . Hunan provides the high-quality and tasty rice. Teona Kvartskhava, a foreigner hardly feeding on rice, was tempted to have plenty of it. In Qunle Village, Lixian County, Changde, she also experienced "Double Rush", which is a time-honored agricultural event in China . An event that used to call for the joint efforts of all family members, has now become much easier thanks to technology. Departing from Lixian County for the moment, Teona Kvartskhava embarked on an exciting trip of tastes in Rucheng, Chenzhou , Southern Hunan . Hunan people are keen and expert on peppery food and spicy taste dominates the Hunan cuisine. Hunan is also rich in varieties of peppers. Jingpo town, a well-known town where spicy food prevails. It is a producer of red cluster pepper, officially one of the hottest peppers in China . From the crowded market, to the red and yellow pepper planting base, and then to the modern processing pepper workshop, the small cluster pepper strung up all corners of the town, so that the original ordinary mountain town has become extraordinarily lively and affluent. Of course, the "star" of the countryside here is not only agriculture, but also culture, which has also blossomed in this ancient land. As the birthplace of papermaking, China has preserved a unique handmade papermaking technique, which is used to make some "special" papers. In Shanghong Village, Liuyang, Teona Kvartskhava was lucky to meet two Chinese masters, who showed her hands-on experiences of "Gushan Tribute Paper" and "Floral Paper". As the process progresses, the paper took shape in her hands, as if history and culture were meeting in front of her eyes, and became the "first paper" in Teona Kvartskhava's life. So,What's rural China like? It's about hospitable peasants, about various agricultural produce, about profound history and culture, about colorful intangible cultural heritage. It's like a book telling numerous absorbing stories. Hopefully Teona Kvartskhava'll be luckier to visit more villages for their unique interest and charm. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/my-date-with-rural-chinavoccomcn-unveils-season-two-of-i-am-in-rural-china-302339884.html SOURCE voc.com.cn
Larry Wilson: The lost art of college students talking to each otherHyderabad: The Congress workers staged a protest in Hyderabad on Sunday, December 22 against Union home minister Amit Shah’s remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar in Parliament. A Mashaal Rally starting from Liberty and ending at the Ambedkar statue was held demanding Amit Shah’s immediate resignation. Former Hyderabad youth Congress president Motha Rohit Mudiraj speaking to Siasat.com condemned Shah’s comments stating, “The Mashaal Rally represents the burning anger and resolve of the people to stand against attacks on our founding fathers.” “Amit Shah’s remarks in Parliament not only insult Dr Ambedkar’s legacy but also hurt the sentiments of millions of Indians. We will not stop until he issues a public apology. We will not tolerate disrespect for our history and heritage. Respect for our leaders and Constitution is non-negotiable.” he further added. VIDEO | Congress workers hold protest in Hyderabad over Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Dr BR Ambedkar in Parliament. (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7 ) pic.twitter.com/BYAe6z56VP On December 19, Amit Shah, during the Winter Session in Rajya Sabha said that Congress leaders might get a place in Heaven had they chanted God’s name instead “following the fashion of repeating Ambedkar’s name”. “ Abhi ek fashion ho gaya hai – Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar. Itna naam agar bhagwan ka lete to saat janmon tak swarg mil jata (It has become a fashion to say Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar, Ambedkar’. If they had taken God’s name so many times, they would have got a place in heaven),” Shah had said. His statement created a political storm with many Opposition leaders saying the senior BJP leader had insulted Ambedkar, who drafted the Constitution of India. However, Shah had accused the Congress of twisting facts and distorting his comments on Ambedkar asserting its malicious campaign after the discussion on Constitution “established” the Opposition party as being “anti-Ambedkar and anti-reservation”. The Union minister also accused the Congress of adopting the tactic of “misrepresenting and distorting” statements.