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Louisiana Higher Ed: Southern-Shreveport picks chancellor finalists, LSU doctor creates sepsis test
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 20, 2023
The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected] The search committee for the next chancellor of Southern University Shreveport has announced five finalists. The candidates include Peggy Bradford, previously president of Shawnee […]
Landry’s ‘protecting minors’ tip line flooded with thousands of spam complaints
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 20, 2023
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s “Protecting Minors” tip line, set up to field concerns about librarians, teachers and other school and library personnel, has been flooded with thousands of spam complaints. More than 5,500 pages of complaints were released to the Louisiana Illuminator in response to a public records request. The records include all complaints […]
Our Lady of the Lake takeover of LSU Student Health Center pushed back
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 18, 2023
It will take a month longer than planned for the new operator of LSU’s student clinic to take over its services. A campus spokesman attributed the delay to the final approval needed from the LSU Board of Supervisors. Cody Worsham with LSU confirmed Wednesday that Our Lady of the Lake will take over management of the […]
These books and authors were challenged the most at Louisiana libraries
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 17, 2023
Conservatives turned Louisiana libraries into their battleground in 2022, with dozens of book challenges submitted in parishes across the state. Complaints were primarily concerned about titles for children and young adult with LGBTQ themes. The Louisiana Illuminator requested copies of challenges submitted last year to libraries in all 64 parishes. Most responded and the vast […]
Louisiana Higher Ed: LSU sued, coastal and library research funded
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 13, 2023
The Louisiana Illuminator takes a weekly look at news from universities and colleges around the state. Have a tip or want to submit a Louisiana Higher Ed news item? Contact [email protected] Josh Archote, editor-in-chief of The Reveille, LSU’s student newspaper, has sued the university for records related to an investigation of a former Greek life […]
LSU professor promoted after misconduct allegations, lawsuit against accuser
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 13, 2023
An LSU professor who sued a man for defamation for reporting him to police and the university for an allegation of rape has agreed to settle with the defendant. The alleged victim claims the lawsuit was retaliatory. According to documents filed in Baton Rouge City Court in January 2021, the accuser, who asked not to […]
Age verification law for adult websites comes with privacy, technical concerns
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 11, 2023
As Louisiana rang in the new year, Louisianians took to social media to express concerns about a new law that required age verification before accessing pornography websites. The new law, which sailed through the legislature with just a single vote against it, was sponsored by Rep. Laurie Schlegel, a Metairie Republican who also works as […]
Governor announces new and returning higher education board members
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 7, 2023
Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a round of new appointees and reappointments Friday to Louisiana’s higher education governing boards. The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors is comprised of 15 members who serve staggered six-year terms and one student member who serves a one-year term. Edwards reappointed Lola Dunahoe, Al Perkins, Elizabeth Pierra and […]
Fight over St. Tammany library books escalates to include law enforcement
By: Piper Hutchinson - January 4, 2023
A Northshore district attorney has waded into the fight over library materials after complaints were made to local police over what some consider inappropriate books. Warren Montgomery, prosecutor for St. Tammany and Washington parishes, sent a memo to all police chiefs and captains in St. Tammany advising them of how state law applies to books […]
Professors’ favorite podcasts: Learn something new in 2023
By: Piper Hutchinson - December 29, 2022
Sticking to New Year’s resolutions is hard, but listening to podcasts is easy. If you’d like a breezy way to improve yourself in 2023, check out these podcasts recommended by Louisiana college professors to learn about their area of expertise. Water? I barely know ‘er! Clint Wilson, director of the LSU Center for Water Studies, […]
LSU professor awarded $5 million to aid journalists harassed online
By: Piper Hutchinson - December 19, 2022
An LSU researcher was awarded $5 million from the National Science Foundation to study online harassment of journalists. Kathleen Searles, a professor of political communication, will create a system of care that merges social and technical resources for journalists experiencing online harassment. “How do we find ways to change the norms in these spaces that […]
Edwards intends to ask legislators for rape, incest exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban
By: Piper Hutchinson - December 19, 2022
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at his annual end of year press conference Monday that he will ask legislators to add exceptions for rape and incest to Louisiana’s abortion ban. Edwards said that while there have been some hiccups, when people were denied abortion access in Louisiana when they probably shouldn’t have, the post-Roe […]