(The Center Square) – Adoption of institutional neutrality is supported by better than 6 in 10 tenured and nontenured faculty at the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University and Duke University, a report says. Nationally, 66% of faculty say “colleges and universities should not take positions on political and social issues,” says Silence in the Classroom, the 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report. At Duke, the percentage is 71%, at Carolina 65%, and at Wake 64%. Higher education is facing mounting challenges, from the costs to the positions it favors. Silencing students or faculty has drawn sharp criticism from Capitol Hill to every corner of the nation sending people to the ballot box. Carolina, established in 1789, is the nation’s oldest public university. It also earlier this year became embattled in free speech controversy tied to the war between Hamas and Israel. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression , as FIRE is more formally known, is a nonprofit nonpartisan organization billing itself as “defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought.” Surveys on topics related to free expression and academic freedom were made of 6,269 tenured, tenure-track and nontenure faculty at 55 four-year colleges and universities in America. In North Carolina, the sampling was of 145 at Carolina, 80 at Duke, and 55 at Wake Forest. For each campus, respondents said the top “difficult issue to discuss” is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Asked for top three issues, the Middle East saga was 79% at Carolina, 71% at Wake Forest and 68% at Duke. Each campus was split on the second and third choices. At Duke, 57% said affirmative action and 51% transgender rights. At Carolina, 54% said affirmative action and 53% racial inequality. And at Wake, 63% said racial inequality and 55% transgender rights. All were talking points of various candidates, particularly the presidential race, in the election cycle climaxing last month. In response to faculty feeling “they could not express their opinion because of how others would respond,” the choices of “occasionally,” “fairly often” and “very often” drew a combined 69% at Wake Forest, 69% at Duke and 67% at Carolina. Fairly often and very often were 35% at Duke. Statements pledging commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is rarely or never justified of faculty job candidates, said 61% at Duke, 44% at Carolina and 42% at Wake Forest. Nationally, the response was 50%. Academic freedom leaned more toward secure than not at all three institutions on a split of about 60%-40%. As for faculty feeling a need to “hide their political beliefs from other faculty in an attempt to keep their job,” answers of “never” were chosen by 43% at Duke, 42% at Carolina and 36% at Wake Forest. Among the national findings of the FIRE survey: • More faculty (35%) than during the McCarthy era (9%) say they toned down their writing for fear of controversy. • Threats of discipline for teaching, research, academic talks or other off-campus speech was incurred by 14%. • Faculty feeling unable to speak freely for fear of how others would respond was 27%. • Fear of damaged reputations because of misunderstandings with something said or done was 40%. • Fear of losing jobs because of misunderstandings with something said or done was 23%.PREP FOOTBALL= IAHSAA State Playoffs= Class 3A= Championship= Wahlert, Dubuque 49, Humboldt 14 Class 2A= Championship= West Lyon, Inwood 42, Spirit Lake 7 Some high school football scores provided by Scorestream.com , https://scorestream.com/
Victors Home Solutions has been recognized as 2024 Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year DETROIT , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On December 5th, 2024 , Victors Home Solutions was awarded the title of Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year at the Best of Success conference in Bonita Springs, FL. At this conference, Victors Home Solutions, which has been in business since 2008, received the award for Residential Roofing Contractor of the Year. Victor Smolyanov , Founder and CEO, attributes much of his success to the opportunity to give back to the communities in which he operates: "Last year we were blessed to give away 23 roofs, and this year it's going to be 40, and that has a huge impact," he said. "For us, it's one out of 4,000 roofs, but for them, it's potentially a life-changing event, allowing them to live more comfortably without having to worry about moving their bed when it rains or having a tarp on." This marks the 20th year of the conference, and it is said to be a must-attend event for roofing professionals. In addition to the amenities available on-site, there are many opportunities for education, exploration of new roofing technologies, and networking with top organizations in the roofing industry, such as Victors Home Solutions. Victors Home Solutions is recognized for their impact on local communities through their Give Back program. A program that has provided many with a roof over their heads. For every 100 roof replacements installed, Victors will provide one local family in need with a roof replacement at no cost. To nominate someone you know, click here . About Victors Home Solutions Victors Home Solutions has provided premier residential roofing and home improvement services to Michigan , Ohio , Kentucky , New Jersey , Illinois , and Pennsylvania communities for over 15 years. Victors' commitment to quality workmanship and integrity, along with his passion for roofing, has made Victors Home Solutions the highest ranked roofing company in Michigan . With over 200 employees and eight locations, Victors is at the forefront and stands poised to revolutionize the roofing and home improvement industries. For more information, visit Victors.com . Media Contact: Jake Tilk [email protected] SOURCE Victors Home Solutions
UTICA — It was a packed ballroom at Delta Hotels by Marriott in Utica on Thursday, as leaders from local businesses and organizations gathered to attend the 2024 Business of the Year Awards. The annual ceremony, put on by the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, spotlights exceptional members of the chamber who excel in their contributions to the community. “This is truly one of my favorite events of the season, where we come together to honor the fantastic businesses in our community,” said Kari Puleo, executive director of the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce. “These businesses exemplify the innovation, dedication, and community spirit that make our region thrive. Their commitment and dedication to the Greater Utica area inspire us all and serve as a reminder of the incredible talent and resilience we have right here in our community.” Over 30 businesses and organizations across the Mohawk Valley were nominated and sorted into five categories. Winners of the Business of the Year Awards are evaluated and selected based on their staying power, response to challenges, innovation, growth within their industry, as well as their commitment to the Mohawk Valley region, and their involvement with the chamber. For-Profit Business with 50 Employees or Fewer BME Company C & D Advertising Coldwell Banker Faith Properties Delta by Marriott Utica Fahy Kitchens and Baths Greenscapes Hale Manufacturing (winner) Home Sweet Home Cleaning and Gardening LLC Inizio Technology Solutions Mohawk Valley Cash Register Total Solutions Transworld Business Advisors of Mohawk Valley Utica Coffee Roasting Bradley Waters, who is the owner, president and publisher of the Sentinel Media Company, presents Hale Manufacturing with its award. Sentinel Media Company was chosen as Business of the Year in 2023 in the For-Profit with 50 Employees or Fewer category. For-Profit Business with Over 50 Employees Hale Transportation Indium Corporation (winner) Pacemaker Steel & Piping PJ Green “Our business is materials for the advanced electronics industry and semiconductor packaging industry, and those customers change their platforms often. We believe material science changes the world, and we bring it to the latest challenges in electronics,” said Tim Twining, vice president of sales, marketing, and technical service at Indium Corporation. “It is difficult in the Mohawk Valley to find expertise in electronics assembly, but it’s here,” he added. Not-For-Profit Business with 50 Employees or Fewer American Heart Association Mohawk Valley Liberty Affordable Housing The Stanley Theatre The United Way of the Mohawk Valley Utica Public Library (winner) Not-For Profit Business with Over 50 Employees AmeriCU Credit Union Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter CNY Quest First Source Federal Credit Union (winner) Masonic Medical Research Institute Munson “Giving back to the communities we serve is core to our mission and our vision,” said John Calabrese, president/CEO of First Source Federal Credit Union. “We live and breathe that each and every day. We are committed to giving back to the communities that we serve through financial resources, through volunteerism, and through providing financial eduction that we work with.” Catalyst Rising Business 3 Brothers Sealcoating (winner) Brockway-Carpenter Real Estate Upstate Ink & ThreadUnion Home Minister Amit Shah (ANI photo) NEW DELHI: Emphasising on the use of technology in implementation of the new criminal laws, home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said it should enable generation of alerts for all criminal cases at pre-defined stages and timelines — right from registration to disposal — for the benefit of victims and complainants. Chairing a review meeting on the implementation of the Bharatiya nyaya sanhita , the Bharatiya nagarik suraksha sanhita and the Bharatiya sakshya adhiniyam with the National crime records bureau (NCRB) brass here, Shah also suggested alerts for investigation officers and senior officers as per pre-defined timelines, so as to expedite the process of investigation. The review meeting — attended by senior officials of the home ministry, NCRB and National informatics centre (NIC) — took stock of the implementation of integration of various software and databases pertaining to investigation, prosecution, forensics and courts at the all-India level. These include the crime and criminal tracking network and systems (CCTNS), national automated fingerprint identification system (NAFIS), prisons, courts, prosecution and forensics with the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) 2.0. In a separate meeting here on Tuesday, Shah also reviewed the implementation of the new criminal laws in Uttarakhand with the state chief secretary and DGP, in the presence of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Asking Dhami to fully implement the laws — which he said are becoming “protectors of civil rights” and the basis of “ease of justice” — as soon as possible, he emphasised on the need to fill the gaps in technology and other areas for their 100% rollout. During the discussions with NCRB, Shah directed the bureau to facilitate complete implementation of new criminal laws in the ICJS 2.0, besides emphasising on usage of applications like eSakshya , Nyaya shruti, eSign and eSummons in every state and UT. On incorporating modern technology for proper implementation of the new criminal laws, Shah said a team of officers of MHA and NCRB should visit the states and UTs to increase the adoption of technical projects and assist them in all possible ways. The home minister called for regular interaction with senior police formations of state and UTs to monitor the progress of CCTNS and ICJS, and provide impetus to the project. He added that use of biometric technology should be adopted to identify unidentified dead bodies and unidentified found persons. Appreciating NCRB’s efforts in the technical rollout of the new criminal laws and NAFIS, Shah said the NCRB should create a data-rich platform to benefit the investigation officers and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system. While reviewing implementation of the three laws in Uttarakhand, Shah said more than one forensic van must be deployed in every district. He called for regular and continuous monitoring of how many zero FIRs have led to justice and how many were transferred to the states. The home minister asked Dhami to review progress of implementation of the new laws every fortnight. This frequency should be once a week for the chief secretary and DGP, he added. Shah also asked the DGP to ensure that all superintendents of police investigate the cases within the prescribed timelines. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword . Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes , messages , and quotes .
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” Everyone who has encountered Adames so far can’t wait for him to get to work as an example both on the diamond and in the clubhouse. “He’s a unique connector of people,” Posey shared from Craig Counsell's description of the 29-year-old infielder from the Dominican Republic. “That really struck me because I think to win championships you have to have personalities like Willy that they're able to identify with everybody in the clubhouse, and that's not just players. I heard from multiple people that Willy treats everybody with the utmost respect. He plays with energy, he plays with joy and I know that our fans are just going to be thrilled to watch him compete on a daily basis.” Adames' deal marks the richest contract for San Francisco since Posey reached a $167 million, nine-year pact in 2013. “I didn’t know 'til it was done. I was like ‘wow,’" Adames said. From afar, Adames watched the legacy left by his hero Derek Jeter that went far beyond the baseball diamond. And that's as important to Adames as playing all 162 after he appeared in 161 games last season for Milwaukee. He considers part of his role to help the young players learn “to be a professional" and lead a club that has missed the playoffs the past three years in winning the right way. “For me that comes first, it comes first to be a great human being. I've got to thank my parents for that, they raised me the right way, to try to treat everybody the same, it doesn't matter what you're doing,” Adames said. “I think that's something that I'm really proud of, just to be the same guy every day, to be kind, just to give love back to people because there's a lot of hate out there and I don't really like that.” The Giants know Adames' positive influence could go far. Asked about the instability at shortstop, Melvin noted, “Well, it's not a problem now.” Adames gives the Giants a power bat and reliable defense at his position. This year for the Brewers, he produced his best offensive season in the big leagues, batting .251 with a career-high 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. “Look, every team wants a Willy Adames on their team. I think the thing that strikes me the most is when I'd watch him play a couple times a year on the other side was he never looked like he had a bad day,” Melvin said. “It always looked like every day was opening day to him. That enthusiasm when your best players are like that — Matt Chapman is like that, too — it's easy for everybody to have to fall in and play in that type of style. It's easier said than done but really for me that's the thing that struck me most is how much he loved playing baseball.” Adames is close friends with former Giants third baseman Matt Duffy, who shared his own experiences being part of the San Francisco franchise. It all became real when Adames pulled on his new cream-colored Giants jersey and buttoned it up, saying, “I'm a little nervous about this." A few moments later, the cap went on his head and he felt right at home. “It looks amazing.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB