Prof suspended over using offensive rape metaphor during lecture
A professor at the United States Naval War College was suspended when he used a rape metaphor during one of his lectures in May.
A video now posted on YouTube.com shows the professor, Karl Walling, discussing 16th century philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli. At one point Walling begins to impersonate the philosopher, describing how he believed courageous political leaders, or the male virtu, should force the “unpredictability of life,” or the female fortuna, against their will.
“What does a leader do when the b** won’t put out?” said Walling during one point in his lecture, according to Macleans OnCampus.
The professor was forced to apologize and though he did, the professor said he felt his words were taken out of context. The quote in question was taken from a 17-page essay about Machiavelli and Walling states that towards the end of his essay, he clarifies that he does not condone the behaviour outlined in his paper.
The college defended the suspension in a statement released to Inside Higher Education, stating that the language used was not only degrading to women, but inappropriate and completely unacceptable.
The professor was placed on paid academic leave and removed from the lecture schedule for the remainder of the academic year.
Standardized English tests temporarily stopped in Iran
The temporary suspension of tests run by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Iran has many experts and Iran expatriates appalled.
The move made by the ETS may possibly be one of the first visible signs of the new sanctions by the international community against the country taking effect, reported The New York Times.
The ETS stated the United Nations security council resolution has affected banks and other financial institutions that conduct business in Iran and as a result, they are not able to process payments in Iran.
Those opposed to the suspension of the tests say that it will inhibit Iranians from studying abroad and therefore only hurt the kinds of people the Western world is trying to help.
Phillip Crowley, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said that the government is currently looking for alternatives to allow ETS to continue its work in Iran, so no undue hardship is placed on the Iranian people.
Construction on McGill ‘superhospital’ begins
With $1.3 billion in funding secured, construction on the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) “superhospital” is set to begin, reported The Gazette.
The hospital will house 500-single patient rooms, combine a cancer centre and MUHC research centre, along with services already provided by the Montreal Children’s Hosptial, the Royal Victoria Hospital and the Montreal Chest Institute.
An official partnership agreement was signed July 16 between the MUHC and private sector investors SNC-Lavalin and Innisfree Ltd, a British infrastructure investment company.
The site is now fenced off entirely and excavation has started to take place.
