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Week in Review

Ali Lincoln

This week I realized that I’ve only ever lived in college towns and cities. I grew up in Fitchburg, MA—home of Fitchburg State University (though College while I resided there). I lived in Worcester, MA and Denver, CO, both of which have several colleges within city limits (including my alma mater). And I’ve relocated to Williamsburg, VA, where the picturesque College of William and Mary takes up one half of town and Colonial Williamsburg takes up the other. I’m starting to think it’s not a coincidence that I landed in a higher education career…
[UPDATE: Thanks to Kyle for reminding me that international education counts, too! Add Florence, Italy to my list of college cities!]
For more updates in the higher ed world, scroll down and click away!
What’s new this week:
Drake University’s Anthony Gaughan had great political insight in an article he wrote for The Conversation on Donald Trump and birthright citizenship.
In case you missed it, The Conversation piece about Elon Musk of Tesla also ran in TIME and got over 90,000 views. Congrats to Professor W. Rocky Newman of the Farmer School of Business!
The Hechinger Report interviewed NASPA President Kevin Kruger on the importance of colleges supporting low-income students.
What we’ve been talking about:
Inside Higher Ed’s article on the sexist banners at Old Dominion included Erin Hennessy’s thoughtful insight on gender and gender-based violence.
With the start of school upon us, Kristine Maloney shared resolutions and goals she has going into the new academic year.
Ali Lincoln also had some things to say about the start of the school year—though not this one coming up, but her own start to college a decade ago as she remembered move-in day on campus.
Don’t forget to check out Inside Higher Ed’s Call to Action blog, this week featuring a post from Kristine on alumni working for their alma maters, and why having perspective is so critical for media success.
What we’ve been reading:
Kristine Maloney
I do this. A lot. And so (no pun intended), the article immediately caught my attention. It’s fascinating to me how language shapes our world and how the ways in which we use it change over time. (Need I reiterate my love for the OED again?)
This was published the same day that the Tooth Fairy first visited our house for my 5-year-old daughter. She had the same assumption as the author’s daughter about the Tooth Fairy being small (I blame Tinker Bell), and I had many of the same thoughts as the author herself. The difference (at least this time) is that we got it all done well before morning, but if the Tooth Fairy accepted credit, it would have been a much easier and quicker process.
Teresa Valerio Parrot
The University of Michigan was hacked earlier this month and boldly posted a “lessons learned” telling of their experience on their website. It’s a fascinating read that is filled with great advice they learned in real time.  If you oversee any social media accounts in your personal or professional lives, be sure to take a read. And congrats to Michigan for being bold enough to share their tale.
Kyle Gunnels
One of the most interesting things I read this week was a piece in POLITICO Magazine written by Michael Brown, former FEMA Director. Entitled, “Stop Blaming Me for Hurricane Katrina,” the piece details his recollection of the dysfunction shown by all those involved in the time leading up to and after the storm. It’s a rare look into the “other side” of the narrative that came out of the mishandled response, and a key takeaway as Brown says in the piece: “Any expert in crisis management will tell you that if you can’t answer the question as to who is in charge of a crisis, then no one is in charge and the response to the crisis is doomed.”
Ali Lincoln
I started out my week by finishing up an Outer Banks getaway, and a couple of days at the beach sans internet did wonders for my book pile. I made my way through The Museum of Extraordinary Things and Shotgun Lovesongs and started All the Light We Cannot See, and I’m proud to say that I didn’t get a single one sloshed by a wave!
As I close in on 32 weeks, the sheer volume of information available for expectant mothers and new parents is intimidating. I’ve been trying my best not to get Google overload and to let unsolicited advice roll off me like water on a duck, but I still find myself getting overwhelmed by all of the things I need to know and learn. That’s why I’m grateful for parenting blogs and clips that don’t take themselves too seriously, like this one on new moms and showering.
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