Spoiler alert, the government is still shutdown.
Today’s update also includes a lawsuit over the $100k fee for H1-B visas, how universities have reacted to the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, and some middle of the night phone calls from Sweden.
Voting today and on Monday, the Senate was unable to pass either the Republican-led proposal for a continuing resolution (which would have funded the government through November 21st) or the Democrat-led counterproposal.
Typically guaranteed, the promise of back pay for furloughed federal workers is a point of discussion this week. The Office of Management has drafted a memo stating that no such guarantee exists. This has proven to be very contentious, even within the Republican Party.
Another issue brewing is pay for members of the military.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has joined with a coalition of organizations in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new $100,000 fee for H1-B visas.
The New York Times has a piece today about how the fee could affect education, science, and medicine.
If you’re looking for a fun way to spend your evening, you can peruse publicly available data on what organizations are applying for H1-Bs.
The New York Times is reporting a 20% decrease in the number of international students traveling to the United States in August of this year.
Some reporting has started to emerge around the Administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” [PDF] that was sent to nine universities last week. The universities have until October 20th to provide feedback and until November 21 to respond with their decision. Here’s what’s happening at each:
University of Arizona - The faculty senate has passed a resolution calling for the university to reject the compact. University leadership has stated that no decision has been made yet.
Brown University - The ACLU of Rhode Island sent the University President a letter urging the university to publicly to “immediately, publicly, and unequivocally” condemn the compact. The University has not made a statement yet.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology - The Institute’s AAUP chapter has unanimously endorsed a statement calling upon MIT to reject the compact. The institution has not made a statement yet.
University of Pennsylvania - The University President put out a statement a few days ago acknowledging receipt of the compact. State senators in Pennsylvania have proposed withdrawing state funds from any university that signs the compact.
University of Southern California - Faculty members have loudly denounced the compact. Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that any California-based institution that signs will lose its state funding.
University of Texas - The chair of the university’s Board of Regents has stated that the system is “honored” that they have been selected to be part of this proposal. So there’s that.
Vanderbilt University - The university’s AAUP chapter, its graduate student government, and student union have all issued statements condemning the compact.
University of Virginia - The Faculty Senate has called upon the university to oppose the compact. Democrats in the Virginia state senate have stated that there will be “significant consequences in future Virginia budget cycles” if the university signs.
The Supreme Court is back in session, for a term full of cases touching on executive power. This week the court has already heard cases on the ability of states to ban conversion therapy.
The New York Times started a new “Lost Science” series today, profiling scientists who have lost their funding or positions this year.
In happier news, its awards season:
This year’s MacArthur Fellows were announced today. Geniuses, all around.
It is also Nobel week. Four U.S. presidents have been awarded the Peace Prize - Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama. One way or the other, I suspect they’ll be some yelling about this on Friday.
Today’s subtitle is, I suppose, a quote from Oppenheimer. It was too long, but I almost went with George Bernard Shaw saying “I can forgive Alfred Nobel for having invented dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize”. Definitely his most problematic opinion…
The preview image is from Unsplash.