University of Montana newspaper comes under criticism

The University of Montana’s student newspaper, the Montana Kaimin, has recently come under fire for publishing a column on sex, the Montana Kaimin reported.

Kirsten Juras, an assistant professor of law at the University of Montana, has criticized the column calling it inappropriate, the Montana Kaimin reported.

“It’s embarrassingly unprofessional,” Juras told the Montana Kaimin. “It affects my reputation as a member of the faculty.”

The student-run newspaper operates separately from the University, which has reportedly led some supporters to claim Juras’s criticisms are not justified.

The Montana Kaimin began publishing the sex column, which has discussed topics like sex toys and virginity, at the beginning of this semester on the opinion page of the paper, the paper reported.

Harvard professors' ties to drug companies questioned

Harvard Medical School researchers have come under increased scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest with drug companies, The New York Times reported.

According to the report, a newly created internal committee is questioning the ties professors have to pharmaceutical companies. Members of Congress are also reportedly investigating the issue at other schools across the country.

Matt Zerden, a fourth-year student at the Medical School told the Times that his pharmacology professor is a paid consultant to 10 drug corporations. According to the report, 1,600 professors have relationships with drug companies.

Harvard administrators have said corporate support is extremely important to the university, especially in the current economic situation, the report said.

Universities that took extra chances hit hard by economic downturn

Colleges and universities that take high-risk investments, over-build on campus and over-estimate their budgets have helped contribute to the current economic crisis, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported.

The Chronicle reported that Yale University, which typically earns 16 percent on its investments and had $23 billion endowed last year, has lost one quarter of its investments.

Increased campus construction has contributed to the current situation. According to a survey by The Chronicle, 14 percent of college buildings were built in the past decade.

According to experts, the more universities spent on building campus facilities and other high-cost projects, the more likely universities are to face budget problems and lay-off employees, the Chronicle reported.