University of Connecticut student Brittany Florio and UConn alum John Mohrbacher were among the nine people arrested at Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s (ID–Conn.) office last Thursday while protesting the senator’s opposition to health care reform legislation that includes a public option.
On Capitol Hill, the students demanded that Lieberman return the money he accepted from Aetna, a health insurance company, and its employees.
According to Marshall Wittmann, communications director and spokesman for Lieberman, the students were disruptive and rejected offers to meet with Lieberman’s chief of staff. After disregarding warnings from police, a number of the demonstrators were arrested.
Maryland students protest provost’s firing
More than 600 students, faculty, alumni and university officials protested last Thursday the removal of Cordell Black, associate provost for equity and diversity at the University of Maryland, The Diamondback reported.
University of Maryland President Dan Mote told The Diamondback that the removal of the 30-year faculty member and diversity administrator was purely budgetary. However, students were told by Provost Nariman Farvardin that Black’s salary would continue to be an expense for the university, if he opted to continue his work as a tenured French literature professor, according to The Diamondback.
Students and campus activists will meet on Tuesday to plan their course of action, according to The Diamondback.
Student expelled for wearing mini-dress
Administrators at Bandeirante University in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil cited disregard for “ethical principles, academic dignity and morality” as justification for the expulsion of 20-year-old Geysi Villa Nova Arruda, according to The Associated Press.
The AP report said Arruda was escorted out of class by police last month when she wore a pink mini-dress and was taunted by hundreds of students. During her departure students lined the halls and chanted “whore.”
The university took out a newspaper ad titled “Educational Responsibility” Sunday to publicly state its opinion of Arruda’s actions, according the AP. The ad claimed that the university had cautioned Arruda against her clothing choices.
Arruda said it was through the news media that she was informed of her expulsion. “I was the victim,” Arruda told Folha Online yesterday. “How can I be expelled? It’s absurd.”