Monthly Archives: August 2013

Administrative Bloat at American Universities

Posted on August 26, 2013 by briansandberg

With all the buzz over the past week about President Obama’s new plan for reforming higher education in the United States, it is a good time for a reminder about why higher education costs are rising. Grossly bloated university administrations … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, Humanities Education, Political Culture | Leave a comment

President Obama’s Plan for Higher Education

Posted on August 26, 2013 by briansandberg

Last week, President Barack Obama unveiled his plan for higher education reform. Unfortunately, Obama’s plan focused almost exclusively on the cost of college tuition and fees. His plan misunderstands the reasons for higher tuition rates, which largely stem from a … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, Humanities Education, Information Management, Political Culture | Leave a comment

On Chemical Weapons and Military Intervention

Posted on August 26, 2013 by briansandberg

Chemical weapons seem to have been used in the Syrian Civil War last week, probably by Syrian government forces. Médecins sans frontières (MSF), known in English as Doctors Without Borders, has issued a statement confirming that approximately 3,600 Syrian civilians … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, European Union, History of Violence, Human Rights, Laws of War, Strategy and International Politics, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

The French Question

Posted on August 25, 2013 by briansandberg

The “French Question” has become central to European economic development and  European Union (EU) politics. Labor unrest, racial tensions, and high unemployment have created a delicate political and economic situation in France. According to the New York Times, “The French … Continue reading →

Posted in European History, European Union, French History, Globalization, Human Rights | Leave a comment

History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt

Posted on August 21, 2013 by briansandberg

Originally posted on Cluster for the Study of Religious Violence:
The Muslim Brotherhood has been an important religious and political organization in Egypt for decades and is one of the major participants in the ongoing Egyptian Revolution. NPR provides a…

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, History of Violence, Mediterranean World, Religious Politics, Religious Violence, Terrorism, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Supporting the Arts and Humanities

Posted on August 20, 2013 by briansandberg

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) are currently leaderless.  Although they have acting directors and staffs, both endowments desperately need active leadership—especially in a time of budget cuts. The New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Digital Humanities, Education Policy, Humanities Education, Museums and Historical Memory | Leave a comment

A New Production of Mother Courage

Posted on August 19, 2013 by briansandberg

Originally posted on Cluster for the Study of Religious Violence:
Shakespeare and Company is producing a new version of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage, a play about everyday life and death in Germany during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648). Bruce Chadwick…

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Increasing Sectarian Attacks in Iraq

Posted on August 18, 2013 by briansandberg

Originally posted on Cluster for the Study of Religious Violence:
Sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia militant groups is increasing once again in Iraq. According to the New York Times, “Across the country, the sectarianism that almost tore Iraq apart…

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Area 51 Acknowledged

Posted on August 17, 2013 by briansandberg

Recently released Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) documents acknowledge the existence of the Area 51 military base, which has developed experimental aircraft since the 1950s. The U2 spy plane was developed and tested at Area 51, but the base has since … Continue reading →

Posted in Graduate Work in History, History of Violence, War in Film, War, Culture, and Society | Leave a comment

Cost of a College Education

Posted on August 7, 2013 by briansandberg

As the Fall 2013 semester fast approaches, Illinois students and their parents are expressing concerns about the cost of a college education. Yet, news reports on the costs of higher education are often filled with erroneous data and exaggerated figures … Continue reading →

Posted in Education Policy, Humanities Education, Undergraduate Work in History | Leave a comment