The TopUniversities.com guide to the latest higher education news from around the world, on 5 March 2013.
US: Honest student returns US$1,800 mistakenly dispensed from ATM
A University of Delaware student found himself left with a hard choice last month when an ATM from which he was about withdraw some money dispensed US$1,800 in $100 bills before he had inserted his bank card. Devon Gluck decided to take the money and decide what to do later, and after discussing the issue with his father, returned the money to the bank. The bank has praised the banking and finance student, and the money has since been returned to student from whose account it was withdrawn, reports Delaware Online.
UK: Cambridge students boycott debating competition after sexist heckling
Students at Cambridge University have boycotted the prestigious Glasgow Ancients debating competition after two female student debaters were subjected to sexist heckling by students from Glasgow University, reports The Telegraph. Marlena Valles from Edinburgh University and Rebecca Meredith, from Cambridge, are considered to be among the UK’s best debaters. Loud offensive comments about their appearance were made when the pair was speaking about feminism during a debate on religion. The Cambridge debating society has also voted unanimously to withdraw reciprocal membership from members of its Glasgow equivalent
US: Washington State University to sell university branded beef
You’ll probably have seen people walking around in university-branded sweatshirts, or carrying around a tote bag with the university logo on, but Washington State University has taken merchandising to the next level. The university has long kept cattle on which its veterinary students train, but now they have found a different use for their cows…beef! The meat the university is selling is from Japanese Waygu cows, which meat connoisseurs will know are considered to be a premium beef breed. The university has taken the move in order to help fund its animal science programs, reports The New York Times.
US: Brown University develops wireless technology to measure brain activity
Researchers at Ivy League institution Brown University have developed wireless technology which will allow data on brain activity to be gathered more easily. This is the first technology of its kind, and will allow brain activity to be monitored during a wider range of activities than is currently possible using connective wires. The technology is currently being tested on pigs and monkeys, but the human-testing stage is not far away, reports ExtremeTech.com.
Global: Popular video games franchise adds University Life expansion pack
If you can’t wait to get to university, then perhaps you might want to have a go on the new expansion pack for popular video games series, The Sims. The games, if you don’t know, involve you helping ordinary people through their day-to-day lives, and originally focused on domestic home-based scenarios. The University Life expansion pack, for The Sims 3, however, allows you to take your virtual friends to university, and help them with the challenges of socializing, studying and eventually getting a job, reports Slash Gear. Sounds fun, though you probably won’t learn as much…
