Daily News Feed 4.10.2009/Vocab: frisson

Black College Hit With Racism Rap
A historically black college in South Carolina has been sued after three white faculty members say they were passed over for jobs or let go for because of their race, federal officials announced Wednesday. Alleging that Benedict College “engaged in unlawful practices,” the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also said that the Columbia school had agreed to pay $55,000 to each of the three former instructors. Under a settlement reached between Benedict and the EEOC, the school also agreed to remind staff about its employment policy prohibiting discrimination, provide administrators, faculty and staff with training and make periodic reports to the EEOC. (Continue Reading…)

Pirates with U.S. hostage vow to fight if attacked
Somali pirates holding an American on a drifting lifeboat vowed on Friday to fight any attack by U.S. naval forces and reportedly recaptured their hostage when he jumped overboard to escape. Ship captain Richard Phillips leapt into the sea, but was quickly brought back, U.S. media said, citing defense sources. “We are not afraid of the Americans,” one of the pirates told Reuters by satellite phone on behalf of the gang holding Phillips far off the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean. “We will defend ourselves if attacked.” Despite their defiant talk, maritime groups tracking the saga — the first time Somali pirates have captured an American — say a more likely outcome is a negotiated solution, possibly involving safe passage in exchange for their captive. (Continue Reading…)

Survey: Only 37% of HBCU Students Earn a Degree within Six Years
The Associated Press released a survey last week which delivered a severe blow to the image of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). According to the survey, the predominantly Black educational institutions do a worse job of graduating African American students than predominantly white colleges and universities. The news agency’s analysis centered on the 83 institutions which have been designated HCBUs by the federal government. The shocking discovery was that just 37 percent of the Black students at these institutions earn a college degree within six years. (Continue Reading…)

frisson \free-SOHN\, noun: