| September-October 2005
Education
| Ethnic Groups | Families
| Immigration |Media & Communication |
Senior Citizens | Urban Society | Youth Culture |
E1 - Academic Freedom: Are Liberals Stifling Conservative Views on Campus?
Clemmitt, Marcia
CQ Researcher, October 7, 2005, v15, #35, pp833-856
There is " a new wave of campus wars between professors claiming academic freedom — the right to make educational and research decisions based on their professional expertise — and critics who argue that unchecked left-wing political bias at liberal arts colleges creates a threatening environment for conservative students and discourages them from expressing their views. The controversies usually surround such polarizing issues as the war on terror, the Iraq war, the increasing popularity of fundamentalist Christian views, the growing clout of feminists and gays and the Middle East conflict.” Marcia Clemmitt is a staff writer at CQ Researcher. Order Article
E2 - We the People: Black Population in the United States: 2000
McKinnon, Jesse D.; Bennett, Claudette E.
U.S. Census Bureau, August 2005, online edition
This report provides a portrait of the Black or African American population in the United States and discusses sex differences within this population at the national level. It is part of the Census 2000 Special Reports series that presents several demographic, social, and economic characteristics collected from Census 2000. McKinnon and Claudette E. Bennett are both with the Racial Statistics Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau. Fulltext
E3 - Black Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2005
Amer, Mildred L.
CRS Report for Congress, Congressional Research Service, updated August 4, 2005, online edition
This report lists all African American members of Congress since 1870. A record number of 43 black or African-American Members serve in the 109th Congress; 42 in the House of Representatives, one in the Senate. Overall there have been 117 black Members of Congress: 112 elected to the House and five to the Senate. The majority of the black Members (90) have been Democrats; the rest (27) have been Republicans. Mildred L. Amer is a specialist in American National Government at the Government and Finance Division of the Congressional Research Service. Fulltext
E4 - There are No Children Here
Patrick McCormick
U.S. Catholic, October t 2005, v70, #10, pp46-49
“McCormick discusses the consequences of the increasingly disappearing of families and children in cities. He asserts that it takes a city to raise and humanize a child, but it also takes children and families to raise a city, to create a rich and diverse community grounded in the past and committed to the future.” Patrick McCormick is professor of Christian ethics at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Fulltext
E5 - Skills and Talent of Immigrants: A Comparison between the European Union and the United States
Peri, Giovanni
University of California at Berkeley, Institute of European Studies. Paper 050304, published March 4, 2005, 33p
”The nineties has been a period of increasing migratory flows from less developed countries to industrialized nations. It is instructive to compare the two largest economies in the world, the European Union and the United States, in terms of the magnitude, trends and composition of their migratory inflows. While the two economies are similar in terms of size and level of development, the European Union still lags behind in its ability to attract immigrants and in the degree of internal mobility of its citizens. While both economies attracted less educated workers (primary school graduates) as well as highly educated workers (college graduates) from less developed countries, the United States have been able to attract “talent” (i.e. the best among the skilled workers) from all over the world at a rate unmatched by the European Union. In fact the U.S. attracted a large number of talents from the European Union itself during the nineties. This “brain drain” (probably driven by the large economic reward granted by the American economy to scientific, technological and professional talent) is worrisome for the European Union. Its ability to keep pace with the economic growth of the United States depends, in fact, on its ability to compete in the scientific and technological fields.” Giovanni Peri is affiliated with the Economics Department, University of California, Davis and the International Institute, University of California, Los Angeles. Fulltext
E6 - Educational Progress Across Immigrant Generations in California
Reed, Deborah, Hill, Laura E., Jepsen, Christopher, Johnson, Hans P. Public Policy Institute of California, September 2005, 108p
”The children and grandchildren of California’s substantial and growing immigrant population are consistently attaining higher levels of educational achievement than their parents and grandparents did—good news for them and for the future of California. But levels of educational success vary widely among different groups of immigrants, and some groups, notably those from Mexico, lag well behind others. In this report, the authors explore the disparities in educational attainment among these groups, while also showing that data clearly affirm the overall positive trend. Their research shows that disparities in the education levels of the parents in these groups play a significant role in explaining these gaps in educational attainment. This insight suggests opportunities for policy makers seeking to help all youth to achieve their own educational—and therefore economic—success stories.” Deborah Reed is a research fellow and director of the Population Program at the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). Laura E. Hill and Christopher Jepsen are research fellows and Hans P. Jophnson is a demographer, all at PPIC. Fulltext
E7 - Questioning the Risks of Immigration ‘Lotto’
Wayne, Alex
CQ Weekly, September 5, 2005, vol. 63, #34, p2288ff
Signed into law in 1990, the Diversity Visa Lottery also known as Green Card Lottery has been controversial from the start. It is now again gaining momentum spurred by the new argument that the program might be abused by terrorists and therefore pose a security threat. This article outlines the arguments exchanged in Congress. Order Article
E8 - Lessons From The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
Cooper, Betsy; O’Neill, Kevin
Migration Policy Institute, Policy Brief, August 2005, #3, 12p
”The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was the first legislative attempt to comprehensively address the issue of unauthorized immigration. The bill included sanctions against employers for the hiring of undocumented migrants, more robust border enforcement, and an expansive legalization program that was unprecedented. … While the context of American immigration has changes substantially since 1986, the incentives for immigration to the United States remain the same. Thus, many lessons from the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act remain powerful in today’s environment.” The authors are associated with the Migration Policy Institute. Fulltext
E9 - BLOGS: The New Information Revolution?
Dearstyne, Bruce W.
Information Management Journal, Sep/Oct 2005, v39, #5, pp38-44 “Weblogs, or blogs, constitute a significant new development in the information world. From the perspective of records and information management (RIM) professionals, they present unprecedented challenges and opportunities. Leadership and policies are needed to shape and make optimal use of this new application.” Brace W. Dearstyne, Ph.D., is Professor at the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland. Fulltext
E10 - Value of Unpaid Activities by Older Americans Tops $160 Billion Per Year
Johnson, Richard W.; Schaner, Simone G.
Urban Institute, September 2005, online edition, 6p
"Many older Americans continue to make valuable contributions to society long after they withdraw from the labor force. Adults age 55 and older contribute $162 billion worth of volunteering and unpaid caregiving annually. In 2002, adults age 55-64 earned $655 billion at paid jobs, more than eight times the value of unpaid activities by older Americans. Even at age 65-74, when most people have stopped working, unpaid activities equaled barely half the monetary value of paid employment." Richard W. Johnson is a principal research associate and Simone G. Schaner is a research assistant in the Urban Institute’s Income and Benefits Policy Center. Fulltext
E11 - Metropolitan America in the New Century: Metropolitan and Central City Demographic Shifts Since 2000
William H. Frey
The Brookings Institution, September 2005, online edition
A new analysis of Census data and estimates by William Frey examines post-2000 population change in the nation's central cities and metropolitan and micropolitan areas. William Frey is a Research Professor, Population Studies Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan and contributing editor of “American Demographics." Fulltext
E12 -
HOPE VI and Mixed-Finance Redevelopments: A Catalyst for Neighborhood Renewal
Piper, Valerie, Turbov, Mindy
The Brookings Institution, September 2005, online edition
Across the United States, attractive mixed-income developments and revitalized neighborhoods are being created where distressed public housing once stood. One of the drivers of this transformation has been the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's HOPE VI program. Using four case studies, this report examines the broader neighborhood effects of HOPE VI mixed-finance redevelopments finding that, when used strategically, HOPE VI's partnership with the private sector and holistic approach—integrating housing with schools, jobs, amenities, and social services—has great potential to remake distressed public housing and jumpstart wholesale neighborhood improvements. Mindy Turbov is the president of Turbov Associates, a community development consulting firm. Valerie Piper is the president of Piper Advisory Services, a redevelopment consulting firm and the executive director of the Center for Urban Redevelopment Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. Fulltext
E13 - Brooklyn Rising
Ward, Nathan
American Heritage, v56, #4, August/September 2005, pp26-37
The New York City borough of Brooklyn has a storied history, with many familiar names among its native sons and daughters, and an identity that is rooted in its varied neighborhoods. But rather than celebrating the past, Brooklyn today has become a world-class venue and destination, having undergone remarkable changes with more in its immediate future. It includes a number that cannot be found in its more glamorous neighbor, Manhattan, including a new film and television production facility, a refurbished and revitalized museum, a departure pier for cruise lines and oceangoing vessels, and two new sports arenas. In this marriage of old and new, the tide is turning. Fulltext
E14 - Saving a Great City
Stoner, James R. Jr.
The Weekly Standard, Sep 26, 2005, v11, #2; pp22-27
After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the next few months will be the time of decision for the city's future. Already the local spirit is eager to rebuild, and already there has been an outpouring of relief, but the serious decisions are yet to be made: whether New Orleans will be recognized as a strategic asset worth dramatically enhanced federal flood protection, and so whether the rebuilding will be sentimental or substantial. Stoner further discusses why America should rebuild New Orleans. James R. Stoner Jr. is a professor of political science at Louisiana State University. Fulltext
Youth Culture
E15 - Teen Sex: Do Abstinence Programs Discourage Teen Sex? Friedman, Jane
CQ Researcher, September 16, 2005, v15, #32, pp761-784
“Sex education has become one of the nation's most divisive issues, with religious conservatives insisting that schools teach only abstinence, while social liberals push comprehensive programs that promote abstinence while also providing information about contraception and safe sex… After rising throughout the 1970s and '80s, America's teen pregnancy rate has been declining steadily since 1991. Social scientists say teens are either postponing intercourse or using contraception if they are sexually active. Conservatives say the decline is the result of abstinence-only sex education, which about a third of U.S. public high schools have adopted since 1998, when Congress began handing out millions of dollars each year for such programs. However, American teenagers have more pregnancies, births and abortions than youngsters in any other Western industrialized country. Such statistics have serious social consequences, both for the individuals and for the country as a whole… However, nearly everyone agrees that a sex-obsessed media delivers inappropriate messages to teenagers.” Jane Friedman is a staff writer for "CQ Researcher". Order Article
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