Christopher Bassett ‘18:
Harvard Admissions Discrimination: After allegations that Harvard University discriminated in admissions for years, it has agreed to turn over years of confidential applicant records and information to the US Justice Department. Harvard has been accused of systematically discriminating against Asian-American applicants, making this the first time that Harvard conceded to give access to sealed records under conditions that both sides have agreed upon. One of these terms was that the Justice Department.’s lawyers have to look at the records in the presence of Harvard’s lawyers. Harvard’s reasoning behind this condition is that the school does not want these confidential records to be revealed to the public. The Justice Department has threatened to sue the university if they do not hand over the information.
Self-driving taxis: General Motors has announced that the development of robotaxis could surpass the profits it makes from automobile production. Executives within the company have revealed that GM aims to create a large quantity of driverless cars in big cities by 2019. GM could possibly offer rides in these robotaxis for less than $1 per mile by 2025, a decrease from the typical $2.50 per mile charged by driver-based taxi services currently. Even with this decrease in price, GM could quadruple its profits made from its car production business, which generated $12.5 billion in profits in 2016. While some fear this advanced technology, concerned about moral and ethical issues about putting driverless cars on the road, GM argues that the system performance of various sensors, radars, cameras, and other advanced technology will improve on human performance even in heavy traffic.
Prince Harry engaged: Prince Harry, grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and fifth in line for the throne, has recently become engaged to American actress Meghan Markle, announced on Monday. Markle was raised in Los Angeles and plans to achieve British citizenship after the wedding. Historic in that the marriage is between a member of the British Royal Family and a biracial American, Markle will become the first biracial person to join the family. The Prince’s reputation has changed drastically in the past few years, converting from the wild and unruly “bad boy” he had once wanted to be, using racial slurs on a trip to Pakistan and wearing a Nazi costume to a social event.The pair will be known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Migrants from Libya sold into slavery and subjected to inhumane acts: A CNN video has shown African migrants being sold at a Libyan slave market for as little as $100. Europe’s policy regarding migration has forced migrants to be trapped in slave-like conditions in its efforts to reduce the sheer number of migrants across the Mediterranean. Stemming from the collapse of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s government, there has been almost no police action in the area. This chaos and anarchy in Libya has exposed migrants to terrors such as forced labor, kidnapping, extortion, rape, torture, among other inhumane conditions.