Divesting is tough for colleges and universities

+ a boring sex scandal US Edition - Today's top story: Divesting university endowments: Easier demanded than done [View in browser]( US Edition | 10 May 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [When doctors morally object to providing care]( - [Sports betting scandals from history to learn from]( - [Is it A? Is it B? Try our quiz, and you’ll C (or D)!]( Lead story Protests expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people and furor over Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip haven’t let up. One core demand of protesters at colleges and universities across the U.S. is for those schools to divest all assets with any ties to Israel in their endowments. Yesterday, Union Theological Seminary became the first to promise to do that. Public administration scholar Todd L. Ely explains why it’s unlikely that hundreds more schools will follow suit. [Taking that step is far harder than it sounds](, Ely writes. He also spells out why even disclosing which assets would have to be sold to sever financial ties with Israel could be difficult. [[How faith and religion drive the world. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, This Week in Religion.](] Emily Schwartz Greco Philanthropy + Nonprofits Editor A ‘divest from death’ banner at a University of Oregon protest against the Israel-Hamas war on April 29, 2024. AP Photo/Jenny Kane [Divesting university endowments: Easier demanded than done]( Todd L. Ely, University of Colorado Denver Divestment from Israel may violate state laws – at least for public institutions. Private universities with large endowments may face other obstacles. Health + Medicine - [How cannabis and psilocybin might help some of the 50 million Americans who are experiencing chronic pain]( Kevin F. Boehnke, University of Michigan Cannabis and psilocybin – used under supervision – have the potential to work better than current pain treatments, but the research into both has long been hindered by federal legislation. Politics + Society - [Sudan’s descent into chaos sets stage for al-Qaida to make a return to historic stronghold]( Sara Harmouch, American University With both sides in Sudan’s civil war accused of recruiting Islamist militiamen, terrorist groups look set to capitalize on a power vacuum. - [A sex scandal that’s boring the public − and a judge forced to keep Trump focused]( David E. Clementson, University of Georgia; John E. Jones III, Dickinson College A former judge and an expert on political communication dissect the most recent week of Donald Trump’s hush-money trial. Economy + Business - [How Jason Kelce built his personal brand and became a Philly legend]( Amy Lavin, Temple University; Sheri Lambert, Temple University 2 marketing experts explain how the former All-Pro center for the Philadelphia Eagles has built a powerful personal brand centered on being a gritty underdog with family values. - [Sports gambling creates a windfall, but raises questions of integrity – here are three lessons from historic sports-betting scandals]( Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder The US has a long history of sports betting scandals. Science + Technology - [Engineering mini human hearts to study pregnancy complications and birth defects]( Brett Volmert, Michigan State University; Aitor Aguirre, Michigan State University; Aleksandra Kostina, Michigan State University Human heart organoids allow researchers to study the developing heart while avoiding the ethical issues of using human embryos and the imperfections of animal models. - [Algorithms help people see and correct their biases, study shows]( Carey K. Morewedge, Boston University People are better able to see and correct biases in algorithms’ decisions than in their own decisions, even when algorithms are trained on their decisions. - [Playing with the kids is important work for chimpanzee mothers]( Zarin Machanda, Tufts University; Kris Sabbi, Harvard University When resources are tight, mothers bear the costs of playing with their offspring even as they avoid socializing with others. - [What are roads made of? A pavement materials engineer explains the science behind the asphalt you drive on]( Mansour Solaimanian, Penn State Summer means road construction − but what kind of engineering goes into laying down pavement? Ethics + Religion - [Medicine doesn’t just have ‘conscientious objectors’ − there are ‘conscientious providers,’ too]( Raymond G. De Vries, University of Michigan Medical workers navigate their own moral and religious beliefs, professional standards, the law and the realities of clinical work – which can be especially complicated in abortion care. Environment + Energy - [Bird flu detected in Colorado dairy cattle − a vet explains the risks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus]( Jason Lombard, Colorado State University A veterinarian and epidemiologist who studies infectious diseases in dairy cows discusses the outbreak, how cows recover and what the government is doing to keep the milk supply safe. International - [What you’re really saying with your Mother’s Day gift]( Chih-Ling Liu, Lancaster University; Robert Kozinets, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism It’s never just a box of chocolates. Trending on site - [La Niña is coming, raising the chances of a dangerous Atlantic hurricane season – an atmospheric scientist explains this climate phenomenon]( - [What early 2024 polls are revealing about voters of color and the GOP − and it’s not all about Donald Trump]( - [Could Biden stop Netanyahu’s plans? A national security expert looks at Israel’s attack on Rafah]( The Conversation News Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( The first crewed launch of Boeing's new reusable spacecraft was scrubbed again on May 6 because of issues with its booster rocket. What is Boeing's spacecraft named? - A. 737 Spacemax - B. Icarus - C. Starliner - D. Constellation [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? 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