Greek life energized on growing CSUSM campus, North County Times
Greek life at Cal State San Marcos has been relatively low-profile during the university's infancy, but as the burgeoning 14-year-old campus matures, interest in fraternities and sororities is growing as well.

HSU-Mexico partnership talks continue, Eureka Times-Standard
With little money but a lot of enthusiasm, a group of professors and administrators is trying to expand upon the sister-university relationship between Humboldt State University and Mexico's Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca.

UC issues policy on academic freedom, San Francisco Chronicle
The University of California issued a new policy on academic freedom Monday that was prompted by an uproar over a pro-Palestinian instructor's course in Berkeley last year.

Top state educator wants schools to shape kids up, North County Times
California children are so out of shape that the state's top educator is offering reward money for school districts that pledge to offer healthier foods and require more exercise of their students.

State and federal officials differ on graduation rate, North County Times
Graduation rates at local high schools exceed those county- and statewide, according to data released from the State Department of Education recently, but a state consultant is questioning the accuracy of the numbers her office sent to the federal government.

Debate over college enrollees, San Jose Mercury-News
On the campaign trail, Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante wears the number on his coat. When he addresses reporters from a lectern, the number is etched on the chalkboard behind him. He talks about the number as much as possible. 123,000.

Former VP sues Western University, Daily Bulletin
Suit claims Pomona university fired executive for questioning spending

College Grads Face Health-Insurance Hurdles, Wall St. Journal
Many Don't Seek Coverage Amid Youthful Confidence And Low Earnings Levels.

Uneven Progress for Women on Princeton Science Faculty, New York Times
Women on the faculties of the sciences and engineering at Princeton University feel less job satisfaction and less of a sense of inclusion than men, according to a new study.

Princeton U. Says It May Spend Millions to Improve Gender Equity on Science Faculty, Chronicle of Higher Education
Princeton University announced on Monday that it had appointed a new administrator to oversee gender-equity issues, following the recommendations of a group of professors that spent more than a year studying the status of female faculty members on the campus.

Concise, Cogent, Contentious, Washington Post
Short Essays, Selected for Some State Exams and Soon the SAT and ACT, Get Mixed Reviews

Dispute leaves Head Start at standstill, Contra Costa Times/Chicago Tribune
In a fight that could affect nearly 1 million poor children, President Bush and Democratic lawmakers are deadlocked over the future of the widely popular Head Start preschool program, and both sides concede they will not settle their exceptionally loud and angry dispute by today's deadline.

Class Struggle: A Coordinated Approach to Standardized Teaching, Washington Post
School superintendent Eric Smith had made a national reputation for himself raising achievement in large school systems.

Editorial: A good year for The Beach, Long Beach Press-Telegram
This year, 43,000 students applied for admission to California State University, Long Beach, which had room for only 9,000. It takes more than population growth to account for that kind of popularity.

Editorial: More money, San Diego Union-Tribune
College athletics is big business in California, with the major football and basketball programs generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues each year.

Daniel Weintraub: Candidates still ducking truth on state budget mess, Sacramento Bee
If there was one issue that drove voters to petition for the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, it was the budget.

Dan Walters: With one week left: Schwarzenegger rising, Davis falling, Sacramento Bee
Every four years, after California has gone through an election for governor, political scientists stage autopsies during which major advisers to the winning and losing candidates dissect the campaign and respond to critical questioning.

Assembly Speaker Vows to Step Down, Los Angeles Times
Assembly Speaker Herb Wesson (D-Culver City) said Monday that he would step down as leader of the 80-member body after the March 2004 primary election.

Davis boosted state spending for basic services, Fresno Bee/Los Angeles Times
During the first four years Gray Davis was governor, California spending increased by $20 billion. That spending surge has become a main theme of those seeking his recall.

Davis in a Risky Gambit, Los Angeles Times
His last-ditch strategy hopes to create fear that Schwarzenegger isn't up to the job. There are signs that the approach could backfire.

Democrats fear defeat if vote splits, Sacramento Bee
There is growing concern among Democrats that Bustamante's candidacy is in trouble, with the presence of Camejo and Huffington only compounding the problem.

Bustamante camp digs in for final push, San Francisco Chronicle
Democrat reportedly asks national party for help.

NOTE: For additional political coverage, visit the Rough & Tumble website.

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