Seit der Unabhängigkeit Simbabwes wurde sukzessive die Autonomie der 1952 gegründeten Universität untergraben. Die Autorin (Professorin der Universität) beschreibt detailliert die einzelnen Schritte und Folgen zunehmender politischer Einflußnahme. Mit der Analyse der politisch-motivierten Studentenproteste des vergangenen Jahrzehnts wird deutlich, daß der restriktive "University of Zimbabwe Amendment Act" (1990) den vulgarisierten Lebenswandel (Drogenhandel, -konsum, Diebstahl, Prostitution) nur zum Vorwand einer politischen Gängelung der Universität benutzt. Die Arbeit endet mit einer Solidarisierung von 380 Universitätslehrern mit der Studentenschaft. Die Reaktion der Regierung bleibt abzuwarten. (DÜI-Sth)
Reviews the historical facts of Zimbabwean university governance since the colonial days of the 1950s. It appears that the state (or the party that controls the state) intends to deprive the University of all independent control over who it admits, what and how it teaches and examines them, and the standards of attainment to be applied. They contravene directly the World University Service's 1988 Lima Declaration. (SJK)
Louis O. Quam, highly respected geologist/geographer, academician, and government science administrator, died on 25 July 2001 at age 95. He was best known in the United States and Canada, but widely recognized in several other countries for his many contributions to the advancement of the field of geography, for his influence on expenditure of significant government resources to fund geographic and other research, and for his broad administrative support of research in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. . He attended public schools in Boulder, Colorado, graduating from high school in 1925, and later attended the University of Colorado there, earning Bachelor of Arts (1931) and Master of Science (1932) degrees in geology. Numerous recognitions acclaimed his achievements in earth sciences and science administration . he decided to complete his formal education at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. There, holding the Libby Fellowship, he completed requirements for his doctorate in Physical Geography (1938). Next, he returned to the University of Colorado as Assistant Professor of Geography (1938-42). At this point, his promising career was interrupted by a period of service in the United States Navy (1943-46). Honorably discharged from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Quam quickly returned to university life as Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1947-50). . Several events in the immediate post-war years would dominate Louis' career. These included the founding of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) (1946) and the establishment of its Arctic Research Laboratory (later renamed Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) at Barrow, Alaska (1947) and then, the most dominating of all, the founding of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) (1950). . Quam accepted appointment to the ONR as Head, Geography Branch, Earth Sciences Division in 1950 . In the ONR, Quam was drawn into membership of many committees and panels of other organizations that were related in diverse ways to his fields of responsibility. . Shortly after his arrival at ONR, the Environmental Sciences Branch, Biological Sciences Division, elected to give up support of its Arctic research program, including NARL in Alaska. ONR management had to determine quickly whether to let the program lapse or to find another administrative entity within the organization willing to take it over. . The Chief of Naval Research agreed to transfer the program, along with the pertinent budget, and Louis took over (1951). For four years, he was the sole manager of the Arctic Program . These functions were, of course, additional to his other duties as Head of the Branch. . Dr. Quam would have been pleased to know that some specific instances of his distinguished accomplishments are recorded here, not to be forgotten. . In the opinion of the author, Quam's greatest single policy decision on behalf of Arctic research was his action to operate NARL as a Navy-funded laboratory, and also to recognize it as a national asset that should be made available for the use of others besides the ONR contractors or subcontractors (e.g., AINA [Arctic Institute of North America] under the terms of the ONR contract) for whom it existed. . By 1967, Quam had enjoyed major successes in the field of Arctic research. At age 61, he was capable of further challenges, and a notable challenge was at hand: the NSF offered him the prestigious position of Chief Scientist of its Office of Antarctic Programs. . Louis accepted the offer and served two years in the Chief Scientist position (1967-69). At this point, the office was renamed in recognition of its total responsibilities, becoming the Office of Polar Programs. Louis was designated Acting Head of the office, a position he held for two years (1969-71); he then served as Chief Scientist for two more years, until his retirement in 1972. . He was a good and decent man, whether at home or in the office, and he will be affectionately remembered and missed by all who knew him.
This short biography of Louise Arbour outlines the career, accomplishments, & challenges facing this Canadian jurist who gave up her seat on the Supreme Court to become the UN's new high commissioner for human rights. Born in Montreal in 1947, raised by her mother & crediting a strict Catholic school for girls with formation of her character, Arbour entered the male-dominated legal profession in the 1960's, dabbled with Quebec nationalism, & was heavily influenced by Canada's decision to impose the War Measures Act & martial law in 1970, to which she draws parallels to the current war on terror. She served as chief war crimes prosecutor for Rwanda & Yugoslavia at The Hague, & brings her remarkable professional experience, strength of character, & ability to form good working relationships to her new post, which requires her to be part activist, part diplomat, & part politician. Confronting China & US abuses in the war on terror will be just one of the challenges facing her. L. Kehl
