Your telephone rings and the voice at the other end says, “Friend, don’t be disturbed. I don’t want to borrow any money and I have no favors to ask. I just thought I would call and tell you that I think you’re one of the nicest persons who ever draw a breath of air. You are an asset to your profession and a credit to your community. You’re the kind of person I like to be with because every time I’m around you, I feel inspired and motivated to do a better job. I wish I could see you every day because you motivate me to be my best self. That’s all I want to say, friend. Look forward to seeing you soon.”

Now, if a close friend called you and said those things to you what kind of day would you have? Remember, you know the words are sincere because they are coming from a close friend.

If you were a doctor, would you be a better doctor? If you were a teacher, would you be a better teacher? Regardless of who you are or what you do, you know in your own mind you wouldn’t only be better at your job, but you would be happier wouldn’t you?

How much more would you know about being a doctor? Or a sales person? Or a lawyer? How much more would you know if you had gotten that phone call? The answer obviously is you wouldn’t know any more. Still, in your own mind you know you would be better and happier.

You would say, "I’m an asset to my community and a credit to my profession. That old boy said so and he is one more smart cookie."

You wouldn’t argue with him for one single moment. You would see yourself in a different light. Your self-image would change and at that instant an interesting thing happens. Your confidence goes up and when your confidence goes up, your competence goes up at the same time.

Since you know what this kind of phone call would do for you, why don’t you do the same thing for someone else?

Zig Ziglar, See You at the Top

March 24, 2021

Community thanks UPS driver with surprise party

March 24, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

#GOODNEWS

March 24, 2021

Shifting your zip code

March 24, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

Shifting your zip code to a religious address won’t prevent your own personal box of character flaws from being delivered promptly to your doorstep.

March 23, 2021

The meaning of Life

March 23, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

In September 1942, Viktor Frankl, a prominent Jewish psychiatrist and neurologist in Vienna, was arrested and transported to a Nazi concentration camp with his wife and parents. Three years later, when his camp was liberated, most of his family, including his pregnant wife, had perished — but he, prisoner number 119104, had lived. In his bestselling 1946 book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which he wrote in nine days about his experiences in the camps, Frankl concluded that the difference between those who had lived and those who had died came down to one thing: Meaning, an insight he came to early in life. When he was a high school student, one of his science teachers declared to the class, “Life is nothing more than a combustion process, a process of oxidation.” Frankl jumped out of his chair and responded, “Sir, if this is so, then what can be the meaning of life?”

Emily Esfahani Smith
Writing in The Atlantic

March 22, 2021

Articles of Interest about higher ed - March 22

March 22, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

***COVID-19

What the science says about 7 common COVID-19 vaccine myths

Many in U.S. face mental health issues as COVID-19 enters year two

Do you still need a COVID-19 test after you’ve been vaccinated?

How The Pandemic Has Changed The Way We Grieve

Researchers report delayed skin reaction to COVID-19 vaccine

Why your arm might be sore after getting a vaccine

Fauci and Collins join interfaith leaders at cathedral vaccine ‘confidence event’

***FINANCES LAYOFFS & CUTS

Oakland's historic Mills College to stop granting degrees after 2023

200 Layoffs Planned at City College of San Francisco

Cabrini University cuts 46 positions, 15 programs

Leader of Pa. State Universities: make a change or “dissolve” the system

Emporia State makes adjustments and plans for more changes

***HIGHER ED IN COURT

St. Louis lawsuit alleges university leaked confidential records to kill Title IX bill

Class action lawsuit against Wartburg College asks for tuition refunds after COVID-19 forced closures

University of Oregon professor’s equal pay lawsuit can proceed to jury trial

***TEACHING

Widener University profs accidentally share video where they discuss how students were going to fail a test

Professor berates student in Myanmar for missing exam due to military-imposed internet blackout, viral screenshots show

How college students learned new ways to cheat during pandemic remote schooling

***ACADEMIC LIFE

Brown Prof Gets Hounded Off Twitter for Article Saying It’s OK to Take Your Kids on Vacation

A University of San Diego professor under investigation for racial comments in a blog

After grad student suicide, misconduct findings, university suspends professor

Law School Invites Professor Who Uses Racial Slurs To Encourage ‘Dialogue,’ Then Shuts Off Comments

Tenure’s Broken Promise ($)

One NJ professor's struggle with the 'Asian fetish' stereotype

***ADMINISTRATORS

Oregon Tech Faculty Call for President's Resignation

LSU administrator gave rapists, stalkers and other Title IX violators slaps on the wrist

Santa Clara University President Investigated for Alleged Misconduct, Inappropriate Comments

Brandeis University president takes bitter contract negotiations public

Oregon State puts F. King Alexander on probation for his role in LSU sexual misconduct scandal

Survey shows college presidents emerging from COVID-19 more confident in their institutions

***NEW ADMINISTRATORS

Stephen F. Austin State University names new provost

Bentley University names new president

***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS

Oral Roberts and 12 other March Madness teams with religious affiliations

Offensive language prompts Wheaton College to revise plaque for slain missionaries

How Faculty on Christian Campuses Can Support Asian and Asian American Students

Taylor University announces new president: former Gordon College president

Houston Baptist University plans new buildings, community revitalizations

***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS & LGBTQ ISSUES

Actor Says Catholic University Canceled Contract Because of Sexual Orientation

Lee U. clarifies marriage stance, alumni start LGBTQ+ petition

Survey finds LGBTQ+ students attending religious colleges struggle with belonging

The Equality Act Through the Eyes of a Christian College President

***CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS & POLITICS

Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Leaves Liberty University Think Tank

What America Can Learn From My Experience Being Black in a Trumpland Christian college

***RESEARCH

Is preprint the future of science? A thirty year journey of online preprint services

How long do institutional investigations into accusations of serious scientific misconduct typically take?

Scientists Should Admit They Bring Personal Values to Their Work

The open access effect in social media exposure of scholarly articles

***RETRACTIONS

Retracting publications doesn’t stop them from influencing science

Research integrity in the COVID-19 era: insights from Retraction Watch co-founder Ivan Oransky

***CAMPUS SPEECH

Biden administration commits to anti-Semitism definition that could stifle campus speech

High school football coach who prayed after games loses appeal

***STUDENTS & MENTAL HEALTH

‘When Normal Life Stopped’: College Essays Reflect a Turbulent Year

News Study reports that CUNY students’ mental health has worsened due to the pandemic

Mindfulness program in campus dorms, groups improved students’ mental health

Study: College students’ mental health suffered when displaced by pandemic

Half of U.S. college students battling anxiety or depression, study finds

5 Mental Health Tips for College Students

***RACIAL ISSUES ON CAMPUS

San Diego law professor under investigation over Chinese reference in coronavirus blog post

Reports of racism on Wisconsin college campuses have increased in past year

Why Did Boise State Suspend Its Mandatory Diversity Course?

Second Georgetown Law prof leaves in midst of investigation over conversation about Black students ($)

Episcopal seminary deans respond to racial incidents at Sewanee

***DATA SECURITY

Victoria University of Wellington accidentally deletes all files stored on desktop computers

FBI Warns of Increased Ransomware Attacks Targeting Colleges

March 22, 2021

There will come a time

March 22, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. –Louis L’Amour (born March 22, 1908)

March 21, 2021

Feeling felt

March 21, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

When we “feel felt” by another it helps us to develop the internal strength of self-regulation, to become focused, thoughtful, and resourceful. -Daniel J. Siegel

March 20, 2021

Just one day after completing CPR training, a teen saves her friend's life

March 20, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

#GOODNEWS

"I had just passed the test the day before."

You can read the story here.

March 20, 2021

What if...

March 20, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

What if you turn your energy from impressing strangers to being completely present with the people you love? -Arthur C. Brooks

March 19, 2021

Science Is Truth Until It Isn’t

March 19, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

No religion can claim all its priests are holy, so it’s probably not surprising that science can’t claim all its researchers are pure of heart. In most examples of scientific fraud, “follow the money” seems to answer the question “why?” For scientists lured to do fraudulent research for tobacco, energy or perpetual-motion companies, the capitalist money bags loom large – if not for direct personal gain, then at least for nice laboratories and tenured career paths at desirable universities. In these challenging times for higher education, science remains a career-driven field. A good reputation brings support and funding, and reputation is still built on that old cliché, “publish or perish”. Therein lies the constant temptation for a struggling or fame-seeking researcher to maybe tweak the data a little.

Thomas O’Dwyer writing in 3 Quarks Daily

March 18, 2021

Articles of interest about religion - March 18

March 18, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

***COVID-19

Why the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine can make you feel lousy

The Pandemic and the Limits of Science

Moderna begins testing next-generation coronavirus vaccine

***RELIGION & CRIME

The Alleged Atlanta Shooter’s Church Tried to Disappear From the Internet

Christian leaders wrestle with Atlanta shooting suspect’s Southern Baptist ties

Church in Seattle hit with anti-Asian graffiti for fourth time this year

Founders of Mo. Christian Reform School Charged with Abuse After Daughter's Viral TikTok Videos

***THE BIBLE

A new English-language edition of the Gospels

Dead Sea Scrolls discoveries are first ancient Bible texts to be found in 60 years

***RELIGION

What It’s Like to Leave the Evangelical Community

Scholar and Biden adviser Jon Meacham joins National Cathedral as canon historian

***RELIGION AND CONSPIRACY THEORIES

Pastors are leaving their congregations after losing their churchgoers to QAnon

***CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING

Beth Moore Shakes Up Evangelical Publishing

***CATHOLIC CHURCH

LGBTQ Catholics stung by Vatican rebuff of same-sex unions

Catholic order commits to making $100 million in slavery reparations

Catholics React To Vatican Ban On Clergy Blessing Same-Sex Marriages

Catholic Leaders Voice Moral Concerns About Johnson & Johnson Vaccine

***CHRISTIAN SINGERS

Kirk Franklin's son releases explicit audio of their conversation

Activist And Christian Hip-Hop Artist Remembers His Friend, George Floyd

Anthony Brown’s gospel music is about creating connections ($)

***RELIGION IN COURT

Supreme Court's COVID-19 cases stir up battle between religion, same-sex couples over foster care

Vimeo's Section 230 Win in Pastor's Discrimination Suit Affirmed by Appeals Court

***ISLAM

The youngest Muslim elected official in the country wants you to know her name

***PASSED

Evangelist Luis Palau dies at 86

Christian scientist John Polkinghorne dies at 90

Equality Act is creating a historic face-off between religious exemptions and LGBTQ rights

***CULTS

"Cult City" Scientology tours rile Clearwater

Belgian Court hits Jehovah’s Witnesses with €96,000 fine for discrimination

***RELIGION & LGBTQ ISSUES

Amazon defends decision to remove conservative Christian scholar's book on transgenderism

72 Percent of Protestant Pastors View Trans Identity as 'Immoral'

Eugene Peterson authorized biography backs up that ‘yes’ on LGBTQ inclusion

March 18, 2021

5-year-old girl receives kidney donated by her teacher

March 18, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

#GOODNEWS

You can read the story here.

March 18, 2021

The greatest teaching

March 18, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

The greatest teaching is not teaching what you know. The greatest teaching is teaching what you’re learning. -John Maxwell

March 17, 2021

Restaurant owner drives six hours to cook a special dish for customer dying of cancer

March 17, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

#GOODNEWS

Screen Shot 2021-03-17 at 6.53.07 AM.png

Read the story here.

March 17, 2021

Learn to Expect

March 17, 2021/ Stephen Goforth

Learn to expect, not to doubt. In so doing you bring everything into the realm of possibility. This does not mean that by believing you are necessarily going to get everything you want or think you want. Perhaps that would not be good for you. When you put your trust in God, He guides your mind so that you do not want things that are not good for you or that are inharmonious with God’s will. But it does definitely mean that when you learn to believe, then that which has seemingly been impossible moves into the area of the possible. Every great thing at last becomes for you a possibility.

Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking