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| Michael Pollock Opens Up About Deion Sanders After Being Released From Colorado |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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Michael pollock opens up about deion sanders after being released from colorado
in this story:
after spending the past five seasons working for colorado buffaloes coach deion sanders, including two at jackson state, michael pollock is back on the open market.
pollock, a former quality control assistant in boulder, was promoted to colorados special teams coordinator last year, and while the room had its moments during the 2025 season, he was ultimately released from sanders staff following a three-win campaign. Since then, pollock has returned home to georgia and is now searching for his next coaching opportunity.
pollocks recent departure was fortunately amicable from both sides. As a longtime assistant coach and a former high school head coach, pollock was well aware that changes were necessary after colorados disappointing 2025 season.
when you go 3-9 and youve got coordinator attached to your name, youve got a bullseye on your chest, pollock said on thee pregame shows the morning run live on wednesday. Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions with guys that you really care about who are even doing a great job.
the fans and people above us that are making decisions, they want to see some change, so thats what has to happen. Thats the risk you take when you accept a coordinators role. Thats part of the business. Theres been a lot of great coaches out there in the history of this game that have had to move on from situations.
michael pollock shares appreciation for deion sanders
pollock, who was sanders co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for a period of time at jackson state, reaffirmed that theres no love lost between him and coach prime.
hes my guy, pollock said of sanders. He gave me an opportunity when no one else would, and ill never forget that. Hell always be special to me and im always going to support him and wish nothing but the best for him because thats what he deserves.
during his lone season as colorados special teams coordinator, punter damon greaves, kickoff specialist buck buchanan, kickoff returner quentin gibson and the likes of isaiah hardge, ben finneseth and kaleb mathis all performed well in various roles. Mathis quietly recorded the third-most special teams points (40) in colorado history, and gibson earned freshman all-american honors as a return specialist. Plus, greaves picked up an all-big 12 honorable mention nod.
more: colorado transfer receiver adds new dimension to buffaloes offense
more: deion sanders causes controversy with fines for colorado players
more: the most impactful transfer portal addition for colorado
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deion sanders searching for new special teams coach
footballscoop reported tuesday that sanders has already interviewed multiple candidates for his special teams coordinator role. Former colorado all-american kicker and green bay packers great mason crosby also expressed his interest in a post on social media.
colorado returns gibson, greaves, finneseth and mathis but will have a new primary placekicker following the losses of alejandro mata and buchanan. As of this writing, grambling state transfer josh mccormick and freshman elliot arnold are expected to compete for colorados kicking duties.
jack carlough
jack carlough is lead reporter for colorado buffaloes on si. Jack graduated from the university of colorado with a bachelors degree in journalism and minors in business and sports media. Born and raised in the boulder area, jack began covering colorado athletics in 2018 and was the head sports editor of the cu independent during his college career. More recently, he spent over three years as the managing editor of the usa today sports networks colorado buffaloes wire, where he covered colorados hiring of head football coach deion sanders. Other publications jack has written for include the boulder daily camera, left hand valley courier and sb nation’s ralphie report. In 2022, the colorado press association awarded jack second place in its annual class 5 best sports column writing category. |
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| Berkeley Journalism Quarterly Newsletter: Winter 2026 |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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In celebrating dr. Martin luther king, jr. This month, i reflected on his vision for people coming together in the “beloved community” as an antidote to great violence and injustice in the world.
dr. King’s ideas about community should resonate deeply for journalists, and in particular for local journalists, as we must be immersed in our communities to do our best reporting. Local journalism connects neighbors about what matters most: from health care to housing, safety to sustenance. Local journalism gives us a shared story, even across differences.
we’re seeing this courage in minnesota right now, shared with us by journalists on the ground who also exhibit great courage to do their reporting. Even amid the chaos, these stories connect us and infuse us with hope that the beloved community — with the help of journalists and trusted news and information — will prevail.
sincerely,
michael d. Bolden
dean and professor
uc berkeley journalism
p.S. Please join me in celebrating a major grant to mission local, a bay area publication that was first built by professor emeritus lydia chávez at uc berkeley journalism and is now a thriving part of the bay area community.
news roundup
two news bills signed into law by california governor gavin newsom last month to reform policing resulted from investigations by uc berkeley journalism alums brian howey (‘22), katey rusch (‘20) and casey smith (‘20). Their award-winning work was developed at uc berkeley journalism’s investigative reporting program.
“these two projects — and the legislation they’ve provoked — are a reminder that powerful investigative reporting doesn’t just illuminate abuses of power but it often spurs reforms aimed at ending those abuses,” said professor david barstow, chair of the investigative reporting program. “They are also yet another demonstration of the incredible investigative storytelling our berkeley journalism students are consistently producing.”
stories by howey, rusch and smith were published in the san francisco chronicle, reveal at the center for investigative reporting and the los angeles times.
student news
eli benton cohen (’27) had an a1 story in the san francisco chronicle about a 20-year-old immigrant from honduras who paid taxes and a mortgage in oakland before being wrongfully caught up in a dea-led raid and whisked to a detention center in another state for two months. The story highlights the growing use of a judicial order that was once unusual in immigration cases called a writ of habeas corpus that’s now being used to fight back against unlawful detentions. Additional reporting by georgie pease (’27).
sophia cutino (’26) and seven wu (’26) took first place and honorable mention respectively in the campuswide dorothea lange photography competition. The fellowship, established in the late 1980s at uc berkeley in memory of one of the 20th century’s most gifted documentary photographers, celebrates the use of photography by students or faculty members in scholarly work of any discipline. “This year’s competitors submitted very thought-provoking proposals with strong photographic samples, even by the highest industry standards,” professor ken light said.
six first-generation college students, all from california, have been named uc berkeley journalism dean’s fellows, recipients of prestigious full-ride fellowships meant to give students the freedom to pursue careers in journalism by dramatically reducing the debt burden they carry into their professional lives.
this fifth cohort of dean’s fellows, all part of the class of 2027, include angelo claure, fernando haro, akua parker, macie parker, steffi puerto and emily tenorio molina. The program is overseen and taught this year by environmental investigative reporter and continuing lecturer mark schapiro.
“the stakes”
over the last year, more than 30 students have published stories for “the stakes,” a school-wide special project dedicated to covering the local effects of trump administration policies on california. Initially launched as a rapid response to the stream of executive orders and federal actions, the project involves uc berkeley faculty, students, staff and fellows pivoting and reporting on the local implications of federal policies across areas of health care, the environment, education, scientific research and other topics.
since launching in february, “the stakes” project has produced 36 stories under the editorial guidance of local news editor christine schiavo. In writing about the effects new federal policies are having on california communities, our students have reported on lost research grants, cuts to environmental initiatives, threats to medicaid, the affordable care act and farm programs; the impact of tariffs on small businesses, of policy shifts on lgbt rights and of censorship on arts organizations.
students have published these stories in the san francisco chronicle, the guardian, the sacramento bee, the fresno bee, east bay times, the bay area reporter, san francisco business times, el tímpano, richmondside, berkeleyside and on kqed, kalw, laist, kpbs and capradio, among other news sites. The project is open to anyone at the j-school who is interested in pursuing stories that chronicle this moment in time for californians.
read the print and online stories here and watch the student-led explainer series’ vertical videos and video podcasts, produced by audio program director shereen marisol meraji and her students here.
in december, the national press club in washington, d.C., The association of foreign press correspondents in the united states and the international correspondents’ community hosted the annual foreign press awards gala and presented the 2025 scholarship awards to outstanding international correspondents pursuing master’s degrees in journalism across u.S. Universities. Our own ava hu (’26), a bilingual reporter specializing in data-driven and international stories, was a winner.
minahil arif (’26) and fuwad ahamad (‘26) were featured in recent “my j-school” videos produced by james mawien manyuol (’27) that give the real deal about j-school life — directly from the mouths of current students.
faculty news
our spring 2026 instructors are already hard at work with students at north gate hall. From audience engagement to business leadership and design thinking to how emerging technologies like ai are reshaping journalism and media, uc berkeley journalism’s spring course lineup reflects an evolving curriculum under new dean michael d. Bolden.
“we’ve recruited some terrific new and returning faculty to meet the needs of the industry while best positioning our students for successful careers,” said associate dean of academics jeremy sanchez rue.
congratulations to shereen marisol meraji, director of the audio program, who was just awarded tenure and the title of associate professor at uc berkeley journalism. Meraji, the founder and former co-host and senior producer of the pre-eminent podcast about race and identity in america, npr’s “code switch,” joined berkeley journalism in july of 2022. Since then, she’s turned the audio track into a publishing powerhouse for students. “She brings boundless energy and rigor to this profession, and i am thrilled to work alongside her,” michael d. Bolden, dean of berkeley journalism said.
professor jason spingarn-koff is executive producer of all the walls came down, a documentary about the l.A. Fires shortlisted for the academy awards was published by l.A. Times short docs in january. The film will screen as part of our climate journalism on screen series at bampfa on february 22.
longtime j-school teacher and mentor joan bieder — beloved across generations of berkeley students and colleagues — died on october 26. The berkeley journalism community, which included current and former faculty and staff, alumni and friends, celebrated her life on saturday, december 12. Read tributes and our story.
seven of professor ken light’s photos from his book “valley of shadows and dreams” are included in the play “last west: road songs for dorothea lange,” written by poet tess taylor, an innovative, immersive theatre performance at the sonoma valley museum of art (which sold out). Light’s photo “race wall, saint louis, missouri, 1972,” is included in the exhibition modern and contemporary social realism at the harvard art museums in boston.
professor ed wasserman writes that trump’s ‘quiet, piggy’ jab at a female reporter is much more than a personal insult, in the san francisco chronicle.
alumni news
pete nicks (’99) is currently directing “sixteen”, a coming-of-age documentary shot in a combination of super 8 and super 16 film that explores how a diverse group of young people navigate the tragic loss of a friend. Through cinéma vérité and intimate interviews, they reflect on the life and lasting impact of a beloved friend – also the director’s daughter – who passed away at 16. The film invites us to reconsider how those we’ve lost can be rediscovered in unexpected ways – through storytelling, memory, and a reframing of our understanding of life and death.
awards and accolades
a stunning four out of five of the films nominated in the ida awards for best episodic series this year were from the uc berkeley journalism community.
producer lauren capps (’12) was nominated for the four-part docuseries “the sing sing chronicles” (nbc news studios in association with trilogy films, msnbc films); producer niema jordan (mj/mph ’16) for the six-part hbo documentary series “eyes on the prize iii: we who believe in freedom cannot rest 1977–2015” (emeritus professor jon else is a series advisor, rafael roy (’18) is director of photography for episode 5 and katie bernstein (’21) was lead assistant editor and post-supervisor across the series) and producers bo kovitz (’19) and tommy nguyen (’05) for the five-part netflix documentary series “turning point: the vietnam war.” The “turning point” series examines the harrowing consequences of the vietnam war, from the gulf of tonkin incident to the fall of saigon. Alum and advisory board member carrie lozano (’05) was nominated for best curated series for independent lens.
directors bret sigler (’03) and singeli agnew (’07) won for the four-part pbs series “citizen nation.” The series is also nominated for best new non-scripted or documentary series in the 41st annual film independent spirit awards, happening sunday, february 15 in los angeles.
the extraordinary documentary thesis film “strangers on our land” by directors zane karram (’25) and kelsey oliver (’25) has been nominated for the television academy’s 45th college television awards in the nonfiction series. The documentary investigates the killing of raymond mattia, a member of the tohono o’odham nation, by u.S. Border patrol outside his home in may 2023. Watch the trailer on our instagram channel. The awards will be held in los angeles march 26-28.
producer niema jordan’s (mj/mph ’16) “eyes on the prize iii: we who believe in freedom cannot rest 1977–2015” (hbo max), has also been nominated for outstanding documentary (television) in the 57th naacp image awards. The awards will be held on february 28 at the pasadena civic auditorium in los angeles. The ceremony will air live at 8:00 p.M. Et/pt on bet.
warm congratulations to our berkeley journalism community on winning excellence in journalism awards from the society of professional journalists northern california (spj norcal).
three veterans of uc berkeley journalism’s documentary film program were nominated in the annual critics choice documentary awards. The awards honor the year’s finest achievements in documentaries released in theaters, on tv and on major digital platforms.
academy award-nominated director traci a. Curry (’05) tied for best historical documentary for “hurricane katrina: race against time” (national geographic). She was also nominated for best limited documentary series.
also nominated were showrunner and executive producer jeffrey plunkett (’05) who received a nomination for best ongoing documentary series for “trafficked with mariana van zeller” (national geographic). Producer niema jordan (mj/mph ’16) received two nominations, for best historical documentary and best limited documentary series for the six-part hbo documentary series “eyes on the prize iii: we who believe in freedom cannot rest 1977–2015.”
pete nicks (’99) and traci a. Curry (’05) are nominated for best new non-scripted or documentary series for “hurricane katrina: race against time” (national geographic) and bret sigler (’03) and singeli agnew (’07) are also nominated for best new non-scripted or documentary series for the four-part pbs series “citizen nation” in the 41st annual film independent spirit awards, happening sunday, february 15 in los angeles.
upcoming events
thursday, february 5 | 5:30 pm
veteran documentary photographer matthew naythons is in conversation with professor ken light about his new photography book “light in dark places,” which includes highlights from his illustrious career.
february 7-22
climate journalism on screen
location: bampfa in downtown berkeley
details and ticket information here.
a few special screenings and events:
- february 7, 3:30 pm: following the screening of “teenage wasteland” to launch the series, professor jason spingarn-koff will be onstage in conversation with the filmmakers.
- february 21, noon: a screening of “three films on water and tradition” includes “the glacier wedding” by amin muhammad (’25) and thomas sawano (’25). Professor jennifer redfearn will join the filmmakers on stage in conversation following the screenings.
- february 22, 1 pm: “all the walls came down” by ondi timoner. Professor jason spingarn-koff, executive producer of the film, will talk with timoner and score composer morgan doctor following the screening.
the “climate journalism on screen” series was curated by berkeley journalism’s jason spingarn-koff, a new board member at bampfa.
february 26, 7 pm: black culture appreciation night at the cal women’s basketball game, which will honor dean michael d. Bolden.
march 31, 5:30 pm, uc berkeley journalism’s lmc: herb caen lecture on press freedom in peril: jodie ginsberg, chief executive officer of the committee to protect journalists and jason rezaian, director of press freedom initiatives for the washington post in conversation with san francisco chronicle editor in chief emilio garcia-ruiz.
the quarterly news features alumni, faculty, students, media partners and others in berkeley journalism’s broad community. If you’d like to follow ongoing developments in real-time, find us on instagram, facebook, bluesky, x and linkedin. Have alumni news or accomplishments to share? Please send it, along with a high-res headshot to journalism@berkeley.Edu. Are you hiring? Please reach out to career.Services@berkeley.Edu. Want to learn about donating to the school? Contact stevekatz@berkeley.Edu. |
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| Harr Named Ohio Cattlemens Young Cattleman of the Year |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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Marysville, ohio — the ohio cattlemen’s association (oca) recognized keayla harr of jeomsville, ohio, as the 2026 young cattleman of the year during the buckeye cattlemen’s summit on jan. 24, 2026. The event was held at the ohio state university wooster campus, shisler conference center, in wooster, ohio. The award was sponsored by select sires member cooperative.
the young cattleman of the year award is presented to individuals or couples, typically under 40 years of age, who have demonstrated the early stages of a successful beef operation and shown strong leadership potential within the cattle industry. The recipient also serves as oca’s automatic nominee to participate in the national cattlemen’s beef association’s (ncba) young cattlemen’s conference.
harr is a second-generation cattleman who was raised on her family’s hereford seedstock operation, j & l cattle services. She grew up actively involved in 4-h and ffa and was heavily engaged in the national junior hereford association, building a strong foundation in the beef industry from a young age.
harr began her postsecondary education at casper college in casper, wyoming, where she was a member of the livestock judging team. She then attended kansas state university, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in meat science. Following that, harr continued her education at oklahoma state university, where she completed a ph.D. Program in meat science with a research focus on meat color.
after completing her education, harr began her professional career at e.R. Boliantz, a meatpacking company. She notes that her overarching goal in the beef industry is to ensure that meat animal protein remains a valued part of consumers’ diets. Harr combines her meat science background with her family’s farming operation to help produce hereford seedstock that is productive, practical, and delivers real-world value.
in addition to her passion for meat science and cattle production, harr is committed to youth development and hopes to further give back to the organizations that helped shape her and will influence the next generation of beef producers.
to learn more about keayla harr and her background, view her award video at www.Ohiocattle.Org.
— ohio cattlemen’s association |
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| Celebrating Black History Month 2026 |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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Black history month is a time to honor the achievements, contributions, and resilience of black individuals throughout history. Highlighting steam leaders during this month underscores the vital role black innovators have played—and continue to play—in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. The tech interactive celebrates creativity alongside technical skill, reflecting the full scope of innovation and problem-solving. We’re celebrating the following four innovators this black history month.
calcea johnson
calcea johnson is an american mathematician known for groundbreaking work on the pythagorean theorem alongside her high school classmate, nekiya jackson. She co-discovered a novel proof of the theorem, challenging a long-held assumption that such proofs were impossible. The work gained international attention and was later expanded into multiple proofs.
johnson’s achievement led to publication in a peer-reviewed mathematics journal and widespread recognition for advancing mathematical understanding at a remarkably young age. Her work has inspired renewed interest in classical geometry, highlighted the creative potential of young scholars, and contributed to greater visibility for underrepresented groups in mathematics.
johnson is currently studying environmental engineering at louisiana state university (lsu), and aims to apply her degree toward sustainability and clean energy work that benefits communities and the planet. She’s passionate about uplifting communities in need and advancing renewable energy solutions, combining her stem skills with a commitment to environmental and social impact.
did you know?
builders and architects use the pythagorean theorem (specifically the 3-4-5 rule, a special right triangle) to ensure that corners are precisely 90-degree right angles, which is essential for a buildings stability and correct alignment.
nekiya jackson
ne’kiya jackson is an american mathematician known for groundbreaking work on the pythagorean theorem alongside her high school classmate, calcea johnson. Rather than relying on the pythagorean theorem itself, jackson and johnson used trigonometric concepts like sine and cosine to develop their proof. After presenting the work at a high school math contest and later at the american mathematical society’s annual conference, this achievement drew widespread acclaim and national attention.
jackson expressed hope that her work would encourage more young people to explore stem, emphasizing that age should never be seen as a limitation. She stressed that nothing is impossible and that anyone can achieve great things with determination and confidence.
jackson is a college student at xavier university of louisiana, where she is pursuing a doctor of pharmacy (pharm.D.) Degree. She plans to make a positive impact on the community by working to help others through healthcare, seeing her mathematical achievement as just one chapter in a broader professional journey.
did you know?
engineers apply the law of sines and the law of cosines to calculate forces and stresses in non-right-angled triangular supports within complex structures.
sargent claude johnson
sargent johnson was a pioneering african american sculptor who became the first black artist on the west coast to gain national recognition. He built his career in the bay area after moving to san francisco in 1915.
johnson studied painting and drawing and eventually attended the california school of fine arts (now the san francisco art institute) studying under famous sculptors. He was strongly influenced by african carvings, and during the 1930s while creating new deal public art, he broadened his practice to include abstraction and elements of mexican muralism. Johnson helped shape the development of modern art in california.
johnson contributed to civil rights by using modern art to challenge racist stereotypes and promote dignified, humanizing representations of african americans. Through sculpture and public art, he asserted racial pride and visibility, helping advance cultural recognition and social equality during a period of widespread discrimination.
emmett w. Chappelle
emmett w. Chappelle was a pioneering biochemist whose research revealed how specific chemical reactions cause living organisms to emit light. His work harnessed bioluminescence to advance major discoveries in biology and chemistry, creating powerful tools for detecting life at the cellular level.
born in phoenix, arizona, chappelle earned a master’s degree in biology from the university of washington. In 1963, while working at nasa, he investigated the properties of light produced by living organisms. As part of the viking mars probe team, he helped develop instruments to analyze martian soil and realized that certain chemicals emitted measurable light when combined with materials containing living cells. He later applied this discovery to detect bacteria in urine, blood, spinal fluid, drinking water, and food, greatly improving diagnostic and safety testing.
chappelle also helped develop laser-induced fluorescence to identify plant stress, enabling scientists and farmers to assess crop health and productivity. This technology improved agricultural practices worldwide. Beyond his scientific achievements, chappelle was deeply committed to mentoring and supporting minority students in stem, leaving a lasting educational legacy.
come see if you can catch one of our rotating pop up activities on the lower level creating artwork of a bioluminescent sea creature!
at the tech interactive, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the achievements of steam leaders. This black history month, help inspire future problem solvers by taking action:
- commit to being an active ally for racial justice
- explore books by black authors
- watch films and documentaries on black history
- learn about influential black artists and creators
- support black-owned businesses
- donate to black-led organizations |
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| Central Community College sees Spring enrollment growth |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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Central community college sees spring enrollment growth
grand island, neb. (Ksnb) - central community college’s enrollment is climbing as the spring semester begins, with the college reporting 6,624 students across its service area — a 4.2 percent increase from last year.
the enrollment figures, announced as the college marked a milestone winter commencement, reflect growth despite economic headwinds in the college’s service area.
“we are pleased our enrollment continues to grow, even when challenged with a significant plant closing in lexington,” said ccc president dr. Matt gotschall. “The ability to help educate individuals for new careers is a primary reason why community colleges were created, and we are eager to serve those impacted.”
the spring semester total includes 1,830 on-campus students and 4,797 distance learning students. Full-time enrollment increased 2.6 percent compared to the spring semester a year ago, when college-wide enrollment stood at 6,359.
central community college serves students across nebraska through campuses in columbus, grand island and hastings, along with centers in holdrege, kearney, lexington and ord. The college also operates educational hubs in albion and red cloud, while maintaining early college programming with more than 85 nebraska high schools.
the enrollment growth comes as the college celebrated its fifth winter commencement, recognizing 358 degree candidates and 40 general educational development graduates.
click here to subscribe to our ksnb local4 daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
copyright 2026 ksnb. All rights reserved. |
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| Opinion | Is Your AI Casteist? Demeaning The Technological Advancement With Cast |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (7 reads) | |
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Opinion | is your ai casteist? Demeaning the technological advancement with caste prism
one worrying tendency has become common in bharatiya discourse: interpreting every new international instance through the prism of caste. Caste, undoubtedly, represents one of the most long-standing and violent forms of inequality in bharat, but not all subjects will benefit from this interpretation. Interpreting every new instance through this prism can often distort a valid critique into something troubling, as identified. The notion that chatgpt, an ai tool developed in accordance with international standards of technological development, represents domination by upper castes over lower castes is the most extreme form of this distortion. Just because this tool was developed according to international, rather than bharatiya, technological principles, it represents domination by upper castes over lower castes, which is the most extreme form of distortion of all. Such a rather weak argumentation, by contrast, provides a quite rigorous and unconstrained critique of the narrative. This points out the flaws in those who correlate worldwide technological abilities with lower-caste identification, stresses the need for evidence in claims of beneficial repression, and reveals the politically beneficial character of defining lower-caste communities as permanent victims of technology, without accepting them as active technology users and developers. That argumentation does not defend corporate aid but defends intellectual integrity. To the degree to which technology criticism begins for the sake of intellectual integrity in the context of social justice ideas, reductionism and ideology have poor performance and existence. This argument about chatgpt being nothing but the upper caste technology’s bharatiya lower caste downgrading version itself is intellectually flawed, politically pathetic, and only reveals much more about the particular person who said so, rather than the technology itself. Eventually, chatgpt is not really a bharatiya social practice or cultural artefact, and it’s not connected in any meaningful way to the bharatiya caste system. That’s a worldwide technological system developed and implemented by people worldwide, in the context of worldwide research cooperation, not in any form or connection related to the bharatiya caste system. That labelling of such a worldwide system as upper-caste products makes no sense at all.
the argument also relies on a dangerously reductionist view of how power works in technology. Power in ai is a function of capital, state control, corporate ownership, data privilege, and digital literacy, not caste identity. These are real, measurable, and amenable to critique. But substituting them with metaphors of caste may create rhetorical heat but no analytical light. If exclusion is true, and it is, it is along the lines of language access, internet availability, educational quality, and economic inequality. These are structural problems that affect millions, including lower castes, but they are not evidence of caste intentionality in the technology itself. What is most disturbing is the implication that chatgpt is somehow designed to oppress or exploit lower-caste users. This is a claim of intentionality, design bias, and ideological motivation. Where is the evidence? What design specification, training goal, or deployment strategy supports this contention? Instead, suspicion is transmuted into a false theoretical conspiracy against the society’s socio-cultural fabric. Critique without evidence is not resistance; it is speculation masquerading as scholarship. A professor with more ideological bias making this claim has a duty to distinguish between structural inequality and intentional oppression. To fail to do so is an abdication of academic duty. The irony is that the argument self-destructs in its own contradictions. Chatgpt, like most digital technologies, is often most revolutionary for those who have historically been excluded from elite circles, first-generation students, students from rural areas, non-english-speaking users, and economically marginalised communities. It gives them access to information, writing assistance, and conceptual explanations on a scale never before possible. To claim that such a technology is primarily designed to maintain caste domination is to wilfully ignore how it is actually used in the world, especially in developing countries, where marginalised students have consistently reported digital technologies as equalisers rather than oppressors.
it is a sad precedent of our times to include only the lower castes as passive sufferers for no reason at all whenever a new technology comes into vogue. This reduces them to mere recipients of wisdom and goodness, bereft of their own agency, imagination, and intelligence. This is no liberation politics, and this is paternalism in its most monumental form. It is precisely for taking this kind of stand that i believe a larger flaw in academia is revealed: the inability to question technology and a slide into cultural essentialism. Of course, caste is real, and caste-based discrimination is real. But this is no way to tackle most of the world’s problems. It is futile and unnecessary. This sort of activism undermines the struggle for an end to caste injustice because it confines it to areas where it is irrelevant or inapplicable anyway. But if there is serious discussion about chatgpt in india, the actual ground to be covered lies elsewhere: online divides, english dominance, educational inequities, algorithmic black-boxing, and the corporatisation of knowledge infrastructure. All these actually require serious focus without delay and don’t require idle fantasies. A focus solely on upper-caste dominance without exploring how it operates may be easy, but it’s not exactly an academic conversation. After all, when academics speak at such a raw and flash point rather than at such a nuanced one, does the point of critique inside the academy itself remain credible and viable? Students might expect no more than a bumper sticker argument from academics and academic publishing today. Society deserves more than frightspeak from academics or anywhere else. Caste justice itself demands that arguments be viable and withstand scrutiny. Scrapping ai tools for being upper-caste does not seem logical but rather a perverted mindset. Such a critique of technological advancement, blended with false narratives and tricks to get fame, does nothing for social justice.
dr barthwal teaches political science at sri aurobindo college, university of delhi. He posts on x @prashbarthwal. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect news18’s views
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| IVCs Positive Impact on Students & the Local Economy |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (5 reads) | |
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As president of the south orange county community college district trustee board, i am proud to represent saddleback college in mission viejo and, of course, irvine valley college (ivc) right here in irvine…where i have lived and taught for decades.
being a lifelong educator, i have always championed community colleges. They play a critical role in providing an affordable and accessible college education to students right in their own backyards.
nearly half of all college students are enrolled at a community college, in part because our community colleges provide educational opportunities that many students would otherwise not be able to access. In addition, these community-focused institutions are essential in workforce development, vocational training, and the improvement of local economies.
a recent regional economic impact study reported that ivc brought $738.4 million to our local economy in fiscal year 2023–24. The study also showed that the college has played a key role in equipping its alumni with an education that paves the way for higher-paying careers, benefiting thousands of individuals and contributing significantly to the region’s economic vitality.
ivc offers two-year associate degrees in over 70 majors in the liberal arts and sciences; business sciences; social sciences; and technologies. Students can complete general education and pre-major requirements for transfer to four-year colleges like uci and cal state fullerton. Students can also train for a specific job by earning a certificate in one of ivc’s 60 career and technical programs.
this fall, the college received a $3 million investment from the samueli foundation to expand stem (science technology engineering math) transfer pathways and research opportunities for ivc students. This transformative support is helping to build a new natural science center, fund research projects, and generally strengthen student support in stem.
one of the things i love most about ivc is how the college successfully combines a small-college environment with more than 60 acres of modern facilities and equipment; dedicated staff; and an excellent faculty. I couldn’t be more proud to live in a city that is home to such a wonderful community college.
beyond academics, i encourage my irvine neighbors to join me in attending the multitude of theatrical, dance, and musical performances that are held at the college’s beautiful, state-of-the-art performing arts center and the new ivc arts village. Ticket prices are modest but the talent is immense. For a list of upcoming events at ivc, click here.
and if you love watching local sports, check out the full list of athletic programs offered at ivc and the upcoming schedule of games by clicking here.
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ivc’s positive impact on students & the local economy- january 15, 2026 -
ivc helps veterans succeed- november 28, 2024 -
community college corner: meet ivc grad seira homma- june 10, 2024 |
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| User | mammothtimes.com - Rice & Kendigs J. Marshall Rice Elected President of S |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (7 reads) | |
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Shreveport, la, united states, january 30, 2026 -- the shreveport bar association has elected j. Marshall rice, managing partner at rice & kendig, as its 2026 president. Rice began his one-year term on january 1, 2026, succeeding elizabeth carmody. Rice has been an active member of the shreveport bar association for many years, previously serving as president of the young lawyers section and member at large on the sba executive council. He also held the positions of vice president and president-elect before his election to the presidency. His service beyond the local bar includes time on the board of governors for the louisiana association for justice and as a past member of the louisiana attorney disciplinary boards hearing committee. A shreveport native, rice graduated from centenary college in 2000 and earned his law degree from the paul m. Hebert law center at louisiana state university in 2003. He focuses his practice on personal injury law , including trucking and motor vehicle cases , as well as other serious injury claims. The 2026 sba executive council includes elizabeth m. Carmody as immediate past president, gerald m. Marty johnson jr. As president-elect, gregory h. Batte as vice-president, ranee haynes as secretary-treasurer, and meredith bro as secretary-treasurer elect. Additional members include lam crichton, heidi kemple-martin, judge emily miecke, l. Gordon mosley ii, judge donald e. Hathaway jr., Tanner r. Yeldell, silver sanders, and jimmy franklin. Rice & kendig has served the shreveport-bossier area for over four decades, focusing on personal injury cases, including vehicle accidents, wrongful death, and premises liability matters. The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, ensuring clients pay no attorney fees unless compensation is recovered for their case. About the company: rice & kendig has established itself as a trusted personal injury law firm in northwest louisiana, representing clients in cases involving vehicle accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, and other personal injury matters. The firms experienced attorneys work diligently to secure appropriate compensation while maintaining the highest standards of legal practice and client service. Contact info: name: j. Marshall rice email: send email organization: rice & kendig address: 912 kings highway shreveport, louisiana 71104 phone: (318) 222-2772 website: https://ricekendig.Com/ release id: 89182318 if there are any deficiencies, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the information presented in this press release, we kindly request that you promptly inform us by contacting error@releasecontact.Com (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team is committed to addressing any identified issues within 8 hours to guarantee the delivery of accurate and reliable content to our esteemed readers. |
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| Wilky Gilmore: He Was One of Our Own |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (6 reads) | |
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In among the trophies in the lobby of the new canaan high school athletic complex hangs a framed, vintage number-12 rams jersey. There is no plaque, no marker, no inscription identifying whose jersey it was. As a result, hundreds of students, parents and fans filter past the jersey every day, unaware of the history or the significance behind it, unaware of maurice ‘wilky’ gilmore.
yet for legions of new canaanites, especially friends and relatives who were lucky enough to know him personally, gilmore—selfless, charismatic, intelligent and graceful—etched a singular legacy here in town. That he did so in an era marked by civil unrest makes his accomplishments perhaps that much more impressive—though those close to gilmore say his rare gifts of compassion and decency saw him transcend matters such as race and, in more than one way, “raise the game” of everyone around him.
maurice wilkens gilmore was born in 1940, seven years before jackie robinson broke baseball’s color barrier. The young gilmore—the second of four children—was by all accounts a funny kid, always up for playful, harmless pranks. Even so, according to his youngest sister, he was a perfectionist—something that necessitated a visit to a child psychiatrist.
“that’s how he started to play basketball,” marilyn washington told newcanaanite.Com . “They told my mother that there was nothing wrong with him, just get him involved in sports. Give him an outlet.”
and what an outlet that would be.
though gilmore excelled at all sports, it was basketball that captured his attention and ultimately, passion.
“there would be a blizzard and we’d be home from school,” washington—who later became a teacher at west school—said. “Wilky would be out there shoveling the driveway so he could practice basketball. That’s the way he approached the game—a perfectionist, but not an individualist. He was a team player.”
by the time gilmore reached new canaan high school, he was already writing his legend. At the time, freshmen did not play on the high school team. Nevertheless, rams head coach loren keyes had his varsity team scrimmage the freshmen. Led by the 6’6? Gilmore, the freshmen defeated the varsity team. The following year, 1956, was the first for gilmore on the rams and it was also the first of three consecutive state titles for new canaan, who had last won the crown in 1934.
in the ’56 playoffs, gilmore averaged 29 points per game. The following season, gilmore scored a record 136 points in the four-game playoffs, including 24 in the finals despite being triple-teamed in the rams’ 70-51 win over windsor locks. In 1958, gilmore capped his high school career with a school record 697 points and another state title. Wilky had single-handedly put basketball on the map at new canaan high school, inspiring younger athletes to follow in his formidable footsteps. One such athlete was gary liberatore, who would lead new canaan to the 1962 state basketball title, the last such championship to date.
“there was no greater role model in the history of new canaan high school than wilky gilmore,” liberatore said. “He was like the pied piper in the days he was playing. I was a little kid back then, about 6 th or 7 th grade, and wilky would come down to the elementary schools and talk to the kids and encourage us to study hard so that when we got to high school we’d be eligible to play. We as kids said, ‘that’s what we want to do.’ And it was because of those great teams and actually having wilky on that team.”
“just to let you know how dominant he was, darien had some great teams during that run,” former nchs baseball coach and longtime gilmore friend mark ‘2-5-0’ rearick said. The state was broken up into three divisions back then, with the rams and blue wave winning championships in separate classes. “In ’58 the first game we played darien, we beat them by 30. The second game wilky was sick and missed it and they beat us by 30. That’s the difference wilky made in our team. A 60-point swing is just about right.”
gilmore wasn’t just a star on the court. A renaissance man, wilky was a top-notch student, class president for three straight years at new canaan high. That gilmore was one of only a few african americans living in predominantly white new canaan did not seem to matter. His personality, leadership and athleticism transcended any racial barriers that existed through the country in the late ’50s and early ’60s.
“wilky was a trailblazer,” liberatore said. “But when you’re involved in athletics, there’s no such thing as racial divide. Everybody is together. You never thought of wilky as a minority. His family was great, the gilmores were spectacular. Most of us kids used to caddy up at the country club. Wilky was a caddy, too, and he would come up there and hold court. He was just one of us.”
washington recalled that her brother “never experienced any name-calling or anything like that.”
“never called the ‘n’ word,” she said. “After he caddied at the golf course, it was nothing for him to come home with six other kids. I think in a way we were sheltered. Back in those days there was prejudice in the deep south but we never felt it that much in new canaan. We were just part of the background, part of the community.”
gilmore was heavily recruited, and although his family wanted him to go to uconn, he set his eyes on what was then the premiere ncaa basketball league, the big eight. Future nba stars wilt chamberlain and bill bridges had played big eight ball at kansas, and former new canaanite and future olympic gold medalist decathlete bill toomey was already at colorado. To the chagrin of locals who selfishly wanted to continue to see him play in college, gilmore would join toomey as a buffalo. Townies would have to resort to other means to keep up with gilmore’s career.
“his sister cecelia worked at the local supermarket,”rearick said. “After wilky graduated and went to colorado, everybody would stop and ask her ‘how is wilky?’ The line would slow to a standstill. In her yearbook, under her picture her quote was ‘wilky’s fine.’ ”
gilmore’s college career was a successful one as he led colorado to the 1962 big eight championship. In the ncaa tournament he led colorado to a victory over texas tech, but the buffaloes ultimately lost in the elite eight to eventual champion cincinnati.
in his three years at colorado, gilmore scored 1,026 points and grabbed 591 rebounds. He was such a force that in the days where point-shaving was prevalent throughout college basketball, gilmore was said to be approached by several nefarious figures. By all accounts, the upstanding gilmore flatly refused to even discuss the topic.
“some knuckleheads said that wilky didn’t report that they tried to contact him,” rearick said. “First of all, who are you going to report it to? The ncaa? The police? They’d just tell him to get lost. But they still tried to drag him through the mud a little bit because he didn’t report it.”
gilmore emerged from the scandal untainted, and after graduating colorado with a degree in business, he was selected in the 14th round of the 1962 nba draft by the st. Louis hawks. A knee injury, however, coupled with a crowded st. Louis front court prevented gilmore from reaching the nba.
“they had hall of famers bob petit and cliff hagan, and their first-round pick was zelmo beaty, a 6’10” center,” rearick said. “They tried converting wilky to a guard. Back then, a 6’6? Guard was unheard of. The only one on the face of the planet was oscar robertson. So wilky was one of the last cuts on the hawks.”
though his professional basketball career had ended before it even started, gilmore was more than prepared to transition to the real world. Moving back to new canaan, he earned a cpa license and then graduated from uconn law school and became an attorney, forming a practice with fellow lawyer harvey melzer.
“i went to high school in norwalk,” melzer told newcanaanite.Com . “When we became partners i would always tease him that i would root against him. He was just an outstanding person and he came from an outstanding family.”
gilmore practiced law in town for several years, and although he was involved in several high profile cases such as the expansion of the ymca, people seemed to be more interested in wilky’s past celebrity than his current profession.
“a lot of people would want to come up and talk basketball or glad-hand with him,” rearick said. “But when it came time to hiring a lawyer for some cases, some of his old friends wouldn’t come to him as a lawyer. He felt a little slighted by that.”
still, gilmore continued to be a pioneer. He was a charter member of new canaan’s first town council, and even found the time to set up a youth basketball camp where he was generous with his time and knowledge of the game he loved.
“he cared about people,” rearick said. “He cared about kids especially. A lot of people in his position could have been self-centered. He was just such a terrific guy. Everybody loved him. You couldn’t walk down the street with him without stopping every 10 feet because everybody wanted to talk to him.”
eventually gilmore set his sights on the west coast, where he felt his family (he had married for a second time and adopted a son) had more opportunities. He also wanted to shift gears in his career, looking to become a sports agent. Although gilmore passed the bar in california, he found that being away from new canaan was not all it cracked up to be.
“there he just became another man, and specifically a black man,” washington said. “He was out jogging one day and a policeman was driving by and stopped him, and wanted to see his identification.”
wilky had the policeman follow him to his nearby home where he promptly presented his license and a business card that showed he was an attorney. The policeman immediately and apologetically retreated.
gilmore’s sports agent career never took off—perhaps because he was simply too nice a guy in a world of low morals and backstabbing. That said, washington remembers one conversation she had that showed wilky had a sharp eye for talent.
“i never will forget when he told me that there were two young black girls that are going to be something in the tennis world,” washington said. “Of course he was talking about venus and serena williams.”
even before moving to california, gilmore had shown signs of declining health. He had suffered from narcolepsy, oftentimes falling asleep mid-conversation.
“we went through a tollbooth once when he fell asleep,” liberatore recalled.
wilky’s second marriage ended in divorce, and some disciplinary matters with his son would take a toll on his personal and professional life, loved ones recall.
“his whole focus shifted to family matters,” washington said. “He actually took a year off from his job to stay home, just to try and be a father to his kid. Our parents had been so wonderful, he wanted to be a wonderful parent too.”
gilmore eventually moved in with a friend. One day in late 1993, the friend came home from a trip to find wilky slumped over in a chair. He had been dead from an apparent heart attack for several days. He was only 53. For a man who had always been surrounded by people, his passing was poignantly lonely.
“the whole town was devastated,” liberatore recalled. “Especially anybody who knew him, which was almost everyone.”
wilky gilmore came home to new canaan. His grave sits on a small hill overlooking a pond in lakeview cemetery, the simple headstone reads “maurice ‘wilky’ gilmore, 1940-1993. Attorney, gentleman and friend to all.”
wilky gilmore’s gravestone
“when they were inscribing it, i told them ‘attorney’ should be last, and ‘gentleman’ should be first,” said cemetery caretaker and legendary new canaan coach bo hickey , who knew gilmore from pickup and alumni basketball games. “Because first and foremost, he was a gentleman.”
“he was one of our own,” liberatore said. “One of the first true superstars of new canaan.”
[note: this article first was published on the new canaanite in january 2015.] |
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| Saints Could Land Best Player in 2026 NFL Draft at Pick No. 9 |
| Posted on Friday, January 30 @ 00:00:54 PST (7 reads) | |
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Saints could land best player in 2026 nfl draft at pick no. 9
in this story:
halfway through last season, the new orleans saints seemed like they were headed for the no. 1 pick in the nfl draft. They seemed like they were the worst team in the league and their quarterback position looked like a disaster.
but rookie tyler shough took over halfway through the season and led the saints to a handful of wins down the stretch. As a result, the saints dropped to pick no. 9 in the upcoming nfl draft, but they have a lot to look forward to with their future.
shough seems like the franchise quarterback, but the saints need to build the roster around him. Its crucial that they land a star with their first-round pick.
if you like our content, choose sports illustrated as a preferred source on google.
the athletics nick baumgardner and scott dochterman recently put together a mock draft for the 2026 nfl draft. In this mock draft, they projected the saints would use the no. 9 pick in the first round to select ohio state buckeyes safety caleb downs.
saints linked to caleb downs in round 1 of the 2026 nfl draft
there may not be a better pound-for-pound football player in this draft class, baumgardner and dochterman wrote. Incredibly intelligent, explosive and absolutely fearless, downs is one of the most unique defensive backs we’ve seen in quite a while. He could help a team’s culture overnight.
the saints need to make some upgrades to their defense and a selection like downs would help boost their roster in a huge way.
downs is one of the best players in the draft with some considering him the top talent in the entire draft class. But he doesnt play a high value position like offensive tackle, edge rusher, or quarterback, so hes expected to fall out of the top five.
downs is an incredible tackler with impressive instincts for the game. He plays downhill against the run and provides the ability to rush the passer very quickly during safety blitzes. His coverage skills are among the best in the class, too.
he would fill a huge hole for the saints. It may not be the most valuable position, but it would be worth the risk in the top 10.
more nfl: why saints-chiefs alvin kamara trade idea doesnt make sense
zach pressnell
zach pressnell has experience covering all major us sports at both the professional and collegiate levels. He’s produced content for fansided, blog red machine, the game haus, bethany college athletics and the bethany college online newspaper, he graduated from bethany college (wv) with a degree in communications and media arts, specializing in sports journalism. Pressnell was also a four-year member of the baseball team where he earned himself all-pac recognition as a pitcher (and a cool tommy john surgery scar). Now, pressnell specializes in nfl and mlb coverage for sports illustrated’s “on si” network among others. For all business/marketing inquiries, reach out to scott neville: scott@wtfsports.Org
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