Poets&Quants | Poll: 2 In 3 College Students Support Pro-Palestinian Protests

From Intelligent.com: Pro-Palestinian college protests have been making headlines recently as administrations take action to break up demonstrations and manage the unrest on their campuses.

In May, Intelligent.com surveyed 763 current full-time U.S. college students to understand how they feel about the pro-Palestinian protests happening on college campuses.

What we found:

55% of college students say there are pro-Palestinian protests on their campus
65% of students are very supportive (36%) or somewhat supportive (29%) of the protests happening on college campuses
The plurality of students (31%) say TikTok is the primary place they’ve learned about the Israel-Palestine conflict
More than one-third of protest supporters are in favor of the use of violence and hate speech
More than half of protest supporters say they sympathize with Hamas
1 in 10 protestors admit to having an unfavorable opinion of Jewish people
9% of college students don’t believe Israel has the right to exist; 19% are unsure, and 71% say it does

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South Florida Muma College of Business names new dean

From Tampa, Florida: The University of South Florida has announced the appointment of David Blackwell as the new Lynn Pippenger dean of the Muma College of Business. Blackwell comes to USF after serving as associate dean for professional graduate programs at the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics.

In his new position, Blackwell will provide strategic leadership for the college, which consists of approximately 8,400 students, nearly 180 faculty members and more than 110 staff members across USF’s three campuses. His responsibilities will include overseeing the recruitment, development and retention of faculty and staff; continually improving the college’s research and teaching programs; closely partnering with the university community on ways to advance student success; stewarding the college’s resources and undertaking creative fundraising efforts, as well as enhancing relationships with the college’s alumni, friends, donors and executive advisory councils.

In his previous leadership positions, Blackwell has prioritized student success, as evidenced by significant advancements in student enrollment, retention and graduation rates. His research covers many topics, including corporate finance, commercial bank management, executive compensation and securities underwriting. In addition, Blackwell has consulted with major companies on various financial matters, establishing his expertise and national reputation in the field.

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Rice breaks ground on new business school building, unveils design

From Houston, Texas: Rice University broke ground May 9 on a new $54.5 million building for the Jones Graduate School of Business, unveiling the innovative design of a facility that will support the school’s growing student and faculty population.

The new 112,000-square-foot structure features state-of-the-art classrooms, modern office spaces and vibrant amenities such as dining areas, open gathering spaces and facilities for private events. The new building will seamlessly integrate with McNair Hall — the current home of Rice Business — enhancing the campus environment and continuing to cultivate a collaborative culture.

“This remarkable new building embodies the evolution of Rice Business over the past five decades and its commitment to equipping graduates who are not only integral to organizations around the globe but are also poised to lead them,” Rice President Reginald DesRoches said. “We’re committed to offering top-tier facilities that complement our top-ranked academic programs, attracting the best students, faculty and staff to our campus.”