Duke in the News: Aug. 22, 2005

AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGES 2006 U.S. News & World Report, Aug. 29 -- Duke has once again placed fifth overall among the nation's top-tier universities in the magazine's annual college rankings. In the category of best value, Duke was ninth. ... Website --Also, (Durham) Herald-Sun: Duke, UNC Retain High Rankings ... Full story (Raleigh) News & Observer: N.C. Colleges Measure Up in '05 Ratings ... Full story CNN: Harvard, Princeton Again Top U.S. News Rankings ... Full story (London) Guardian: Cambridge Climbs to Second in World University Rankings ... Full story Washington Monthly: The Washington Monthly College Guide ... Full story Chronicle of Higher Education: 'Washington Monthly' Produces Its Own College Rankings, Based on Service to Society ... Full story

GIFTED STUDENTS CONNECT ONLINE WITH COLLEGES Wall Street Journal, Aug. 19 -- This fall, 15-year-old David Kayler plans to challenge himself like never before -- by signing up for an online writing course offered by Duke. (Link for subscribers; article reprinted in Pittsburgh paper.) ... Full story/subscribers --Also, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Gifted Students Connect Online With Colleges ... Full story

'GENETIC RESCUE' HELPS PANTHERS BUT PUTS RESEARCHERS ON THE SPOT Science, Aug. 19 -- A team of biologists led by ecologist Stuart Pimm of Duke has analyzed a decade's worth of data and concluded that a risky experiment to reinvigorate the Florida panther population has paid off. ... Full story --Also, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times, AP: Scientists Credit Cougars for Panthers ... Full story New Scientist: New Blood Pulls Florida Panthers Back From Brink ... Full story

DUKE SCHOLARS WORK TO RESTORE WETLANDS - ON CAMPUS (Raleigh) News & Observer, Aug. 22 -- Ecology professor Curtis Richardson didn't have to look far to find the latest project for the Duke Wetlands Center. It was on Duke's campus. Full story

DUKE ACTS TO HEAD OFF ALCOHOL, NOISE WOES OFF CAMPUS (Durham) Herald Sun, Aug. 20 -- Heeding neighbors' complaints about off-campus student parties last school year, Duke is working to head off problems this fall. ... Full story News & Observer: Duke Seeks Local 'Ambassador' for Community Outreach ... Full story Herald-Sun: Neighbors Try to Get to Know Students ... Full story Herald-Sun: Duke Freshmen Get Crash Course in Durham 101 ... Full story Herald-Sun: Duke, NCCU Boost Security as Year Begins ... Full story Duke News: Duke Announces Plans to Enhance Security ... Full story

PENTAGON MAY RELEASE MORE ABUSE PHOTOS NPR's All Things Considered, Aug. 18 -- As the Pentagon considers whether to release more photos of abuse at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Duke law professor Scott Silliman, an expert on military law, speaks in favor of the release. ... Full story

DEBATE BREWS OVER USE OF KORAN IN COURT Fox News, Aug. 22 -- "I have absolutely no doubt that higher courts, if it gets there, will say that persons of Muslim faith can swear on a Koran rather than a Christian Bible," said Duke law professor Erwin Chemerinsky. ... Full story