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The University of Oklahoma administration appears to be rethinking possible cuts to its modern language departments following adverse reactions from faculty, students and alumni. Saturday, Provost André-Denis Wright issued a letter to faculty stating that the university’s “review” of the language programs in the College of Arts and Sciences would be moved back from January to February, allowing more time for faculty to discuss and plan. Several faculty told The Transcript that the previous timeline would allow little time for them to review or respond to the proposal. That timeline would have allowed only days before Christmas break ensued. “To ensure all voices are heard and perspectives understood so the university arrives at a decision in the best interests of its students, I am extending my request for a recommendation from the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences from late January to late February,” the provost’s letter states. “The dean and I also will convene the faculty as early as next week to ensure they understand the intent of the review and their opportunities to play a role in helping shape the future of the language requirement...” One former administrator (name witheld) called the administration’s stepping back from the proposal “significant” but likely temporary. Repeated requests for interviews with the administration by The Transcript went unanswered, aside from a short email from the provost for the first article in the series. However, Harroz told the student newspaper, the OU Daily, that The Transcript “went too far” in its initial story. Reports surfaced that tribal leaders were alarmed that Native American programs were jeopardized and contacted the administration. The provost’s letter affirms these concerns were shared. Wright promised a continued commitment to the programs, but without specifics. “These discussions, particularly related to languages taught in our Native American Studies Department, underscore how deeply our community values the role of language studies in fostering global perspectives, cultural understanding, and academic excellence,” Wright’s letter states. “...I will work separately with faculty in our Native American Studies Department to reaffirm that our historical connection to our Indigenous community is a bedrock of the education we offer.” The proposal to cut language courses was moving so quickly that it caused alarm among faculty. History of Science Professor Stephen P. Weldon said the push for the change was really a rush. “A review that affects the curriculum for whole colleges should not be made quickly by upper administration,” Weldon told The Transcript. “Doing so will only sow distrust throughout the university—as can be seen from the already explosive response to this idea. Curricular changes are the purview of the faculty.” Further, Weldon pointed out that OU Biologist Randall Hewes, Interim Dean of the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, has only held the office since August, and such a change being thrust onto him was not good administrative policy. “Forcing them on an interim dean with only five-months of tenure is scandalous,” Weldon said. “It would set a terrible precedent and sharply erode faculty self-governance. Everyone is worried about what’s next on the chopping block. Western Civilization? Science?” Many faculty, students and alumni expressed the thought that cuts to general education requirements might be next, worrying that humanities, sciences, even math classes could also face cuts. “It’s an attack on courses that teach critical thinking. It’s an attack on general education,” said Associate Professor Farina King, who shared in The Transcript’s earlier story that her Native American language classes are among those facing the proposed cuts. “Some people want to wipe out critical thinking. There is no secret that humanities have been suffering.” King said the walking back of the proposed cuts may only be temporary. The push for cutting the courses may be coming from a larger political push, and the administration may come back after rallying. “Either way, it means endurance will be key for those who support language and general education; a well-rounded, rigorous, strong education,” King said.HMRC is urging people who have just turned eighteen to check if they can claim around £2,212 in free cash. The department has issued a reminder for people to check if they could have a Child Trust Fund (CTF) lying around. 2 HMRC is urging those who have turned 18 to check if they could be entitled to around £2,212 Credit: getty 2 They could have free cash to unlock this Christmas Credit: getty CTFs are special tax-free savings accounts given to children by the government. In a recent post on social platform X, HMRC wrote : “Unlock a boost this Christmas by cashing in your #ChildTrustFund. “If you’ve turned 18 in the past few years, then you could be missing out on a cash boost.” Many children got around £250 each from the state at the time their CTF was started. read more on benefits TO YOUR BENEFIT Full list of benefits paid early TODAY including Universal Credit CASH IN DWP issues timetable that reveals changes to benefit payment dates Those from low-income families or in local authority care received an extra £250. These bank accounts, due to interest built up, are worth around £2,212 on average now . To have been given a CTF you must have been born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011. Nearly 600,000 18 to 21-year-olds have an unclaimed CTF, worth an average of £2,212, according to the latest figures. Most read in Money FAMILY FUN Major plans for abandoned soft play in Scots city includes 'ninja airpark' SALE AWAY All the retailers cutting prices by up to 79% in early Boxing Day sales BREW-TIFUL Former nightclub in major Scots city to be transformed into a distillery FESTIVE FEAST Exact times major supermarkets will slash prices TODAY - can you save 75%? What is a Child Trust Fund (CTF)? CTFs are long-term, tax-free savings accounts and were set up for children born between September 1, 2002 and January 2, 2011. Eligible kids also had the opportunity to set up a child trust fund themselves. HMRC sent the parents or guardians of qualifying children a starting payment voucher of £250 (or £500 if you were on a low income). If you didn't set one up for your child within a year, HMRC would do it automatically. Anyone can add to the account thereafter, and you can put up to £9,000 a year into it. The year starts on the child’s birthday and ends the day before their next birthday. Your child will have full control over the account once they turn 18. At that point, no more money can be added either. Until your child withdraws or transfers the money, it stays in an account that no one else has access to. CTFS were replaced by Junior ISAs in November 2011, so you can't get one now. How do I find an account? If you are one of the tens of thousands of young adults who haven't claimed their account, the government has an online tracing service where you can find out if you have one and which provider it's with. To find out more, you'll need a government gateway login and National Insurance number. Understanding the Two-Child Benefits Cap If you are a parent looking to find out about your child's fund you can either access it online, or you'll need to send a letter to HMRC with the following details: Full name and address Child’s full name and address Child’s date of birth Child’s National Insurance number or Unique Reference Number if known What happens after I've claimed the money? There are a few options to consider once you've taken the money out of a matured trust fund. Usually, people put it straight into a bank account, invest it or transfer it into an ISA. You can ask your CTF provider to hand over the money and get it cashed into your account. This way you'll need to share the bank account details you wish to transfer the cash into with HMRC, and you won't be able to do this until you're 18. But if you'd rather invest it, you can transfer it into an ISA (Individual Savings Account). The interest rates on a cash ISA are typically lower than a standard savings account, but a Lifetime ISA may be better if you're saving for your first home. If you go for a Lifetime ISA, you'll be able to add £4,000 a year to the account and the government will grant you a 25% bonus as long as you put it towards buying a first home. You can also wait until retirement to access the cash. Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' MAKE THE YULETIDE GREY White Christmas update for Scots as snow & 80mph winds wreak chaos And keep in mind you don't pay tax on the interest you earn in these types of accounts. Meanwhile, thousands claiming universal credit and benefits could be entitled to Christmas cash worth up to £8,017 . How you can find the best savings rates If you are trying to find the best savings rate there are websites you can use that can show you the best rates available. Doing some research on websites such as MoneyFacts and price comparison sites including Compare the Market and Go Compare will quickly show you what's out there. These websites let you tailor your searches to an account type that suits you. There are three types of savings accounts fixed, easy access, and regular saver. A fixed-rate savings account offers some of the highest interest rates but comes at the cost of being unable to withdraw your cash within the agreed term. This means that your money is locked in, so even if interest rates increase you are unable to move your money and switch to a better account. Some providers give the option to withdraw but it comes with a hefty fee. An easy-access account does what it says on the tin and usually allow unlimited cash withdrawals. These accounts do tend to come with lower returns but are a good option if you want the freedom to move your money without being charged a penalty fee. Lastly is a regular saver account, these accounts generate decent returns but only on the basis that you pay a set amount in each month.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members, a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members, a key part of the Democratic base but gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. “Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success - Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice Friday night. For decades, labor unions have sided with Democrats and been greeted largely with hostility by Republicans. But with Trump's populist appeal, his working-class base saw a decent share of union rank-and-file voting for Republicans this year, even as major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers , endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House race. Trump sat down with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leadership and members this year, and when he emerged from that meeting, he boasted that a significant chunk of union voters were backing him. Of a possible Teamsters endorsement, he said, “Stranger things have happened.” The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either Trump, the former president, or Harris, the vice president, though leader Sean O’Brien had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told the Associated Press that O’Brien met with more than a dozen House Republicans this past week to lobby on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer. “Chavez-DeRemer would be an excellent choice for labor secretary and has his backing,” Deniz said. The work of the Labor Department affects workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employers' rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. On Election Day, Trump deepened his support among voters without a college degree after running just slightly ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with noncollege voters in 2020. Trump made modest gains, earning a clear majority of this group, while only about 4 in 10 supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Roughly 18% of voters in this year's election were from union households, with Harris winning a majority of the group. But Trump's performance among union members kept him competitive and helped him win key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Chavez-DeRemer was one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act, which would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The measure would weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Trump's first term saw firmly pro-business policies from his appointees across government, including those on the National Labor Relations Board. Trump, a real estate developer and businessman before winning the presidency, generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. During his recent campaign, Trump criticized union bosses, and at one point suggested that UAW members should not pay their dues. His first administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. He has stacked his incoming administration with officials who worked on the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” blueprint, which includes a sharp swing away from Biden’s pro-union policies. “Chavez-DeRemer’s record suggests she understands the value of policies that strengthen workers’ rights and economic security,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of National Employment Law Project, which is backed my many of the country’s major labor unions. “But the Trump administration’s agenda is fundamentally at odds with these principles, threatening to roll back workplace protections, undermine collective bargaining, and prioritize corporate profits over the needs of working people. This is where her true commitment to workers will be tested.” Other union leaders also issued praise, but also sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” the president of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle, said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the choice while taking care to note Trump's history of opposing polices that support unions. "It remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said. Josh Boak And Zeke Miller, The Associated Press
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — DJ Lagway threw two touchdown passes, Montrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a score, and Florida upset No. 9 Mississippi 24-17 on Saturday to knock the Rebels out of College Football Playoff contention. The Gators (6-5, 4-4 Southeastern Conference), who topped LSU last week, beat ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2008 and became bowl eligible. The late-season spurt provided another vote of confidence for coach Billy Napier, who is expected back for a fourth season. Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3), which entered the day as a 10-point favorite, lost for the first time in four games and surely will drop out of the 12-team playoff picture. The Rebels ranked ninth in the latest CFP and needed only to avoid stumbling down the stretch against Florida and lowly Mississippi State to clinch a spot in the playoff field. But coach Lane Kiffin’s team failed to score in three trips inside the red zone and dropped countless passes in perfect weather. No. 2 OHIO ST. 38, No. 5 INDIANA 15 COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another, TreVeyon Henderson ran for a score and No. 2 Ohio State beat previously undefeated No. 5 Indiana. All Ohio State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, CFP No. 2) has to do now is beat Michigan at home next Saturday and it will earn a return to the Big Ten championship game for the first time since 2020 and get a rematch with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks beat Ohio State 32-31 in a wild one back on Oct. 12. The Hoosiers (10-1, 7-1, No. 5 CFP) had their best chance to beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988 but were hurt by special teams mistakes and disrupted by an Ohio State defense that sacked quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times. Howard finished 22 for 26 for 201 yards. Emeka Egbuka had seven catches for 80 yards and a TD. No. 8 GEORGIA 59, UMass 21 ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes, Nate Frazier ran for 136 yards with three scores and No. 8 Georgia overwhelmed Massachusetts as the Bulldogs tried to protect their College Football Playoff hopes. Georgia (9-2, No. 10 CFP) needed the big offense from Beck and Frazier to rescue a defense that gave up 226 rushing yards. UMass (2-9) played its first game under interim coach Shane Montgomery, the offensive coordinator who retained his play-calling duties after replacing fired coach Don Brown on Monday. Jalen John led the Minutemen with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown. Georgia extended its streak of consecutive home wins to 30, the longest active streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. No. 10 TENNESSEE 56, UTEP 0 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nico Iamaleava threw for 209 yards and four touchdowns to lead No. 10 Tennessee to a victory over UTEP. The Volunteers (9-2) overcame a sluggish start to roll up the impressive win. Both teams were scoreless in the first quarter, but Tennessee found its rhythm. Grad student receiver Bru McCoy, who hadn’t caught a touchdown pass this season, had two. Peyton Lewis also ran for two scores. Tennessee’s defensive line, which had no sacks in last week’s loss to Georgia, had three against the Miners. UTEP (2-9) struggled with two missed field goals and three turnovers. Tennessee’s offense came alive with 28 points in the second quarter. In the final four drives of the quarter, Iamaleava completed 11 of 12 passes for 146 yards and touchdowns to Squirrel White, Ethan Davis and McCoy. No. 11 MIAMI 42, WAKE FOREST 14 MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Cam Ward passed for 280 yards and threw two touchdowns to Jacolby George on another record-breaking day, Mishael Powell ran an interception back 76 yards for a touchdown and No. 11 Miami pulled away late to beat Wake Forest. The Hurricanes (10-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 8 College Football Playoff) can clinch a berth in the ACC title game with a win at Syracuse next weekend. Ward completed 27 of 38 passes, plus ran for a score. He broke two more single-season Miami records, both of which had been held for 40 years by Bernie Kosar — most passing yards in a season and most completions in a season. Ward now has 3,774 yards on 268 completions this season. Kosar threw for 3,642 yards on 262 completions in 1984. Demond Claiborne had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for Wake Forest (4-7, 2-5). Claiborne also rushed for 62 yards for the Demon Deacons, and starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier was 8 of 14 passing for 86 yards and a touchdown. No. 13 SMU 33, VIRGINIA 7 CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — Kevin Jennings threw for a career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 13 SMU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game by routing Virginia. Isaiah Smith and Jared Harrison-Hunte each had two sacks to help the Mustangs (10-1, 7-0, No. 13 CFP) extend their winning streak to eight. They would earn an automatic bid into the expanded College Football Playoff by beating 11th-ranked Miami or 17th-ranked Clemson in the ACC title game on Dec. 7 in Charlotte, North Carolina. SMU had to get there first, and Jennings led the way again, bouncing back from an interception and a fumble to complete 25 of 33 passes to six different receivers, including TD tosses to Jordan Hudson and Matthew Hibner. Brashard Smith provided a little balance on offense, running for 63 yards and his 13th touchdown of the season. SMU’s defense overwhelmed UVa’s offensive line, sacking Anthony Colandrea nine times and allowing the Cavaliers (5-6, 3-4) just 173 yards. Special teams contributed, too, with Roderick Daniels Jr. returning a punt 48 yards and Collin Rogers making two field goals. No. 24 ILLINOIS 38, RUTGERS 31 PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Luke Altmyer found Pat Bryant for a catch-and-run, 40-yard touchdown pass with 4 seconds left, sending No. 24 Illinois to a wild victory over Rutgers. Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) was down 31-30 when it sent long kicker Ethan Moczulski out for a desperation 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds to go. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano then called for a timeout right before Moczulski’s attempt was wide left and about 15 yards short. After the missed field goal was waved off by the timeout, Illinois coach Bret Bielema sent his offense back on the field. Altmyer hit Bryant on an in cut on the left side at the 22, and he continued across the field and scored untouched in a game that featured three lead changes in the final 3:07. Rutgers (6-5, 3-5) gave up a safety on the final kickoff return, throwing a ball out of bounds in the end zone as players passed it around hoping for a miracle touchdown. Altmyer was 12-of-26 passing for 249 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant finished with seven receptions for 197 yards.