America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses – The Daily Reflector

Since Hamas Oct. 7 attacks inside Israel and U.S. support for the resulting war in Gaza, protests and rallies have sprouted at college campuses across the U.S.

Tempers have flared, and tensions have risen.

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A pro-Israel demonstrator shouts at Palestinian supporters during a protest at Columbia University, Oct. 12, 2023, in New York. More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities face federal investigations for shared ancestry discrimination under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the wake of anti-war and anti-Israel protests on campus.

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American colleges have become places of anguish, with Jewish and other pro-Israel students condemning the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, while Muslim and progressive students are pressing for recognition of suffering by Palestinians in Gaza.

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Jewish Rutgers University students and community members hold a vigil in support of Israel on Oct. 25, 2023, in New Brunswick, N.J..

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Pro-Palestinian protesters argue with a pro-Israel demonstrator during a protest at Columbia University in New York. Jewish students across the country worry about safety and a rise in antisemitism, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is concerned about universities squelching anti-war sentiments on campuses.

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An anti-war protester interrupts President Joe Biden during a campaign event touting abortion rights on the campus of George Mason University in Virginia, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. College campuses have become epicenters for protests against U.S. (and Bidens) support for Israels war versus Hamas in Gaza.

Read more here:

America Divided Part II: Mideast war magnifies free speech challenges on college campuses - The Daily Reflector

This Beach in Hawaii Has the Calmest Waters in the World – Travel + Leisure

We all know that being around water is usually a pleasant and peaceful experience. Its even scientifically proven to make us feel happier. But for those who want to take things a step further, HawaiianIslands.com has compiled a list of the calmest waters on Earth so every traveler can find their zen.

To find out which beaches offer the calmest waters, the team analyzed millions of publicly available reviews on Tripadvisor, assessing 500 beaches in America and the top 100 beaches in every country around the globe. After identifying the beaches, the team calculated which spots had the highest proportion of reviews that included the phrase calm water/s. (The team notes it only assessed English-language reviews and sense-checked all reviews to ensure the phrase calm water/s was used correctly.)

After crunching the numbers, the researchers found that Baby Beach in Maui, Hawaii, holds the title for having the calmest water of any beach in the world, with more than 27 percent of reviews mentioning the phrase.

Incredibly calm waters with ample coral areas, perfect for snorkeling in. We went to many of the beaches in Maui looking for snorkeling spots, and this was one of the best for beginners like us to try out snorkeling without worrying about the waves. Would be a good beach for children to swim as the waters are so calm, one reviewer wrote.

Coming in at a close second is Ten Bay Beach in Eleuthera, the Bahamas, with nearly 23 percent of the reviews raving about its clear and calm waters. Loved this beach- beautiful calm waters good for families with small kids. Would definitely visit again and spend the whole day there. There is shade from the trees nearby. One of my top picks for beaches on the island, a reviewer wrote about their experience at the beach.

As for where else in America you can find the calmest waters, youll likely have to go to Hawaii, as its home to eight out of the 10 calmest waters in the nation, with only Cape Charles, Virginia, and Lewes, Delaware, joining them.

For international waters, look to Greece, where youll find six out of the 10 calmest waters in Europe, with Marathi Beach in Crete taking the number one spot in that continent.

Ready to explore a whole world of peaceful waters? Check out the full calmest waters list at hawaiianislands.com.

Go here to read the rest:

This Beach in Hawaii Has the Calmest Waters in the World - Travel + Leisure

COVID increases risk of schizophrenia? Read what a new study has found – IndiaTimes

COVID cases are increasing globally. India recorded more than 4,400 COVID cases as on Friday. Cases of COVID have been increasing in the country ever since the first case of JN.1 variant was detected in Kerala. The JN.1 variant, an offshoot of the BA.2.86 variant is currently responsible for more than 60% of COVID cases in the US. In view of the emerging variants of the COVID-causing coronavirus, it is essential to know about the effects of the virus on the human body. A new study has shed light on the effect of COVID on the cognitive function of the brain. The study, not peer-reviewed yet, found a substantial increase in the likelihood of being diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum and psychotic disorder (SSPD) after experiencing moderate to severe illness due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, in comparison to a group of individuals who had non-Covid Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Our study is consistent with the known neurotropism of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and other reports of increased risk of major psychiatric disorders following Covid-19 infection, said Asif Rahman, from the Department of Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, West Virginia University. Further research is required to identify specific characteristics of populations and individuals who may be at a particularly high risk of developing SSPD and potentially other significant psychiatric conditions following Covid-19 infection. Understanding these psychiatric risks associated with Covid-19 is an essential component of our strategy to address the evolving landscape of long-Covid, added Rahman, in the paper posted on a preprint site. Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by distorted thinking, disrupted emotions, and abnormal perceptions of reality. It typically manifests in early adulthood, impacting a person's ability to function in daily life. Common symptoms include hallucinations (false sensory perceptions), delusions (false beliefs resistant to reason), disorganized thinking, and impaired social or occupational functioning. Long-term high fat diets linked to increased risk of COVID, finds study The exact cause of schizophrenia is unclear, but a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurobiological factors likely contribute. Genetic predisposition, neurotransmitter imbalances (particularly involving dopamine), and structural brain abnormalities are implicated. Subtypes of schizophrenia exist, with paranoid, disorganized, catatonic, residual, and undifferentiated forms identified. Treatment often involves antipsychotic medications to manage symptoms, therapy to enhance coping skills and social functioning, and support from mental health professionals, family, and friends. While medication can help control symptoms, the course of schizophrenia varies, and individuals may experience periods of remission and relapse. Early intervention and ongoing support are crucial for managing the condition. Stigma surrounding schizophrenia persists, highlighting the importance of education and understanding to promote empathy and effective mental health care.

How did the researchers find this correlation? Different from other studies, the team took acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID lab negative cohorts as control groups to accurately gauge the impact of COVID on SSPD. Data from 19,344,698 patients were methodically filtered to create propensity-matched cohorts: ARDS, Covid-positive, and Covid-negative. They analyzed the hazard rate of new-onset SSPD across three distinct time intervals: 0-21 days, 22-90 days, and beyond 90 days post-infection. COVID positive patients consistently exhibited a heightened hazard ratio across all intervals, the findings showed. These are notably higher than both ARDS and Covid-19 lab-negative patients, the team said. Intriguingly, our data indicated that younger individuals face a heightened risk of SSPD after contracting Covid-19, a trend not observed in the ARDS and Covid-negative groups, they added.

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COVID increases risk of schizophrenia? Read what a new study has found - IndiaTimes

More Is Not Always Better: How The Las Vegas Swim Club Rebuilt To The National Stage – SwimSwam

This article originally appeared in the 2023 College Preview issue of SwimSwam Magazine. Subscribe here.

At the end of 2013, Peter Mavro and Amber Stewart were given the task of resurrecting a swim club on the verge of falling apart. With determination, a clear vision, and the influence of one of swimmings brightest minds in Russell Mark, they were able to make it happen.

When Mavro and Stewart first took over the Las Vegas Swim Club (LVSC) as head and assistant coach respectively, there were only 25 members and a 50% athlete retention rate. Numbers had been dropping for the club ever since their training facility, the Pavilion Center Pool, shut down in 2010 and they had to relocate. When Pavillion opened up in 2012 again, LVSC had their facility back, but the culture and outlook of the club was still very bleak.

At that time, LVSCs only purpose was to serve as a feeder organizationkids showed up to swim for three months, and then they either quit or moved on to the bigger, more lucrative Sandpipers of Nevada (SAND) club that was just ten minutes down the road. In other words, LVSCs biggest competition was the club that would later go on to produce six different Olympic and World Championship team members in the next decade.

There was just this constant revolving door of kids coming in and kids coming out, Mavro said. You cant build a consistent culture in that kind of scenario,

In front of them, Mavro and Stewart faced an organization that was barely holding itself together, and the fact that they were next-door neighbors with the biggest age group talent hotbed in the country only rubbed more salt into the wound. It was very easy for them to raise the white flag of surrender, but instead, they decided from day one that they were committed to reform.

I remember saying, what is our goal? What are we trying to be? Mavro said. From the day that I started working with this team, my mindset was to teach these kids, teach our families what it means to be in a committed environment, what it means to work hard, and not have it be a revolving door of swimmers.

It started from the little things, such as establishing attendance requirements, holding team meetings with parents, getting age groupers to have their cap and goggles on before practices started, never-ending practice early unless it was absolutely necessary, and finding alternate pools instead of canceling practice when the Pavillion wasnt available.

Another thing that Mavro and Stewart had to do was put their egos asideeven though Mavro is the head coach, he mainly works with age groupers, while assistant coach Stewart works with the older swimmers in the National Team group. Thats a non-traditional arrangement, with most clubs assigning their head coach to their fastest group of athletes.I believe in assessing my own strengths. That 10 to 14-year-old level is where my biggest strength is, so why wouldnt I be in that group? I believe Ambers biggest strength is to really inspire kids to do the impossible on a daily basis, so why wouldnt she be in that group? Mavro said. It just made so much sense to me, and thats why were set up the way were set up, so everybody can focus on their strengths.

Every small step that Mavro and Stewart took helped build LVSC from the bottom up, and in the end, it culminated into a growing culture of commitment and hard work.

Soon enough, the work of Mavro and Stewart began to pay off. In 2018, LVSC qualified swimmers for Sectionals for the first time. In 2019, Jack Gallob became LVSCs first Summer and Winter Juniors qualifier. In 2022, Owen Carlsen committed to Utah as the clubs first Power 5 Conference commitand his brother Max is on track to becoming one of the top recruits in the class of 2025. The number of swimmers in LVSC grew to around 200 and held steady, which is in line with Marvo and Stewarts mission to create a team that is both serious about swimming but still has that small, family-based feel.

Thats what separates us, Mavro said. When youre right next to another gigantic team thats shown a lot of success, you really have to give your families reason to believe that theyre getting something special. We want to build an environment where people want to bea hard work environment where the expectations are high, but we do not have coaches that yell, make kids feel bad about themselves, any of those kids. Its really about inspiring the kids to want to do it for themselves.

Were not just trying to throw a bunch of kids in the pool and let the best athletes find their way. We are trying to develop every single athlete to the best they can be.

More is not always better, better is better, Stewart added, making a statement that is frequently repeated throughout the national group that she coaches.

With LVSC and SAND being located so close together, they sometimes share a pool and hold practices back-to-back. When Stewart first began coaching LVSCs national group, she noticed that her swimmers acted complacently in front of the SAND swimmers, standing aside and waiting for them to finish warm-down even though it was LVSCs practice time. After time, though, Stewart decided that the dynamic and mentality of her program needed to change.

One of the first major things that I did as a coach was [make it clear that] we get in the pool at 4:30, we get in on time, Stewart said. There was a little bit of friction in the beginning, but [SAND] became very respectful of that and realized oh, okay, theyre serious. They arent gonna stand around just because we have this extra 300 to do.

Again, it was little things like these that sent out a message that LVSC was no longer going to be the pushover, and that they deserved the same respect as any other established club. Even though Stewart and Marvo dont want the entire identity of their club to revolve around being next to the Sandpipers, they acknowledge that getting over the hurdle of being overshadowed by their neighbors is a big part of what makes LVSC the club that they are today.

In the early days of Stewart and Mavros coaching, the LVSC had always looked towards SAND, with discussions at board meetings constantly being about trying to emulate what SAND does. Over time, however, they learned how to both co-exist with their neighborhood giant, as well as build their own, distinct, identity in their presence.

My mindset was, were not Sandpipers, were LVSC. We dont need to do what they do, and frankly, were not gonna be able to compete with them that way, Mavro said.If were trying to build a mini-Sandpipers, why would a swimmer or a family ever stay with us when the Sandpipers are already there?

Beyond the fact that they are both located in Las Vegas, LVSC and SAND dont actually have much in common. SAND has over 500 swimmers, while LVSC is less than half its size. LVSC has a lower volume training philosophy than SAND. SAND does three doubles a week, LVSC doesnt do doubles during the school year because of pool availability issueswhich Mavro thinks acclimatizes swimmers to the training hour limits in the NCAA. Not all swimmers need the same thing, and LVSC offered families in the Las Vegas area an alternate option if their swimmers dont fit the Sandpiper lifestyle.

We are very different programs, Stewart said. With the approach that we have, which is different from theirs, we have kept swimmers in our program that probably would not have stayed swimming otherwise.

Besides some tension here and there, not much bad blood exists between LVSC and SAND. Mavro is good friends with Sandpiper age group coach Chris Barberthe two of them are open books, talking about practice strategy, training, and season planning whenever they see each other.

At the end of the day, Mavro and Stewart believe that having SAND right next to them ultimately makes LVSC a stronger club, and they are grateful for the challenges that come with it.

Having the Sandpipers right next to us holds us to an incredibly high standard, Mavro said. We cannot get away with making lazy choices. As much as it can be frustrating, it is our greatest motivator by far. Were better because were right next to them.

The teams [of Las Vegas] have quality staff that are working against each other, but they are also working to build a really fast swimming community.

Yeah, theres friction and frustration, but at the end of the day, were all here to support each other and make the world of swimming together. Stewart added.

Less than ten years after their rebuild, LVSC was seeing the kind of national-level success that some much older clubs havent experienced before. Prior to 2019, the club didnt know what coaching Junior National and DI-caliber swimmers was likethey ran headlong into a lot of firsts and learned by doing.

When Jack Gallob, LVSCs first Winter Juniors qualifier, came to the National Team group for the first time, he was instantaneously moved from the slowest lane to the fastest lane with no in-betweens. It became clear that he was a one-of-a-kind type of swimmer, and shortly thereafter, Stewart began giving him sets that nobody else in the club was capable of doing.

Initially, the transition for Gallob was challenging. In fact, he even complained to Stewart that his situation wasnt fair. But Stewart didnt buy it.

I told [him], I think what youre trying to do is say that the definition of fair is that everybody gets the same thing. Stewart said. But if thats the definition of fair that I abide by as a coach, then Im not doing a good job, because my definition of fair is that everybody gets what they need. And [he needed] something that [was] different from the rest of the athletes in the pool.

And he remembers that conversationit was really impactful, and a light bulb switched. I think he realized, oh, okay, I dont wanna get away with less. I wanna get away with what I can do and maximize what I can do.

Three years after swimming at his first winter juniors in 2019, Gallob is now set to swim at Indiana University-Purdue (IUPUI) starting in the fall of 2023. Since 2019, he has taken his 100 back personal best from 50.21 to 49.18 and his 200 back personal best from 1:50.15 to 1:47.56, amongst drops in other events.

After Gallob, the success train just kept on rolling at LVSC, with Owen Carlsen excelling in distance freestyle and committing to Utah, and Max Carlsen becoming the 8th-fastest 15-year-old of all-time in the 1000 free. Joe Christ came into LVSC with a 2:27 200 free and dropped down to a 1:39 by the time he was a senior and committed to Air Force. At the Carlsbad Sectionals in March 2023, LVSC won first place in the small team division.

Once Gallob reached heights that had never been attained before, it caused a domino effect.

Seeing [Gallob] do it makes that belief for the next group of kids, Mavro said. When you see your teammates do these sorts of things, it does help you with that belief so that when the coach sits down with you and looks at your individual goals, lets say its making futuresAmber [can say] well, I think your goals need to be a little more higher than that. Youve got more in you, youve seen your teammates do it.

Stewart said that she and Mavro discuss goals with all of their swimmers, trying to make them ambitious and realistic. After deciding upon what their goals are, those goals will then get laminated and put in the gear bags of swimmers so they can be reminded of them every day.

Increasing success also means greater chances of a swimmer competing at the highest level in college, which was also a hurdle that Mavro and Stewart had to overcome, as they had never experienced intense college recruiting until recently. However, just like with everything else, they adapted.

Stewart, who swam in college herself at Brigham Young University, used her own NCAA connections to help her swimmers in the recruiting process. Gallob had relatives who swam for Kentucky, and they came over to LVSC to speak about the college experience. Ben Loorz, the head coach of the University of Las Vegas-Nevada held a PowerPoint night at the Pavillion once. In addition, Stewart herself listened to swimming podcasts and exchanged ideas with other coaches on Facebook to familiarize herself more with recruiting.

Its not my forte by any means, but having relationships and being willing to reach out to coaches when coaches reach out to us and making sure that were responsive to them is [something that Im trying to be better at], Stewart said. Were kind of learning as we go.

However, arguably the best resource for LVSC has been Russell Mark, who is best known for being USA Swimmings former High Performance Manager, and who now works for the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA). Mavro knew Mark from their time together at the University of Virginia, and the two are close friends. Frequently, Mark analyzes the strokes and techniques of LVSC swimmers via videos that Mavro sends him, and provides LVSC with connections to the great swimming community.

For example, LVSCs national group got invited to an ASCA clinic via Mark, where they got to meet names like Ohio State head coach Bill Dorenkott, Virginia head coach Todd DeSorbo, as well as Mel Marshall, the coach of world record holder Adam Peaty. At that clinic, DeSorbo arranged a time with Mavro and Stewart where they would be able to travel to Virginia and come watch one of their practices.

Its random for a small team in Las Vegas to happen to have access to what I would consider the greatest swimming mind in this country, Mavro said. Without Russell, we would not be where we are. Everything Ive done in coaching and developing the kids is based on everything Ive learned from him, as far as stroke technique.

In the end, however, everything circles back to the values that Mavro and Stewart had wanted to ingrain in LVSC from the very beginning. Its not about the accolades, college commits, or timesits about developing a family-friendly culture, and for swimmers to grow into the best versions of themselves inside and outside the pool.

I cant say how proud I am of what weve been able to do with our program and what our programs athletes dobecause if they dont buy in then Im out of a job, Mavro said. You cant have a national group if you dont instill the tools that the kids need to be there in the first place. I want to see the kids succeed, but I want to see the kids fail and learn from it and learn how to take that next step.

One of the things we hear oftentimesis your kids are always so nice and respectful. And that thats always going to be mean more than me than your kids were so fast.

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More Is Not Always Better: How The Las Vegas Swim Club Rebuilt To The National Stage - SwimSwam

Broadband Breakfast on January 10, 2024 Live from Las Vegas at CES 2024 – BroadbandBreakfast.com

OurBroadband Breakfast Live Online eventstake place on Wednesday at 12 Noon ET.Watch the event on Broadband Breakfast, orREGISTERHERE to join the conversation.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024 Broadband Mapping and BEAD Challenges

Nearly four years have passed since the Broadband DATA Act mandated the FCC create improved broadband maps to guide the allocation of billions in infrastructure grants. But the agency still has wrinkles to iron out, even as states submit corrections through their ongoing challenge processes. With Louisiana, Virginia and Kansas ahead of the pack, others are still finalizing their blueprints for verifying coverage data. What are the sticking points? What lies ahead as states prepare to run their processes?

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Broadband Breakfast on January 10, 2024 Live from Las Vegas at CES 2024 - BroadbandBreakfast.com