Lady Gaga Launches Charity to Empower Youth; Students Protest for Education Reform

Rallies and Protests at Colleges Nationwide. The Occupy Colleges and Occupy Education movements organized protests at more than 70 schools this week and estimated that protestors numbered in the “mid to high thousands.” The rallies took place over two days with each day having a different focus. Protests on Wednesday were geared toward “an organization that promotes policies intended to benefit corporations,” and Thursday focused on the rising cost of education. Though these events have not received as much media attention, many attribute this to a more organized, traditional protest. [Huffington Post]

Lady Gaga’s Born This Way. Lady Gaga launched her Born This Way Foundation, a charity which aims to “foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated.’’ Not many details were released about her new charity and their work during the announcement at Harvard University.  Gaga said that “the goal of the Born This Way Foundation is to challenge meanness and cruelty by inspiring young people to create a support system in their respective communities.’’ [Boston.com]

Debt On Top Of Debt. College graduates in 2010 had an average of $25,250 in student loan debt, but when there is a face to the number it becomes more realistic. This is especially true when one of the faces is the son of the chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, who is going to finish medical school with $400,000 in student load debt. [Wall Street Journal]

Lawmakers OK Student-Led Prayers in Schools. The Florida House passed a bill on Thursday, with support from both parties, allowing student-led prayer in public schools. The bill allows individual school districts to allow students to give “inspirational messages” at public-school events. School employees are not allowed to participate. [Miami Herald]

Leor Reef is a journalism intern with Campus Progress.

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