Since December 16, when a 23 year old woman was gang raped while aboard a bus in New Delhi, India has been in uproar.  

The woman was taking the private bus home with her male friend when six men attacked them with an iron rod and gang raped the woman in the back of the bus.

After the brutal attack the assailants left the woman and her companion on the side of the road. Last weekend, the woman died at the hospital from massive internal injuries. 

Since this attack Indians have expressed outrage, many calling for stricter laws and a police crack down on rape.  

Other activists seek to end what they call “the rape culture” in India. Several protest marches have taken place in New Delhi. 

Renewed outcry surfaced recently when the Delhi Police registered a case against the Zee News channel for releasing an interview with the companion of the gang-rape victim.

In this interview, the male companion (whose name has not been released), recounted how after the police found them they delayed for 30 minutes in taking them to the hospital. Instead the police argued over who had jurisdiction over the case.

Though the male companion appeared in a wheel-chair for his interview with Zee News channel he said he was not given medical care after the attack instead he was forced to spend the next four days answering questions at the police station.

Members of various Indian political parties have weighed in Saturday morning denouncing the Delhi Police for trying to obstruct the truth. Sushma Swaraj tweeted,

“Delhi Police cannot muzzle voice of citizens by lodging a case against the channel. People have a right to know the truth. ”  

General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party asked, 

“What kind of training has the government given to its police. Is saving life more important or fighting over jurisdictional area.” 

As thousands of outraged Indians have taken up the fight against rape, this conflict between Delhi Police and Zee News is yet another recent example of Indians rising up against actions by their government and police force which they feel to be unjust. 

This case is raising serious questions about law, culture and justice in India. The most important question is:

Will the country change?

Here’s one for you college students…

Would you change your current major if different one one was cheaper? 

In Florida, the governor’s task force on higher education has suggested freezing tuition rates for students majoring in particular fields, such as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) or health care, and letting tuition rates increase for others.

Why?

The government wants to encourage students to enroll in majors in professions that are facing growing demand. 

Time magazine explains this is “a new twist on an old idea.”  In the past, some universities have raised tuition only for majors that are more expensive to provide.  These majors tend to include STEM fields because they require specialized equipment and technology as well as higher faculty salaries.

Not surprisingly, the proposal has received mixed reviews. 

History professors at the University of Florida have organized a protest petition, stating this would cause a cycle in which fewer humanities students would bring in less funding and reduce faculty which would attract fewer students and so on.  Others see this as a way to help ends meet for Florida’s struggling economic situation and to prepare the next generation for the future’s needs.

The question remains whether tiered tuition rates would actually influence students’ choice of major. 

A study by Hanover Research found that for every tuition increase of $100, enrollment decreases between 0.5-1%.  The Florida legislative session begins in March and higher education reform is expected to be a priority.

Would this proposal influence your choice of major?  What kind of signal does it send to students?  Are certain fields more valuable to society than others?