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Court backs anorexic student's dismissal

A federal judge ruled that Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., does not have to allow an anorexic student from Connecticut to return to campus for the upcoming semester. Kerri Krissik had asked the court to allow her to return, claiming that failure to go back would harm her recovery from the eating disorder. Ms. Krissik sued the school, contending she was protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. US district court judge Rya Zobel said that Krissik failed to demonstrate how not returning to Stonehill would cause her "irreparable harm." School officials have said they don't believe Krissik is well enough to attend and they are not equipped to care for her. Medical experts who treated her said they believe she can safely return to college.

California proposes a longer school year

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Gov. Gray Davis is asking that the state's more than 1 million middle-school students spend an extra six weeks in class each year in an attempt to bolster lackluster test scores. The $1.45-billion plan would be phased in over three years and extend the school year from 180 days to 210. The proposal was greeted with skepticism by some educators, who fear long calendars might contribute to teacher burnout and exacerbate attendance problems for some students. Class sizes of 35 to 42 are not uncommon in middle schools, which is where officials say test scores begin to falter. They hope that giving teachers more time to teach will aid students in achieving tougher academic standards approved by the state in 1998.

Textile exec wills millions to Furman U.

greenville, s.c. - A wealthy textile executive who lived in a trailer behind his flagship plant has bequeathed nearly half his $400 million estate to Furman University and various charities. John D. Hollingsworth Jr. spent his life building John D. Hollingsworth on Wheels Inc., a privately held manufacturer of machines that separate textile fibers. Forty-five percent of Hollingsworth's estate will go to Furman University, a private, liberal-arts college near Greenville. An additional 45 percent will go to charities picked annually by the board of his nonprofit foundation. The remaining 10 percent will go to the Greenville YMCA.

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