Harvard University Report Calls Out Grade Inflation — Students Push Back

November 2, 2025

A newly released 25‑page report from the Harvard University Office of Undergraduate Education warns that the institution’s grading system has become overly lenient and no longer fulfills its academic purpose. Many students responded strongly, arguing the study misreads their workload and fails to reflect genuine performance.

According to the report, more than 60 percent of grades awarded to Harvard undergraduates are A’s, a substantial rise from roughly a quarter two decades ago. The median GPA climbed from 3.64 for the class of 2015 to 3.83 for the class of 2025. Dean of Undergraduate Education Amanda Claybaugh stated that grading is “too compressed and too inflated” and no longer “performs its primary functions,” describing the system as undermining the College’s academic mission.

The report suggests potential reforms such as allowing A+ grades, placing median grades on transcripts, and standardizing grading across course sections. It also indicates that faculty have reported instances of trimming reading lists and easing assignments in response to students’ preparation levels or complaints.

However, many students reject the report’s recommendations. They argue that their high grades reflect significant effort and rigour, not lax standards. One student said: “I skipped classes on Monday, and I was just sobbing in bed because I felt like I try so hard in my classes, and my grades aren’t even the best.” Other students warned that raising standards without addressing other pressures—such as rigorous admissions, extracurricular commitments, and mental‑health burden—could harm student well‑being.

From an academic quality perspective, the report raises valid concerns. If grades become indistinguishable, they lose their value as signals of performance. Employers, graduate schools, and students themselves may struggle to differentiate achievement levels. The university is responding to this challenge. But from a student experience perspective, enforcement of tougher grading may increase competition, stress, and anxiety—without necessarily promoting deeper learning.

In short, Harvard is acknowledging grade inflation and exploring reform, but students and faculty are wary of how change will be implemented and what it will mean for educational experience.

Largest Weapons Seizure Ever, Border Bust Tied to Cartel Plot

November 2, 2025

border wall — U.S. Southern Border (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Federal authorities charged two Alabama residents after intercepting what officials are calling the largest weapons seizure at the Southwest land border—more than 500 firearms allegedly headed to a Mexican drug cartel. The weapons were discovered hidden inside false-walled trailers at the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo, Texas.

Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen legally residing in the U.S., and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, were arrested on October 23. They attempted to smuggle firearms, magazines, and ammunition into Mexico using enclosed white box trailers pulled behind two vehicles traveling in tandem—one with Alabama plates and the other with Mexican plates.

Customs and Border Protection officers conducted inspections of the trailers and uncovered hundreds of rifles, pistols, magazines, and various caliber ammunition concealed in hidden compartments. Officials report the two men had previously smuggled weapons across the border on multiple occasions in exchange for payment.

Both men made their initial court appearances in Laredo federal court and remain in custody pending a detention hearing. They face charges including smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines, and other firearm accessories, as well as trafficking weapons.

Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the seizure, stating it was part of a broader government effort to dismantle drug cartels and combat violent crime. She emphasized the importance of cutting off the illegal flow of weapons into Mexico to protect American communities from cartel violence.

The investigation was conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.

This operation is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a federal initiative aimed at eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, securing the border, and protecting the American people from violent crime.

University of Houston Drops Radical ‘Oppression & Injustice’ Course from Curriculum

November 2, 2025

Texas Flag — Texas flag (Pete Alexopoulos/Unsplash)

The University of Houston has canceled a controversial course titled “Confronting Oppression & Injustice” from its Master of Social Work program, drawing praise from those who argue higher education should focus on practical training, not political ideology. The decision came without a faculty vote and is part of a broader curriculum review prompted by recent reforms in Texas higher education policy.

The course, which had been required for graduate students in social work, promoted left-leaning social justice concepts and focused heavily on race, power, and identity politics. The syllabus stated that students would explore “intersectional social justice issues” that inform “prejudices we hold” and exist within “larger structures of power.” Critics argue that such content promotes grievance-based activism rather than equipping students with job-ready skills.

University officials announced the course’s removal in an October 10 email, stating it “will not be offered at this time” but assuring students their graduation timelines would not be impacted. The administration attributed the change to a curriculum realignment with professional standards and workforce needs.

The move aligns with Texas Senate Bill 17, which requires public universities to overhaul diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and review degree requirements for ideological bias. Faculty members like Professor Alan Dettlaff expressed frustration over the lack of consultation, but supporters of the change point to the growing need for educational programs rooted in objective learning rather than political messaging.

The University of Houston chapter of the American Association of University Professors criticized the decision as politically motivated, but the broader trend across Texas suggests a shift away from politicized coursework. Many see this as a necessary correction to restore balance and academic rigor in programs that have increasingly drifted toward ideological indoctrination.

University of South Carolina Scraps Gender Menus After Lawmaker Pushback

November 2, 2025

The University of South Carolina has removed gender identity and pronoun drop-down menus from its graduate school application following intervention from Representative Nancy Mace. The change followed scrutiny over a lengthy list of gender options that critics argued lacked scientific basis and distracted from the institution’s core mission.

Previously, USC’s application offered more than a dozen gender identities, such as “agender,” “genderqueer,” and “gender nonconforming.” It also included pronoun selections like “ey/em/eir” and “yo/yos/yoself.” After Rep. Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, contacted the university regarding the form, the menus were promptly removed.

Mace stated that the gender list reflected a trend toward ideological overreach in higher education and confirmed her office had reached out to USC leadership. The university responded that the fields were added by a third-party application vendor and that it does not collect or use such information in its admissions process.

USC clarified that it collects only legal sex as required for federal and state reporting. The school emphasized that gender identity and pronoun data were not being stored or used by the institution, and the forms were taken down to ensure compliance with its official policies.

This action highlights a growing demand for clarity and restraint in university practices. As national debate continues over the role of identity language in education, USC’s decision represents a move toward more streamlined, fact-based data collection. The quick resolution also illustrates the impact of legislative oversight on maintaining focus in public institutions.

Cancun Human Smuggling Ring Busted, Thousands Trafficked

November 1, 2025

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sweeping sanctions this week against a transnational criminal network based in Cancún that allegedly smuggled thousands of migrants from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America into Mexico, before moving them toward the U.S. border. The network, led by Vikrant Bhardwaj—a dual Mexican‑Indian national—and his organization, the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization (HSO), is also accused of trafficking drugs and laundering money in coordination with cartel elements.

According to the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Bhardwaj HSO used yachts and marinas around Cancún to bring migrants by sea and air into Mexico, before housing them in local hotels or hostels and coordinating onward travel to the U.S.-Mexico border. The group reportedly charged migrants thousands of dollars each and collaborated with corrupt law‑enforcement officers and cartel associates—particularly the Sinaloa Cartel, according to law‑enforcement sources.

In addition to Bhardwaj, the Treasury sanctioned several key facilitators: Jose German Valadez Flores, alleged to have bribed Mexican officials to grant airport access; Jorge Alejandro Mendoza Villegas, a former police officer accused of coordinating logistics at Cancún International Airport; and Indu Rani, Bhardwaj’s wife, cited as a shareholder in multiple companies used to launder illicit proceeds. The sanctions also targeted eight companies spread across Mexico, India and the United Arab Emirates, including marinas, real‑estate, energy trading, textile and yachting firms, all allegedly linked to Bhardwaj’s criminal network.

Under the designations, any property or interests in property that the sanctioned individuals or entities hold in the U.S. are blocked, and U.S. persons and companies are prohibited from engaging in business with them. The move aims to freeze assets and choke off the group’s financial and logistical capacity to carry out human‑smuggling, drug‑trafficking and money‑laundering operations.

For a conservative Christian audience, this action underscores the deep links between immigration enforcement, national security and law enforcement. The Treasury’s effort reframes human smuggling not just as a humanitarian or border issue, but as a complex criminal enterprise tied to drug cartels, money‑laundering and transnational crime. Prompt, decisive intervention—such as this—reinforces the principle that protecting communities, upholding the rule of law, and preserving national sovereignty are inseparable.

University of Illinois Professors Catch Students Using AI to Fake Apology Emails

November 1, 2025

Two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors recently exposed a widespread incident of students using artificial intelligence to cheat — not just on assignments, but to generate nearly identical apology emails when caught. Professors Karle Flanagan and Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, who teach a popular introductory data science course, discovered the deception after receiving suspiciously similar emails from more than 100 students.

The class, which enrolls around 1,200 students, uses a digital attendance system called the Data Science Clicker. Students are expected to answer in-class questions via QR codes on their devices. Attendance and participation make up a small portion of the final grade, but the professors soon noticed a major red flag: dozens of students were logging responses remotely, despite being physically absent.

Digging into server logs and IP addresses, the professors confirmed that many students had coordinated to game the system — and then attempted to cover it up using AI-generated apology emails. On October 17, they revealed the deception in dramatic fashion by reading the emails aloud in a lecture hall, projecting them on a screen to audible laughter from the student audience. The uniformity of the messages made it clear they had been created by an AI tool.

Despite the evidence, the students will not face formal discipline. While the university’s student code addresses traditional cheating and plagiarism, it does not yet include explicit rules about AI-generated content. Since AI use wasn’t forbidden in the syllabus, there’s no grounds for punishment.

Many former students voiced frustration, saying the course’s accessible design and the professors’ enthusiasm make the dishonesty especially disappointing. The case underscores growing concerns in academia about AI misuse — and highlights the pressing need for updated codes of conduct that reflect the realities of emerging technology.

Pittsburgh Weight Loss Clinic Busted for Using Animal Drugs on Clients

November 1, 2025

A woman who operated two weight loss clinics in the Pittsburgh area is facing federal charges for allegedly giving animal medication to her human clients. Nicole Millen has been charged with a misdemeanor count of drug mislabeling and is expected to plead guilty in federal court on November 18.

Millen ran weight loss programs out of two locations: Renu Medical and Weight Loss in Scott Township and Choice Restorative Medicine on McKnight Road. Authorities allege that she was not a licensed veterinarian, doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant, yet she consulted clients, developed weight-loss plans, and dispensed medication as part of those plans.

The drug at the center of the case is Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone sometimes used in weight loss treatments. However, the version Millen allegedly provided was not intended for human use. According to prosecutors, she sourced a veterinary formulation of HCG called Chorulon, which is used primarily to treat fertility issues in cattle.

Chorulon’s labeling clearly states that it is “for animal use only” and must be used under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Despite this, Millen allegedly directed clinic staff to draw the drug into syringes, dilute it, and distribute it to customers without disclosing that it was not approved for human use.

Court documents state that Millen referred to the drug simply as “HCG,” omitting any mention that it was a veterinary product. Her clients were reportedly unaware they were receiving a drug formulated for animals.

The case has raised serious concerns about safety and transparency in unregulated weight loss clinics. If convicted, Millen could face penalties under federal law, although the charge is classified as a misdemeanor.

Canadian Armed Forces Apologizes for Systemic Racism Scandal

November 1, 2025

The head of the Canadian Armed Forces, General Jennie Carignan, made an emotional public apology this week, addressing what she described as a long-standing failure within the military to protect and respect its members from minority communities. During the speech, Carignan fought back tears as she acknowledged that First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, Asian, and other racialized individuals have suffered systemic barriers and mistreatment while serving in Canada’s military.

Carignan expressed deep regret, stating that the institution had failed to provide a safe, respectful, and equitable environment. She apologized for years of silence and indifference from leadership and admitted that these conditions made it difficult for many to serve their country with dignity. Her apology was intended not as a conclusion but as a beginning—a commitment to change embedded in future policy and leadership reform.

While some praised the apology as a necessary first step toward healing and inclusion, others criticized it as a display of weakness. Critics voiced concerns online about the impact of such public expressions of institutional guilt on the strength and cohesion of the military.

Despite the polarized reactions, the military announced it would follow the apology with continued efforts to dismantle systemic barriers, reform internal structures, and improve the workplace environment for all service members. Leaders pledged to implement changes that ensure fairness, accountability, and genuine inclusion moving forward.

This move comes amid broader cultural and political shifts in Canada, where debates around race, identity, and institutional reform have intensified in recent years. For supporters of the military, the challenge remains balancing national security and unity with the pursuit of justice and equality for those who serve.

Illinois Bans ICE Arrests at Courthouses in Radical New Move

November 1, 2025

Illinois Congressional Map, Illinois Farm Bureau

Illinois is pushing forward with legislation that would make it one of just a few Democrat-led states to severely limit federal immigration enforcement near courthouses. On Friday, the Illinois legislature passed a bill that would ban federal agents from arresting illegal aliens within 1,000 feet of state courthouse buildings, both inside and outside.

The bill, now headed to Governor JB Pritzker’s desk for approval, is being touted by Democrat lawmakers as a step toward protecting communities from fear and separation. State Senator Celina Villanueva, a Chicago Democrat and one of the bill’s vocal advocates, claimed the measure would offer “a sense of safety” to illegal immigrants who fear being taken into custody simply for showing up to court.

The legislation also allows Illinois residents to sue federal immigration agents who they claim violated their constitutional rights, such as protections against unlawful searches or seizures.

However, not all Democrats are confident the law will stand up to federal court scrutiny. Senate President Don Harmon admitted that while he believes the law is constitutionally sound, he is concerned about how it may fare in a judiciary system he says is “stacked against us.” Even so, he believes it’s worth trying.

The bill is a direct response to the recent DHS operation known as “Midway Blitz,” which targeted illegal immigration activity in Illinois and Indiana. According to DHS, that operation led to the arrest of over 3,000 illegal aliens, including individuals with convictions for rape, murder, and gang activity.

Illinois follows in the footsteps of California and Connecticut, which have both taken action to block federal agents from making arrests at courthouses. In Illinois, a Cook County judge has already issued a temporary order blocking such arrests within the county.

As debates over immigration enforcement heat up, Illinois is staking its position firmly against federal involvement at the courthouse steps.

ICE Officer Shoots Illegal Immigrant, High-Speed Scare in Phoenix

November 1, 2025

ICE reporting bill — Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (Photo by Bryan Cox/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images)

An ICE officer and a driver have been hospitalized following a dramatic traffic stop on Interstate 17 near Phoenix, Arizona. The incident occurred Wednesday at around 4 a.m., when officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by Jose Garcia‑Sorto, a Honduran national residing illegally in the U.S.

According to federal officials, the driver initially stopped his vehicle. However, when an officer approached the vehicle, Garcia‑Sorto allegedly put the car into motion and sped directly toward the officer standing in front of the vehicle. Believing his life was in imminent danger, the ICE officer discharged his service weapon twice, striking the vehicle and wounding Garcia‑Sorto. The officer was also hurt during the incident and taken to hospital for treatment.

The driver’s wife confirmed that both she and her husband are in the country illegally and said they are struggling to obtain information about his condition and custody status. “They (ICE) are doing [their job], but I don’t wish anything bad towards them,” she told local media through tears, while also noting that she and her children would return to Honduras if deportation becomes inevitable.

Federal investigators are reviewing the case and have launched an inquiry under standard procedure for shots fired during immigration enforcement operations. Arizona state troopers closed the Dove Valley Road off‑ramp as the investigation proceeded early Wednesday.

This incident highlights the dangerous street‑level reality of sanctuary jurisdictions and the risks borne by both enforcement officers and illegal entrants. When individuals choose to flee law enforcement rather than submit to lawful stops, they raise the stakes for all involved. In this case, the officer’s split‑second decision to use his firearm underscores the threat posed when someone attempts to use a vehicle as a weapon.

For conservative Christian readers, this situation reinforces two fundamental principles. First, the rule of law must be upheld consistently—even when enforcement becomes uncomfortable. Second, government must protect public safety and ensure that those in the country without legal status are subject to legal consequence when they break the law.