Diane Gayeski, a professor at Ithaca College, utilizes AI to assist in grading essays. Gayeski emphasized the importance of discussing AI-generated feedback with students to foster a deeper understanding of their work.
“The best way to look at AI for grading is as a teaching assistant or research assistant who might do a first pass … and it does a pretty good job at that,” Gayeski told CNN.
A report by Tyton Partners indicates a significant uptick in AI usage among both students and faculty members, with tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot becoming increasingly prevalent in educational settings. However, the lack of clear guidelines for teachers using AI raises ethical questions about the integrity of grading processes and the potential exploitation of student work.
According to Dorothy Leidner, a professor of business ethics at the University of Virginia, the ethical use of AI depends on the context and nature of the assessment. While AI may excel in grading tasks with clear right and wrong answers, Leidner advocates for human involvement in assignments requiring subjective evaluation.
“A teacher should be responsible for grading but can give some responsibility to the AI,” Leidner said.
Leslie Layne, a writing workshop instructor, has concerns about the ethical implications of uploading student work to AI platforms without adequate consent, particularly for scholarly endeavors like dissertations. Layne stressed the importance of preserving the teacher-student relationship and respecting intellectual property rights.
Recently, the government had to issue regulations on using AI. The regulations require federal agencies to appoint key personnel, including a chief artificial intelligence officer, to oversee AI implementation. Additionally, nearly 100 professionals will be hired during summer 2024 to bolster the AI workforce.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who championed the regulations, and President Joe Biden intend for these policies to set a standard for global AI governance. Agencies must implement safeguards by Dec. 1 to assess, test, and monitor AI impacts. Failure to comply will result in the cessation of AI use unless deemed essential for agency functionality.
Mapping Black California Tracks California’s Efforts To Address Racism
Once the program was awarded a research grant from Starling, it utilized Starling’s tools to create a way to authenticate and store the documents digitally.
After Mapping Black California, a project from the Black Voice News project, launched a dashboard in 2023 designed to track action on resolutions from the State of California’s various entities declaring racism a public health crisis, it received a research grant from the Starling Lab for Data Integrity, a research lab shared by Stanford University and the University of Southern California.
Their initiative began by tracking statements or public records regarding elected officials who made a declaration that they believed racism was a public health crisis. Once the program was awarded a research grant from Starling, it enabled the project to utilize Starling’s tools to create a way to authenticate and store the documents digitally. The Starling Lab also provided the program access to blockchain technology, which cryptocurrency has popularized.
According to Alex Reed, the project manager of Mapping Black California, action is needed while the resolutions are essential. As Reed said in a press release, “These resolutions are an important first step to advancing racial equity and justice and must be followed by allocation of resources and strategic action.”
Lindsay Walker, the product lead at the Starling Lab, told Black Voice Newsthat blockchain verification works similarly to how banks record and validate financial transactions. However, instead of one entity validating them, the blockchain has thousands. Walker explained that the process helps maintain the authenticity of what has been recorded.
“We’re creating copies of these things [so] that the minute they’re captured—and we use some special tools to capture it, either Browsertrix or Webrecorder—it creates a fingerprint,” Walker said. “These tools allow you to capture all the code on a website and mathematically prove what you captured.”
Candice Mays, another project director at Mapping Black California, said that it is important to capture these declarations because it makes it easier for political figures to be held accountable for their words. “When a major social justice event happens, a lot of promises are made,” Mays told Black Voice News. “And then once the chatter around it, once the protesting around it, once the media around that event dies down—so do those promises.”
Brianna Reeves, who wrote a four-part series for Black Voice News that detailed how the cities of Oakland and Santa Cruz, as well as Riverside and San Bernardino counties, tackled declarations of racism as a public health crisis, said in a press release that the platform is a major benefit to journalists.
“Such technology and tools are not only essential for holding those in power accountable for their promises,” Reeves said, “but are also great tools for journalists like myself to use to verify documents I receive for reporting or webpages I link to. Unlike a screenshot or a link to a Tweet, webrecorder technology ensures that such information cannot be tampered with and has been authenticated.”
Mays said in the press release that she considers it critical for the tools of anti-racism to evolve ahead of the tools of racism. “As the tools used to inflict racism upon our communities continue to evolve, we must not just evolve with them, but ahead of them, and our Combating Racism platform is an exercise in that evolution.”
Remote Workers Forfeit $22K Annually By Staying Home
According to data compiled by ZipRecruiter, remote workers are facing a significant loss in income, an average of $22,000 per year.
YourTango reports, according to data compiled by ZipRecruiter, that remote workers are facing a significant loss in income, amounting to an average of $22,000 per year. The study compared salary trends between remote and in-office positions, revealing a substantial disparity in earnings.
Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter, provided insight into the driving forces behind these salary discrepancies. “Employers who cannot compete on flexibility will have to compete more aggressively on pay,” stated Pollak to Fortune.
Pollak highlighted the divide between employee preferences for remote work and employer expectations for in-office presence. “The conclusion is that people demand higher pay increases for fully in-office jobs,” Pollak said.
In 2023, the average advertised salary for in-office positions stood at $59,085. Fast forward to 2024, and companies now offer a substantially higher average salary of $82,037 for in-person roles, marking a notable 33% increase. Meanwhile, fully remote workers earn an average of $75,327, showcasing a disparity in compensation compared to their in-office counterparts.
Even workers who opt for a hybrid model, splitting their time between remote and in-person work, experience a notable income gap. The study found that hybrid workers earn an average of $59,992, falling short by approximately $22,000 compared to those in fully in-person roles.
While workers value the flexibility and convenience of remote work, employers often prioritize physical presence in the office, driven by perceptions of productivity and a vested interest in corporate real estate.
A recent survey conducted by FlexJobs in February 2024 highlighted a strong desire for flexible remote work options, dubbed “work-from-anywhere” jobs. According to the remote work firm, 75% of respondents expressed readiness to embrace such opportunities if provided by their employers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the workforce landscape, with remote work continuing to play a prominent role across various business sectors despite the emergence of return-to-office mandates. Pew Research Center data reveals that approximately 22 million American adults now work from home permanently, with projections suggesting that over 1 in 5 individuals in the United States will be working remotely by 2025.
The FlexJobs report underscores the generational divide in attitudes toward remote work. Sixty-nine percent of millennials, 59% of Gen Xers, and 50% of baby boomers expressed a willingness to forgo certain benefits for the opportunity to work independently. Among the sacrifices mentioned were professional development opportunities, company-provided insurance, and retirement-focused contributions.
Laila Pruitt From ‘BMF’ Joins Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. With Pride At Howard University
"BMF" star Laila Pruitt is among the newest inductees into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Howard University.
BMF star Laila Pruitt is among the newest inductees into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Howard University.
On Monday, Pruitt was front and center at a probate where she and other Spring 2024 initiates introduced themselves into the organization’s Alpha chapter. An Instagram video captured Pruitt, who plays Nicole Flenory on Starz scripted series BMF, as she shouted out chants alongside her line sisters.
Starting with the 22 founders of Delta Sigma Theta (DST), Pruitt and her line didn’t miss a beat while standing in the sorority’s signature triangle and wearing all-white suits. The real-life Nicole Flenory took to the comments section to share her pride with Pruitt portraying her so well on screen while living out some of the dreams she never got a chance to.
“Congratulations! Yes Laila! If they didn’t pick the right person to play me as I watch her peruse so many dreams I had. Whew! LOOK AT GOD! Powerful woman indeed! Got me in tears I’m so proud,” Flenory wrote.
Pruitt, 19, has been hard at work completing her college education all while starring in the “BMF” series as the little sister of Meech (Demetrius Flenory Jr.) and Terry (Da’Vinchi). She was intentional about following her family’s legacy by attending a historically Black college and university (HBCU).
“It was always going to be an HBCU for me,” Pruitt told Upscale.
“Coming from a family with deep roots in HBCU culture, shoutout to the Rattlers of FAMU, I understood the importance of immersing myself in an environment that celebrates and uplifts Black excellence.”
“Howard University felt like home from the moment I stepped foot on campus. It’s a place where I not only learn about my craft but also about myself and the rich history of my culture and community.”
Having acted on screen since the age of 5, Pruitt has been able to work alongside the likes of Denzel Washington and Owen Wilson. She boasts a growing resume that she doesn’t take for granted.
“Observing the dedication and passion of actors like Denzel has been immensely inspiring,” she said. “It’s not just about the glitz and glamour; it’s about the relentless pursuit of excellence in one’s craft. Seeing that, at that moment, I knew this [is] what I wanted to do.”
Biden Reaffirms Commitment To Fight Black Maternal Health Crisis
President Joe Biden voiced his administration's efforts to tackle the maternal health crisis Black women in America are facing.
In recognition of Black Maternal Health Week, April 11 through April 17, U.S. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation during Black Maternal Health Week 2024. The administration continues to address the maternal health crisis plaguing the nation, which disproportionately impacts Black mothers.
According to The White House, President Biden shared his administration’s efforts to tackle this issue from the outset. The crisis centers on the alarmingly high rates of pregnancy-related deaths among American women, surpassing those of any other developed country. “Black women face even more risk and are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women,” Biden stated, attributing this disparity to “a long history of systemic racism and bias,” lack of access to safe housing, affordable transportation, and healthy food.
Biden highlighted his administration’s actions, such as the American Rescue Plan, which enabled states to provide a full year of postpartum coverage to Medicaid recipients, up from the previous 60-day limit. Currently, 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer this extended care.
The administration also made Affordable Care Act coverage more accessible, saving families an average of $800 annually on health insurance premiums. Additionally, they released the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, outlining federal actions to combat maternal mortality and improve maternal health. “We created a new ‘Birthing-Friendly’ hospital designation…ensuring expecting mothers know where to go to get the help they need,” the president said. In 2023, BLACK ENTERPRISE noted some Black women had stepped away from the hospital model as their hospital and medical office visits felt rushed, routine, and impersonal. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of Black women who opted for home births or giving birth in a birth center increased by 30%.
Recognizing the prevalence of maternal mental health conditions, Biden discussed the administration’s launch of the Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a confidential, 24/7 resource connecting women with professional counselors. “Mental healthcare is healthcare — it is so important that women have access to it throughout pregnancy and beyond,” Biden said. “We know that being able to access support in times of need literally saves lives.”
To support maternal mental health screening and substance use disorder treatment, the administration partners with community organizations while also working to expand and diversify the maternal health workforce. Biden signed legislation mandating reasonable workplace accommodations for pregnant and nursing mothers, respecting their rights and job security.
The president acknowledges Vice President Kamala Harris’ commitment to improving maternal health outcomes by elevating the issue and assembling experts and activists. Harris has been dedicated to her fight to raise awareness and demand action. In 2021, she hosted the inaugural federal Maternal Health Day of Action at the White House, the first year The White House officially recognized Black Maternal Health Week.
Acknowledging the long-standing inequities faced by Black communities, Biden expressed his commitment to ending discrimination in housing, improving public transit accessibility, expanding access to healthy and affordable food, and addressing environmental injustices that impact Black mothers’ health and wellness.
1st Black-Owned Hostel Brand Celebrates Anniversary With Biggest Deal Ever
Deidre Mathis, founder of Wanderstay, speaks on being the first Black-owned Hostel brand owner and her biggest deal for customers yet.
Wanderstay, the first Black-owned U.S. hostel brand, is celebrating the first anniversary of its boutique hotel. Founder Deidre Mathis is celebrating by releasing its biggest deal so that first-time customers can try out the space.
Curious travelers to Houston will get to stay at one of Wanderstay’s themed rooms, with music, sports, and even safaris as inspiration. Tucked away in the cultural East End neighborhood, Mathis intentionally designed the space to bring fun and excitement back into adult luxury accommodations.
Guests can enjoy this Black-owned oasis for over 50% of its regular rate, securing a 2-night stay for only $149 plus tax. While the chance to secure this deal ends on April 15, buyers have a year to redeem this never-again offer to participate in Wanderstay’s wanderlust. More information, including the discount code, can be found on Wanderstay’s social media accounts.
To highlight this new deal, BLACK ENTERPRISE spoke with Mathis in a rapid-fire Q&A about accomplishing her wildest dreams, securing funding, and the community of “hostelers.”
How do we get from a hostel to a hotel? It seems like an entirely different ballgame.
We opened the hostel in 2018. I made history as the first Black woman to operate and own a hostel in the U.S., but I knew then that I wanted to expand the hospitality brand. As I matured, other travelers did, too, and you realize hostels are mainly great when you are younger. As I got older, I wanted something more upscale that wouldn’t break the bank. So, I created a hotel for what my friends and I were looking for now.
Please explain your purpose and mission with Wanderstay. Many people hear hostel and think of some negative connotations. How are you combatting and dismantling the narrative? What can make a hostel feel like a five-star experience?
When we first opened, people asked, “Why a hostel, and why Houston?”And I said, “Why not?” Frankly, there were no hostel options. I’m looking at the statistics; Houston has a ton of visitors and events but no options for this type of accommodation. As far as dismantling the stereotype, I haven’t had to do much because our target audience, the hostelers, is looking for us. But I still love introducing it to the Black and brown people who would have never otherwise thought about it.
How has this experience, as you opened before the COVID-19 pandemic, shaped your business journey?
We opened at a very unique time. We only had a year and a half in business before the pandemic hit. We just had to really pivot, and we did so very quickly. We’re located two miles from the medical center, so we would accommodate nurses and those visiting family. We always tell people that when it gets tough, think of how you can pivot to save your company. We maintain our brand standards, such as cleanliness and community, and people continue to utilize us.
Can you explain your insight into gaining capital funds for this venture, especially while this avenue for Black women entrepreneurs is threatened?
So, I fully funded both of my projects through U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, which is a unicorn, right? First, as I have with the hostel, many start-ups use SBA loans, including those who open businesses in specific niche industries. I put myself in the right place at the right time. When I moved to Houston, I started networking, and I met as many people as I could.
In 2016, I entered as many pitch competitions as I could. I did about 18—and I won them all. People started to take notice then. So, when I started looking for money for my business, I had local banks that wanted to support me. With my second location, I picked up the phone and said, “Hey, I’m ready to grow,” the banks said, “OK, let’s do it.” So I tell folks, if you want an SBA loan, get active in your city and tell people what you’re up to.
What experience have you brought to your visitors? How do you want to impact and shape how Black people travel?
I love how, most days, I sit at the desk and talk to my guests. They’re so proud of me and happy to learn we’re Black-owned. When you give good customer service, it doesn’t matter your skin color, but guests knowing that you look like them makes them even more excited to share your story. We also have many security measures in place to ensure that safety.
We’re a hotel, but what we’re genuinely offering is a place for community.
What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome to reach this dream? Did it ever feel unobtainable? What do you have to say to fellow Black women with lofty dreams?
Sometimes I think, wow, not only did I have this dream, but I made it come true. Not once, but twice…but I want people to know that this wasn’t easy. I decided in 2014 to open this and worked my butt off for four and a half years. I wasn’t making money or getting any awards. But I was doing the business plans, looking at my finances, and making connections. Four years of getting that done gave me everything I needed when it was time to open finally.
You are bringing the world to you with Wanderstay. What do you want them to leave with?
We have so many things that connect us in this world, but I think we all feel lonely and disconnected. When people can look me in the eye and talk, they get something from that. You don’t get that at traditional hotels. I want people to leave Wanderstay feeling like they just left a family or a friend and can’t wait to see them again.
Dallas Police Issues Arrest Warrant for Kansas City Chiefs Wide Reciever Rashee Rice
Once in custody, the rookie NFL player will be charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.
The attorney for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice said his client is cooperating with Dallas police regarding a March 30 high-speed car accident involving multiple vehicles.
The Associated Press reports Rice is facing charges.
Police issued arrest warrants for the first-year NFL player and his associate, Theodore Knox, who plays cornerback at Southern Methodist University, where Rice graduated last year.
Knox was driving another vehicle that was involved in the collision. Both men will be charged with one count of aggravated assault, one count of collision involving serious bodily injury, and six counts of collision involving injury.
According to WFAA, the charges both men face are all felonies. The punishment for a collision involving injury can land them in prison for a maximum of five years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or confinement in the county jail for not more than one year, a fine not higher than $5,000, or both.
The more serious charge of a collision involving serious bodily injury, a third-degree felony, carries a prison sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice of a maximum term of 10 years or less than two years. Aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine no greater than $10,000.
According to a police report, marijuana was discovered in both vehicles. Police also found credit cards, a $16,500 check, a diamond chain, and the playbook for the Kansas City Chiefs. Although 10.8 grams of marijuana was found in the car Rice was driving, neither he nor any of the passengers were charged with possession.
Rice, playing his first year in the NFL, caught 79 passes for 938 yards while scoring seven receiving touchdowns. He became a Super Bowl winner when the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers, 25-22.
Parents of School Shooter Ethan Crumbley Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter
Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews said during the sentencing that the judgment was not reflective of poor parenting, but that the pair ignored warning signs a “reasonable person” would not have.
James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Michigan school shooter Ethan Crumbley, were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years for involuntary manslaughter, the first time the parents of a school shooter were charged and convicted for a mass shooting.
As NBC Newsreported, the pair was charged and sentenced after their now 17-year-old son pleaded guilty as an adult during his trial over the 2021 shooting at Detroit’s Oxford High School. Ethan Crumbley was sentenced to life in prison as a result.
The Crumbleys were found guilty in fall 2023. Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Matthews said during the sentencing that the judgment was not reflective of poor parenting; instead, Matthews said the pair ignored warning signs that a “reasonable person” would not have.
During a victim impact statement, Nicole Beausoleil, the mother of a shooting victim, Madisyn Baldwin, directed her ire at the pair. “When you texted, ‘Ethan don’t do it,’ I was texting, ‘Madisyn, I love you, please call mom,'” Beausoleil said. “When you found out about the lives your son took that day, I was still waiting for my daughter in the parking lot. The lack of compassion you’ve shown is outright disgusting.”
The Crumbleys also addressed the court. James told Judge Matthews that he did not know about his son’s plans and expressed sorrow to the families of the victims. “I cannot express how much I wish I had known what was going on with him or what was going to happen,” James Crumbley said.
Jennifer, meanwhile, took some offense to the prosecution attempting to paint her as a neglectful parent but told the court that she felt “deep remorse, regret and grief” concerning the shooting. She tried to paint her and her husband as average parents: “We weren’t perfect, but we loved our son and each other tremendously.”
The victims’ families want to see changes to laws that prevent schools from being sued in connection to school shootings and want an independent review to be conducted after any mass shooting. Still, Oakland County prosecutors have indicated that they will not charge anyone else in connection to the mass shooting.
Beausoleil said during an appearance on the Today Show that the sentence sends a message to parents nationwide “to really listen to your children,” Beausoleil said. “There should be accountability for every action that we have.”
She also took umbrage with the Crumbleys’ statements in court, telling Today, “I felt like it was a way for them to again place blame on somebody else versus themselves. In those statements, there was still no accountability for their actions.”
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald seems to agree with Beausoleil, telling reporters after the trial, “Feeling bad is natural, and we don’t dispute that they feel bad … that’s not what’s important to victims of crime,” McDonald said. “What they want and need most of all is remorse, which means acknowledgment of the wrongdoing and some sort of reconciliation or apology for that—and that didn’t come.”
The Simpson family asks that fans please respect their wishes for privacy and grace as they mourn the loss of the former NFL star.
The family of O.J. Simpson has announced the passing of the former NFL star at the age of 76.
According to the Simpson family, the actor died of cancer on April 10, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. “During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace,” they stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
In February, a report from Las Vegas Local 10 Newssurfaced that the acquitted murder defendant had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy in Vegas.
Simpson had previously addressed hospice rumors in a Feb. 9 post on X, questioning, “Hospice? You talking about hospice?”
He assured fans, “All is well!” and shared plans to host friends for Super Bowl LVIII weekend in Las Vegas.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Simpson’s 1995 acquittal in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, sparked public outrage. The former NFL star, who played 11 seasons, avoided jail time until 2008 when he was prosecuted for stealing sports memorabilia but released in 2017.
BE noted that Simpson’s trial was called the “Trial of the Century.” Since his release, Simpson maintained a low profile, though he was spotted in Las Vegas last November, hunched over and limping. Before controversies plagued him later in life, Simpson carved a path as a celebrated sportsman. His athletic prowess blossomed at the University of Southern California, leading to the Buffalo Bills’ selection as the top overall pick in the 1969 NFL draft. Simpson donned the Bills’ jersey for eight seasons before transitioning to the San Francisco 49ers for the final two years of his professional career, which was cut short in 1979 due to a knee injury that necessitated his retirement.
Las Vegas Local 10 News shared that Simpson was discharged from parole on Dec. 1, 2021, after his conviction for armed robbery. He “told parole officials” he planned to move back to Florida but instead settled in a gated Las Vegas community, “where he played golf” and frequently commented on professional sports on Twitter.
Affordable Housing Project Moves To Historic Atlanta Area
The new multi-bedroom homes will come fully-furnished for well-below the market price.
A rare affordable housing project has launched in the Auburn Avenue neighborhood in Atlanta. It features fully-furnished, multi-bedroom apartments for well below market price.
The apartments will finalize phase one of a multi-million dollar housing initiative spearheaded by both private and public sponsorship. According to WSB-TV, it will revitalize a community riddled with stagnant development.
Not only will the boost of homes help bring new curb appeal to the neighborhood, but it will also include rare amenities that make it a life-changing opportunity for future occupants. The units will range from one to three bedrooms, while the three-bedroom homes also come fully furnished. Additionally, this particular unit will start at $1,400.
For comparison, one bedroom apartments in the area start at $1,200, making the new housing venture optimal for families hoping to secure more affordable options in the city.
The storied area, also called the “Sweet Auburn” neighborhood, includes Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home and other historic markers. Local leaders expressed their excitement about the initiative as Atlanta tackles rising housing costs. U.S. Representative Nikema Williams spoke at a news conference about what this also means for its communities of color.
“This project perfectly aligns with two of my top congressional priorities: affordable housing and closing the racial gap,” Rep. Williams said at the April 8 event.
A member of the Historical District Development Corporation (HDDC) added, “It was something that had not been done before. It was unfathomable that we could do it on Auburn Ave.”
Currently, Atlanta suffers from a rising homeless population and a lack of affordable housing in the area. Several organizations and initiatives have held solidarity events or new projects to address the issues. The city also continues to provide new resolutions to ensure more residents do not face homelessness. This latest iteration expects to host tenants beginning in August.
Leasing applications will be released in the upcoming weeks, with more information located on HDDC’s website.
