**Turkish diplomat visits UI, discusses foreign policy**
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS—The Consul General of Turkey Fatih Yildiz spoke on his country’s foreign policy Friday afternoon at Illini Union.
Yildiz answered student questions regarding Turkey’s acceptance to the European Union.
The two major points of dispute over Turkey’s acceptance to the EU are geography and religion.
“It is hard to accept a Muslim country; it will definitely change the face of Europe,” Yildiz said.
“But the European Union wants to be a global player, and what kind of global player can escape being involved in the Middle East?”
Yildiz described the foreign policy as torn between Western associations and regional responsibilities to the Middle East.
“In 2023, Turkey will celebrate its 100 year anniversary,” Yildiz said. “We hope to celebrate it with our European friends.”
_By Karolina Wasiniewska_
_The Daily Illini_
**Students gather to support Egypt**
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA—Protests in Egypt reached the University of Minnesota as students, staff and community members held a demonstration Friday outside of Coffman Memorial Union in support of Egyptian protesters’ desire for a
change in government.
Egyptian citizens are protesting President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for 30 years.
“How do you call it a democracy when he has been president for 30 years?” Mona Sonbol, a university student said. “I call it a dictatorship.”
Internet access in Egypt was shut down, mobile phones were jammed and a curfew is being enforced, according to Al Jazeera reports.
_By Emily Cutts_
_The Minnesota Daily_
**Justice Sotomayor speaks with law students**
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS—U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor spoke to KU students Friday morning in a private event at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics.
Katie Sangha, a law student, said Sotomayor answered about five or six questions from students and a few more from faculty, which centered on her personal experiences before becoming a justice.
Keith Kueny, Washburn law student, said Sotomayor spoke about how she became a justice and the many ways the court has changed over time.
Sotomayor stressed the responsibility of citizens to participate, regardless of what side of the political spectrum an individual is on.
_By Jonathan Shorman_
_The University Daily Kansan_
**Students, professors talk grade inflation**
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY—Students and professors were split over Columbia’s grading policies on Thursday, following the leak of a document which showed about one in twelve Columbia undergraduates earned at least a 4.0 G.P.A. last semester.
The spreadsheet listed 482 students in Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science who earned perfect grade point averages. Whether the numbers reflect grade inflation, the criticism often aimed at universities giving higher grades than in years past remains unclear.
In 2006, Columbia College Dean of Academic Affairs Kathryn Yatrakis said approximately 52 percent of grades in Columbia College for the 2005-2006 school year were A-minuses or above, compared to 47 percent in 2000.
Director of Undergraduate Studies Jack Snyder isn’t sure such high achievement is a bad thing.
“Columbia and the other Ivies are like Lake Wobegon, where all the students are indeed above average in their basic capacities, so why shouldn’t many of them do well and get good grades?” Snyder said in an email.
_By Abby Mitchell_
_Columbia Daily Spectator_