$cientology remains on German government watch-list

Unlike other countries, Germans have not fallen for the quasi-religious cover of the Church of $cientology. The country's security services have long been monitoring the organization's activities. Indeed, for taxation purposes $cientology is considered a business in that country and has to pay taxes accordingly. So, its fleecing of naive clients at last fills not only the coffers of the Church but also of the German government. The Church sued against the continuing surveillance, in a court of law, and lost. The court found that 'there are concrete indications that the plaintiff (Scientology), as well as its members, maintains ambitions against the free, democratic basic order.' Indeed, there is speculation that the company might be outlawed in Germany altogether. See a full English language report published in the German news magazine DER SPIEGEL here.

Oxford Dons refuse to hand control over to externally controlled Council

It seems that not all is lost in higher education. Oxford University's academics refused to hand over control of the institution's financial affairs to external Council members. Thereby they ensured that the self-governance of one of the world's premier universities remains a certainty. This ultimately will ensure a greater degree of academic freedom than would otherwise be the case. Congratulation to colleagues at Oxford for preventing ex-businessman turned Oxford Vice Chancellor John Hood from handing control over the university effectively to external business people.