Latest news with #UniversityofMississippi
USA Today
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Pat McAfee apologizes for amplifying false rumor about Ole Miss student
Pat McAfee has apologized to University of Mississippi student Mary Kate Cornett, nearly five months after he discussed an unsupported rumor about her on "The Pat McAfee Show." The false rumor about Cornett's romantic life circulated on social media in February, and it was quickly amplified by Barstool Sports and McAfee. Although McAfee didn't mention Cornett's name on-air, he directly addressed the rumor during a show at the NFL Scouting Combine on Feb. 26. On the July 23 edition of "The Pat McAfee Show," the former NFL punter apologized to Cornett. "I have since learned that the story was not true, and that my show played a role in the anguish caused to a great family, and especially to a young woman, Mary Kate Cornett," McAfee said. "I think you all know from tuning into this program that I never want to be a source of negativity or contribute to another human's suffering. "I can now happily share with you that I recently got to meet Mary Kate and her family, and I got a chance to sincerely apologize to them and acknowledge that what I said about Mary Kate was based solely on what others were saying on the internet or what had previously been reported by others, and that we had no personal knowledge about Mary Kate or her personal life." Cornett spoke with The Athletic in April and said she received an onslaught of backlash over 'something completely false." Her phone number was released online and she had to move into emergency housing and switch to online courses for her safety, she said. She also told NBC News "it was absolutely ridiculous that an ESPN sports broadcaster would be talking about a 19-year-old girl's 'sex scandal' that was completely false." Cornett added she intended to take legal action against McAfee and ESPN for helping spread the rumor. The rumor hadn't been mentioned on the show since then, but McAfee vaguely addressed it during a live event he hosted in Pittsburgh less than two weeks after The Athletic article. He said he "didn't want to add any more negativity as it was taking place' and would try to "make some sort of silver lining in a very terrible situation." Other outlets like Barstool issued apologies for their part in spreading the rumor. Regarding why the topic hadn't been addressed on his show for months, McAfee said Wednesday "there was a lot going on behind the scenes." He added he personally wanted to talk to Cornett and her family before he addressed it publicly. "I can now say that I had the opportunity to meet (Cornett's family), chat with them, and they're wonderful people. And I'm very thankful that they gave me the opportunity to tell them how sorry I was that this all happened, and that our program was a part of this," McAfee said. "I deeply regret all the pain that this caused. I hated watching what our show was a part of, in her interviews and reading about it. And my hope is that this can be something that we all learn from going forward." USA TODAY Sports has reached out to Cornett's lawyer for comment.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Science
- NDTV
To Gatekeep Or Let Lose? Parents Face Tough Choices On AI
United States: When it comes to AI, many parents navigate between fear of the unknown and fear of their children missing out. "It's really hard to predict anything over five years," said Adam Tal, an Israeli marketing executive and father of two boys aged seven and nine, when describing the post-generative AI world. Tal is "very worried" about the future this technology holds for his children -- whether it's deepfakes, "the inability to distinguish between reality and AI," or "the thousands of possible new threats that I wasn't trained to detect." Mike Brooks, a psychologist from Austin, Texas, who specialises in parenting and technology, worries that parents are keeping their heads in the sand, refusing to grapple with AI. "They're already overwhelmed with parenting demands," he observed -- from online pornography and TikTok to video games and "just trying to get them out of their rooms and into the real world." For Marc Watkins, a professor at the University of Mississippi who focuses on AI in teaching, "we've already gone too far" to shield children from AI past a certain age. Yet some parents are still trying to remain gatekeepers to the technology. "In my circle of friends and family, I'm the only one exploring AI with my child," remarked Melissa Franklin, mother of a 7-year-old boy and law student in Kentucky. "I don't understand the technology behind AI," she said, "but I know it's inevitable, and I'd rather give my son a head start than leave him overwhelmed." Benefits and risks The path is all the more difficult for parents given the lack of scientific research on AI's effects on users. Several parents cite a study published in June by MIT, showing that brain activity and memory were more stimulated in individuals not using generative AI than in those who had access to it. "I'm afraid it will become a shortcut," explained a father of three who preferred to remain anonymous. "After this MIT study, I want them to use it only to deepen their knowledge." This caution shapes many parents' approaches. Tal prefers to wait before letting his sons use AI tools. Melissa Franklin only allows her son to use AI with her supervision to find information "we can't find in a book, through Google, or on YouTube." For her, children must be encouraged to "think for themselves," with or without AI. But one father -- a computer engineer with a 15-year-old -- doesn't believe kids will learn AI skills from their parents anyway. "That would be like claiming that kids learn how to use TikTok from their parents," he said. It's usually "the other way around." Watkins, himself a father, says he is "very concerned" about the new forms that generative AI is taking, but considers it necessary to read about the subject and "have in-depth conversations about it with our children." "They're going to use artificial intelligence," he said, "so I want them to know the potential benefits and risks." The CEO of AI chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, often speaks of AI as "the greatest equalisation force that we have ever known," democratising learning and knowledge. But Watkins fears a different reality: "Parents will view this as a technology that will be used if you can afford it, to get your kid ahead of everyone else." The computer scientist father readily acknowledged this disparity, saying, "My son has an advantage because he has two parents with PhDs in computer science, but that's 90 percent due to the fact that we are more affluent than average" -- not their AI knowledge. "That does have some pretty big implications," Watkins said.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Anxious parents face tough choices on AI
When it comes to AI, many parents navigate between fear of the unknown and fear of their children missing out. "It's really hard to predict anything over five years," said Adam Tal, an Israeli marketing executive and father of two boys aged seven and nine, when describing the post-generative AI world. Tal is "very worried" about the future this technology holds for his children, whether it's deepfakes, "the inability to distinguish between reality and AI," or "the thousands of possible new threats that I wasn't trained to detect." Mike Brooks, a psychologist from Austin, Texas, who specialises in parenting and technology, worries that parents are keeping their heads in the sand, refusing to grapple with AI. "They're already overwhelmed with parenting demands," he observed, from online pornography and TikTok to video games and "just trying to get them out of their rooms and into the real world." For Marc Watkins, a professor at the University of Mississippi who focuses on AI in teaching, "we've already gone too far" to shield children from AI past a certain age. Yet some parents are still trying to remain gatekeepers to the technology. "In my circle of friends and family, I'm the only one exploring AI with my child," remarked Melissa Franklin, mother of a 7-year-old boy and law student in Kentucky. "I don't understand the technology behind AI," she said, "but I know it's inevitable, and I'd rather give my son a head start than leave him overwhelmed." The path is all the more difficult for parents given the lack of scientific research on AI's effects on users. Several parents cite a study published in June by MIT, showing that brain activity and memory were more stimulated in individuals not using generative AI than in those who had access to it. "I'm afraid it will become a shortcut," explained a father of three who preferred to remain anonymous. "After this MIT study, I want them to use it only to deepen their knowledge." This caution shapes many parents' approaches. Tal prefers to wait before letting his sons use AI tools. Melissa Franklin only allows her son to use AI with her supervision to find information "we can't find in a book, through Google, or on YouTube." For her, children must be encouraged to "think for themselves," with or without AI. But one father, a computer engineer with a 15-year-old, doesn't believe kids will learn AI skills from their parents anyway. "That would be like claiming that kids learn how to use TikTok from their parents," he said. It's usually "the other way around." Watkins, himself a father, says he is "very concerned" about the new forms that generative AI is taking, but considers it necessary to read about the subject and "have in-depth conversations about it with our children." "They're going to use artificial intelligence," he said, "so I want them to know the potential benefits and risks." The CEO of AI chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, often speaks of AI as "the greatest equalisation force that we have ever known," democratising learning and knowledge. But Watkins fears a different reality: "Parents will view this as a technology that will be used if you can afford it, to get your kid ahead of everyone else." The computer scientist father readily acknowledged this disparity, saying "My son has an advantage because he has two parents with PhDs in computer science, but that's 90 percent due to the fact that we are more affluent than average" -- not their AI knowledge. "That does have some pretty big implications," Watkins said.
Eyewitness News
22-07-2025
- Science
- Eyewitness News
Anxious parents face tough choices on AI
NEW YORK - When it comes to AI, many parents navigate between fear of the unknown and fear of their children missing out. "It's really hard to predict anything over five years," said Adam Tal, an Israeli marketing executive and father of two boys aged seven and nine, when describing the post-generative AI world. Tal is "very worried" about the future this technology holds for his children -- whether it's deepfakes, "the inability to distinguish between reality and AI," or "the thousands of possible new threats that I wasn't trained to detect." Mike Brooks, a psychologist from Austin, Texas, who specializes in parenting and technology, worries that parents are keeping their heads in the sand, refusing to grapple with AI. "They're already overwhelmed with parenting demands," he observed -- from online pornography and TikTok to video games and "just trying to get them out of their rooms and into the real world." For Marc Watkins, a professor at the University of Mississippi who focuses on AI in teaching, "we've already gone too far" to shield children from AI past a certain age. Yet some parents are still trying to remain gatekeepers to the technology. "In my circle of friends and family, I'm the only one exploring AI with my child," remarked Melissa Franklin, mother of a 7-year-old boy and law student in Kentucky. "I don't understand the technology behind AI," she said, "but I know it's inevitable, and I'd rather give my son a head start than leave him overwhelmed." 'BENEFITS AND RISKS' The path is all the more difficult for parents given the lack of scientific research on AI's effects on users. Several parents cite a study published in June by MIT, showing that brain activity and memory were more stimulated in individuals not using generative AI than in those who had access to it. "I'm afraid it will become a shortcut," explained a father of three who preferred to remain anonymous. "After this MIT study, I want them to use it only to deepen their knowledge." This caution shapes many parents' approaches. Tal prefers to wait before letting his sons use AI tools. Melissa Franklin only allows her son to use AI with her supervision to find information "we can't find in a book, through Google, or on YouTube." For her, children must be encouraged to "think for themselves," with or without AI. But one father -- a computer engineer with a 15-year-old -- doesn't believe kids will learn AI skills from their parents anyway. "That would be like claiming that kids learn how to use TikTok from their parents," he said. It's usually "the other way around." Watkins, himself a father, says he is "very concerned" about the new forms that generative AI is taking, but considers it necessary to read about the subject and "have in-depth conversations about it with our children." "They're going to use artificial intelligence," he said, "so I want them to know the potential benefits and risks." The CEO of AI chip giant Nvidia, Jensen Huang, often speaks of AI as "the greatest equalization force that we have ever known," democratizing learning and knowledge. But Watkins fears a different reality: "Parents will view this as a technology that will be used if you can afford it, to get your kid ahead of everyone else." The computer scientist father readily acknowledged this disparity, saying "My son has an advantage because he has two parents with PhDs in computer science, but that's 90 percent due to the fact that we are more affluent than average" -- not their AI knowledge. "That does have some pretty big implications," Watkins said.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greystar partners with University of Mississippi on modular dorm
This story was originally published on Multifamily Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Multifamily Dive newsletter. Property: Kincannon site, West Row site Developer: Greystar, University of Mississippi Location: Oxford, Mississippi Units: 2,700 beds (total) Cost: Withheld Charleston, South Carolina-based Greystar is tapping its modular construction pipeline to build on-campus housing for over 2,700 students at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. The multifamily giant is on track to open two new residence halls at Ole Miss by 2027, developed in a public-private partnership with the university. Greystar is set to collaborate with university leaders, industry experts and Mississippi-based businesses to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the site, according to the release. More than 70% of the on-site construction work will be available to local and regional subcontractors. 'By leveraging our modular construction capabilities and working closely with local partners, we're able to deliver efficient, sustainable communities that support student success while contributing to Mississippi's economy,' said Julie Skolnicki, senior managing director of university partnerships at Greystar, in the news release. The West Row site, located across from the UM School of Law, will add 1,500 beds, a new dining hall and over 1,500 parking spaces. Another 1,200 beds are slated for the former site of Kincannon Hall, a 540-bed student dorm built in 1963, closed in 2015 and demolished in 2023, according to The Daily Mississippian. A new parking garage is already under construction at the Kincannon site. Portions of the buildings will be prefabricated by Greystar's modular construction business, Modern Living Solutions, at its factory in Knox, Pennsylvania, in order to shorten construction timelines and lower costs for students, according to the release. Living options will include suites and semi-suites. Public-private partnerships for residential development are a relatively new practice in Mississippi, according to Steven Holley, vice chancellor for administration and finance at the University of Mississippi. The University of Mississippi selected the model in an effort to meet the needs of an expanding student base, modernize campus infrastructure in the long term and save university resources for other priorities, including new academic and research facilities, according to Holley. 'At the heart of our mission lies our unwavering commitment to giving students the best experience possible, which is why this project is vital to addressing one of the most important aspects of the student experience: housing,' added Glenn Boyce, chancellor of the University of Mississippi, in the release. 'This transformative partnership with Greystar will provide a unique and exceptionally efficient approach to expanding housing options on campus.'
