📝 Duke’s new admissions policy

It’s Monday, February 26 — people are talking about Trump’s win in South Carolina, Duke’s new admissions policy, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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🗳️ Trump wins the South Carolina primary

Trump's SC primary win has pundits debating GOP unity and Haley's uphill battle. What’s next?

🗳️ France 24 says Trump's victory in the South Carolina primary signals strong party unity. He won with nearly 60% of the vote.

🗳️ PBS agrees: Trump has an unshakeable grip on the GOP. Trump will almost certainly be the nominee.

🗳️ The NYT thinks it's probably over for Nikki Haley — Trump trounced her in her own state despite a huge campaign from Haley.

🗳️ Politico says hold on; Trump showed some cracks. He was weak amongst moderates, and he could lose those voters to Biden in November.

📝 Duke’s new admissions policy

Duke is ditching numerical scores for essays because of AI writing. Is it a new era for authenticity, or a big mistake?

📝 BNN Breaking: Duke won’t score essays with numbers because AI and ghost writing are such problems. Admissions will look for content only.

📝 Inside Higher Ed says the essay still matters — it just won't be factored into a 30-point scoring system. Academics, curriculum strength, and extracurriculars will remain.

📝 Duke admissions argues that it's a good thing. It's like how “looking at a player’s various statistics only gives you a partial picture of the player’s contribution to the team” — numbers aren't everything.

📝 GovTech says many colleges have this problem. Some went the other way — NC State actually loosened rules on AI writing in apps, saying AI helps close the gap between wealthy and poor students.

Quick hits

🕯️ Vigils across the US mourn Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teen who died following an alleged bullying incident.

💧 Singapore tackles its water scarcity with advanced technology, aiming for greater self-sufficiency and global influence.

🏁 Daniel Suarez triumphs in a thrilling three-wide finish at the crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series race in Atlanta.

🌞 Unseasonably warm weather hits the central and western US, prompting outdoor activities but raising fire risks.

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