As Andrew Hacker and I began researching our book, “Higher Education?” we were struck by how few questions parents raised when considering the quarter-of-a-million-dollar investment that four years at a private college or university could cost them.

On Jan. 4, fans at the Louisiana Superdome were treated to an exciting Allstate Sugar Bowl game as Ohio State beat Arkansas, 31-26. It was a big night for several Buckeyes; quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron and receiver DeVier Posey all racked up the yards and accolades that came with being the 2011 Sugar Bowl champions.

Baylor has a lot of great policies. One of them, allows students to drop a class without a grade being recorded through the 20th class day. That, I think, is a very just policy.

On Jan. 1, the Federative Republic of Brazil made history. Brazil’s first woman president, Dilma Rousseff, was officially sworn into office. Brazil, the largest country in South America, set the pace for a new political era for itself and this region of the world.

Little can be said to ease the pain resulting from the horrible tragedy of the Tucson, Ariz., shootings on Jan. 8 in which six people died and 14 more were wounded. However, much can be said to bring more pain to the people of the community, especially from the thoughtless actions of media-hungry protesters.

“Our Food and Drug Administration has crossed the line, and entered territory where the organization itself has said it don’t belong — executions.”