Short Takes: News From All Over

Justice Department Firing Squad Targets Indian Country
By Editors, Indian Country Today
In a little-covered angle to the scandal plaguing Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Indian Country Today's editors argue that US attorneys were fired for protecting Indian rights. The 'Native vote' has become 'synonymous with the increasingly crucial swing vote' in a number of local, state, and federal elections, the editors write. This growing influence has made Native Americans the targets of disingenuous voter-fraud investigations launched by Republican party operatives in the US Justice Department. 'Essentially,' the editors write, 'voter fraud means voting while black, Indian, poor, imprisoned or gay.' -- Natalie Hudson
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096415170

'Beer' Ads Targeting Kids
By the Herald Sun
Every kid wants to feel older, and a Japanese beverage maker is serving that need by hawking fake beer to help kids fit in with an older crowd (and rake in some extra yen). The Sangaria Beverage Company has released ads that feature children as young as three drinking an apple juice-like concoction that comes in bottles and foams like beer. In spite of objections from experts, who fear that non-alcoholic beer will lead children to the real thing, Sangaria has just rolled out a line of fake wine, champagne, and cocktails. Click here to see a clip of one ad that showed up on the video-sharing site YouTube. -- Eric Kelsey
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21831502-5005961,00.html

Study Abroad Isn't Just for White Students
By Elizabeth Redden, Inside Higher Ed
Study abroad programs are prized opportunities for cultural exchange among many American college students, but statistics suggest that minority students aren't taking part. Only 17 percent of students studying abroad are people of color -- a disproportionately small number compared to the overall population of college students. To bridge this divide, groups such as Houston-based Bardoli Global Inc., are offering scholarships and various programs to help minority students see the world. -- Eric Kelsey
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/06/11/diversity