Sara Custer

The 250th celebrations of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on campuses and in cities across the country encourage us to think more deeply about our nation’s founding. But while we reflect on independence and what it means to be “American,” it’s also kind of a weird time for history and higher ed. The tension shows up in two places this week: how the past is being interpreted and how colleges are facing historical reform.

President Trump directed the changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in a March 2025 executive order. Less than 24 hours before the government’s rule to limit access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness was to take effect, a district court judge ruled it unlawful. In a ruling on Tuesday, Judge Myong J.

Brendan Sorsby bet more than $90,000 on games while he quarterbacked the football teams at Indiana University and the University of Cincinnati. Court records show that he began gambling in high school at casinos with friends and started experimenting with sports-betting apps that allowed him to make wagers on his phone before he was even 21—the legal age. Sorsby said he was enticed by introductory offers that allowed him to deposit a few dollars and receive hundreds in free betting credits.