Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Quick hits: Wake to drop SAT, ACT; USS Kitty Hawk drops anchor for the last time; and the guy who dropped 'Andy's' theme passes away

Wake Forest to drop ACT, SAT
"In a groundbreaking move, Wake Forest University will no longer require applicants to submit SAT or ACT test scores for admission, school officials [announced on Tuesday]," said the News & Observer.

"Wake Forest will become the only top-30 national university in the U.S. News & World Report ranking to make the standardized tests optional. The policy change takes effect with the freshman class starting in 2009.

"University officials say they changed their policy after reviewing extensive research that shows the tests favor wealthy students and aren't the best predictors of college success. ..."

USS Kitty Hawk says sayonara
"The oldest active ship in the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, made its final departure from Japan on Wednesday to be decommissioned after nearly half a century of service," said the Associated Press.

"The Kitty Hawk, with sailors lining its decks, pulled away from Yokosuka port just south of Tokyo to the cheers of hundreds of schoolchildren and the sounds of brass bands.

"It flew the 'Don't Tread on Me' flag, which designates it as the oldest ship in the Navy.

"The Kitty Hawk, the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier in the Navy, is to be replaced later this summer by the USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered carrier. ..."

'Andy Griffith' composer dies
"Earle H. Hagen, who co-wrote the jazz classic 'Harlem Nocturne' and composed memorable themes for 'The Andy Griffith Show,' 'I Spy,' 'The Mod Squad' and other TV shows, has died. He was 88," according to the Associated Press.

"Hagen, who is heard whistling the folksy tune for 'The Andy Griffith Show,' died Monday night at his home in Rancho Mirage, his wife, Laura, said Tuesday. He had been in ill health for several months.

"During his long musical career, Hagen performed with the top bands of the swing era, composed for movies and television and wrote one of the first textbooks on movie composing. ..."

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