Accelerating Sustainable Construction in Nigeria: The Professionals’ Perspective

The current effort to bridge the housing and infrastructure gaps in developing countries calls for large scale construction activities. However, the rising global campaign for sustainable construction demands that the challenges be addressed in such a way that is environmentally friendly, socially responsible and economically supportive. The poor attention being paid to sustainable development agenda in the construction processes within the developing countries poses great danger to the future generations. Construction professionals play essential roles in the design and execution of construction projects. Therefore, this paper reviews the implementation of sustainable construction in the developing countries; it explores current thinking and best practices in sustainable construction; and proposes a framework for enabling collaborative training and integrated practice among the professionals towards the implementation of sustainable construction in the developing countries. Keywords: Sustainable Construction, Professionals, Accelerating, Nigeria, Implementation

Revisiting Parents Involved v. Seattle School District: Race Consciousness and the Government-Speech Doctrine

Professor William M. Carter, Jr.’s trailblazing work, Affirmative Action As Government Speech, first examined the relationship between government speech and race-conscious measures. According to Professor Carter, the United States Supreme Court “has come to view race-conscious government action as a form of prohibited government speech.” This Article takes a different approach from that of Professor Carter; specifically, the Article reviews the majority, dissenting, and concurring opinions in the Parents Involved case for language indicating the Justices’ parameters for viewing voluntary race-conscious measures as government speech. This is important, given that Parents Involved is the landmark Supreme Court decision on race-conscious measures at the K-12 school level. Part I of this Article describes the government-speech doctrine. Part II describes the Equal Protection Clause jurisprudence (the traditional weapon of choice for those challenging race-conscious measures, due to the potency of the strict-scrutiny test). Part III presents the facts of the Parents Involved case. Part IV examines the opinions of the United States Supreme Court Justices in Parents Involved in light of the government-speech doctrine. The Article concludes that the government-speech doctrine would provide schools needed leeway to pursue race-conscious measures

Revisiting Parents Involved v. Seattle School District: Race Consciousness and the Government-Speech Doctrine

Professor William M. Carter, Jr.’s trailblazing work, Affirmative Action As Government Speech, first examined the relationship between government speech and race-conscious measures. According to Professor Carter, the United States Supreme Court “has come to view race-conscious government action as a form of prohibited government speech.” This Article takes a different approach from that of Professor Carter; specifically, the Article reviews the majority, dissenting, and concurring opinions in the Parents Involved case for language indicating the Justices’ parameters for viewing voluntary race-conscious measures as government speech. This is important, given that Parents Involved is the landmark Supreme Court decision on race-conscious measures at the K-12 school level. Part I of this Article describes the government-speech doctrine. Part II describes the Equal Protection Clause jurisprudence (the traditional weapon of choice for those challenging race-conscious measures, due to the potency of the strict-scrutiny test). Part III presents the facts of the Parents Involved case. Part IV examines the opinions of the United States Supreme Court Justices in Parents Involved in light of the government-speech doctrine. The Article concludes that the government-speech doctrine would provide schools needed leeway to pursue race-conscious measures

Teacher Cell Phone Searches in Light of Ontario v. Quon

Technological innovations permeate almost every inch of society. From the government and corporate workforce to family and social settings, technology seemingly knows no boundaries. Technology’s limitless reach has even crossed into the realm of public schools, where, according to teacher Lyn Newton, “[s]chool principals are witnessing more and more cell phone use by their teachers.” Teachers, like other cell phone users, use cell phones not only for making phone calls, but also for taking pictures and texting, which has landed some teachers in trouble for inappropriate communications. Indeed, the sexting wave has not eluded teachers

Environmental Effects Of Urbanization Of River Ajilosun Drainage Basin In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

The study examined environmental effects of urbanization of River Ajilosun drainage basin in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.  Data were generated on flood width, channel width, and storm drain dimensions with the aid of a ranging pole, tape measure and a piece of plank.  Also, 150 copies of structured questionnaire were administered on respondents who were also landlords of houses in River Ajilosun drainage basin.  The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, range and simple percentage.  The Student’s‘t’ test was used to compare the differences in the occurrence of flooding and erosion between the upper and lower segments of River Ajilosun.  In addition to these, photograph of some features were taken to complement the various data.  The findings of the study revealed the environmental effects of urbanization in the drainage basin to include increase in spatial extension of flooding and flood prone areas, increased erosion of River Ajilosun channel, and sediment pollution of the basin surface, indiscriminate refuse disposal/refuse sedimentation of streets and general pollution of the environment.  The measures suggested for curbing these problems are relocation of illegal structures, adequate implementation and enforcement of Town Planning Laws, construction of new storm drains, rehabilitation of the old ones and regular desilting of the storm drains among others.