Group that lost admissions lawsuit against Harvard is filing an appeal

Last week, federal judge Alice D. Burroughs, convinced by the testimony of admissions officers, ruled that Harvard University has not been intentionally discriminating against Asian-American applicants. Moreover, Burroughs found no alternative, race-neutral admissions process that Harvard could use to screen applicants. Now, Students for Fair Admissions, the group that challenged Harvard’s policies, has announced that it’s going to file an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals. The University is still facing another lawsuit regarding its admission policies that the Department of Justice filed in August of 2018. Because of this, Harvard has had to publicize thousands of pages of admissions scoring criteria and related documents.

Five of the worlds hidden wonders can be found in Massachusetts

This might not be breaking news, but it deserves inclusion in Outside the Bubble because it reflects so well on the lovely Bay State. According to travel magazine Atlas Obscura, five of the worlds hidden wonders can be found in Massachusetts. These gems include the Mapparium, the Ether Dome, and James Allen’s Biography, which can all be found in Boston; the Museum of Bad Art in Somerville, and the Paper House in Rockport. This data  comes from Atlas Obscura’s new travel book, which is due out on Oct. 15, following up on the magazine’s bestseller first edition. Also in the new book is a travel guide to Boston, highlighting sites such as the Franklin Park Zoo Bear Den and Jamaica Pond Park Bench. 

Mayor Marty Walsh looks to improve city transit

The mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, has stated that he knows that the MBTA needs some work. It often shortchanges the populations that need it most, including those in Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park and Mattapan. Accordingly, Mayor Walsh has announced an effort to improve the commuter experience for more than one-fifth of Boston’s population, who live along the Fairmount Line. This nine-mile stretch is currently the shortest commuter rail line, running from South Station to Readville. Now, it’s going to see expanded service, with eight more weekday trips added to the schedule. Fairmount Line riders will also be able to use Charlie Cards instead of commuter rail passes. The plan will reportedly cost an additional $830,000 to $1.5 million per year.