Topic: Rhodes Scholarship

President Obama smoked pot in high school. Why is he against legalizing marijuana?

A new biography details Barack Obama's use of marijuana in high school and college, not unusual for a young man at that time. As president, Obama has taken a tougher line on drug use, including marijuana for medical reasons.

Tea party challenge puts Sen. Richard Lugar in the fight of his political life

Sen. Richard Lugar is a six-term incumbent, highly regarded for his work on national security issues. But tea party-backed challenger Richard Mourdock says Lugar has lost touch with his Indiana constituents. In the run-up to Tuesday's GOP primary, Mourdock leads in the polls.

After 20 years of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, time for a rethink

Twenty years ago, the Ms. Foundation started Take Our Daughters to Work Day to demystify the workplace for girls. That mission is accomplished. What girls need now is encouragement to become leaders. It's time to take them to the C-suite, where the corporate chiefs work.

Goldman resignation tip of iceberg

While Greg Smith's public resignation has attracted media attention, regulators and Wall Street insiders say Goldman Sachs' problems come as no surprise.

Thirty ideas from people under 30: The Politicians

They are explorers and activists, artists and educators, farmers and faith leaders – even mayors. And they have trenchant suggestions on how to improve the world.

Christopher Hitchens was militant pundit and humanist

He was a most engaged, prolific and public intellectual who wrote numerous books, was a frequent television commentator and a contributor to Vanity Fair, Slate and other publications. He became a popular author in 2007 thanks to 'God is Not Great,' a manifesto for atheists.

Lowe's is wrong. Russell Simmons is right. US needs TLC show 'All-American Muslim.'

Some Muslim Americans object to incomplete representation in the TLC reality show "All-American Muslim." But after retailer Lowe's pulled its ads, Muslim Americans need all the PR help they can get (even with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons on their side).

Charter schools are the Justin Bieber of education reform – a fad gone too far

Among all the programs that face cuts in President Obama's new budget, education is a clear winner. Charter school funding, however, suffers a slight decrease. And this may be a good thing. Charter schools have become another silver-bullet 'idea fad' racing through education reform.

Missing from State of the Union: Obama's audacity of hope -- to help 'most vulnerable'

If President Obama is really committed to 'win the future,' he needs more than modest, bipartisan reforms. He needs bold plans to lift up America's most vulnerable, for the sake of the nation.

Bruce Reed: Another Clinton centrist joins Obama White House

Bruce Reed will be Vice President Biden's new chief of staff. He was a senior aide to President Clinton and a leader in centrist Democratic policy circles. Does this bode ill for liberals' agenda?

West Point graduates: Why our best officers are leaving early

The U.S. military claims to support independent thinking and entrepreneurship among officers, but a survey of 250 West Point graduates suggests that conformity, not merit, is rewarded.

How can Democrats stop the Republican tide this election? Young voters.

Our own analysis shows that if 18-to-29-year olds voted as they did in 2008, they could potentially flip the election for Democrats. But efforts to woo back the youth vote – like Obama's Daily Show appearance – may be too little, too late.

Naked Cowboy for president: Top celebrities (past and present) who aimed for the White House

Forget the midterm elections, President Obama's competition in the 2012 election is growing.

On Oct. 6 Robert Burck announced his candidacy for president for the 2012 elections. You know him better as the "Naked Cowboy," a famous New York City attraction in Times Square. Burck's announcement comes on the heels of another celeb gone potential presidential candidate: Donald Trump.

Donald Trump, in a round of TV interviews Tuesday, said he was "seriously" considering running for president in 2012. "For the first time in my life, I'm actually thinking about it," Trump, who declared himself a Republican, told Fox News Channel.

Though they are the most recent, Burck and Trump are by no means the first celebrities to aim for the White House.

World's top 10 universities, Harvard leads again

Times Higher Education, the United Kingdom's leading higher education news publication, today released its first-ever international university rankings. American universities dominate the top of the Times list, faring much better than in rankings released last week by former Times partner Quacquarelli Symonds. The disparate results have already prompted debate about the criteria for evaluating and ranking universities.

The world's Top 10 universities

QS released its annual World University Rankings list of the top 200 universities Wednesday. The UK's University of Cambridge overtook former No. 1 Harvard University, the first time the leading US university was not in the No. 1 spot. Click right arrow to see school's ranked in ascending order.

Reggie Bush Heisman Trophy to be returned

Reggie Bush Heisman Trophy from USC will be returned to the Heisman Trophy Trust due to the amateur player payments scandal.

Nancy Pelosi puts her stamp on the House

Nancy Pelosi is a master tactician and the most powerful speaker in a half century. Behind her personal brand of power politics – and whether she will still be speaker after the midterm elections.

The Other Wes Moore

The author delves into the life of a convict who shares his name.

Classic review: The Chosen

Why being smart won't necessarily get you into Harvard.

Unemployed? This week's Top 8 job offers.

A look at this week's Top 8 intriguing job offers.

Top five athletes on Capitol Hill

Curt Schilling isn't the first professional athlete to consider a bid for public office. There's more crossover between sports and politics than you might think.

NAACP tries to woo the hip-hop generation

But as the organization celebrates its centennial in New York, some young people have mixed feelings about how the NAACP fits in their lives.

Republicans need fresh ideas, not a savior

The GOP could rebuild by grooming conceptual thinkers in foreign policy.

Souter retirement gives Obama early Supreme Court pick

But the court's balance of power may not change much, as Justice Souter, a conservative choice, consistently voted liberal.