Nation

Multiple websites, including Internet giant Wikipedia, shut down in some form on Wednesday to protest contentious anti-piracy legislation.

The blackout was in response to SOPA, the Stop Online Piracy Act, and PIPA, the Protect IP Act, which many see as potentially devastating government censorship.

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas introduced SOPA in the House of Representatives in October. The bill’s primary intent is to grant the government greater control of Internet sites with the hope of curbing copyright infringement.

Wannabe medical students may soon have to brush up on their social sciences before applying to medical school.

The Association of American Medical Colleges recently proposed changes to the MCAT –– the entrance exam for all medical schools –– including a new sociology and psychology section.

The proposal reflects a desire to create more well-rounded medical students, said Owen Farcy, the director of pre-health programs at Kaplan Test Prep. Traditionally, the MCAT only tested students’ knowledge of physics, chemistry, organic chemistry and biology.

E-shoppers set records for consumer spending on Cyber Monday this year.

The first Monday after Thanksgiving saw online spending increase by 33 percent compared to the same time last year, as retailers offered deep discounts online.

The average consumer also spent more: $198.26, compared to $193.24 in 2010, according to a report by web-analytics firm IBM Benchmark.

Deals on Monday included a $200 discount on a Samsung television on Target’s website, a $199 Kindle Fire on Amazon and a $45 FujiFilm digital camera from Walmart.

The Gophers men’s basketball program hasn’t made it past the first round of the NCAA tournament since its Final Four run in 1997.

But this hasn’t stopped the team from raking in cash.

Minnesota finished 16th among 339 NCAA schools in revenue for the 2009-10 season, beating out basketball powerhouses UCLA and Tennessee by generating just less than $14 million.

“I’d say this is pretty consistent with recent years,” Associate Department Director for Basketball Regina Sullivan said. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in revenue since Tubby Smith’s tenure.”