Dozens killed in Israeli strike on Gaza cafe, hospital official says
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New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
House Committee probing Columbia University leadership's ‘troubling' statements on campus antisemitism
The House Education Committee is probing Columbia University leaders over messages that appeared to downplay fears of antisemitism on the Ivy League campus last year. A new letter, penned by chairs Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), demands Columbia University President Claire Shipman clarify a series of messages, including one that labeled concerns about the hostile antisemitic sentiment that has permeated the Manhattan campus as irrational and 'threatening.' Republican lawmakers said they're seeking insight to decide if new legislation is needed to hold university leaders more accountable as volatile anti-Israel protests rage on campuses nationwide. 5 Acting Columbia University president Claire Shipman. AP In the Oct. 30, 2023, WhatsApp message to then-president Minouche Shafik, Shipman wrote, 'People are really frustrated and scared about antisemitism on our campus and they feel somehow betrayed by it. Which is not necessarily a rational feeling but it's deep and it is quite threatening.' She suggested creating a task force to 'take the pressure' off Shafik, who later resigned in August 2024. 5 New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik speaking at a hearing. AP 'Your description – that people feel 'somehow' betrayed and that this is 'not necessarily a rational feeling,' but that it is 'threatening' – is perplexing, considering the violence and harassment against Jewish and Israeli students already occurring on Columbia's campus at the time,' the letter stated. The lengthy memo, which included the troubling texts, was sent to the embattled institution Tuesday. In another message sent on Jan. 17, 2024, then-Columbia trustee Shipman urged that someone of Middle Eastern or Arabic descent join the university board 'quickly' – a move the pair of pols said violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 5 Pro-Palestinian rally at Columbia University with signs and flags. James Keivom 'Were Columbia to act on this suggestion and appoint someone to the board specifically because of their national origin, it would implicate Title VI concerns,' the scathing letter sent to the Ivy League explained. 'The Committee's request for clarification will inform its understanding of Columbia's compliance with Title IV and current approach towards discrimination in appointments. In addition, this statement raises troubling questions regarding Columbia's priorities just months after the October 7 attack, which was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.' A Columbia spokesperson told The Post that the text messages, which were submitted to the Committee last fall, are being shared 'out of context' and reflect a 'particularly difficult moment' for university leaders focused on deescalating tensions on campus. 5 Rally at Columbia University protesting the conflict in Gaza. James Keivom 'Columbia is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and working with the federal government on this very serious issue, including our ongoing discussions to reach an agreement with the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism,' the spokesperson said. 'Acting President Claire Shipman has been vocally and visibly committed to eradicating antisemitism on campus; the work underway at the university to create a safe and welcoming environment for all community members makes that plain.' The latest inquiry into the university comes about a year after it quickly became the epicenter of vicious anti-Israel protests, with agitators forcing Columbia to lock down when tent encampments descended into chaos – resulting in dozens of arrests and widespread destruction. 5 Protesters barricaded themselves at Columbia's Hamilton Hall. Getty Images At the height of the mayhem, dozens of masked rioters in keffiyeh's smashed their way inside Hamilton Hall in a savage takeover. The violence served as the catalyst for the Trump administration yanking roughly $400 million in grants and contracts from the elite school in March over its failure to stamp out antisemitism on campus. Shipman, who stepped into her position in March, subsequently caved to a list of Trump's demands by agreeing to a slew of policy changes, including a mask ban and allowing campus cops to arrest students or boot them off when deemed appropriate. The flurry of new campus reforms also now requires protesters and demonstrators to identify themselves when asked or else face disciplinary action. In a statement to The Post, the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association called for Shipman to resign 'immediately' over the 'lack of empathy and disregard' over justified fears of antisemitism. 'Interim President Shipman's statements are extremely offensive and unacceptable. They cannot be explained by 'taken out of context,'' the statement read. 'Her lack of empathy and disregard for a board member concerned with student safety as well as deliberate isolation and a suspicion of withholding of information from a board member makes her not fit to serve in the office of president of Columbia University.'
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Columbia to pay $9 million to settle lawsuit over US News college ranking
Columbia University agreed to pay $9 million to settle a proposed class action by students who claimed it submitted false data to boost its position in U.S. News & World Report's influential college rankings. A preliminary settlement, which requires a judge's approval, was filed on Monday in Manhattan federal court. Students said Columbia artificially inflated its U.S. News ranking for undergraduate schools, reaching No. 2 in 2022, by consistently reporting false data, including that 83% of its classes had fewer than 20 students. They said the misrepresentations enticed them to enroll and allowed Columbia to overcharge them on tuition. The settlement covers about 22,000 undergraduate students at Columbia College, Columbia Engineering and Columbia's School of General Studies from the fall of 2016 to the spring of 2022. Lawyers for the students called the accord fair, reasonable and adequate. Columbia denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. The university said in a statement that it 'deeply regrets deficiencies in prior reporting,' and now provides prospective students with data reviewed by an independent advisory firm to ensure they receive accurate information about their education. The litigation began in July 2022, after Columbia math professor Michael Thaddeus published a report alleging that data underlying the school's No. 2 ranking were inaccurate or misleading. Columbia's ranking dropped to No. 18 that September. In June 2023, Columbia said its undergraduate schools would stop participating in U.S. News' rankings. It said the rankings appeared to have 'outsized influence' with prospective students, and 'much is lost' in distilling education quality from a series of data points. Some other universities, including Harvard and Yale, also stopped submitting data to U.S. News for various schools. U.S. News also ranks graduate schools. Lawyers for the Columbia students plan to seek up to one-third of the settlement for legal fees, leaving about $6 million for the students.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and has warning for Hamas
Donald Trump has said Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and is urging Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The US president announced the development ahead of hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week. He has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to work out a ceasefire and hostage agreement to end the war. "My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War," Mr Trump wrote on social media - adding that Qatari and Egyptian officials would deliver the final proposal. "I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better - IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE." It comes as Israel's minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, was in Washington for talks with senior administration officials to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as well as Iran and other matters. Mr Dermer was expected to meet Vice President JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Read more from Sky News: Earlier in the day, Mr Trump told reporters he is hopeful a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement can be achieved between Israel and Hamas next week. Hamas has said it is willing to free the remaining hostages in Gaza under a deal to end the war, while Israel has said the conflict can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled.
