
State Police train higher education leaders to combat hate, promote positive campus culture
It also comes after a couple of years of unrest on public and private university campuses.
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Protests over the Israel-Gaza war, and in some cases, pro-Palestinian
The training was designed to deepen 'understanding of hate crimes, bias incidents, harassment, vandalism, direct threats, and conflict,' with an eye toward prevention and appropriate response, a State Police said in a statement Monday.
Gov. Maura Healey said she is grateful for the leadership of the Massachusetts State Police to enhance public safety on campuses, prevent hate and build a positive environment for everyone.'
Healey's administration has awarded $24.5 million in hate crime prevention grants through the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the statement said.
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The grants are to support or expand programs that help campuses 'reduce incidents of bias in schools,' according to the statement.
The State Police program was designed with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience.
The training addressed intimidation, terroristic threats, harassment, and violence toward students and faculty,
and ensured
that institutions understand their legal reporting responsibilities under federal law, according to the statement.
The programs also provided tools for formulating strategies to protect victims from vulnerable communities along with prevention measures for achieving and maintaining a 'positive campus culture,' according to the State Police.
Stacey Lloyd, chief of police and director of public safety at the Boston campus of the University of Massachusetts, said involvement in the initiative 'means actively contributing to a culture of trust, safety, and mutual respect, which is essential for promoting an inclusive and secure environment on campuses.'
Tonya Alanez can be reached at
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Time Magazine
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The Violent Gaza-ification of the West Bank
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CNN
20 minutes ago
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5 things to know for July 23: Lawmaker security, Gaza, Texas floods, Columbia University, Japan trade deal
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Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
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Editorial: Texas is talking tax cuts. Illinois? More hikes.
The phrase 'there are two Americas' has many meanings. It can mean that there are two justice systems: one for the rich and one for the poor. It can mean right and left. Rural and urban. Ketchup and … the right way to eat a hot dog. When it comes to taxes and spending, state leaders often split into two camps, too — one that talks about priorities and restraint, and one that talks about hiking and expanding. Call them Texas and Illinois. Exhibit A: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced on the social platform X that state lawmakers this week will be tackling property taxes in a special session. First on the agenda: legislation to cut property taxes. Second on the agenda: legislation to limit spending by government entities that impose property taxes. You don't have to like everything they do in Texas, and we sure don't, but you can't summarily dismiss this kind of thinking, which rarely even enters the discussion in Illinois. While Texas is getting ready to talk about ways to cut taxes and limit spending, our most recent legislative session ended with a handful of new tax hikes and a 'to be continued' on transit that promises to include conversations about other potential tax increases. Importantly, Abbott's message isn't just about people-pleasing tax cuts — it's a call to make relief happen without breaking the bank. Tax cuts and spending cuts have to go hand in hand, otherwise the cycle starts all over again as deficit spending goes up and tax hikes come calling down the road to plug the hole. And to that end, we know it's not all sunshine and roses in Texas. They have fiscal problems, too, namely that local property taxes have grown dramatically in many parts of the state. In Austin, for example, the city's property tax levy increased from $675 million to over $1 billion from 2018 to 2022, representing a 51.4% increase, according to research from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott and over 80% of Texas voters approved an $18 billion plan aimed at easing the burden on homeowners and businesses. But local governments' overspending has continued to drive up bills, blunting the relief. That's why Abbott is now pushing to rein in local spending as part of the broader fix Texas needs. Still, acknowledging those problems and working to address them is precisely what stands out to us. We like it when leaders are honest about financial problems and willing to tackle them head-on, even when it isn't easy. This isn't a pro-Texas, anti-Illinois commentary. This is an endorsement of good ideas, common sense and getting to work addressing big fiscal problems. We're not saying move to Texas — though Austin and Dallas have their appeal. We like it just fine plunked here in the Midwest next to plenty of fresh water and a climate less prone to life-altering natural disasters. And in the case of the recent loss of young life due to flooding, we're well aware that adequate local government spending on emergency procedures remains vital. We hope Abbott is aware of that, too. But we're seeing Texas leaders bring a refreshingly different mindset to the debate over government and taxpayer dollars. Where Illinois politicians are more likely to stick their heads in the sand, Texas at least appears willing to confront money issues, or at least speak their name out loud. Here in Illinois, the best we've managed to do is form working groups to study our state's property tax problem — which is among the worst in the country — and then move on without real action. That pattern reflects a broader political culture of denial, as if ordinary families aren't struggling to cover mortgages and grocery bills. Not only is tax relief not on the table, but tax hikes are a constant threat here. Illinois is far from alone in this pattern, of course. But as Texas works to tackle taxes and government spending problems, Illinois should at least start talking about them more honestly.