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Ya Biladi
18-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco inaugurates first Global Alumni House, strengthening French-Moroccan academic ties
The inauguration of the Alumni House in Morocco marks a global first, coinciding with the official launch of the third edition of the World Alumni Days, organized by Campus France Maroc across Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Fès, and Tangier. In the context of renewed diplomatic momentum between Rabat and Paris, this initiative symbolizes a timely and multifaceted strengthening of academic and university ties. At the inauguration held on Friday, May 16 in Casablanca, the French ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, told Yabiladi that the primary goal of the initiative is to give visibility to the enduring human bonds between the two countries through a space designed to become a genuine intergenerational hub. «Moroccan alumni of French higher education form the largest foreign academic community linked to France, with over 45,000 students currently enrolled», he said. «If we include all who have attended French universities since independence, we're talking about hundreds of thousands». The Alumni House is now intended to unify the efforts of numerous existing associations, particularly to support those interested in studying in France. For Lecourtier, «It's a kind of matrix for Franco-Moroccan relations in higher education—one with the potential to grow and multiply». Amine Dabchy, president of Sciences Po Alumni Morocco, described the House as «an open, dynamic, future-focused community that brings together multiple generations in a space of rich diversity». He noted that the presence of prominent figures at the event served as both «a tribute to this community and a call to forge more connections to continue inspiring future generations». Dabchy also praised the vital role played by Moroccan alumni associations from top French institutions, across fields such as civil engineering, business, management, law, science, and economics. Promoting Academic Mobility Between Morocco and France In his speech, Lecourtier also emphasized the importance of ensuring that academic mobility flows both ways between France and Morocco. «I think this House should act like an airport, a launchpad for young people and alumni to continue flying to France—whether for work, study, or personal reasons—to maintain that connection», he said. «It should feel natural for people who've followed this path to move between the two countries without excessive barriers», he added. He recalled that last year's second edition of Alumni Day was an opportunity to announce «a simplified visa process for alumni». «Anyone who has studied in France, or on French campuses in Morocco, can now easily obtain a short-stay circulation visa. The bond they have with France, sustained here in this House, should allow them to come and go as easily as members of the same family». Christophe Lecourtier, French ambassador to Morocco Gérald Brun, head of higher education, research, and student mobility at the French Institute of Morocco and attaché for scientific and university cooperation at the French Embassy, told Yabiladi that while Moroccan nationals make up the largest community of international students in France, the goal is to encourage reciprocal mobility. «We also want to make Morocco an attractive destination for French students, who can complete part of their studies here, especially through double degrees, joint programs, or relocated courses offered by French institutions in Morocco», Brun explained. «This is a policy strongly supported by the diplomatic mission». Fostering Human Development Through Research and Training This collaborative academic framework also includes research-oriented university training between the two countries. According to Brun, this area of cooperation has gained momentum. «Joint work on doctoral training is particularly important for Morocco, as many current professors and researchers are approaching retirement. A new generation must be trained», he said. «And this is equally crucial for France, where interest in pursuing doctorates has declined». He noted that the French research system heavily relies on international doctoral candidates—and Morocco currently ranks fourth among countries sending doctoral students to France, following China, Lebanon, and Italy. In his speech, Ambassador Lecourtier also cited King Mohammed VI's focus on human development as a key pillar of Franco-Moroccan cooperation. He highlighted the pivotal role that Moroccan alumni of French institutions play in this vision. «Framework agreements may pave the way for major projects, but what matters most are the people—those who not only have the skills but also the desire to ensure that these projects become reality and don't remain empty promises. Both President Macron and His Majesty the King understand that the strength of the bilateral relationship lies in those individuals», said Lecourtier. For him, «alumni are at the heart of it all because they have a blended experience. They've lived here and there, they return, they leave again—and that's the future. They are the ideal bridge for building a shared tomorrow».
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Trevor Bauer throws shade at MLB after Pete Rose's reinstatement
Trevor Bauer is yet again asking for another shot in the big leagues after Pete Rose's reinstatement. The controversial former MLB pitcher spoke out on social media on Wednesday, one day after the late Rose was reinstated, continuing his crusade against the league he claims is blackballing him. 'So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?' Bauer wrote on X. 'Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?' Advertisement Trevor Bauer of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after giving up a hit to Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images Bauer, who is currently pitching in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, has been out of MLB for four years after sexual assault allegations were raised against him in 2021. The league initially placed Bauer on administrative leave before eventually suspending him for 324 games, later reducing the ban to 194 upon appeal. Advertisement The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner can re-sign with a new MLB team, but has yet to catch on with any of the 30 organizations stateside. Bauer claimed last fall that it was 'an MLB decision' whether he ever signs with another team. Former Philadelphia Phillies great Pete Rose acknowledges the crowd during Alumni Day ceremony before a game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park in 2022. USA TODAY Sports At the time, the Daily Mail obtained a statement from an MLB spokesperson stating that Bauer is eligible to sign with any of its 30 clubs. Advertisement 'Trevor Bauer served the entirety of his discipline and is an unrestricted free agent available to sign a contract with any team,' the statement read. Bauer's latest outcry comes a day after Rose, who was placed on the league's permanently ineligible list in August 1989 for gambling on baseball while manager of the Reds, was reinstated by commissioner Rob Manfred. The decision makes Rose, who died in September, eligible to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and will be considered by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbia grads shred diplomas over Mahmoud Khalil arrest: 'We are enraged'
Columbia University students and graduates gathered over the weekend to protest the school's recent acquiescence to the Trump administration's demands to combat antisemitism at the school, and the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian ringleader on campus. During the protests, several graduate students from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) shredded their own diplomas. "SIPA and Columbia are working against the incredible efforts their students are making to envision a world where Palestinians can enjoy their full human, civil and national rights," one of the protesters said before tearing her diploma in half. "SIPA is not proud, we are enraged. We will continue to rage at this institution until Mahmoud Khalil is free." Ice Agents Arrest Anti-israel Activist Who Led Protests On Columbia University For Months Another protester announced that she was "renouncing" her degree, before destroying her diploma. Several other protesters spoke briefly before following suit. Read On The Fox News App "Free, free Palestine," chants echoed during the protest. The rally took place during Columbia's Alumni Day celebration on Saturday. Khalil was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in early March as part of a new effort by the Trump administration to revoke the green cards of Hamas sympathizers. The Department of Homeland Security said that Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization." According to his LinkedIn, Khalil studied at Lebanese American University in Beirut before starting his master's degree at Columbia in public administration in January 2023. The Trump administration recently pulled $400 million in funding, citing the school's failure to control pro-Palestinian violence on campus. The school also agreed to a Trump administration demand that student protesters be barred from disguising their faces with masks and other coverings. Columbia University Yields To Trump Admin Demands Over Revoked $400M In Federal Funding Katrina Armstrong, Columbia's interim president, abandoned her post Friday amid the unrest. WATCH: Interim Columbia president resigns amid White House funding fight "Dr. Armstrong accepted the role of interim president at a time of great uncertainty for the University and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our community," David J. Greenwald, chair of the board of trustees, said in a news release late Friday. "Katrina has always given her heart and soul to Columbia. We appreciate her service and look forward to her continued contributions to the University." Khalil is now fighting deportation in court. Fox News' Diana Stancy, Jasmine Baehr and Alexis McAdams contributed to this article source: Columbia grads shred diplomas over Mahmoud Khalil arrest: 'We are enraged'
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Columbia grads shred diplomas over Mahmoud Khalil arrest: 'We are enraged'
Columbia University students and graduates gathered over the weekend to protest the school's recent acquiescence to the Trump administration's demands to combat antisemitism at the school, and the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian ringleader on campus. During the protests, several graduate students from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) shredded their own diplomas. "SIPA and Columbia are working against the incredible efforts their students are making to envision a world where Palestinians can enjoy their full human, civil and national rights," one of the protesters said before tearing her diploma in half. "SIPA is not proud, we are enraged. We will continue to rage at this institution until Mahmoud Khalil is free." Another protester announced that she was "renouncing" her degree, before destroying her diploma. Several other protesters spoke briefly before following suit. "Free, free Palestine," chants echoed during the protest. The rally took place during Columbia's Alumni Day celebration on Saturday. Khalil was picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in early March as part of a new effort by the Trump administration to revoke the green cards of Hamas sympathizers. The Department of Homeland Security said that Khalil "led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization." According to his LinkedIn, Khalil studied at Lebanese American University in Beirut before starting his master's degree at Columbia in public administration in January 2023. The Trump administration recently pulled $400 million in funding, citing the school's failure to control pro-Palestinian violence on campus. The school also agreed to a Trump administration demand that student protesters be barred from disguising their faces with masks and other coverings. Katrina Armstrong, Columbia's interim president, abandoned her post Friday amid the unrest. WATCH: Interim Columbia president resigns amid White House funding fight "Dr. Armstrong accepted the role of interim president at a time of great uncertainty for the University and worked tirelessly to promote the interests of our community," David J. Greenwald, chair of the board of trustees, said in a news release late Friday. "Katrina has always given her heart and soul to Columbia. We appreciate her service and look forward to her continued contributions to the University." Khalil is now fighting deportation in court.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbia University alumni rip up their diplomas in protest of school and leadership
Instead of joining in Columbia University's annual 'Alumni Day' celebrations for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the school by ripping up their diplomas in protest. The protest follows the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Palestinian activist and a green card holder. Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his university-owned apartment on March 8. The demonstration was organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine and began with a group of alumni and current student speakers, a few dozen people chanting and then a collective ripping of diplomas. 'It's not easy to do this, with none of us doing this lightly. There's no joy in this,' said Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate who spoke at the protest. Tower said as an immigrant who experienced displacement, she had to fight hard to get her master's in international affairs at Columbia. 'I'm not a proud alumni at all, and instead I want to stand with the students, and I want to stand with Palestinians, and I want to stand with immigrants who are being rounded up and harassed, oppressed and deported as we speak,' she said. Columbia University did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Saturday's protest. The protesters held up signs and chanted 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Mahmoud Khalil' throughout the afternoon. Khalil's lawyers say he is currently being detained in a facility in Louisiana. The Trump administration said it wants to deport Khalil because of his role in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus and accused him of being a threat to foreign policy. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this is just the beginning for him and Trump, who intend to continue targeting protesters who hold student visas. 'Once you've lost your visa, you're no longer legal in the United States. And we have a right, like every country in the world has a right, to remove you from our country,' Rubio said this week. 'If you apply for a visa to enter the United States and be a student, and you tell us that the reason why you're coming to the United States is not just because you want to write op-eds, but because you want to participate in movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus, we're not going to give you a visa,' Rubio said. Khalil's detention and the protests have occurred as Columbia is dealing with another leadership shake-up. On Friday, the school announced that its interim president, Katrina Armstrong, had stepped aside to return to the school's Irving Medical Center. The move comes a week after the school agreed to a deal with the Trump administration to negotiate the restoration of its federal funding. Armstrong is being replaced by Claire Shipman, who is the co-chair of the board of trustees, making her the third university president in less than a year. Shipman is a former White House correspondent for NBC News, CNN and ABC News. She testified before Congress last Spring during a hearing about the university's efforts to combat antisemitism. 'It's another figurehead that the Board of Trustees is going to use to do their bidding. I don't think it matters,' Hannah, a 2024 alumna, said at Saturday's protest. She did not give her last name out of fear for her safety. 'I think Minouche Shafik did an awful job. I think the interim President Armstrong did an awful job. I think Shipman is going to do an awful job because they're not listening to their students. They're listening to the Board of Trustees,' she added. Hannah also ripped up her diploma. 'I'm here today because I'm Jewish, and my Jewish beliefs tell me to show up for communities that are being oppressed, that are being targeted,' she said. Columbia is not the only school that has had students detained. Foreign-born students at Tufts University, Georgetown University and the University of Minnesota have been taken into federal custody. Some current students at the Columbia University protest Saturday said they have lost faith in their school. 'Students are terrified to set foot on campus. I'm one of them, so just the fact that I'm here is scary because the way that our colleagues have disappeared,' Jasmine Sarryeh said. Sarryeh is studying for a masters of public affairs at SIPA and is friends with Khalil. 'Mahmoud is a very loved community member, and the fact that he was taken away from his eight months pregnant wife and from all of us here at SIPA is devastating,' she said. 'It's hard to go to class, it's hard to come here and not think of him.' Sarryeh said she has also lost faith in the value of the education she's getting from Columbia. 'Columbia University used to be a bastion of freedom of speech and academic freedom, and it's headed in a really dangerous direction,' she said. 'And if they don't start standing up for Mahmoud and all the protesters that were basically enacting their constitutional freedom of speech and right to freedom of assembly, that will set them down a very dark path that I hope the university doesn't go down.' This article was originally published on
