Latest news with #CommencementCeremony
The Spinoff
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
Life as a Māori librarian in Trump's America
Poet and librarian, Nicola Andrews (Ngāti Paoa, Pākehā), unfurls her life as an open education librarian at the University of San Francisco in the age of president Trump. I work as the open education librarian at the University of San Francisco (USF), on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone territory. USF is a private, Jesuit, R2 (high research activity) university, situated in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. It was recently ranked as the number one most ethnically diverse campus in the country, and officially designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI); making our campus eligible for grant funding to support Asian American and Pacific Island students. We have just under 10,000 students, and most require financial aid to attend the university. Class sizes are small – usually around 20 students in a class section, which means we get to know our students pretty well. It's a unique campus, and I've worked here just over five years. It's summer over here, and we have just had our commencement ceremonies and graduation celebrations. Students are drawn to USF for its social justice focus, and they embody its value of 'cura personalis', as well as its tagline, 'change the world from here'. During the closing remarks of the ceremony, a small group of students chanted in protest, pleading with the university to divest from investments in military contracts. Last year, students declared a 'People's University' in support of Gaza, peacefully occupying campus for a month with an encampment of up to a hundred tents. I am proud of our students who stand up against violence and genocide, and who think of others even during their own final exams and end-of-semester preparations. In response to increasing demands from students, USF recently announced it would divest from four companies with ties to the Israeli military. My favourite part of graduation is the Indigenous Peoples of Oceania Commencement Ceremony, which began when Pasifika students on campus advocated for their own ceremony. I've helped organise the event for the last several years, and this year we have seven graduates – as the whakataukī goes, 'ahakoa he iti, he pounamu'. Unlike the mainstream graduation, we are in a small conference space instead of a huge cathedral. We decorate the space with flowers, and flags of Pacific nations. In addition to a unique graduation stole, we also gift students a lei made of purple orchids. It is a beautiful ceremony and everyone gets a bit misty-eyed. Tkaronto During summer, I get a break from teaching, and our reference desk hours are reduced. As a tenured faculty member, my role includes conducting and presenting research, and providing service to the profession, so I get to focus on these parts of my job a bit more. First off, I head to Tkaronto (Toronto) for the International Indigenous Librarians Forum (IILF), a convening of delegates including Aboriginal, First Nations, Kanaka Maoli, Māori, Native American, Sámi and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our Anishnabeg and Haudenosaunee hosts do a wonderful job, including hosting us at the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail for the traditional Day on the Land. The conference offers free registration for First Nations, Métis or Inuit students; but in general I wish there were more people who had this opportunity as students or early-career professionals. My colleagues Neil, Steve and I present on our work as Pasifika in the diaspora – how we get compressed into and diluted by Asian American Pacific Islander spaces; the need for nuance and representation for Melanesian, Micronesian and Polynesian literatures; how there are so many other communities that also need uplifting within libraries. We have a good turnout, and we receive a tentative invitation to present for a university later in the year. I hope we can build more conversation – and really confront the decisions we grapple with as diaspora or migrants living outside of our islands. I'm excited to attend the conference with my Te Rōpū Whakahau colleagues, but I'm always a bit shy and standoffish, too. At the last conference I silently streamed with tears as a University of Auckland team presented on allowing their Māori library staff time to study te reo, and organised visits to staff members' marae. Academia can be a really cold institution to operate in, and I know there's a lot I continue to miss out on over here. On the final day of the conference, we discuss ideas for the next host nation. Someone suggests our Native American relatives host, and immediately many delegates declare that they refuse to cross into the United States border, 'for at least the next four years'. I flinch, noting the multitude of other delegates who braved crossing that border to gather here, and my own discomfort as a green card holder who is regularly pulled aside by customs. Someone helpfully suggests Hawai'i as an alternative location to the United States, and there are facepalms all around. My own suggestion to bring the conference back home is swiftly vetoed. Eventually, we reach a tentative decision, and the forum concludes. The next day is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and many delegates celebrate at the Na-Me-Res Pow Wow downtown. I'm flying back to San Francisco today, so I spend the morning doing some light digital spring-cleaning – scrubbing a couple of spicy activist posts, deleting social media from my phone, making sure my papers are secure, yet easily reached. After clearing security, I spot an empty queue for 'Mobile Passport Control'. In the time it takes to move forward three spots, I download the app, scan my ID, take a selfie, and am prompted to 'go to Mobile Passport Control'. The border agent is polite – taking my photo and asking the purpose of my trip. He doesn't hesitate to let me cross – and I chuckle as I walk away, having noted his full tattoo sleeves on display while I had deliberately covered mine up. San Francisco A few days later, I walk through San Francisco's Panhandle on my way to a coffee shop to chat with Ruby Leonard, who is over here on holiday. Ruby works in publishing with Te Papa Press, and was also the typesetter for my new book with Āporo Press, Overseas Experience. Ruby has kindly agreed to deliver some pukapuka to me to save on shipping, and we spend some time exploring the indie bookstores of Haight Street and discussing the joys of writing and editing without engaging with AI. We spot Rebecca K. Reilly's Greta & Valdin at Booksmith, but Hera Lindsay Bird's Juvenilia is only available across town at Green Apple Books. I make a note to order it later, and walk home to pack my suitcase again – next stop, Lenape territory, Philadelphia. Philadelphia The American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference brings about 15,000 library workers together – this year, in Philadelphia, it takes place during a 'heat dome' event that includes thunderstorms and an average temperature that feels like 40 degrees. It's a fraught time to be a librarian in the United States, but as American Library Association immediate past-president Cindy Hohl (Santee Sioux Nation) says, there's never been a more important time to be a librarian, too. In March, the president issued an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), the main source of federal support and funding for American libraries. A month later, hundreds of IMLS grants were terminated, ending services such as accessible museum programmes, scholarships, and initiatives for Indigenous peoples. In May, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden (the first Black person and first woman in this role, also the first actual librarian since 1974) was abruptly fired in a two-sentence email. Amid all this, librarians fight for people's freedom to read as conservatives push to ban books pertaining to queer rights, race, sexuality and social justice. Last year, more than 15 states introduced or passed laws that would criminalise librarians and teachers for including 'harmful' content in library collections, with penalties including hefty fines and imprisonment. I've seen conservative protests that accuse librarians of 'grooming' at the last two ALA conferences I've attended, and I anticipate this will be the case in Philly too. As if that weren't enough, librarians are constantly being told that AI will take our jobs, and every librarian I know reports their institution is understaffed and underfunded. There are a couple of events I am really looking forward to. I'm on the executive board for the Asian Pacific American Library Association (APALA), which advocates for Asian American and Pacific Islander library workers and communities. I've helped pull together the APALA President's Program – APALA Celebrates The Whale Rider: Pacific Island Literature with Witi Ihimaera and Friends. Penguin Random House USA is re-releasing The Whale Rider as a Penguin Classics hardcover in a few months, including a foreword by Lily Gladstone, introduction by Shilo Kino, and contributions by librarian Dr. Loriene Roy (White Earth Anishinaabe, Minnesota Chippewa Tribe). US library programming is rarely this Pasifika-focused. Before I joined the board, I was part of a group of five librarians who wrote to APALA to protest the Asian Pacific American Awards for Literature, which had not awarded or honoured a single Pacific Island author or illustrator, in the almost 25 years of the awards programme. We were not the first ones to raise this issue, but we managed to get some traction. After much advocacy, APALA agreed to establish new award categories for Pacific Islanders, although this act of inclusivity has drawn criticism from the membership. In any case, the award juries for this year selected our first ever Pasifika award winners and honourees: Drew Afualo, Alfred Perado Flores, Makiia Lucier, Kristiana Kahakauwila, and Kaylin Melia George. Returning to the city Back in San Francisco, there's a lot of day-to-day work to catch up on, and a lot to mull over. During my travels, I was often asked if I'll ever come back home to Aotearoa – I'd like to, but I'm not sure how things will ultimately play out. I miss my whānau, the manu, and the whenua, but from what I can tell, it's hard to make ends meet back home, moreso with librarians among those impacted by proposed changes to the pay equity process. Moreover, we cannot flee the communities that support us at the first sign of discomfort. I've worked hard to build a community here, including as a member of Māori Mo Ake Tonu, a Bay Area-based kapa haka group. This weekend, the recently-declared Pacific Island Cultural District – the first in the nation – is holding a summer gathering downtown. I don't need to make any decisions today, but it will be good to get out beyond the world of writing and libraries. Just for a bit.
Express Tribune
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Judge dismisses faculty unions' lawsuit over Columbia university funding cuts
tudents attend the Commencement Ceremony at Columbia University in New York City in Manhattan, New York, U.S., May 21, REUTERS/ Listen to article A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against the Trump administration by two labor unions for Columbia University faculty that challenged funding cuts and demands to overhaul student discipline and boost oversight for a Middle Eastern studies department. US District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil in Manhattan said the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of Teachers lacked legal standing to sue, with Columbia itself "conspicuously absent" from the case. "Our democracy cannot very well function if individual judges issue extraordinary relief to every plaintiff who clamors to object to executive action," Vyskocil wrote. "If any funds have been wrongfully withheld, such funds may be recovered at the end of a successful lawsuit by the appropriate plaintiff in an appropriate forum," she added. "It is not the role of a district court judge to direct the policies of the Executive Branch first and ask questions later." Both plaintiffs plan to appeal. "The Trump administration's threats and coercion at Columbia University are part of an authoritarian agenda that extends far beyond Columbia," Todd Wolfson, president of the professors' union, said in a statement. "We will continue to fight back." Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, ruled 12 days after the Department of Education threatened to revoke Columbia's accreditation over the university's alleged failure to protect Jewish students, including from pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia was the first major US university targeted in President Donald Trump's effort to conform higher education to his policies. Judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to restore $400M in grant funding to Columbia Universityhttps:// — The Washington Times (@WashTimes) June 17, 2025 It has acceded to some White House demands, including by boosting security and announcing a review of its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department. Other schools, including Harvard University, have fought Trump in court. The labor unions' lawsuit originally targeted $400 million of Columbia funding cuts, and later sought an injunction to prevent the Trump administration from interfering with more than $5 billion of grants and contracts. Vyskocil said that to the extent the unions "feel chilled" by recent changes at Columbia, they have not shown that the changes were "merely the 'predictable' response" to White House demands. The case is American Association of University Professors et al v. US Department of Justice et al, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 25-02429. Previously, the lawsuit, filed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), argues the cuts are retaliatory, stemming from pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University earlier this year. University of Columbia President notice to students on March 13 over federal warrants, search and arrest, and DHS engagement on campus Photo: X President Donald Trump and senior officials have criticised the university for allowing student-led demonstrations against Israel's military assault in Gaza. The protests, which included campus occupations, sparked similar movements across the country. In response, the administration demanded the university adopt stricter policies, including tougher penalties for protesters, a review of admissions, and a ban on masks at demonstrations. Columbia officials have since agreed to most of these demands, laid out in a March 13 letter.
Web Release
01-06-2025
- Health
- Web Release
The American University of Beirut Graduates Its 156th Cohort of Trailblazers
The American University of Beirut (AUB) Honorary Doctorate and Graduate Commencement Ceremony was held on May 30, 2025, conferring master's, doctorate, and medical degrees to 678 students and recognizing this year's honorary doctorate degree recipients: Christiana Figueres; Dr. Raif Geha; and Dr. Philip Khoury. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Nawaf Salam, president of the Council of Ministers, who represented His Excellency, General Joseph Aoun, the president of the Republic of Lebanon. In President Aoun's name, Salam decorated the two honorees of Lebanese descent—Dr. Philip Khoury and Dr. Raif Geha—by bestowing upon them the Lebanese Order of Merit, Silver Grade. 'AUB graduates carry the potential not just to lead, but to build bridges, and to be peacemakers where peace is most needed… At AUB, we do not work for rankings. We work to change the world. We do not just train highly paid consultants, physicians, nurses, engineers, and scientists. We train change-makers,' said Dr. Fadlo Khuri, AUB president, to the graduates. 'We are here to uplift, to empower, to enlighten, to transform. We are not here simply to help you gain knowledge, or jobs, or opportunities, or degrees or wealth, but rather to help you in being uplifted, to uplift your families, communities, and nations. That has never been more critical than it is today.' Khuri spoke about the joy of living with purpose and every individual's right to the pursuit of health, happiness, and a more abundant life. This year's graduate student speaker was medical student Nader Zalaquett, a high-distinction achiever who has held several leadership roles, co-authored numerous scientific publications, and received multiple research awards and grants. With extensive clinical experience focusing on otolaryngology head and neck surgery, Zalaquett will be joining Mayo Clinic's Department of Otolaryngology. 'What are the odds that a sixteen-year-old from Zahle, with near zero exposure to Beirut and its universities, would graduate as a medical doctor from the best medical school in the Middle East?' said Zalaquett. 'Little did I know that AUB is a door to the entire world. From the halls of the #1 hospital to the #1 cancer center and the #1 tech firm in the world, an AUB graduate was always there, ready to guide, support, and uplift.' He added, 'AUB has given us more than an education, it has given us a launchpad to every single corner of the world.' President Khuri bestowed the university's honorary doctorate degrees upon this year's recipients, in recognition of their contributions and representation of the values and mission of AUB: diplomat, author, and architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, Christiana Figueres; allergist, immunologist, and James Gamble Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Raif Geha; and academic leader and historian of Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, and chairman emeritus of the AUB Board of Trustees, Dr. Philip Khoury. The commencement keynote speaker, Dr. Raif Geha, graduated from AUB to become a world-renowned physician-scientist with an enduring impact on pediatrics and immunology. He spoke about his experience as a biology and then medical student at AUB, and the role that holistic education, mentors, and relationships established at AUB played in his education and career. 'Acquiring the skills needed to lead a meaningful, successful, and happy life requires the type of education AUB provides,' said Geha. 'One pillar of my education at AUB has been my mentors and role models… I learned from my mentors at AUB about rigor, hard work, tough love, grace, humility, compassion and humor.' Geha concluded with words of wisdom as the class of 2025 looked toward a new chapter in their journey of trailblazing leadership and impactful service, 'To the graduating students, I say work hard, nose to the ground.' He added that, 'the two things worth spending money on are education and memories. AUB has given you plenty of each. Use both to live life more abundantly.'
Al Bawaba
30-05-2025
- General
- Al Bawaba
AURAK Graduation Ceremony Sees Record Number of Female Graduates; AI Gains Prominence
Female graduates outnumbered males at the twin Commencement Ceremonies of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah (AURAK), while Artificial Intelligence (AI) took center-stage with the number of graduates doubling in just one two graduation ceremonies (13th and 14th) saw a total of 331 graduate and undergraduate students receive their degrees, of which 188 (56.8 per cent) were female, reflecting the growing trend of women aspiring for careers and second major takeaway was the rising prominence of AI in the career landscape. The ceremony saw the very first batch of the university's Bachelor in Artificial Intelligence receive their degrees. AURAK's Bachelor of Science in AI is a four-year program that empowers students to design and develop computer systems and data models, using the latest advances in the 13th Graduation Ceremony (Class of 24) had extra significance attached to it, for these graduates had entered university in the thick of Covid-19 disruption, and had to navigate through the unknown territory of online listed among Top 500 Universities in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and occupying the sixth position among UAE universities, honored 68 graduates and 263 undergraduates at the two ceremonies held on successive days. Eight students earned the Summa Cum Laude (highest distinction) honor.H.E. Robert Raines, US Consul General in Dubai, who delivered the Commencement Adress, hailed the resilience displayed by the Covid-impacted graduates of the Class of 2024, and urged them to draw inspiration from the ghaf tree, whose roots go 60 meters into the soil. 'Remember your resilience. Remember that you can do this, whether you become scientists, teachers, entrepreneurs, engineers, artists or diplomats. You're entering a world that faces serious global challenges. You will need your resilience to survive and to succeed, and the world needs you to succeed. Second, I hope that you'll remember the value and the importance of community… because it is your community that will nourish you as you grow,' H.E. Robert Raines David A. Schmidt, President of AURAK, in his welcome address, said: 'The world you are stepping into demands resilience, adaptability and vision. You've proven that you can navigate uncertainty and adapt to the unexpected. You've pursued knowledge, not at the absence of obstacles, but often in the face of them. As we confer your degrees, we do more than acknowledge your academic accomplishments, we affirm your readiness to lead and to shape the future.'.Prof. Stephen C. Wilhite, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Student Success / Provost, urged the graduates to carry the legacy of appreciation for diversity and a commitment to promoting cultural understanding and to fostering civic responsibility.'Learning is a lifelong process through which you can leverage your knowledge and skills to become leaders and entrepreneurs who can change the world for the better,' he graduates received their degrees in the presence of the Chairman of the AURAK Board of Trustees and other board members; H.E. Robert Raines, US Consul General in Dubai; AURAK President David A. Schmidt; and administrative leadership team and faculty of the university. The Valedictorian Address was delivered by Mohammed Ayyub, the topper in Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with the highest CGPA of 3.95, on the first day. For the second Commencement Ceremony, there were two Valedictorians: Maryam Saeed Sanad Abdulla Alnaqbi (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration), the first Emirati to earn the honor in recent years, and Leen Mohammad Jamal Zaid (Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology).
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Gen Z Men Who Live at Home Feel Less Ready to Move Out Than Women
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While many Gen Z-ers are opting to continue living at home as the price of rent and homes skyrocket, the way men and women view their living situations appears remarkably different, according to a new Sallie Mae report. While 47 percent of young adults who graduated college within the past five years are living with parents or relatives, men were far more likely to say they were "not ready to move out" compared to women. While 45 percent of male graduates who live at home said they weren't ready, only 28 percent of female graduates said the same in the survey of more than 1,000 recent graduates. Why It Matters Women are far outpacing men when it comes to higher education. The Pew Research Center discovered a large drop in male Hispanic high school graduates turning away from four-year colleges. While 42 percent were in attendance in 2011, the number fell to 33 percent in 2022. White males had a substantial drop, as well. While 49 percent attended college in 2011, the number moved to 40 percent in 2022. The gap was significant for white high school graduates, as female white graduates were the most likely to enroll in college, at 50 percent. The inclination to not feel "ready" to move out of their family's home may signify larger shifts happening as it concerns gender dynamics amongst young people. Students look on a wait for the start of the Commencement Ceremony at Columbia University in New York on May 21, 2025. Students look on a wait for the start of the Commencement Ceremony at Columbia University in New York on May 21, 2025. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Image What To Know Across the board, a significant portion, 47 percent, of young adults who graduated college within the past five years are still living with parents or relatives. However, their reasons for staying at home may vary significantly for men and women. While rent costs can take up a hefty chunk of a college graduate's first salary, not all of those staying at home are doing it solely to avoid higher costs of living. While 45 percent of men who stayed living at home said they didn't feel "ready," only 28 percent of female graduates said the same. They were more likely to say they were staying with family to save money or that they like living with their family. Altogether, 66 percent said they are staying at home to save money, and 33 percent said they liked living with their family. HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said the gap reflects the differing ways Gen Z men and women were raised. "Gen Z women have been raised in a society that undervalues them so they've had to be over-prepared just to be seen as competent," Driscoll told Newsweek. "Men on the other hand, haven't faced the same pressure. Ever. The result is a generation of young women who are scrappy and self-reliant, and a cohort of young men who've been told they have time. But they don't." What People Are Saying HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek: "The gender gap here isn't just about rent money. It's about responsibility, expectations, and how we've coddled young men while demanding resilience from young women." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "We've seen a growing trend in recent years of young men wanting to live at home with family members for longer periods of time. Some of this is financial, as job opportunities in their area may not have pay adequate enough to be able to live on their own. The other component - which has been highly discussed - is the social aspect. Whereas some Gen Z women are ready to get their adult lives on track, some of their male counterparts may be fine having more years to develop before leaving the nest, and those years can form new habits others may or may not gravitate to." What Happens Next Driscoll said there could be far reaching impacts for outdated gender norms and the greater gap that exists between men and women today. "Parents often expect daughters to help with chores and caregiving, while sons get a pass. It's no surprise who feels more ready to take on adult life," Driscoll said. "If we don't shift these dynamics, we'll keep seeing delayed independence, stalled careers, and a generation of men emotionally and professionally outpaced by their female peers. The gender gap isn't closing. Women are sprinting forward while too many young men are still tying their shoes."
