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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbia protesters are a no-show after plans for new encampments were revealed
Protesters did not set up new tent encampments or demonstrate against the war in Gaza at Columbia University on Thursday as planned. NBC News reported Wednesday that a group planned to set up tent encampments on the New York City school's main campus Thursday afternoon. The encampments would have been likely to inflame tension at the Ivy League school, which for weeks has been at the center of a tug-of-war between the federal government and its students. They would have been the first tent cities at the university since students took over a building last year and since the Trump administration embraced an aggressive approach to target what it describes as a failure to deal with antisemitism on college campuses. More than 100 protesters met Tuesday at a community center in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood to coordinate tent encampments at Columbia for this week. Organizers, whose identities remain unknown, went to extreme lengths to conceal their plans. NBC News obtained a recording of the meeting, which revealed that students were planning an encampment Thursday at the university's main campus in Manhattan's Morningside Heights neighborhood and a second encampment Friday at the nearby Manhattanville campus. It is unclear whether the encampment planned for Friday will proceed. Instead of protests Thursday, the scene on campus included students enjoying one of the first warm days in New York City this spring. Dozens of students lay out beach towels, snapped selfies under the sun and tossed around Frisbees. There were, however, signs of what the day was expected to bring. Outside the university gates on 116th Street and Broadway, several New York police officers gathered — but they were gone by 2 p.m., an hour after the protests had been expected to begin. A handful of people who appeared to be security guards in plainclothes circled the planned site of Thursday's protest before it was expected to begin. Donovan Cole, 27, a Ph.D. student studying philosophy and education, said the student body's attitude toward protests seems to have changed since the encampments a year ago. Gone are the days when students felt free to set up tents, take over academic buildings and march for days, as they did last spring, he said. "There was obviously an antagonistic relationship between the student body and the institution last year. But at the core of that was a kind of faith ... that they were both engaging in at least some degree of good faith," he said. "The student body has sort of felt that's no longer the case and, rather than producing a sort of stronger outcry of protest, has produced actual legitimate fear in the student body." Last month, the Trump administration began terminating federal research grants at several of the country's most prestigious universities, demanding significant changes to how schools operate. The administration has argued that the universities failed to protect Jewish students amid war protests. Columbia was the first university the administration targeted. It conceded to a number of the government's requests, including that it adjust its admissions process, implement "greater institutional neutrality" and hire three dozen new security officers. The administration similarly challenged Harvard University, which rejected its proposals and sued the federal government. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive actions that would enforce stricter oversight of foreign donations to universities and change how they are accredited. Immigration authorities have apprehended at least three Columbia students in recent weeks. Among them was graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who helped lead student protests last year. About 45 minutes after the protest at Columbia was expected to start, pro-Palestinian student advocates affiliated with City College of New York announced on social media that they were staging a protest at the nearby public college. It is unclear whether protesters who had intended to be part of the planned Columbia encampment were among the roughly 50 people who gathered outside CCNY's gates Thursday afternoon, wearing masks and Palestinian keffiyehs. However, a student protest group affiliated with Columbia shared the CCNY group's post on social media. CCNY closed its gates and appeared to start barring students from entering campus while the protest ensued. On Tuesday, a crowd of protesters at Yale University set up a handful of tents on campus before they disbanded a few hours later. This article was originally published on
Boston Globe
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Photos: The show mutts go on
Most of the dogs, from shelters and animal rescues, will perform in 40 shows across the country this year. Pixel posed in a preshow warmup on stage at the Mutts Gone Nuts acrobatic dog show. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The Norwell theater was packed with mesmerized children, some munching on fresh popcorn and holding stuffed dogs that could be purchased in the lobby. Scott and Joan Houghton of Glen Arm, Md., have been producing the show since 2005. They began performing together in1984 as a comedy juggling and unicycling act, even performing in Harvard Square and Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the 1980s. 'Having rescue dogs in the shows gives us a mission,' Scott said. The dogs also have trainers who travel with the show and use positive reinforcement. 'We want our dogs to have fun. When they get too old to perform some of the stunts, we find something easy for them.' Joan said. One of their rescue dogs, a greyhound called Feather, holds the Guinness World Record for jumping 75.5 inches high over a hurdle during a 2017 competition. Scott and Joan Houghton cheered on three dogs wheeling a cylinder on stage during the Mutts Gone Nuts acrobatic dog show, which made a stop at the Company Theatre in Norwell on Feb. 20 during its national tour. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff 'Our show is so visual. What an impact you can have on people.' Joan said. Many of the high-flying acts are done by the border collies. 'Some of the border collies are so smart. They know the routine so well they want to rush through it.' Joan added. One of the show's traveling dog trainers, Alexandra Cote from Quebec, has been with the show for just one year and says she is loving it. Cote gained fame in 2021 during her appearance on 'America's Got Talent' with her border collies Tesla and Louka. She received a standing ovation from all four judges. The Mutts Gone Nuts will be in Manchester, N.H., on May 3 after another cross-country tour for several months, with the Houghtons traveling in their camper trailer with some of the dogs. 'We're never away from the dogs,' Joan said. 'A vacation for us is just going home after being on the road.' As the curtain came down, and the crowd filed out, dim blue stage lights formed a halo around Feather, curled up on a shaggy bed backstage after another memorable performance. Trainer Bonnie Scott flipped Frisbees to her canine performer. . John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Many in the audience watched in awe during Mutts Gone Nuts. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Lumina, a border collie, sang to a song as trainer Alexandra Cote held the microphone. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Trainer Alexandra Cote danced on stage with her border collies Louka (left) and Tesla. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Feather, a rescue greyhound, set a Guiness World Record in 2017 for jumping a hurdle 75.5 inches high. She rested backstage before her performance in the Mutts Gone Nuts acrobatic dog show. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff The curtain goes up at the start of the dog show. A dozen talented dogs, who are from shelters and animal rescues, performed on stage to a packed audience dominated by children. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff Pixel is airborne on stage in a preshow warmup at the Company Theatre in Norwell. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff
