Latest news with #Rutgers-Newark
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Israel-Gaza conflict ignites flap over Rutgers commencement speaker
Rutgers University-Newark's pick of actor-comedian Ramy Youssef has irked a Jewish state legislator, who urged administrators to reconsider. Officials said no. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Rutgers University officials have refused a state lawmaker's request that they reconsider actor Ramy Youssef as a commencement speaker because his support for the Palestinian people and a Gaza ceasefire is 'alienating and isolating' for Jewish students. Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Ocean) sent a letter to Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway and the university's board of governors calling Youssef 'polarizing' and 'anti-Israel.' Picking Youssef to address Rutgers-Newark graduates at their May 22 commencement 'sends an unfortunate and deeply hurtful message,' especially as antisemitism climbs on college campuses, Schnall wrote. 'Graduation should not be marred by controversy or by actions that leave part of the student body feeling uncomfortable, scared or unwelcome,' Schnall wrote. 'It should be a day that lifts every student up.' Rutgers officials, though, said commencement speakers and honorary degree recipients are 'thoughtfully reviewed' and recommended by a campus-wide committee that includes students, faculty, and staff. Youssef also will receive an honorary doctor of fine arts degree at the event. 'Ramy Youssef is a celebrated writer and artist who has deep ties to New Jersey and to Rutgers-Newark, which he attended,' the university said in a statement. 'His selection as commencement speaker at Rutgers-Newark reflects a tradition of honoring individuals who embody resilience, creativity, and connection to our community.' Rutgers announced last week that Youssef, a practicing Muslim and Egyptian-American actor and comedian who was raised in Rutherford, would be the keynote commencement speaker for Newark graduates. 'Thirteen years ago I took a 'break' from Rutgers to pursue acting. The break is now over. I am honored to be giving this year's commencement speech, and to finally receive a college degree,' Youssef said in that announcement. 'Thank you Rutgers for this honor, and for making my parents feel like the three semesters of tuition they paid for was actually worth it.' Last month, he told The New York Times that he has fielded plenty of criticism for his comments about Israel and Palestine. But he defended them as 'completely inoffensive' and lamented 'a massive power imbalance' in the Gaza conflict. Rutgers has caught similar flak, most notably over its response to pro-Palestinian solidarity encampments on campus last year that led to Holloway getting grilled by lawmakers in both New Jersey and Washington, D.C. While Rutgers subsequently banned such encampments and suspended a Palestinian student group that was involved, at least two other Jewish lawmakers have targeted New Jersey's flagship university for criticism about its encampment response and related issues. State Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) last month called for a freeze of public funding for Rutgers for 'ignoring antisemitism.' U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-05) also has called on Rutgers officials to cancel campus speakers he deemed antisemitic. College campuses nationally have seen incidents of both antisemitism and Islamophobia climb since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. At Rutgers, the U.S. Department of Justice in January ordered reforms after it found the university created a 'hostile environment' for Jewish, Palestinian, and other students based on national origin. The Anti-Defamation League recently gave Rutgers a grade of 'D' for its 'deficient' approach to protecting Jewish students from antisemitism. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Forbes
02-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Multiple BS/MD Program Acceptances: How To Choose?
For months, students who applied to BS/MD programs have been anxiously awaiting their application results. Highly competitive, these programs often accept just 1 or 2% of their applicants. Students might feel lucky to be accepted to just one program, let alone multiple. However, each year Moon Prep high school seniors are faced with the difficult choice: how to choose between BS/MD programs? Choosing the right college can depend on many different factors. One driving factor in choosing between schools is how much the education will cost. BS/MD program undergraduate costs will vary greatly. For Rutgers-Newark, the total cost of attendance—before scholarships—is $33,324 for in-state students and $52,836 for out-of-state students, while Case Western Reserve University costs $88,686 annually. These differences can have a major impact on a family's financial planning, especially when they factor in the cost of medical school. Some BS/MD programs offer attractive financial aid options for their undergraduate years. For example, Drew University awards $35,000 scholarships for the student's three years in the undergraduate program. University of Alabama at Birmingham and Texas Tech University offer full scholarships to National Merit Scholarship finalists. When comparing financial aid, pay close attention to the terms: are the scholarships renewable for all undergraduate years, or are they only for the first year? Understanding the total cost over all academic years, including medical school, is crucial for making an informed decision. When deciding your school, consider what type of environment you learn best in. Some BS/MD programs are tiny—Caldwell University typically enrolls 1,500 total undergraduate students, which is smaller than some high schools. On the other hand, some BS/MD programs will be at universities that enroll more than 30,000 undergraduates, like the University of Arizona or the University of Oklahoma. Beyond university size, investigate the class sizes and faculty-to-student ratios. Think about what type of environment you would thrive best in: do you thrive in smaller, discussion-based classes or do you prefer larger lecture halls? Understanding how you learn best will help you decide which program is right for you. Once again, consider your personal preferences: what type of location would fit your lifestyle best? Think about a rural, city or college town that might give you access to the opportunities you seek during college. While academics are the priority, your happiness outside the classroom is also important and will be influenced by your location. Additionally, consider travel logistics. How far is the school from home? Is there a nearby airport and how expensive and convenient are the flights? For students attending college far from home, these factors will affect how often you can visit family or friends. Every BS/MD program will have requirements to stay in the program and progress to medical school, but those requirements will vary widely from program to program. For example, for students in Drexel University's BA/BS+MD Early Assurance Program, the students must: On the other hand, Brown University's Program in Liberal Medical Education requires students to remain in good academic standing, with no requirement to take the MCAT before matriculating into The Warren Alpert Medical School. While the ability to skip the MCAT might seem like the most appealing factor for a program, remember that as an aspiring physician, you must take many licensing exams; the learning does not stop! Getting to skip one exam can be a bonus, but taking it might also help you prepare for future exams properly. Because the requirements can vary so much, it is important to discover what the different requirements are and what will be expected of you before you matriculate into the program. Some BS/MD programs require students to declare a specific major. For the University of Missouri Kansas-City's BA/MD programs, students must pursue a BA in Biology. In contrast, Hofstra University and George Washington allow students to take any BA or BS major as long as they meet the science requirements. If you have a strong interest in a non-science field, such as business, public health, or humanities, a program with more flexible major options might be a better fit for you. The path to become a physician is long and arduous, and some students prefer to take a gap year between undergraduate and medical school. In 2023, according to the Association of American Medical College's (AAMC) 2023 Matriculating Student Questionnaire, 73.2% of students of the traditional pre-med path took at least one gap year, pushing the median age of first-year medical students up to 24 years old. For BS/MD students, not every program will allow the luxury of taking a gap year, but it is worth looking into if this is a priority for you. Brown University's PLME students can take up to two years of a gap year to pursue opportunities "in other fields such as education, research, public service, government, health care and business." Other programs, like the ones at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Hofstra University, allow students to do a gap year if they finish their undergraduate requirements early. The undergraduate program isn't the only environment you should be considering as you make your choice. The partnered medical school will have implications on what residency program you will match into after graduation. As you look into medical schools look into the following: Considering the fit of the medical school is just as important as the undergraduate portion. If possible, talk to current students in the medical school (even if they were not in the BS/MD program) to get a better sense of the school. Ultimately, choosing a BS/MD program is a highly personal decision, with different factors having more weight than others. A program that is perfect for one student might not be the right fit for another. Consider holistically all the factors, from financial costs, school size and location, major flexibility and medical school fit before you make your final choice. Where you spend the next years of life will influence your happiness and career, so take the time to think critically about this choice to choose the right option for you.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday Mass in Newark
NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) — The pews of St. Patrick's Pro-Cathedral in Newark were packed Wednesday for Ash Wednesday Mass. 'Ash Wednesday is just a very important day where you recognize you're human and that you sin,' said Caroline Caputo, an NJIT student who attended the noon Mass. More Local News Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, led Wednesday's Mass. 'I think what God wants us to do is heal what needs to be healed,' said Cardinal Tobin. 'And bring us to a closer relationship with God.' 'I'm not even from around here, but I came because I knew the cardinal was going to be here,' said Elizabeth Ruane, who traveled from North Arlington to attend Mass. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State 'It's a beautiful cathedral,' said Josephine Nagel, who works nearby at Rutgers-Newark. 'It's a beautiful parish. The addition of the St. Benedict's Prep choir today was amazing. Really nice touch.' The day is meant to symbolize mortality and repentance. 'It's such a wonderful way to start the Lenten season,' said Nancy Masterson-Newkirk, who attended the Mass. 'This church does it very well,' said NJIT student Dani Vito. 'I have come here two times. This is my second time in a row. And they do it amazingly. I brought up the gifts today, so that was really exciting for me.' The Mass also featured a special prayer for Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with double pneumonia. 'If you know Francis at all, he has a wonderful sense of humor and I'm sure that's part of what's getting him through these terrible moments,' said Cardinal Tobin. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
