Latest news with #Simpkins
Montreal Gazette
18-07-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
After two turbulent years, McGill University eyes a rebrand
McGill wants a fresh start. The Montreal university is preparing to overhaul its public image after two turbulent years, seeking outside help for a brand repositioning, The Gazette has learned. Despite its standing as one of the world's top universities, McGill has lately been rocked by a series of conflicts and challenges. Clashes with the Quebec government. Hesitation and confusion among out-of-province and international students. Criticism from both pro-Palestinian and Jewish students. Tensions with Indigenous groups. And growing financial strain. In a recent call for tender seeking a branding agency, McGill says it wants to 'reposition how McGill is perceived by key audiences (students, government, donors, public) over a multi-year period.' The new 'positioning/messaging must be as effective in French as it is in English' and should 'illustrate how we are a true bridge between generations, between research and community, between Quebec and the world.' The estimated cost of the contract spans a wide range, from $707,000 to $6.7 million. McGill expects to select an agency in September and launch a multi-year branding campaign one year later. In a statement to The Gazette on Thursday, McGill said it carries out marketing each year to support student recruitment and share knowledge. The public tender, it said, is part of a periodic review to ensure its marketing is as effective as possible. Harold Simpkins, an emeritus marketing professor at Concordia University, said McGill has frequently been in damage-control mode over the past two years. 'Instead of consistently promoting their strengths — the success of their graduates or the breakthroughs of their faculty — they've been on the defensive,' he said. McGill has to refocus attention on its position as 'a leading university — leading in terms of thought, in terms of the quality of the professionals who graduate.' Simpkins said many of the crises McGill has faced were beyond its control, including 'attacks by the Quebec government.' Premier François Legault has singled out McGill and Concordia, another English university. His government aims to reduce their enrolment, arguing that non-French-speaking students from outside Quebec and abroad pose a threat to the province's French-speaking majority. The universities went so far as to sue the province over a series of measures that targeted them. 'It's definitely not a good look to be at war with your province,' said Ken Steele, an Ontario-based consultant who advises universities on branding and strategy. He said McGill president Deep Saini 'may have the toughest job in Canadian post-secondary education, mostly due to the CAQ government,' which 'seems hell-bent on undermining' and 'starving' English universities, particularly McGill. Among other things, the Coalition Avenir Québec government dramatically increased tuition fees for out-of-province students at McGill and Concordia, with the French language minister blaming anglophone students for anglicizing Montreal. Steele said the government is 'making Quebec unpopular for students (from other places), like (American) detentions at the border have made U.S. travel unpopular for Canadians.' He added: 'Academics elsewhere in Canada have been openly musing why McGill wouldn't simply relocate out of Quebec, to a province that actually wants it.' Universities usually undertake brand repositioning exercises 'to address external or even internal misperceptions,' Steele said. In this case, however, McGill already has 'one of Canada's strongest brands.' Founded in 1821, McGill has 36,000 students and is one of Canada's oldest and most prestigious universities. It was recently ranked as Canada's top university in the QS World University Rankings, a globally influential assessment. Domestically, Maclean's latest rankings named McGill the leading medical-doctoral university. Steele said the university's 'big challenge may be positioning Montreal and Quebec as welcoming for anglophones. It's a bigger brand challenge than merely positioning the university.' In the tender document, McGill includes a list of 'primary audiences' for its branding: prospective students (local, national, international), current students, faculty, researchers, staff, donors, alumni, government, opinion leaders, the business community and the 'general public in Quebec.' Simpkins said securing the backing of Quebec's business community — and of French-speaking Quebecers more broadly — is critical. Francophone business leaders have been largely silent about the government's treatment of English universities, even though their companies heavily rely on the institutions for employees, he said. Many Quebecers appear to hold negative views of McGill, he added. 'Your average francophone Quebecer sees McGill as a threat or as being snobby or anti-French.' They think money spent on McGill should instead be spent on French universities, he added. Yet McGill is one of Quebec's best-known brands internationally. Simpkins said the university could try to 'get Quebecers to stop just focusing on Quebec, to take a broader perspective.' Healthy English universities can help attract quality students and faculty to the province, with well-rounded graduates ending up filling key jobs, he said. Many may not realize that 20 per cent of McGill's students have French as their mother tongue. Simpkins said McGill should 'communicate consistently all of the francophone success stories that have come out of McGill,' including its well-regarded law and medical schools. 'There are thousands of francophone success stories.' Without francophones on board, he said, 'it becomes a much more difficult political sell for the government to support McGill.' McGill's rough two years Once best known for its international academic prestige, McGill University has, since 2023, found itself in the spotlight — not for accolades, but for controversy and crises. Quebec government Since the fall of 2023, Premier François Legault's government has targeted McGill and Concordia, accusing them of undermining the French language. The Coalition Avenir Québec government has framed the issue as a broader clash between anglophone institutions and Quebec's francophone majority. The government hiked tuition for out-of-province students, introduced a new international student funding framework, and announced French proficiency requirements. The measures blindsided McGill and Concordia and attracted national and international attention, largely because of McGill's global reputation. McGill and Concordia went to court, calling the measures unconstitutional and unsupported by any data from Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry. A judge partially agreed. Out-of-province students Quebec initially announced it would almost double tuition for out-of-province students at McGill and Concordia — from $9,000 to $17,000. It later scaled back the increase to $3,000, or 33 per cent. Even so, the new rate priced Quebec's English universities out of the national market. The move triggered confusion and dismay across Canada, with media quoting frustrated students vowing to study elsewhere. Many ultimately opted not to apply to McGill or Concordia, feeling unwelcome and deterred by the higher fees. In April, a court ruled the tuition hike was 'unreasonable,' giving Quebec nine months to revise the fee structure. McGill and Concordia saw the decision as a reversal of the increase. But Déry disagreed, saying the judge objected not to the hike itself, but to 'the path we've taken and the reasons invoked for the increase.' International students For international students, the new rules focused on a government clawback and a new minimum annual tuition rate of $20,000, though in many cases, actual tuition didn't increase. Coming amid the outcry over out-of-province tuition hikes, the changes caused confusion and hesitation among prospective students worldwide, leading to a drop in applications. More recently, new federal and provincial limits on foreign enrolment further hampered international recruitment. French requirement In the fall of 2023, Quebec announced French proficiency requirements for non-Quebec students at McGill and Concordia. Starting in 2025, 80 per cent of newly enrolled undergraduates would need intermediate-level spoken French by graduation, with financial penalties for universities that fell short. The move prompted uncertainty and pushback, with concerns that students from outside Quebec might need an extra semester. A graduation test initially seemed possible, but Quebec confirmed in February 2025 that none would be required. The rule's future is uncertain. In April, a court ordered it scrapped. Two months later, Déry said she would 'continue discussions' with McGill and Concordia. Israel and Gaza Within hours of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed 1,200 — mostly civilians — McGill faced controversy when a student group praised the assaults as 'heroic,' prompting a university condemnation. In the following months, McGill became a protest hot spot, drawing international attention as pro-Palestinian activists camped on its front lawn for 75 days. They condemned Israeli attacks on Gaza and accused McGill of complicity for refusing to sever ties with Israel and divest from companies supporting its military. Jewish students also lashed out at McGill. In April 2025, a Jewish undergraduate sought approval for a class-action lawsuit alleging McGill failed to take 'meaningful disciplinary action' against campus antisemitism since October 2023. Mohawk Mothers For years, the Mohawk Mothers, a group of Indigenous women, have criticized McGill's handling of searches for possible unmarked graves at the former Royal Victoria Hospital and Allan Memorial Institute site. McGill and Quebec are redeveloping the area in an $870-million project called the New Vic. As work accelerated over the past two years, the Mohawk Mothers accused them of rushing archeological digs and violating a court-approved investigation agreement. McGill and Quebec maintain they are committed to uncovering the truth. The group has kept attention on the issue through protests, press conferences and legal action. Financial troubles McGill's shaky finances have raised concerns. In February, the university announced plans for up to 500 job cuts to address a $45-million deficit, but ended up laying off about 60 employees. McGill has since warned of 'more hard decisions this year — including cuts and potentially more staff reductions.' It has almost 13,000 employees. The university, whose annual budget is about $1.1 billion, blames factors such as the out-of-province tuition hikes, provincial grant reductions, tuition clawbacks and limits on international student admissions. Despite the fiscal pressure, McGill's $2-billion endowment keeps it far from financial ruin.
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Torricelli Simpkins III is the Saints Player of Day 68
Simpkins could power his way to a roster spot The first day of July means that 68 days separate us from the first game of the 2025 season for the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans will begin their year at home against the Arizona Cardinals, kicking off their 59th NFL season. They'll do it with a new head coach in Kellen Moore, along with several new players and coaches who hope to improve the team's 5-12 finish from 2024. One new face in training camp this year is offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins III. An undrafted rookie out of South Carolina, Simpkins is currently wearing number 68 as the Saints head towards training camp later this month. If he makes the team and keeps this number, he'll become the 18th player in New Orleans history to wear that number during the regular season. Our Saints Player of the Day, it's time to take a look at Simpkins' background and what brought him to the Saints. From Olympic High School in North Carolina, Simpkins' initial college choice was North Carolina Central, an HBCU in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The Eagles canceled Simpkins' freshman year of 2020 because of Covid. He'd go on to start all of next 35 games at North Carolina Central over the next three years, earning 1st Team All-MEAC honors twice. In 2023, Simpkins was voted an HBCU All-American and the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. He'd transfer to South Carolina at that year's conclusion. Moving from center to right guard, Simpkins, started every contest for the Gamecocks last season and would earn third-team All-SEC recognition. Torricelli Simpkins brings some versatility to his attempt at making the roster. While predominantly a center in college, Simpkins also has experience at both guard spots. His best attribute is his power, where he often dominated as a run blocker. He shows decent agility in pass protection with the ability to adjust to opposing rushers and picks up double-team responsibilities pretty seamlessly. The Saints had a major need at offensive line coming into the offseason. Their particular weakness was a lack of quality depth. This was exposed in a major way after injuries to center Erik McCoy and since-departed guard Lucas Patrick. Kellen Moore and his new staff are expected to emphasize the running game and a power philosophy up front. Both are the strengths of Simpkins, making him a dark horse candidate to grab a roster spot.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Focused initiatives have successfully impacted women in trucking
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up 14.7% of the total workforce in transportation and material moving occupations in 2004. Since then, the transportation industry has made massive strides in encouraging women to pursue careers in a variety of roles, from professional CDL driving to supply chain management. Elizabeth Simpkins, National Underwriting Officer for Inland Marine Specialized Risk for Travelers Insurance, says that there has been tremendous growth in women joining the industry in the past two decades. By 2014, the percentage of women in transportation and material moving occupations had risen to 15.7%.1 'Within that group, we started to see data on women driving specifically being measured, which gives us a better picture of how the landscape is changing,' Simpkins said. In 2014, women made up 5.8% of truck drivers.1 By 2024, 21.7% of all those transportation and material moving occupations were held by women,1 and driver roles specifically held by women now account for 7.9%.1 What factors are making more women decide that trucking is an occupation they'd like to pursue? Simpkins says there are a lot of reasons for this growth. 'People and organizations are coming at this from all angles,' Simpkins said. 'You might be surprised at how much effort has been put into getting women interested in transportation, even for the very young.' One example is an initiative specific to women in trucking, called 'Trucks are for Girls,' a program sponsored by the Girl Scouts. 'This program teaches girls about careers in the trucking industry by giving them access to driving simulators, showing them how to operate trucks,' Simpkins said. 'Young women can hear from engineers and talk about day-to-day jobs in the field, giving them hands-on experience so they can see everything that goes into working with these trucks and the equipment.' Another driver of this trend, Simpkins says, is education. 'More women getting into the workforce naturally increases their prevalence in a variety of roles and industries,' she said. 'Supply chain management as a career path is a growing field for everyone, and both men and women are pursuing that.' At the university level, supply chain education is more available now than it's ever been. According to Data USA, a source for government records, there were only seventy public universities that offered a four-year degree in supply chain management in 2012. Just ten years later, in 2022, that number had risen to 159. Many universities and community colleges are also offering two-year degrees in logistics, as well as training for Class A CDLs. There are now a variety of options available to American women to pursue careers in the transportation field. 'The number of grants and scholarships available are just making this industry that much more accessible,' Simpkins said. 'Rather than just falling into logistics or trucking as may have been the case before, women who want to plan their future are now actively seeking a career path in transportation.' 'Aside from higher education, there are a number of resources actively promoting women's involvement in the field,' Simpkins said. Women in Trucking and the American Trucking Associations, Simpkins says, play a huge role. According to Simpkins, there's now more general awareness about openings in the transportation field. 'We're encouraging women in all stages of their careers, which helps them get involved deeply with some of the challenges that face the industry,' Simpkins said. Unfortunately, women still face many challenges in trucking. 'Truck stop safety has been one big issue for a while and continues to be one,' Simpkins said. 'Many women feel vulnerable at truck stops because they might be poorly lit, they often don't have robust security in parking lots, and issues like that can make anybody feel unsafe.' Restroom and shower access is also a concern, Simpkins says, as many locations still lack female-focused amenities. Women in Motion is working with Trucker Path in that regard, and that's just one of the initiatives that's helping women in trucking. 'Over 100 truck stops and counting have joined this effort to address the concerns of women on the road, and that's received a lot of good feedback,' Simpkins said. The Trucker Path mobile app has now added features to help women identify and locate facilities with specific safety amenities and facilities that are ranked highly by women who are on the road. 'If you're a woman who's interested in the trucking industry, there are so many roles where you can fit,' Simpkins said. 'It's important to let young women know that you don't just have to be a driver if that doesn't interest you. There are a lot of paths within the industry,' she said. Click here to learn more about Travelers Inland Marine. US Bureau of Labor Statistics The post Focused initiatives have successfully impacted women in trucking appeared first on FreightWaves.
Washington Post
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
He stayed at American for his legacy, his future — and the free parking
If there was a runway that led toward American's first NCAA tournament appearance since 2014, it would stretch across the Eagles' 22-win season. Its start could be found well before their romp in the Patriot League championship game against Navy and the electric atmosphere that filled Bender Arena that night, and even before those summer workouts when everything felt possible but nothing was promised. The first hint of a solid surface, an indication that this season might end with a takeoff, happened at a dinner in April. Eagles Coach Duane Simpkins invited graduate student Matt Rogers and his girlfriend out for Tex-Mex. Rogers, who already had established himself as a Patriot League standout, was listening to offers from other schools. An ACC program with a recent history of making the Big Dance had pledged him 'life-changing money,' according to his dad. American, a program that hadn't even made its conference tournament championship game in a decade, could basically offer a promise that he wouldn't get a parking ticket on campus, as well as an occasional free meal. 'We told him we would try to,' Simpkins said when asked how the Eagles countered other programs' financial incentives. 'We took care of their parking. The seniors, the guys who have cars on campus, we took care of their parking. The biggest thing we sold to him was relationships that you have here, the networking opportunities. I told him, 'Hey, I'll take you out to dinner every now and then.' But other than that …' Not much? Well, that's not exactly true. After Rogers returned to AU for his fifth and final year of eligibility, he was rewarded with the freedom to dance goofily while surrounded by strangers — as well as a moment he'll cherish for the rest of his life, when he put on a hat that read 'CHAMPIONS' and cried freely with his father. More than a five-figure payday, Simpkins pitched the one thing money couldn't buy Rogers: a lasting legacy. 'I've been dreaming about this since I was in second grade,' Rogers said. 'I've been here for … five years now. All the time and effort we put into this, finally panning out.' Last week, after American secured a 74-52 win over Navy and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament — the Eagles will face Mount St. Mary's in a First Four game Wednesday night in Dayton, Ohio — Rogers could reflect on the decision he made a year ago. At the time, he might not have foreseen this kind of payoff. And though Simpkins can be quite the visionary, not even he could have assured Rogers that American would finally get over the conference tournament hump. So Simpkins didn't sell a dream. Instead, over chips and red salsa, Simpkins spoke honestly about Rogers's role at American, his future in basketball and the unforeseen risks of joining another program. 'Matt's going to play professional basketball,' Simpkins said. 'One of the biggest selling points was I've been there before. They're not going to look back at your junior year and say, 'Oh, he was good at American.' They're going to look at what you did most recently.' Who really knows what might have been? Maybe Rogers could've gone to that Power Five school, played as a starter, impressed pro scouts and made some quick cash while doing so. Or Rogers could've gone to a bigger program, spent his last year as a glue guy — glued to the sideline — and experienced the downside of becoming a semipro. No agent popping up in a player's DMs, no collective promising lucrative deals will warn a 20-something that, once people know how much you make, you could become a pariah to a fan base with bloated expectations — or just a living, breathing parlay to bettors. Illinois star Coleman Hawkins transferred to Kansas State after receiving a name, image and likeness deal that was reportedly worth $2 million. After his team's loss in the Big 12 tournament last week, Hawkins wept bitterly. The more he choked out words to reporters and spoke through tears, the clearer the source of his anguish. To some fans, Hawkins did not live up to the money, so they felt empowered to consistently inform him of their disappointment. 'I feel like I did a poor job of letting people talk about me,' Hawkins said. 'It affected my play.' When Oumar Bello transferred from Arizona to Indiana, initial reports linked him to a deal of around $1.2 million. Ballo underwhelmed and, similar to K-State, his team failed to get to the NCAA tournament. During Indiana's loss to Oregon in the Big Ten tournament, a downtown Indianapolis arena filled with Hoosiers turned against Ballo, raining down boos. Just like Hawkins, Ballo opened up after his team's loss and railed against the enemies in crimson and cream who posed as fans. 'You lose one game or two games, next thing you know, your DMs are crazy — like, death wishes and death threats,' Ballo said. 'At the end of the day, we are human beings. We have feelings, you know. Just like you. You wake up, go to work and someone is wishing nothing but the worst to you and your work. It is mentally draining.' In contrast, there was Rogers: winning Patriot League tournament MVP honors, dancing in a mosh pit, hugging his father and telling him, 'I love you.' 'Proud,' Dave Rogers said, tears still reddening his eyes. 'He worked all [five years] and culminating in this,' he said, motioning to the net cutting about to happen behind him, 'I'm just overwhelmed.' This is not to advocate for college kids to take the free parking and turn down the cash with the promise that, magically, everything will work out. Athletes such as Rogers should seek fair compensation for their work. Yet in many cases, a player's fit in a program can weigh more in the long term than the possibility of getting highly paid to wear a target for five months. 'Only one I had to convince was this knucklehead right here,' Simpkins said, gesturing to Rogers, while responding to a question about how quickly he turned to re-recruiting his players last year. 'There were some quote-unquote bigger leagues, bigger schools that were coming after him. It's the way it is now; they go through back channels to try to gauge your interest and everything. Matt and I sat down and had dinner up the street, and I told him, 'Look, don't take the short-term, quote-unquote riches.' This guy is going to play professionally for a number of years, and I told him: 'You've earned the right to put yourself in position to play as long as you possibly can. Put yourself in position to where your first contract can be based off an illustrious fifth year, putting a banner up, getting to the NCAA tournament. Your value would be much, much higher than going to a Power Five school and playing 10 to 12 minutes.' No knock on [Rogers], but he knew his role here. He was going to possibly an unknown somewhere else. I'm glad we held him.' Rogers chose to stay. And not just for the free parking. He had a runway waiting for him at American. 'I know what we had here, know what we were building and then trusting the coaching staff,' Rogers said. 'They trusted in me so much, they believed in my path, and we're on top now. So I'm a winner — that's all I can say.'
BBC News
21-02-2025
- BBC News
Drink-driver who had taken cocaine jailed for killing mum-of-two
A drink-driver who drove into a tree and killed his passenger while high on cocaine has been jailed for more than seven Simpkins, 39, of Alexandra Road, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, lost control of his friend's BMW just after midnight on 3 January last passenger, mother-of-two Gemma Whitehead, 38, died at the scene after the car veered off the road and hit a the scene, Simpkins was heard to say: "I've killed my friend. I'm a murderer." Lincoln Crown Court heard on Friday that Mrs Whitehead had been driving her husband's BMW but had allowed Simpkins to drive for about five minutes after having problems with her crash happened in Cliffe View, South Rauceby. Most of the damage was to the passenger side of the car, leaving Simpkins with only minor injuries. No full driving licence Prosecutor David Eager said Simpkins accepted he had been drinking lager and had taken cocaine at about 17:00 GMT the day pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while over the prescribed limit for part of his plea he also accepted that he had cocaine in his system and had never held a full driving Heath, in mitigation, said Simpkins had driven for just five minutes. He had been abusing both drink and drugs after the breakdown of a relationship, and his relationship with his son would now suffer."There is absolutely nothing he can say which can help or solve this terrible wound," Mr Heath Whitehead's mother read out an victim impact statement, and said to Simpkins: "You simply cannot imagine the trauma you have caused."Mrs Whitehead's husband, Mark, said in a statement read out by Mr Eager that the fatal crash had led him to turn down a new career in New Zealand and end up £17,000 in debt."He's completely ruined my life and the children will now grow up without their mother," he added. Recorder Jacob Hallam KC said it was clear that Mrs Whitehead was a much loved daughter, sister, mother and wife."There were plans for them to relocate and start new lives far away in New Zealand," he said."None of those plans or such other plans they had for Gemma will now ever come to pass as a result of what you did."Simpkins was jailed for seven years and four was also banned from driving for seven years and told he must pass an extended test before he can apply for a licence. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
