Latest news with #UniversityofBaltimore
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
FCC grads grateful for support systems, proud of their achievements
Ines Agopome said she is proof that with persistence, faith and the right support systems, people can break through barriers and generational curses they didn't think they could ever overcome. Agopome was one of two student speakers at Frederick Community College's commencement ceremony Thursday evening at Knott Arena in Emmitsburg. She received an associate degree in social sciences with a concentration in psychology. She plans to continue pursuing a bachelor's degree in counseling psychology at the University of Baltimore with a full scholarship. Agopome's parents are immigrants from Togo, a country in Africa. As she faced the crowd of hundreds at the arena, she told everyone important lessons she and her sister learned from her parents. One was that hard work and perseverance are not just tools, but survival skills. Another lesson was that no matter where people come from, the knowledge they carry can't be taken away from them. Before coming to FCC, Agopome was a student at Montgomery College. In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Agopome gave birth to her daughter. She realized that to give her daughter everything she wanted, Agopome needed to reflect and look at what she personally wanted, too. She realized she was pursuing the wrong major and was not at the best school for her, so with the help of her family and friends, she found FCC. Agopome said her daughter is the main reason she could complete her associate degree and continues to have purpose in her actions and life. She thanked her own family and support systems during her speech, tearing up at the mention of her daughter. She told the arena to raise their imaginary glasses, cellphones or whatever else they preferred to cheer the class of 2025. "The world is already yours, you're capable of so much more than you know, and the knowledge you've gained here will never be taken away," Agopome said. FCC's class of 2025 has 915 graduating students, and about a quarter of the class consists of first-generation college graduates. The vast majority of the class — 90% — received associate degrees, while the rest of the graduates received certificates of accomplishment. As the graduates processed into the arena wearing their green robes, audience members cheered loudly and waved excitedly down at the graduates they came to support. Giulietta Jafari was the other student speaker for the ceremony, alongside Agopome. She also made it a point to thank her parents for the sacrifices they made, so Jafari could pursue her education. Jafari received associate degrees in English and paralegal studies. She will attend the University of Maryland in the fall to study philosophy and linguistics, according to a Facebook post from FCC announcing the 2025 commencement student speakers. Jafari said her father is Persian and fled to Iran to escape religious persecution. Her mother was 16 years old and alone, and had little money to support herself. While her parents' biggest concerns were survival, Jafari said, her biggest concerns were unplugging the family's Wii gaming console fast enough before her sister could beat her in the video game Mario Kart. Jafari said her dad would tell her to never give up and never surrender whenever she faced an obstacle. She keeps that sentiment in mind to this day. "I'll always be grateful for [my parents], for the opportunity and sacrifices that they made, so that I could graduate on this day with all of you today, so that I could attend university without denying who I am, so that I could grow into the best version of myself and seize every opportunity that comes my way," she said. FCC President Annesa Payne Cheek spoke about the diverse range of backgrounds in the graduating class. She said the class ages ranged from 18 to 68. Some people might have gone to FCC right after graduating high school, while others might have returned to school after years away. Cheek told the class to also remember the people who believed in them when the students didn't believe in themselves. She gave the graduates some words she said she would've needed to hear when she was graduating from college herself: "I belong," "I earned this" and "I'm ready." Jacques Mbengang said he feels accomplished now that he's graduated. He received an associate degree in STEM technology with a concentration in cybersecurity, as well as certificates of accomplishment in computer studies and information security and assurance. Mbengang began attending FCC right after he graduated from high school. He got his first job in information technology at Meritus Medical Center last month and will continue working there after graduation. He said his professors were hands-on and "really took care" of him in and out of the classroom. His father died while he attended FCC, and the college's staff helped him get through that hard period to get his degree. "In my culture, education is really important, and I believe that knowledge is very important," he said. "Being able to acquire it and finish it to the end, even when I could've gave up multiple times, the fact that I was able to keep moving was something that I really take pride in."
Technical.ly
16-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
UBALT'S AI SUMMIT EXPLORES THE TECHNOLOGY'S TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT, JUNE 3
Event Description The University of Baltimore's AI Summit, taking placed on Tuesday, June 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the John and Frances Angelos Law Center (home of UBalt's School of Law), 1401 N. Charles St., will offer an in-depth exploration of artificial intelligence's transformative impact across sectors, with a particular focus on workforce development, educational adaptation, and responsible innovation. Through a full day of conversation and collaboration, the summit will bring together academic leaders, industry experts, policymakers, and innovators to address the urgent challenges and emerging opportunities created by AI's rapid evolution.
Shafaq News
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Is it real? Experts split on Trump's Iran strike threat
Shafaq News/ US President Donald Trump has reignited tensions with Tehran, vowing to consider military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails—comments that have triggered sharp divisions among American policy experts. In a televised interview, Trump declared he would 'definitely' weigh military options should Iran refuse to curb its nuclear ambitions. His remarks come amid renewed negotiations—considered the most serious since Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during Trump's first term. Trump has long criticized the JCPOA as ineffective, expanding sanctions under his administration's 'maximum pressure' policy to limit Tehran's nuclear and regional activities. In an exclusive interview with Shafaq News, Ivan Sascha Sheehan, Associate Dean of the College of Public Affairs at the University of Baltimore, described Trump's posture as 'highly unpredictable,' yet emphasized the seriousness of the military threat, stating, 'The president has declared that he would use decisive military force against the Islamic Republic and I take him at his word.' He projected that any potential strike would rely heavily on airpower rather than ground forces and could be accompanied by support for Iran's pro-democracy opposition and covert operations inside the country. 'Tehran has long feared internal dissent will metastasize to bring about regime change from within,' he warned, suggesting that plans for such a scenario may be taking shape for the summer. Sheehan also flagged growing pressure from Congress to ensure any future agreement includes complete nuclear disarmament and full verification of non-enrichment in discussions with Tehran. 'Anything short of this will engender criticism in Washington.' 'With Iran beset with rampant inflation, the rial in free fall, unemployment rising, and fierce discontent on the Iranian street, all the warning signs are blinking red for the regime,' the associate dean added, pointing out that organized opposition groups—such as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (Mojahedin-e-Khalq) and the National Council of Resistance of Iran—are increasingly positioned to offer 'an alternative to theocratic rule.' However, Analyst Samir al-Taqi of the Middle East Center in Washington rejected the likelihood of a US military strike, arguing, 'What comes after? A strike won't dismantle the program—it could legitimize it.' Al-Taqi emphasized to Shafaq News that Iran's scientific capability renders the program virtually irreversible, cautioning that an attack might accelerate nuclear development rather than halt it. 'Trump's remarks are media posturing, not a serious strategic roadmap'. Offering a broader regional perspective, former Northwestern University professor Mohieddin Qassar told Shafaq News that neither the US nor Israel appears ready to launch a sustained military campaign, observing, 'I don't believe the Trump administration is in a position to open a new front in the Middle East—even a limited one.' 'If Israel acts, it will act alone.' Qassar acknowledged Israel's ability to carry out precise strikes but stressed that such an operation would likely still require US intelligence and logistical support. 'And once the bombing ends, who controls the fallout?' He also dismissed claims that Iran seeks to use nuclear weapons against Israel, labeling such narratives as politically convenient myths. 'The Iranian regime thrives on external threats to justify internal repression.' The professor warned that Iran's influence in countries like Iraq and Lebanon serves more as political leverage than ideological warfare. 'The idea of an all-out religious conflict between Iran and Israel is largely a media illusion.' 'In reality, these regimes often weaponize hostile rhetoric to advance domestic agendas.'
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joyce J. Scott, Dawn Moore to speak at University of Baltimore commencement
Baltimore native Joyce J. Scott, a MacArthur Fellow and a critically-acclaimed multimedia artist, and Maryland first lady Dawn Moore will deliver keynote addresses at the University of Baltimore's commencement ceremonies May 21 at The Lyric. Following her speech at the undergraduate ceremony, Scott will be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Baltimore President and former mayor Kurt L. Schmoke. Scott's art has been exhibited in museums worldwide and included in major public collections at the Baltimore Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Corning Museum of Glass, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Mint Museum of Art, among others. In 2024, Scott opened a 50-year traveling museum retrospective, co-organized by the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Seattle Art Museum. Moore has more than two decades of leadership in state government, nonprofit management, campaign strategy, fundraising and community engagement. She held government roles in the administrations of former Govs. Parris Glendening and Martin O'Malley, and former Maryland Lt. Govs. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Anthony Brown. In addition to speeches by Scott and Moore, the ceremonies will feature two student speakers who will deliver remarks as representatives of their respective classes. The University System of Maryland Board of Regents will be represented by Regent Yvette Lewis, who will offer greetings during both ceremonies. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
Al Jazeera
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
How falsehoods drove Trump's immigration crackdown in his first 100 days
In his first 100 days in office, United States President Donald Trump invoked archaic immigration laws, questioned judges' power to rule against his decisions and attempted to end several legal immigration pathways. Trump began laying the groundwork for his immigration plans long before his January 20 inauguration. For years, Trump and his allies have said falsely or without evidence that the US is being invaded by immigrants who are driving up crime rates and that foreign countries are sending their prisoners and mentally ill people to the US. Several Trump administration officials also said courts cannot and should not rule on Trump's immigration actions because they deal with national security and foreign policy issues. In doing so, Trump 'is seeking a lack of accountability to do things that the law otherwise prohibits', said Matthew Lindsay, a University of Baltimore law professor. The Trump administration's use of national security or foreign policy as a shield against judicial overview is a stark difference from other administrations, Lindsay said. We talked to lawyers, historians and criminologists to examine the false narratives and spin propelling Trump's immigration policies in the first 100 days. In 2018, during his first term, Trump described a caravan of thousands of immigrants walking towards the US southern border as an invasion. Many of them were expected to request asylum in the US. Constitutional law experts say that what legally counts as an invasion is an armed attack by militaries or paramilitaries. Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2018During the 2024 presidential campaign, as immigration reached historic highs during Joe Biden's presidency, Trump began tying the invasion narrative to one of his signature policy promises: Mass deportations. 'I will stop the migrant invasion, and we will begin the largest deportation operation in the history of our country,' he said at an October rally. Ten days later, at another rally, he said: 'We will not be occupied. We will not be conquered. That's what they're doing. This is an invasion into our country of a foreign military.' So Trump upon taking office issued an executive order declaring a national emergency at the southern border. In two other directives, he described immigration as an invasion. One of the laws he eventually invoked – the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 – lets the president detain and deport people from a 'hostile nation or government' without a hearing when the US is either at war with that country or the country has 'perpetrated, attempted, or threatened' an invasion against the US. 'This is a time of war because Biden allowed millions of people, many of them criminals, many of them at the highest level,' Trump told reporters on March 16. 'That's an invasion. They invaded our country.' The Alien Enemies Act has been used only three times in US history, each during wartime. In February, the State Department designated Tren de Aragua – a gang that formed between 2013 and 2015 in a Venezuelan prison – as a foreign 'terrorist' organisation. In March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport hundreds of Venezuelans whom he said were Tren de Aragua gang members who had 'infiltrated' cities across the country. They were sent to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. They were deported without due process; the government didn't present evidence of their gang membership before a judge and the migrants weren't given the opportunity to defend themselves. CECOT is the largest prison in Latin America and has been decried for human rights abuses, such as torture and lack of medical care. Trump has repeatedly said that countries – namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Venezuela – send people from prisons and mental hospitals to the US. He has not cited evidence. 'We were elected to clean up the mess of this country, and we had millions and millions of people come in who were criminals, who were murderers, who were everything you can imagine,' Trump said on April 21. 'Drug lords, drug dealers, they came in from prisons and from mental institutions. And I was elected to move them out.' The immigrant crime narrative drove his successful presidential campaign. Vice President JD Vance pointed to Haitian immigration in Springfield, Ohio, cherry-picking from limited statistics to say immigrants raised the number of murders. In addition to targeting Springfield, Trump said Tren de Aragua took over Aurora, Colorado. To support its deportation efforts, the White House said Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant who the US government said it mistakenly deported to CECOT, is an MS-13 gang member. The administration has exaggerated findings from earlier judges on his case and highlighted tattoos that don't correspond with MS-13. Criminologists who study potential links between migration and crime say despite some high-profile crimes committed by immigrants, they commit crimes at lower rates than native-born US citizens. The Marshall Project found no link between crime and migrant arrivals from April 2022 to May 2023 in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and Denver, after Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing immigrants into those cities. The Marshall Project's 2024 report looked at policing data in cases involving crimes such as robbery, murders and shootings. A 2018 national study by University of Wisconsin and Purdue University sociologists found that increases in the immigrant population in the US are associated with significant decreases in violence. The study analysed violent crime from 1990 to 2014, examining the association between changes in undocumented migration and violent crime at the state level in all 50 states and Washington, DC. A National Institute of Justice study of Texas Department of Public Safety data from 2012 to 2018 showed undocumented immigrants are arrested at less than half the rate of native-born US citizens for violent and drug crimes. Researchers separated arrest data for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants from data for crimes committed by documented immigrants and native-born US citizens. Trump said in an April 25 Time magazine interview, 'We have crime rates under Biden that went through the roof, and we have to bring those rates down. And unfortunately, those rates have been added to by the illegal immigrants that he allowed into the country.' Contrary to Trump's statement, FBI data shows that violent crime dropped during Biden's presidency. 'People are like, 'Crime is out of control.' Well, actually, crime is not out of control right now, but the perception is that it's out of control,' said Charis Kubrin, a criminology, law and society professor at the University of California, Irvine. 'It's very easy to turn and blame immigrants, because those stereotypes have long existed and because it's sort of this natural 'in group, out group' approach that people take.' Kubrin said Trump's misleading claims about immigrants and crime have led to policies based on faulty assumptions that don't exclusively target people with criminal convictions. The New York Times reported most of the 238 men deported to El Salvador have neither criminal records in the US nor documented links to Tren de Aragua. Kubrin said misleading perceptions of immigrant crime can harm immigrants. 'Other consequences include increased hate and hate crimes against immigrants and against racial and ethnic minorities who may resemble immigrants, like Asians and Hispanics, but are not immigrants themselves,' Kubrin said. Like previous administrations, many of Trump's immigration policies have been challenged by lawsuits and halted with temporary restraining orders. Trump and his officials have dismissed the constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive and judicial government branches. At times, they've said the courts have no role to play and that judges who don't agree with Trump should be impeached. After a federal judge ruled the Trump administration could not deport Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act, White House adviser Stephen Miller said, 'A district court judge has no authority to direct the national security operations of the executive branch.' Trump's 'border tsar' Tom Homan said, 'I don't care what the judges think.' White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the judge's order as having 'no lawful basis', saying 'federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over the President's conduct of foreign affairs.' Legal experts say federal courts have the power to review and rule on the constitutionality of the president's immigration actions. 'There is absolutely nothing about an immigration policy that, by virtue of the fact that it is an immigration policy, insulates it from judicial review,' Michael Gerhardt, a University of North Carolina professor of jurisprudence, said. The executive branch has broad discretion over foreign policy matters, but that doesn't mean that cases that deal with foreign policy, including immigration cases, are off-limits for the courts, Mary Ellen O'Connell, University of Notre Dame law professor, agreed. Rick Su, a University of North Carolina immigration law professor, said, 'The Trump administration appears to be arguing that just because foreign affairs is involved, the administration does not have to follow the law at all, that whatever they do is the law, and that the courts cannot exercise any jurisdiction over what they do.' But courts haven't ruled 'that the law or judicial review does not apply to an immigration decision … just because foreign affairs is involved', Su said. The Trump administration has said Biden abused his executive powers when he created certain programmes that let people temporarily enter or stay in the US legally. Vance also framed it this way during the campaign, falsely saying the beneficiaries of the programmes were 'illegal immigrants' because the programmes were illegal, in his view. Leavitt said people who entered the US via humanitarian parole programmes and eventually received Temporary Protected Status 'came here for economic reasons, and they illegally entered our country'. Humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status give people temporary legal authority to live and work in the US, immigration lawyers said. When those protections expire or are terminated, people's immigration status reverts to what they had before these protections. Neither parole nor Temporary Protected Status directly leads to US citizenship. The Trump administration has tried to end these protections before their expiration. Kristi Noem, Trump's homeland security secretary, tried ending Temporary Protected Status for certain Venezuelans. Courts have temporarily halted the termination. The department is not extending the programme for Afghans and Cameroonians and cut it short for Haitians. TPS for Haitians is now set to expire on August 3, six months before the original deadline. The department also tried ending the protection of people with humanitarian parole under the programme for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. But a federal judge temporarily halted the move on April 14. Judge Indira Talwani said the humanitarian parole programme beneficiaries complied with the available immigration processes. 'As lawful parolees, they did not have to fear arrest for being in the United States, were permitted to legally work if they received work authorisation, and could apply for adjustment of status or other benefits while paroled into this country,' Talwani wrote. 'The immediate impact of the shortening of their grant of parole is to cause their lawful status in the United States to lapse early – in less than two weeks.' Maria Cristina Garcia, a Cornell University history professor and migration expert, said some immigration changes are happening 'quietly at the bureaucratic level', such as the denial of visas, while others were 'announced with great fanfare', such as the suspension of refugee admissions. 'I don't think we have a full understanding yet of the many ways the Trump administration is changing our immigration system,' Garcia said.
