Latest news with #MDC
Miami Herald
13 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Donor pulls $10 million gift to Miami Dade College over in-state tuition waivers
Weeks after rescinding a $1 million donation to Florida International University, Miami philanthropist Miguel 'Mike' Fernandez is now withdrawing another $10 million from Miami Dade College — a direct response to Florida's recent repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students. In a letter dated July 29 to MDC President Madeline Pumariega, Fernandez said he was suspending two $5 million gifts from his foundation until undocumented students' access to in-state tuition rates is restored. 'I cannot in good conscience remain silent as thousands of Florida's students are pushed further from the dream of higher education,' Fernandez wrote. 'Many are on the cusp of graduating; others now face a future without access to the education they've worked so hard to pursue.' A Cuban exile and healthcare entrepreneur, Fernandez lobbied hard for a 2014 state law allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition if they attended a Florida high school for at least three consecutive years and enrolled in college within two years of graduation. That provision was repealed earlier this year as part of a sweeping immigration bill signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The repeal, effective July 1, meant tuition for undocumented students at MDC spiked from roughly $118 to $402 per credit hour — a 240% increase. An estimated 6,500 students across Florida benefited from the in-state tuition policy this year, many of them undocumented. FIU, the country's largest Hispanic-serving institution, expects about 500 students to be directly impacted. This is not Fernandez's first public protest against the rollback. In June, he suspended a $1 million scholarship fund at FIU for the same reason. At MDC, Fernandez's $10 million commitment represented a significant share of donor revenue. The college's foundation reported $43.4 million in total contributions in fiscal year 2024. An MDC spokesperson did not immediately respond for comment. In an interview Wednesday, Fernandez said he is redirecting some of his financial support toward a nonprofit providing undocumented students with private scholarships. The organization severed ties with Florida's public universities and colleges in April, and is now seeking partnerships with private schools to help affected students finish their degrees. Fernandez, who himself arrived in the U.S. undocumented in 1964, offered a message of resilience to students facing uncertainty. 'Fear can be paralyzing, and there are ample reasons for everyone in this country to feel fear — especially students,' Fernandez said. 'Push ahead, live your dreams and don't let anybody define who you are.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Diddy seeks release on $US50m bond ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers have urged a judge who oversaw his sex crimes trial to release him from jail on a multimillion-dollar bond ahead of his October 3 sentencing after the hip-hop mogul was found not guilty of the most serious charges he faced. In a court filing regarding the $US50 million ($A77 million) bond, Combs' defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo said conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were dangerous and said defendants convicted in the past of prostitution-related charges that were similar to Combs' were usually released before their sentencing. "Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct," Agnifilo wrote. "In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john." A spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, declined to comment. After a six-week trial, Combs, 55, was found not guilty on July 2 of three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, which carried potential life sentences. He was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Each of those counts carries a maximum 10-year sentence but prosecutors have acknowledged that federal sentencing guidelines appeared to recommend a sentence well below the statutory maximum. Prosecutors alleged the Bad Boy Records founder used physical violence, threats and the resources of his business empire to coerce two former girlfriends to participate in days-long, drug-fuelled sexual performances with male sex workers sometimes called "freak-offs". Combs pleaded not guilty and his lawyers argued his two girlfriends took part willingly in the encounters. US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs' initial request for release immediately after the verdict, citing the ample evidence presented at trial of violent acts he committed. In their filing on Tuesday, Combs' lawyers said it was unusual for him to be prosecuted on the prostitution-related offences at all because he was not profiting financially from the acts of prostitution. They also said Combs' detention since September 2024 at the MDC should qualify as an "exceptional circumstance" warranting Combs' release despite the evidence he had been violent. Combs' lawyers have said there have been fights in his unit, and wrote on Tuesday that his safety is at risk. A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which operates MDC, said in a statement, "The BOP continually works to improve conditions at all of our institutions, to include MDC Brooklyn".
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Sean 'Diddy' Combs seeks release on US$50-million bond ahead of sentencing
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Sean 'Diddy' Combs was convicted on two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. NEW YORK - Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers on July 29 urged the judge who oversaw his sex crimes trial to release him from jail on a US$50-million (S$64.39-million) bond ahead of his October 3 sentencing, after the hip-hop mogul was found not guilty of the most serious charges he faced. In a court filing, Combs' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were dangerous, and said defendants convicted in the past of prostitution-related charges that were similar to Combs' were usually released before their sentencing. "Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct," Agnifilo wrote. "In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john." A spokesperson for the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After a six-week trial, Combs, 55, was found not guilty on July 2 of three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, which carried potential life sentences. He was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Each of those counts carries a maximum 10-year sentence, but prosecutors have acknowledged that federal sentencing guidelines appeared to recommend a sentence well below the statutory maximum. Prosecutors alleged the Bad Boy Records founder used physical violence, threats, and the resources of his business empire to coerce two of his former girlfriends to take part in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers sometimes called "freak-offs." Combs pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers argued his two girlfriends took part willingly in the encounters. US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs' initial request for release immediately after the verdict, citing the ample evidence presented at trial of violent acts he committed. In their filing on July 29, Combs' lawyers said it was unusual for him to be prosecuted on the prostitution-related offenses at all because he was not profiting financially from the acts of prostitution. They also said Combs' detention since September 2024 at the MDC should qualify as an "exceptional circumstance" warranting Combs' release despite the evidence he had been violent. Combs' lawyers have said there have been fights in his unit, and wrote on July 29 that his safety is at risk. The US Bureau of Prisons, which operates MDC, has said it is engaged in "intensive efforts" to improve conditions there. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sean 'Diddy' Combs seeks release on $50-million bond ahead of sentencing
FILE PHOTO: 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party - Arrivals - Beverly Hills, California, U.S., 04/03/2018 - Rapper P. Diddy. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File Photo NEW YORK (Reuters) -Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers on Tuesday urged the judge who oversaw his sex crimes trial to release him from jail on a $50-million bond ahead of his October 3 sentencing, after the hip-hop mogul was found not guilty of the most serious charges he faced. In a court filing, Combs' defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were dangerous, and said defendants convicted in the past of prostitution-related charges that were similar to Combs' were usually released before their sentencing. "Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct," Agnifilo wrote. "In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john." A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After a six-week trial, Combs, 55, was found not guilty on July 2 of three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, which carried potential life sentences. He was convicted on two lesser charges of transportation to engage in prostitution. Each of those counts carries a maximum 10-year sentence, but prosecutors have acknowledged that federal sentencing guidelines appeared to recommend a sentence well below the statutory maximum. Prosecutors alleged the Bad Boy Records founder used physical violence, threats, and the resources of his business empire to coerce two of his former girlfriends to take part in days-long, drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers sometimes called "freak-offs." Combs pleaded not guilty, and his lawyers argued his two girlfriends took part willingly in the encounters. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs' initial request for release immediately after the verdict, citing the ample evidence presented at trial of violent acts he committed. In their filing on Tuesday, Combs' lawyers said it was unusual for him to be prosecuted on the prostitution-related offenses at all because he was not profiting financially from the acts of prostitution. They also said Combs' detention since September 2024 at the MDC should qualify as an "exceptional circumstance" warranting Combs' release despite the evidence he had been violent. Combs' lawyers have said there have been fights in his unit, and wrote on Tuesday that his safety is at risk. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which operates MDC, has said it is engaged in "intensive efforts" to improve conditions there. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New YorkEditing by Rod Nickel)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Inside IIM-Bangalore's Jigani campus
Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore campus on Bannerghatta Road is iconic. The bare grey stone walls, high ceilings, long and pillared corridors, classroom clusters around large courtyards, interlinking stone pathways, all set within tall canopies of green trees and creepers exude a monastic feel about the premier management institute. The IIM-B campus was originally designed by the renowned architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi. (In 2018, Doshi became the first Indian architect to be awarded the Pritzker Prize, one of the highest architecture honours in the world.) When IIM-B sets out to build its next campus in Jigani, 25km from the existing one, expectations are running high. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The 110-acre land where the new campus is coming up is actually two separate plots divided by the Jigani-Harohalli Road, a link between two commercial industrial pockets —Jigani and Harohalli. The Management Development Centre (MDC), which currently runs weekly programmes, operates out of the larger 77-acre plot. Work will soon begin on the 33-acre land parcel that is set to house the undergraduate programme, which the IIM-B has been planning for almost a decade now. The programme will finally launch next academic year. While one plot overlooks the Bannerghatta National Park, the other opens to a few local settlements and vegetation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I Asked ChatGPT What Humanity Will Achieve In The Next 30 Years — Here's What It Said Liseer Undo There's a plan to build an underground passage connecting both campuses. The place The road to Mahanthalingapura Village is relatively quiet, dotted with a few houses, belonging mostly to local farmers. A noticeable landmark is a modest state-run school. The UG campus will come up amid the village's vast tracts of green, in a valley surrounded by hillocks. (IIM-B could not take possession of the first land parcel allocated by the state govt in 2011 because there were live quarrying permits. The alternative survey number was given in 2015, and the institute took possession of the land in 2017). The MDC building work, which began in 2018, was completed in 2021. The building houses three classrooms and 84 double-occupancy rooms. Classes are held for around 20 days every month. Being a slope, the site where MDC is built is unique. The variation in elevation between the high and low points has provided a cascading flow to its architecture. The plot earmarked for the UG campus throws up similar challenges. Of the six floors of the MDC building, four are built below ground level. The wide windows and balconies open to fields where farmers grow ragi and flowers. Bengaluru-based Mindspace Architects designed the MDC. Building for a younger crowd By design, the architecture of the UG campus is being planned to be different from that of the Bannerghatta campus, as it looks to cater to a much younger crowd. "Unlike PG students, a significant number of our UG residents will be living away from home for the first time and are at a formative stage of personal and academic development. Our approach is consciously oriented toward building a campus environment that is more structured, inclusive and supportive with elements that cohesively inculcate community and care," says Prof PD Jose, professor in-charge of IIM-B's new campus. With a budget of Rs 450 crores, the phase 1 work of the UG campus is expected to take at least 24 months to complete. DDF Consultants has been roped in as the architect. The landscape of the proposed site is challenging. The 33-acre site features undulating terrain, natural water channels, and native vegetation, including existing tree groves. "One of the key challenges is the site's 30-metre level difference between high and low points, which requires careful contour planning to avoid excessive cut-and-fill. However, this very feature has informed a stepped architectural language, allowing buildings to cascade along the slope, opening shaded terraces and framed views," says Saurabh Chandra, director, DDF Consultants. "Rather than replicating the old, the new campus builds upon the spirit and soul of the current campus (on Bannerghatta Road), reinterpreting its principles to meet the future. It pays homage to its legacy, evolving to meet the aspirations of a new generation," says the architect. The architecture of the main campus is distinguished by the way it enables academic life to unfold through movement, transitions, and layered interactions between built and open spaces. "This sensibility continues to inform the new campus," he adds. — The UG buildings will follow the natural contours of the plot, thus creating terraced forms, sunken plazas, and elevated walkways that integrate with the topography. — Courtyard-centric learning spaces, echoing traditional Indian gurukul ideals in a contemporary form, are being planned with open-to-sky areas — Academic blocks are designed to be modular, adaptable and expandable, making room for flexible programming — Use of local stone, exposed concrete, terracotta, and lime plaster will give the campus a tactile, rooted feel, while ensuring durability and low maintenance. — Interstitial and informal learning spaces are being planned, with a design that incorporates steps, ramps, shaded decks, verandahs, green nooks, semi-open terraces, with intuitive wayfinding. Stakeholders like students, faculty, alumni, local community representatives, and experts were consulted extensively. External experts — professors from IIT Kharagpur and IIT Palghat, senior Central Public Works Department members, and independent construction consultants — are roped in. Performance and recreational spaces were planned carefully by incorporating inputs from performing artistes, musicians, and sportspersons, who are also IIM-B alumni. Hostels are designed keeping in mind the need for social interaction and community building with shared living, common areas for study and recreation, and accessible support services. Accounting for green vision IIM-B campus which has a carbon footprint study that has been carried out (which says its per capita carbon footprint is estimated to be 1.37 as against India's 2.4) will have similar ethos about sustainability on its Jigani campus too. "The design integrates sustainability, technology, and adaptability with smart infrastructure, renewable energy systems, water-sensitive landscaping, and climate- responsive buildings, aiming to build a net-zero, low-carbon footprint campus," says Saurabh. He says Bengaluru's natural terrain and climate inspired the UG site planning. The architecture accentuates open courtyards, shaded walkways, and green corridors that echo traditional South Indian academic spaces while remaining distinctly contemporary, he explains. The site also has a seasonal natural stream. The masterplan proposes a riparian buffer zone of 25–30 metres on either side, to be preserved and activated through erosion control, bioswales (landscaped depressions or channels designed to manage stormwater runoff), rain gardens, and planted recreational trails. This zone is envisioned as an eco-sensitive corridor, offering opportunities for nature-based recreation and learning. The campus will also maintain universal design principles to ensure barrier-free movement. Solar panels, water harvesting, green infrastructure, and zero-discharge waste systems are also being planned for the UG campus. Even signage, lighting, and street furniture will reinforce the sustainable character. Old vs new A fortnight ago, IIM-B announced the launch of a four-year undergraduate programme with majors in Economics and Data Sciences with 40 seats each for the academic year 2026-27. The institute plans scale it up to 640 by 2031 CORRIDORS & COLONNADES: The design of IIM-B's UG campus will remain aligned with the foundational principles that shaped the first campus on Bannerghatta Road. These include interconnected corridors, courts, and colonnades, which encourage walking, exploration, and informal interaction. On the new campus, this concept will be integrated in the form of shaded walkways, landscaped paths, and layered spaces BIOPHILIC DESIGN: The existing campus blends effortlessly into nature with its stone walls, open courtyards, and filtered light linking the indoors with the outdoors. This will be copied on the new campus by employing biophilic design (an approach that integrates natural elements into built environments), tree-lined vistas, and climate-responsive buildings that foster harmony with Bengaluru's ecosystem and seasonal rhythms BEING PURPOSEFUL: The use of exposed concrete and local stone, and the play of light and shadow on the Bannerghatta Road campus creates a sense of permanence and gravitas. On Jigani campus, the approach to materials is similarly purposeful, although informed by contemporary requirements for sustainability, lightness, and ease of maintenance
