Northwestern Professor Steven Thrasher defended pro-Palestine campus protests during a congressional hearing where university presidents were questioned about alleged antisemitism. Thrasher criticized the portrayal of these protests as antisemitic and highlighted the educational and peaceful nature of the encampments. He also addressed the police violence against protesters and emphasized the importance of supporting students' rights to protest.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill mandating the teaching of the history of communism from kindergarten to 12th grade in public schools, with a focus on the evils of communism and its impact on the United States. The measure, approved by state lawmakers, will require age-appropriate lessons on communism's history and its atrocities, to be incorporated into the curriculum starting in the 2026-27 school year. The bill signing coincided with the 63rd anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, and was attended by veterans who fought in the invasion, emphasizing the importance of combating communism in school classrooms.
USC faces backlash after canceling valedictorian's speech due to her support for Palestine, citing security concerns and intense reactions. The decision has been condemned by the Council of American Islamic Relations as "cowardly", while pro-Israel and Jewish groups objected to the valedictorian based on her social media activity. The university's provost defended the decision, stating that safety must take precedence over tradition, but critics argue that the move is a suppression of free speech and an act of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
Former Vice President Mike Pence has landed a teaching position at Grove City College, a conservative Christian school in Pennsylvania, as the Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Faith & Public Life. Pence will be involved in the school's new Center for Faith & Public Life, aiming to explore and support the presence of Christian faith in public institutions. He expressed his honor in serving in this role and emphasized the importance of faith in public life. Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty praised Pence as the "perfect choice" for the position, highlighting his leadership and thought leadership in public life. Pence will teach a course, write, speak with students, and participate in various events at the college.
The House education committee, led by Rep. Virginia Foxx, has issued subpoenas to compel Harvard University to hand over documents for its investigation into antisemitism on campus. The subpoenas were issued to Harvard Corporation Senior Fellow Penny Pritzker, interim President Alan Garber, and Harvard Management Company CEO N.P. Narvekar. Foxx emphasized that the committee will not tolerate delay and defiance in the investigation, and Harvard's leaders have until March 4 to turn over the requested documents. This move comes after Republicans criticized the university's responses to campus antisemitism at a December House hearing.
A Florida bill proposing the teaching of communism's history in schools has sparked debate, with Republicans advocating for it as a way to educate children about the atrocities of communism, while Democrats argue that it could be divisive and distracting. The bill, which passed a Republican-controlled House panel, would require public schools to include lessons on the history of communism in the United States, Cuba, and Latin America. The proposal has drawn attention in a state with a significant population of immigrants from communist countries, particularly Cuban Americans, and comes amid political appeals to Hispanic voters.
Harvard University is preparing for further internal challenges following the resignation of its president. The institution anticipates additional scrutiny and potential upheaval, signaling a period of instability and change within its administration. The details of the president's resignation and the nature of the "fresh attacks" the university expects to face are not specified in the provided text.
Sally Kornbluth, president of MIT, has managed to maintain her position despite the recent ousting of her counterparts at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania following a congressional hearing on antisemitism. While facing criticism, including from Representative Elise Stefanik, Kornbluth has not been subjected to the same level of pressure from donors and alumni. The MIT Jewish Alumni Alliance has expressed dissatisfaction but prefers to work with the administration rather than call for resignations. Kornbluth's direct responses to congressional questioning and subsequent actions to address concerns about antisemitism on campus have garnered support from the MIT administration and helped mitigate some of the backlash.
Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard University, resigned amid controversies including accusations of plagiarism and failure to address antisemitism on campus. Her resignation has been seen as a victory by conservative activists who are targeting higher education institutions as part of a broader culture war. These activists aim to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and reshape the teaching of history and other subjects in K–12 education. Gay's departure is viewed as part of a larger effort to undermine public faith in education and expertise, with her case highlighting the intersection of academic standards, political pressure, and the ongoing debate over the role of higher education in society.
The Biden administration is penalizing student loan servicers Aidvantage, EdFinancial, and Nelnet by withholding over $2 million in payments due to their failure to send timely billing statements after the end of a pandemic payment freeze. The servicers' errors affected over 750,000 borrowers, and this follows a previous $7.2 million withholding from MOHELA for similar issues. Borrowers affected by late statements will be placed in administrative forbearance, and the Education Department is working on a new proposal for targeted student loan cancellation after a previous plan was rejected by the Supreme Court.
Claudine Gay, the former president of Harvard University, resigned after controversies surrounding her response to on-campus antisemitism and plagiarism allegations in her academic work. She admitted to mistakes in addressing the actions of Hamas and failed to condemn student groups blaming Israel for a terror attack. Gay faced intense criticism after a congressional hearing and was accused of plagiarism in her 1997 Ph.D. thesis. Despite her resignation, she defended her academic integrity and warned against self-serving agendas influencing college campuses. Her tenure as Harvard's president was notably brief, lasting only six months and one day, and she was the first black person to hold the position.
Claudine Gay, the former president of Harvard University, resigned following plagiarism accusations and criticism over her response to questions about antisemitism during a congressional hearing. In an op-ed for the New York Times, she expressed hope that her resignation would prevent further misuse of her presidency by those aiming to attack Harvard's foundational ideals. Despite a review finding instances of "inadequate citation" in her work, Harvard's governing board supported her, maintaining her faculty position. Gay defended her academic integrity and urged the public to be cautious of extreme voices with self-serving agendas.
Despite growing calls for her resignation from alumni and donors, Penny Pritzker will remain as the chair of the Harvard Corporation. The controversy escalated following the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, with critics like billionaire Bill Ackman demanding the entire board step down due to their handling of the situation, including allegations of threatening the media and mishandling plagiarism reviews. Pritzker, a former Commerce Secretary and a significant donor to Harvard, has been a fellow on the board since 2018 and was involved in hiring Gay. Critics are calling for new independent board members to address what they see as cronyism and failures in leadership.
Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University, resigned amid allegations of antisemitism and plagiarism. A conservative group, Accuracy in Media, marked her resignation by parking a billboard truck and a U-Haul outside her residence with a message indicating her departure. The controversy began with Gay's handling of a campus debate over the Israel-Palestine conflict and escalated with accusations of plagiarism in her academic work. Despite the turmoil, Gay will return to Harvard's faculty, and Alan M. Garber will serve as interim president.
Claudine Gay has resigned as Harvard's president amid accusations of plagiarism and criticism over her handling of antisemitism on campus. Her tenure was marked by controversy, including a congressional hearing where she was questioned about Harvard's policies on hate speech. The plagiarism allegations, which were detailed in conservative media, led to scrutiny of her academic work and contributed to her decision to step down. Gay's resignation follows a broader pattern of political pressure on university leadership and debates over academic integrity and freedom.
