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Chicago Tribune
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Young Aurora woman hopes to bring style and community together with runway show in city's downtown
She's only 22 years old and barely a year out of Columbia College, but Breyona Smith is about to bring a different kind of style to her hometown. The young woman – a graduate of West Aurora High School – is producing what could be the city's first runway show that she describes as a 'celebration of Aurora's vibrant identity through the lens of fashion, art and culture.' 'The Fashion Mosaic' will not only feature local models, businesses and designers, it will include community interactive art performances, a pre-event VIP Hour filled with art and food experiences, music by a live DJ, contributions from the Aurora Historical Society and culinary creations by Matrix's Chef Alonso Beckford. And this unique event, to be held July 12 at Society 57 in downtown Aurora, all came about because a major beauty company did not offer an internship position to Smith after she won first place nationally in a 'new product/new concept' global competition, she said. She and two other fashion students from Columbia had teamed up to reinvent a hair comb to protect textured hair in L'Oreal's 'Brandstorm' contest, which earned this U.S. championship team what Smith described as a 'transformative' trip to London and second place in the international competition. 'I thought I'd have a job after graduation in New York,' she said. 'But it never materialized.' Disappointed but undeterred, Smith applied for full-time jobs in the fashion industry and did some freelancing – including a gig assisting creative director and producer Ayoka Lucas in a Chance the Rapper magazine photo shoot – before deciding to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit that ran in her family. Walking around the city's downtown one day last November, she realized that while Aurora has a 'thriving arts and culture vibe, it does not have much of a fashion scene' despite 'so many cute boutiques and shops.' So Smith thought, why not put together a fashion show – like Chicago and downtown Naperville – 'only let's put a twist on it,' she told me. 'Let's not only celebrate fashion but all artists, all creatives.' And so, after plenty of creative thought of her own – and a 14-page business plan – Smith began soliciting guidance from mentor Angelina Perino, mother Trina Maxwell and mom's best friend (and event planner) Shamone Seay. Then Smith began cold-calling groups and businesses, where she found plenty of enthusiasm from those buying into this young woman's vision and passion for fashion, the latter of which was learned at the knee of her late great-grandmother Bernice, who never stepped out of the house without being fully glammed-up and accessorized. Smith also assembled a team of advisors, held a local model call and put together a 'pitch deck' that would succinctly explain her idea to potential sponsors. Perino, founder of the Chicago production agency COVE, who's mentored Smith since the start of the year, noted how she's been 'consistently impressed' with the young Aurora woman's 'rare combination of drive, boldness, creativity and purpose. 'When she first shared her idea for a one-of-a-kind event that would bring fashion, art and community together in Aurora, it was just a seed,' said Perino. 'In a matter of months, (Breyona) transformed that seed into something beautiful and real.' And this event, she insisted, 'is just the beginning for her.' Watching from the front row, mom Trina Maxwell, who owns a birthing doula business, is proud of how her daughter took a major disappointment and turned it into something not only positive but unique and inclusive. She's not surprised, however. From the time she was a little girl, Breyona was tenacious, creative and a hard worker, Maxwell noted. And she 'always paid attention to details,' which included not only learning about fashion from the great-grandmother who helped raise her, but also about cooking, baking, sewing, even manners and etiquette. And yes, added Maxwell, her daughter always possessed that entrepreneurial spirit, evident early on by the bakery business she started at age 10 with best friend Nadia Brown, who will be emceeing the upcoming fashion event. Working two part-time jobs in style and merchandising at Nordstroms and Winston Retail, Smith has poured every spare amount of time and energy into this runway show, which will feature fashions from Clotheshorse, Wyckwood House, Undisputed Vintage, Offbeat Thrift and Vintage Collective, DDC Wraps, Slitz by HER, Tailored Couturier – all Aurora-based – and Christos Fur & Leathers from Westchester. Tickets – $75 for VIP, $35 for general admission – are available at Smith told me she does not expect to make any money from this first-ever venture, and in fact, is already looking into ways to turn The Fashion Mosaic into a nonprofit. But certainly the networking and other experiences she's gleaned are invaluable and help pave the way for more such events. 'A big part of what inspired me to create The Fashion Mosaic comes from putting myself out there and being in rooms with young innovators from all over the world,' Smith insisted. 'Even within my college experience, just collaborating and building a team to create something meaningful showed me how special these kinds of moments are. 'Community is community. And the arts really are the glue that holds us all together, especially in times like this.'
Boston Globe
01-07-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Columbia will pay $9 million to settle lawsuit over US News ranking
Advertisement The proposed settlement, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday, did not require Columbia to formally admit wrongdoing. But the university said in a statement Tuesday that it 'deeply regrets deficiencies in prior reporting.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The settlement agreement covers some 22,000 former undergraduate students who attended Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, or Columbia's School of General Studies between 2016 and 2022 and will be eligible to apply for a slice of the award. If all the students applied, taking into account likely lawyers' fees, they would each receive about $273. The lawsuit claimed that Columbia had artificially inflated its ranking by consistently reporting false data, including that 83% of its classes had fewer than 20 students. Advertisement Michael Thaddeus, the mathematician who first revealed the flaws in the data, said Tuesday that he found the settlement gratifying 'because it amounts to an admission that the students' complaint has merit.' 'Columbia did report false data over many years, and it reported false data about several things, not just class sizes,' he said. He added that it would have been even better if Columbia had made an 'honest attempt to explain its actions,' perhaps with an independent investigation addressing questions like why and how the false data were reported in the first place. 'The discovery stage of this lawsuit might have illuminated those questions,' he said. The scandal had a broader impact, leading to skepticism in how people view the U.S. News & World Report rankings, which largely rely on data self-reported by universities. At Columbia, it also prompted improvements in how the university reports its own data. Since 2022, the university has published 'Common Data Sets,' which 'are reviewed by a well-established, independent advisory firm to ensure reporting accuracy,' a spokesperson said. The lawsuit was first filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in July 2022 by Ravi Campbell, a student who claimed he had overpaid based on false advertising. Several other students then sued, and the suits were combined to create a class action. The motion to settle the case must still be approved by a judge. A Columbia official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, said that while the university denied the allegations of misreporting and other misconduct, it was entering into the settlement agreement to avoid protracted and costly litigation. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbia students boo university president at graduation over Palestinian activist arrest
Columbia University acting President Claire Shipman faced loud booing and chants of 'Free Mahmoud' at a commencement ceremony on May 20, bringing her speech to a standstill as students expressed outrage over the continued detention of their peer. The scene, captured in posts shared across social media, shows students from Columbia College, an undergraduate school for liberal arts, interrupting Shipman's speech as they called for student activist Mahmoud Khalil to be released. Others can be heard yelling, 'You arrested us,' alluding to the university calling in police to break up student protests. Immigration agents arrested Khalil, a green card holder married to an American citizen, on March 8 in the lobby of his student apartment building in Manhattan. The Department of Homeland Security is trying to deport Khalil, arguing that his pro-Palestinian activism threatens U.S. foreign policy interests. He remains in a detention facility in Louisiana and is scheduled to appear in an immigration court there on May 22. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ruled on April 11 that the Trump administration can move forward with efforts to deport Khalil. Khalil's attorneys said they have filed a renewed request with the judge to drop the U.S. government's case, citing new video evidence they say shows that his arrest was illegal. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially said they had a warrant in their arrest report, according to Khalil's attorneys. Later, government lawyers acknowledged in a court filing that they did not have a warrant but argued that none was needed because of "exigent circumstances." They wrote that Khalil was a 'flight risk' and that 'it was likely he would escape before they could obtain a warrant.' The surveillance footage and previously released video contradicts that, Khalil's legal team says. The video shows Khalil calmly talking to agents, cooperating and making no attempt to leave. 'The footage released today of Mahmoud Khalil's arrest couldn't be clearer — the Trump administration's claims that Mr. Khalil resisted arrest are false,' said Amol Sinha, executive director at the ACLU of New Jersey. 'His unlawful arrest is a result of deliberate targeting by the federal government in retaliation for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights.' The video was obtained through a subpoena sent to Columbia University. It supports previous statements and video footage taken by Khalil's wife, Noor Abdalla. Khalil also has a federal lawsuit pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey that claims his detention violates his constitutional rights of free speech and due process. The case was filed in New Jersey because Khalil was detained there before his transfer to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. A Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, Khalil has not been accused of any crime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued in a letter to the court, submitted as evidence, that he has the authority to deport noncitizens who harm foreign policy interests even if their beliefs, statements or associations are "otherwise lawful." Rubio also alleged that Khalil participated in "antisemitic protests and disruptive activities" that "undermine U.S. efforts to combat anti-Semitism." Khalil was a student negotiator and spokesman for protesters at Columbia in the spring of 2024, when protests against war in Gaza gripped college campuses. He and his lawyers have disputed allegations of antisemitism. They argue that the Trump administration is attempting to silence criticism of Israel and falsely conflating pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism. Jewish students at Columbia have also written letters to the court saying Khalil had supported them and defended them. Opinion: Why didn't Mahmoud Khalil, detained Columbia graduate student, condemn Hamas? Khalil's case was the first of several high-profile incidents in which pro-Palestinian student activists were detained by immigration authorities and targeted for deportation. Federal judges have freed several of the students on bail, including fellow Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained by ICE during a citizenship interview in April. Mahdawi graduated on May 19 receiving a standing ovation as he donned a keffiyeh and flashed peace signs to the crowd. Khalil, who missed the birth of his first child last month, will also miss his commencement ceremony at Columbia on May 21. He completed his master's degree from the School of International and Public Affairs in December. On May 18, Abdalla, his wife, accepted a diploma on his behalf in an alternative 'People's Graduation' ceremony, holding their son, Deen. The ceremony was organized by the People's University for Palestine, a coalition of student organizations advocating for Palestinian rights. Abdalla read out a message from Khalil. "Thank you for holding me in your hearts today. It has been two months since I was taken from my family and from you, detained simply for speaking the truth about Palestine," she read from the statement. "Columbia University, the place where we sought knowledge, justice, and truth, chose silence instead of solidarity. It failed me, but you didn't. You showed up, you reminded me that while institutions may abandon us, the people never will. "I'm endlessly proud to be among you, and I carry your love with me every day," Abdalla read. "Please keep carrying mine.' This article originally appeared on Columbia students interrupt graduation with 'Free Mahmoud' chant
USA Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Columbia students boo university president at graduation over Palestinian activist arrest
Immigration agents arrested Khalil, a green card holder married to an American citizen, on March 8 in the lobby of his student apartment building in Manhattan. The Department of Homeland Security is trying to deport Khalil, arguing that his pro-Palestinian activism threatens U.S. foreign policy interests. He remains in a detention facility in Louisiana and is scheduled to appear in an immigration court there on May 22. Columbia University acting President Claire Shipman faced loud booing and chants of 'Free Mahmoud' at a commencement ceremony on May 20, bringing her speech to a standstill as students expressed outrage over the continued detention of their peer. The scene, captured in posts shared across social media, shows students from Columbia College, an undergraduate school for liberal arts, interrupting Shipman's speech as they called for student activist Mahmoud Khalil to be released. Others can be heard yelling, 'You arrested us,' alluding to the university calling in police to break up student protests. Immigration agents arrested Khalil, a green card holder married to an American citizen, on March 8 in the lobby of his student apartment building in Manhattan. The Department of Homeland Security is trying to deport Khalil, arguing that his pro-Palestinian activism threatens U.S. foreign policy interests. He remains in a detention facility in Louisiana and is scheduled to appear in an immigration court there on May 22. Video of 'illegal' arrest Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans ruled on April 11 that the Trump administration can move forward with efforts to deport Khalil. Khalil's attorneys said they have filed a renewed request with the judge to drop the U.S. government's case, citing new video evidence they say shows that his arrest was illegal. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially said they had a warrant in their arrest report, according to Khalil's attorneys. Later, government lawyers acknowledged in a court filing that they did not have a warrant but argued that none was needed because of "exigent circumstances." They wrote that Khalil was a 'flight risk' and that 'it was likely he would escape before they could obtain a warrant.' The surveillance footage and previously released video contradicts that, Khalil's legal team says. The video shows Khalil calmly talking to agents, cooperating and making no attempt to leave. 'The footage released today of Mahmoud Khalil's arrest couldn't be clearer — the Trump administration's claims that Mr. Khalil resisted arrest are false,' said Amol Sinha, executive director at the ACLU of New Jersey. 'His unlawful arrest is a result of deliberate targeting by the federal government in retaliation for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights.' The video was obtained through a subpoena sent to Columbia University. It supports previous statements and video footage taken by Khalil's wife, Noor Abdalla. Khalil also has a federal lawsuit pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey that claims his detention violates his constitutional rights of free speech and due process. The case was filed in New Jersey because Khalil was detained there before his transfer to an immigration detention center in Louisiana. U.S. case against Mahmoud Khalil A Palestinian who was born and raised in Syria, Khalil has not been accused of any crime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued in a letter to the court, submitted as evidence, that he has the authority to deport noncitizens who harm foreign policy interests even if their beliefs, statements or associations are "otherwise lawful." Rubio also alleged that Khalil participated in "antisemitic protests and disruptive activities" that "undermine U.S. efforts to combat anti-Semitism." Khalil was a student negotiator and spokesman for protesters at Columbia in the spring of 2024, when protests against war in Gaza gripped college campuses. He and his lawyers have disputed allegations of antisemitism. They argue that the Trump administration is attempting to silence criticism of Israel and falsely conflating pro-Palestinian activism with antisemitism. Jewish students at Columbia have also written letters to the court saying Khalil had supported them and defended them. Missing graduation Khalil's case was the first of several high-profile incidents in which pro-Palestinian student activists were detained by immigration authorities and targeted for deportation. Federal judges have freed several of the students on bail, including fellow Columbia activist Mohsen Mahdawi, who was detained by ICE during a citizenship interview in April. Mahdawi graduated on May 19 receiving a standing ovation as he donned a keffiyeh and flashed peace signs to the crowd. Khalil, who missed the birth of his first child last month, will also miss his commencement ceremony at Columbia on May 21. He completed his master's degree from the School of International and Public Affairs in December. On May 18, Abdalla, his wife, accepted a diploma on his behalf in an alternative 'People's Graduation' ceremony, holding their son, Deen. The ceremony was organized by the People's University for Palestine, a coalition of student organizations advocating for Palestinian rights. Abdalla read out a message from Khalil. "Thank you for holding me in your hearts today. It has been two months since I was taken from my family and from you, detained simply for speaking the truth about Palestine," she read from the statement. "Columbia University, the place where we sought knowledge, justice, and truth, chose silence instead of solidarity. It failed me, but you didn't. You showed up, you reminded me that while institutions may abandon us, the people never will. "I'm endlessly proud to be among you, and I carry your love with me every day," Abdalla read. "Please keep carrying mine.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Students heckle Columbia acting president at graduation, shout 'Free Mahmoud'
Students interrupted Columbia University's graduation ceremony in New York City on Tuesday morning by heckling Acting University President Claire Shipman and shouting, "Free Mahmoud!" Shipman was immediately met with boos when she stepped up to the podium to speak during the Columbia College Class Day ceremony. The crowd continued to heckle Shipman as she spoke about the class facing more trials and hardships than it deserved while proving that it can adapt as things shift quickly. "You've proven that you can adapt as things shift quickly… that you are uncommonly resilient… and that you care profoundly about the world and the people in it," she said, having to restart her sentence several times. Columbia Students Describe 'Shocking' Library Takeover After Masked Protesters Chanted Pro-hamas Slogans Shipman told the students they are all classmates and have formed deep friendships and wonderful relationships. She also pointed out that many of the students have had their differences with one another, but also with Shipman herself. Read On The Fox News App "But at every turn… I'm hearing more and more stories of deep empathy across divides," she said. But as Shipman continued to make her point that the work of the student class' generation will be to define and shape the values of what she eventually called "these interesting times," she was interrupted yet again. The students began to shout, "Free Mahmoud," referring to the accused ringleader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, Mahmoud Khalil. The chants continued for nearly 30 seconds. Columbia's Acting President Slams Storming Of Campus Library By Anti-israel Agitators: 'Utterly Unacceptable' Shipman stood there and continued to look out at the crowd, while appearing to hold back any ounce of emotion to give the agitators a feeling of accomplishment. Still, once the agitators calmed down, the acting president was able to get through her final points. "The work of your generation will be to define… and shape these interesting times… to define the value and the direction of this century," she said. "It will also be to rebuild trust by reaching out and creating common ground… so that others will follow." Columbia Grads Shred Diplomas Over Mahmoud Khalil Arrest: 'We Are Enraged' Earlier this month, Shipman denounced the occupation of the campus library after more than 100 anti-Israel agitators stormed the building, resulting in dozens of arrests and two university officers getting injured. She issued a statement at the time to the campus community, addressing the hours-long incident at Butler Library, which she described as "utterly unacceptable." A mob of protesters showed up at the library as students were studying for finals, reportedly to rally support for Khalil. They also continued to demand the university divest from Israel. Columbia Students Confront Anti-israel Protesters Who Stormed Classroom With Antisemitic Flyers Columbia's acting president said at the time that she went to the library "as the events were unfolding" and was disappointed with what she saw, including one Columbia public safety officer being wheeled out on a gurney and another being treated for injuries. Shipman also said the reading room at the library was "defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans." "Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library—none of that has any place on our campus. These aren't Columbia's values," she said. Shipman, who took over in March following the resignation of the former president and the stepping down of the subsequent interim president, said this behavior will not be tolerated at Columbia. Tuesday's heckling also comes a day after Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi was allowed to walk across a graduation stage and receive his degree from the Ivy League school. The 34-year-old activist, draped in a keffiyeh, smiled as he took the stage. Court documents show Mahdawi was investigated twice in 2015 and 2016 for disturbing and antisemitic comments. In the documents, police allege that Mahdawi told a man, "I like to kill Jews." In another incident, police allege he said he "used to build modified 9mm submachine guns to kill Jews while he was in Palestine." Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this article source: Students heckle Columbia acting president at graduation, shout 'Free Mahmoud'
