Latest news with #JamesKeivom
New York Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Columbia University to pay out more than $220M after violating Jewish students' civil rights in massive win for Trump admin
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has won unprecedented concessions from Columbia University in a sweeping settlement — with the Ivy League university paying more than $220 million and pledging to reverse racially discriminatory practices and resolve civil rights violations against Jewish students, The Post can exclusively reveal. The settlement, under which Columbia will agree to submit to independent monitoring to ensure it is complying with merit-based hiring and admissions requirements, is likely to put pressure on other schools — like Harvard — that have crossed the White House over tolerance of extreme Jew-hatred on campus since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas against Israel. The resolution comes after just four months of negotiations between Columbia and Trump, striking a stark contrast with Harvard, which decided to drag the administration into court for stripping the school of $2.6 billion in grants and other funding. A source familiar with the negotiations noted that $400 million yanked from Columbia in March when talks began would have snowballed to affect billions of dollars of university research grants and other funding. In addition to paying the feds $200 million to settle their discrimination claims, Columbia will also fork over more than $20 million to Jewish employees who were discriminated against amid fierce antisemitic demonstrations that followed the Hamas attack. 7 The settlement is likely to put pressure on other schools that have crossed the White House over their tolerance for extreme Jew-hatred on campus since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas against Israel. James Keivom The Trump administration is touting the employees' sum as the largest public settlement of its kind in nearly 20 years and the highest for any victim who's lodged a Title VI complaint. The Ivy League school has also agreed to end all programming that discriminated against faculty or students — bringing it into full compliance with the Supreme Court's 2023 decision banning race-based affirmative action — and create some yet-to-be-announced faculty positions in the name of broadening intellectual diversity. The settlement further calls for Columbia to maintain a trained security force blocking demonstrations in academic spaces and coordinate with the NYPD to prevent a repeat of the takeover of Hamilton Hall by anti-Israel rioters in the spring of 2024 — while the university will impose a complete ban on masked protests. Disciplinary rules will no longer be governed by the faculty senate but, rather, by the Office of the Provost. On Tuesday, Columbia announced that dozens of students were going to be suspended or penalized — and a handful expelled — for a recent disruptive library demonstration and anti-Israel tent encampment that engulfed the campus last year. 7 The university's admissions office will step up vetting for foreign applicants, quiz potential students about their reasons for wanting to study in the US and share that data with the feds. Paige Kahn/NY Post The university's admissions office will step up vetting for foreign applicants, quiz potential students about their reasons for wanting to study in the US and share that data with the feds, while Columbia's reliance on international enrollment will be cut back. As part of its participation in the federal Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Program, the school will now be expected to report any disciplinary actions for those holding visas — including suspensions, expulsions or arrests. Experts are also supposed to consult with administrators to prevent the threat of terrorist financing or other illicit funds flowing to the school. Regional programs — specifically the Center for Palestine Studies; the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies; Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies; the Middle East Institute; and learning hubs in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Amman, Jordan — will come under strict review from the senior vice provost to ensure they are 'comprehensive and balanced.' 7 Regional programs are expected to come under strict review from the senior vice provost to ensure all educational programs are 'comprehensive and balanced.' X/@LishiBaker Additionally, the Morningside Heights school will comply with Title IX and no longer force women to compete with biological men in sports or use their locker rooms, housing or other facilities. Finally, most of the $400 million in federal grants, contracts and other funding yanked from the prestigious school — representing roughly 8% of its taxpayer funding — will be returned. Grant eligibility will be fully reinstated once the school implements all terms of the agreement. The Trump-Columbia deal will sunset in three years, and a Resolution Monitor will provide 'semi-annual' reports on the university's compliance. 'This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,' said Columbia acting president Claire Shipman. 'The settlement was carefully crafted to protect the values that define us and allow our essential research partnership with the federal government to get back on track. Importantly, it safeguards our independence, a critical condition for academic excellence and scholarly exploration, work that is vital to the public interest.' 7 Grant eligibility will be fully reinstated once the school complies with all terms of the agreement. The Trump-Columbia deal will sunset in three years. X/LishiBaker Leaked terms of the negotiations in recent weeks have revealed that Columbia was willing to release its admissions and hiring data to the Trump administration and pay the $200 million fine after concerns were raised about its failure to comply with the Supreme Court's 2023 ruling. In March, the administration issued a series of nine demands as a 'precondition' for Columbia receiving more federal funding, requiring the elite university to commit to wide-ranging policy changes and accept additional oversight. These included promoting academic diversity and 'institutional neutrality' among faculty and stepped-up enforcement of existing disciplinary policies. The final agreement declared: 'Columbia may not use personal statements, diversity narratives, or any applicant reference to racial identity as a means to introduce or justify discrimination.' 7 'This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty,' said Columbia acting president Claire Shipman. James Keivom Columbia was also supposed to ban masks on campus to hold protesters who violate codes of conduct accountable and punish students who participated in the Hamilton Hall storming One of the most sweeping demands was that the school's Middle East, South Asian and African Studies departments be placed under 'academic receivership' for at least five years, which would put decision-making authority in the hands of someone outside of the departments. A new senior vice provost role will carry out that function for the life of Wednesday's agreement. Days later, Columbia gave into many of the demands, agreeing to numerous policy reforms. 7 Columbia has been through several leadership shakeups in the last year over repeated failures to bring a stop to antisemitic protests and incidents on campus. J.C. Rice The school has been through several leadership shakeups in the last year over repeated failures to bring a stop to antisemitic protests and incidents on campus. In the spring of 2024, its campus was the site of an anti-Israel tent encampment in the weeks leading up to graduation. When the makeshift tent city was finally dismantled, the demonstration escalated into the Hamilton Hall takeover. That August, then-Columbia University president Minouche Shafik suddenly resigned, citing a 'period of turmoil' for her shocking departure. Her interim successor, Katrina Armstrong, was ousted just seven months later by Columbia's board of trustees after publicly agreeing with Trump officials to uphold a mask ban — but pledging to faculty in private that she would not. 7 The agreement codifies earlier concessions to ban masks on campus and punish students who participated in the Hamilton Hall storming Getty Images She was replaced by Shipman, co-chair of the Columbia board of trustees, who was exposed earlier this month for trying to oust the only Jewish member of that board, and urging the school to install an 'Arab' board member 'quickly.' Shipman's incendiary personal messages from 2023 and 2024 — in which she also appeared to downplay fears of campus antisemitism as irrational — sparked a probe by the House Education Committee. Republican lawmakers say they are working to decide if new legislation is needed to hold university leaders more accountable amid a troubling uptick of anti-Israel sentiment on campuses nationwide.
New York Post
21-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
AOC's Bronx HQ vandalized with red paint after Israel vote: ‘F-CK AOC!'
Progressive New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Bronx headquarters was vandalized by anti-Israeli activists after she voted against cutting US funding for Israel. The office in Westchester Square in the East Bronx was splattered in red paint on Sunday, and adorned with a sign reading 'AOC funds genocide in Gaza' days after congresswoman ditched her fellow 'Squad' colleagues and voted against a proposed amendment to slash millions in aid for Israel's missile defense. A photograph of Ocasio-Cortez's face in the window was completely covered by the paint, photos show. Advertisement 'F–K AOC,' a group known as the Boogie Down Liberation Front told reporter Ashoka Jegroo while taking responsibility for the vandalism. AOC's Bronx office was defaced with red paint. James Keivom 'The Bronx is sick and tired of people like AOC and Ritchie Torres using us as a stepping stone for their own political careers,' the group said in a statement. Advertisement 'The Bronx stands with the people of Palestine and we denounce the hypocrisy of AOC who voted to fund Israel's ongoing genocide and starvation campaign in Gaza. F–K AOC!' The lefty congresswoman has been taking heat from her progressive supporters after she voted against an amendment for the Department of Defense Appropriations Act proposed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Friday that sought to cut $500 million from Israel's air defense systems. The amendment, which was emphatically spiked 6 to 422, was supported by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Ocasio-Cortez's progressive 'Squad' pals, including Reps. Ilhan Omar (Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.). AOC voted against an amendment to a defense bill that would have cut funding for Israel. James Keivom Advertisement The House of Representatives ultimately passed the bill early Friday 221 to 209, allocating some $832 billion in defense funding for fiscal year 2026, including a boost in pay for troops as well as increased research and development spending. 'Marjorie Taylor Greene's amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it,' the congresswoman posted on X amid the backlash. 'What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue,' she continued. 'I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.'
New York Post
04-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
Mexican navy ship that slammed into Brooklyn Bridge may return to New York next year
The doomed Mexican tall ship that slammed into the Brooklyn Bridge in May is hoping to make a 'triumphant return' to New York next year to join the record-breaking flotilla slated to storm the harbor, The Post has learned. The Cuauhtémoc is slated to be one of the 30 Class A International Tall Ships to parade through the Harbor as part of the US's semiquincentennial birthday — as long as the ship's three ornate masts can be repaired. The masts were destroyed in the tragic accident in spring that claimed the lives of two young mariners and left 19 other people injured. Advertisement The Mexican Navy now has exactly one year to restore the Cuauhtémoc to its glory and join what will be the largest flotilla to ever sail through the port of New York and New Jersey. 5 The Cuauhtémoc is undergoing repairs for the damages it sustained after striking the Brooklyn Bridge. AP 'We see it as a kind of triumphant return,' Chris O'Brien, the president of Sail4th 250, the organizer for next year's blockbuster event, told The Post. Advertisement 'They're going to be executing their repairs and so the invitation is still open for them to join us.' When asked if the Mexican Navy has indicated whether it plans to return, O'Brien said: 'I can't speculate there, but we are maintaining positive lines of communication.' The Mexican Navy is in the midst of repairing the damage, which was mostly sustained on the Cuauhtémoc's three masts that were severed when they smacked into the Brooklyn Bridge, a spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board told The Post. 5 The cause of the collision is still under investigation. Xinhua/Shutterstock Advertisement The extent of the repairs needed was not immediately clear. The damage to the 147-foot-tall training vessel is expected to exceed $500,000. The NTSB is still investigating the cause of the collision, which could take at least a year, or as long as two, a spokesperson told The Post. A preliminary report released Monday revealed that the vessel was inexplicably sailing backwards — and picked up speed — before the fatal collision. 5 Two cadets who were manning the masts were killed during the crash. James Keivom Advertisement 5 The damage to the ship is expected to exceed $500,000. James Keivom It did not answer what caused the 'major marine casualty,' including why the docking pilot's orders to stop the vessel didn't have any effect. At the time, dozens of cadets were 'manning the masts,' meaning they were standing on and strapped to the ship's three masts — a universal sign of respect every time a ship enters and leaves a port. Two crew members who were on the masts plummeted to the ship's deck during the collision and were later pronounced dead at local hospitals. Should the repairs be completed in time, the ship will take part in the six-day, once-in-a-lifetime event slated for July 3 to 8 next year to celebrate America's 250th birthday. 5 The NTSB investigation could take at least a year. Leonardo Munoz The flotilla of 30 international tall ships and 40 gray hull vessels will be the highlight of the festival, fittingly taking place on July 4. Advertisement The ships, each a military training vessel from another country, will ceremoniously voyage into the harbor from beneath the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge before landing in ports on Staten Island, in Brooklyn and Manhattan. A 'senior government official' will be aboard the incredible parade — but planners wouldn't budge on naming the guest of honor.
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
What to know about the Macy's 4th of July fireworks show 2025 — and the best places to watch in NYC
Grab your popcorn — and maybe a pair of sunglasses. This year's Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks show is promised to be the biggest and brightest one yet — and New Yorkers are promised the best seats in the house. The 49th annual extravaganza will have 80,000 total shells firing off 1,000 feet over the Brooklyn Bridge and East River — a considerable jump from the 60,000 shells used last year. 5 The 49th annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks show is promised to be the brightest yet. Getty Images More than 30 different colors and patterns are prepared, alongside 11 new effects planned, including 'crackling crown jellyfish, atomic rings, yellow & green sunbursts, strobing lemon cascades, comet fans & more.' Here's everything you need to know about the iconic and electrifying show. What time does the show start? The show is scheduled to kick off promptly at 8 p.m. The fireworks will light up the Big Apple skyline after the sun sets, likely around 9:45 p.m. It will last for roughly 30 minutes. 5 The city is doling out 100,000 free tickets for prime viewing hotspots. AP Best places to watch around NYC This year, the city is doling out 100,000 free tickets to lucky New Yorkers for prime viewing spots in Brooklyn Bridge Park or sections of Pier 16 and Pier 17 at the Seaport in Manhattan. For those who can't nab a ticket, there are plenty of first-class viewing spots sprinkled across Manhattan. Montgomery Street, Lower East Side The northernmost viewing point will be on Montgomery Street at Madison Street along the FDR. The roadway will be shut down between the FDR and Grand Street to accommodate the crowds. Murry Bergtraum Softball Field The public park is the only designated ADA-accessible viewing area for the event. Located in the shadows of the Manhattan Bridge, the entire park offers 2.52 acres of ground for guests to spread out. Guests should enter at Pike Street and Cherry Street. 5 The show will feature 80,000 shells, a considerable increase from the 60,000 used last year. James Keivom Robert F. Wagner Place The viewing spot between Pearl and South Street is just below the Brooklyn Bridge and offers onlookers an upfront view of the action as it fires off from the iconic structure. There will be plenty of room in this area, with the NYPD shutting down a myriad of surrounding roads, including Frankfort Street between Gold Street and Pearl Street; Dover Street between Pearl Street and South Street; Peck Slip between Pearl Street and South Street; Beekman Street between Pearl Street and South Street; and Fulton Street between Gold Street and Pearl Street Guests should enter near Pearl Street and head toward locations along the FDR Drive. 5 Fireworks will be deployed from the Brooklyn Bridge and four barges in the East River. Macy's Broad Street, Financial District The major intersection, and southernmost designated viewing area, will be shut down between Water and South streets. Just a block away from the waterfront, the hotspot is among the closest viewing areas to the barges. Where are the barges launching the fireworks located? The massive fireworks display will be launched from the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as four barges positioned between Pier 17 and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport in the Seaport District. 'Pyrotechnics will reach 1,000 feet and fall to the water's edge, creating spectacular visuals and unforgettable moments,' Macy's announced. 5 Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose will host the show and performances. Getty Images Who are the performers? A litany of A-listers will storm the stage for the spectacle, serving as opening acts for the real star of the show: the fireworks. Lenny Kravitz, Keke Palmer, Trisha Yearwood and the Jonas Brothers are slated to perform, as well as popstar Ava Max and country singer Eric Church. Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose is slated to host. How to watch the fireworks on TV The entire jaw-dropping show will be streamed live on NBC and Peacock.
New York Post
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Atlantic avenues: Head on over to the Jersey side for more than just the beach
Listen up, New Yawkers. This summer, the Jersey Shore isn't just about hair gel and salami — it's about affordable familial fun. For the first time since the pandemic, the cost of a Jersey Shore vacation has dipped. Overall, it's expected to be 5% cheaper to trade in your spray tan for a suntan than last year, according to Affinity Federal Credit Union's annual vacation index. And while cloistered communities such as Deal are playing keep-out by raising the cost of their beach passes into the stratosphere ($200 seasonally), perennial summer favorites like Asbury Park and Belmar are charging just $70 and $80 for theirs. Advertisement 6 You can do Asbury Park's beaches for well under $100. James Keivom 6 Cool off in Asbury Park's jewel: the Asbury Ocean Club Hotel. Nikolas Koenig Think you've been there, done that? Wrong. This year is packed with fresh events, new restaurant openings, and energy-burning activities that will have your bambini sleeping like Snooki after a night at Club Karma. Advertisement Here's how to rule the boardwalk with your family on the Jersey Shore this summer. Where to eat Summer on the shore is about comfort food, so head for Ocean County's first Shake Shack. Opened in May, their beloved burgers are being served at 614 Route 70 in the Brick Commons shopping mall near the beach at Mantoloking. 6 You can get some comfort food at Cheessteaks in Belmar. Abubakar – Or, stop in Belmar for a taste of whiz-ards Antonio Delgado and James Haines' aptly named Cheessteaks restaurant. They're bringing their hot, loaded sandwiches to 821 Belmar Plaza. Advertisement When the time comes to attempt to sit down together, head to Judy & Harry's in Asbury Park. The new restaurant by James Beard-nominated chef David Viana and daughter Neilly Robinson is a people pleaser with two concepts under one roof. Judy's serves riffs on Italian classics with 'international flair and local flavor' (think matzo ball soup with ricotta matzo balls). Meanwhile, Harry's is for the adults — a cocktail bar in its own space next door with a menu of bar food (like crab arancini). Ready for dessert? In North Wildwood, family-run South Philly institution John's Water Ice is opening at 21st Avenue on the boardwalk, a first in Jersey. It sells flavors like cherry, lemon, pineapple, and chocolate by the cup or the quart. Where to stay 6 Rooms at the Asbury Ocean Club can go for four figures a night in the summer. Nikolas Koenig For something splashy, you already know to check into Asbury Ocean Club Hotel, where there are 13 different room styles to suit the needs of your particular family. It opened back in 2019, and it's still stunning, but a weekend in June or July will set you back roughly $1,000 a night. Advertisement Other family-friendly classics are the Wave Resort on Long Branch Beach (67 rooms and suites, four restaurants, a massive pool and a kids club); the Hewitt Wellington near Spring Lake Beach (20 rooms and suites, recently refurbished, a restaurant and a heated pool); and the Hotel LBI on Long Beach Island (102 spacious rooms and suites with kitchenettes, multiple restaurants, a beach club, an indoor pool and a rooftop terrace with fire pit). Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters But if you are still after something fresh, beeline for Madison Resort in Wildwood Crest. It opened last year after a $52 million reconfigure of the Oceanview Motel and Royal Hawaiian. It has 200 rooms, three restaurants, and multiple pools. Rooms in its Ocean Tower start at $109 per night; rooms in its Royal Tower begin at $189. Remember what we said about affordability? What to do Start by planning your July Fourth. The shore's most explosive weekend will be at Long Branch Beach, where the 33rd annual Oceanfest is expected to welcome a quarter of a million families for what they're calling the largest Independence Day celebration in the state. Expect music, dance, food trucks, balloon artists, face painting, bouncy castles, sand sculptures, and becostumed characters. It all pays off with a 30-minute fireworks show. 6 A day of fun awaits at Playland's Castaway Cove. Blaze – Then, for a day of play, head down to Playland's Castaway Cove. It's now — sadly — the only remaining amusement park on the Ocean City Boardwalk. In April, it rebuilt the pirate ship that had crowned its arcade for nearly 60 years before it burned down four years ago. The new arcade below it is mighty — more than double the size of its predecessor — and it boasts more than 75 games. (For a totally new ride, head to Six Flags Great Adventure, where the new steel roller coaster Vertical Velocity is now open.) Meanwhile, the new owners of Gillian's Wonderland Pier (RIP) are bringing a new pizza place, dubbed Ocean City Pizza Company, and an arcade to the site to keep the boardwalk alive. Advertisement 6 Bell Works in Holmdel is an entertainment and retail hub. Off BEET Productions Had enough of the beach? Head inland to Lumon Industries' creepy campus from Apple TV+'s hit show 'Severance,' which was filmed at Bell Works in Holmdel. In real life, it's a hub for shopping, dining, and playing. There's a large lawn, a basketball court, ping pong and foosball tables, as well as day camps and 'mommy and me' groups. Its theater hosts family-friendly programming daily. Advertisement Check out the escape room and virtual reality center — and the July Fourth fireworks, one of New Jersey's largest displays. All the while, parents can shop and get a decent meal at one of its 13 venues. It's jet-setting with a family twist. Finally, wrap up the season with the Thunder Over the Waves air show in Wildwood on Sept. 6. Expect aces from the New Jersey Air National Guard, the US Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the US Coast Guard, and more. Best of all, it's free.
