Latest news with #Loyola
Hans India
11-07-2025
- General
- Hans India
Stress on shared responsibility in nurturing students
Vijayawada: Andhra Loyola College hosted a Mega Parent-Teacher Meeting for Intermediate students here on Thursday aimed at strengthening the crucial collaboration between parents and the institution. The event was characterised by insightful discussions and a shared commitment to fostering responsible citizens. The meeting was inaugurated by Rector Fr Dr PR John, who extended warm Guru Purnima greetings and underscored the importance of shared responsibility in nurturing students. Correspondent Fr Dr A Rex Anjilo highlighted that the future rests in the hands of children. Principal Fr Dr S Melchior addressed the critical transitional phase for students who have recently completed Class10. He emphasised the need for continuous parental vigilance and moral guidance to help students navigate uncertainties and grow into responsible individuals. Vice-Principal Fr Suresh Kumar shared his personal journey as a Loyola alumnus, illustrating how parental support and Loyola's educational values can profoundly transform a student's life. Pratibha Award winners P Jayashree, K Bunny, and M Varshita were felicitated alongside their parents. Prashanthi, a student's mother, expressed her gratitude for the Talliki Vandanam support received through the government's welfare schemes. TheTalliki Vandanam pledge was administered by Telugu lecturer Joseph.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Almost 90 young teams get taste of competitive b'ball
The organisers said their aim was to 'give children a taste of basketball and get coached to become skilled players later Panaji: The All-Goa Fr. Benedict Furtado basketball tournament in under-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-17 age group categories, organised by Don Bosco Oratory, Panaji. was a major success with almost 90 teams from across the state taking part. This is for the first time that a five-a-side basketball tournament with league matches was held for under-10 and under-12 categories. The organisers said their aim was to 'give children a taste of basketball and get coached to become skilled players later.' Br. James Marcus, director of the Don Bosco Oratory, felicitated senior officials Olencio Dias and Luis Fernandes for their contribution to the sport. The tournament was named after Fr. Benedict Furtado, a priest who introduced basketball in Goa. He built the first basketball court in Panaji and was the first president of the Goa Basketball Association (GBA). Results: U-10 category (mixed): Winners: Loyola (A), Margao; runnersup: Loyola (B), Margao; best player: Varian Caeiro (Loyola A); most disciplined player: Ishanvi Chintis (Don Bosco, Panaji); U-12 girls: winners: Don Bosco, Fatorda; runnersup: Don Bosco Oratory, Panaji; best player: Eva Mascarenhas (DBO, Fatorda); most disciplined player: Elaine do Rosario (DBO, Panaji); U-12 boys: winners: Loyola, Margao; runnersup: Don Bosco, Fatorda; best player: Adriel Rosario (Loyola); most disciplined player: Tanay Rane; U-14 girls: winners: DBO, Fatorda; runnersup: DBO, Panaji: best player: Natalie Fernandes (DBO, Fatorda); U-14 boys: winners: Don Bosco HS, Panaji; runnersup: Loyola, Margao; best player: Fahim Shaikh (DBHS, Panaji); U-16 girls: Sonics A; runnersup: DBO, Fatorda A; best player: Kim D'Souza (Sonics A); under-16 boys: winners: DBO, Panaji; runnersup: DBO Fatorda; best player: Avner Mendonca (DBO, Panaji); U-17 girls: winners: Sonics A; runnersup: DBO, Panaji; best player: Enira Fernandes (Sonics A); U-17 boys: DBO, Fatorda; runnersup: DBO, Panaji; best player: Aaron Ponraj (DB0, Fatorda).
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
A year after encampments swept Chicago-area universities, 3 pro-Palestinian protesters speak out
Six months have passed since fourth-year University of Chicago student Mamayan Jabateh last stepped foot on campus. Jabateh was one of two students arrested after she participated in an October demonstration calling for an end to the university's investment in weapons manufacturers arming Israel. The protest, which drew a crowd of more than 150 people, was initially peaceful, Jabateh said. Students and staff stood before the crowd giving speeches, later moving through the campus. When campus police intervened, that all changed. Last spring, university students, including Jabateh at the U. of C. and others across the country erected 130 encampments on the lawns of their campuses, barricading themselves from law enforcement to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where bombardments have destroyed nearly all higher education institutions. Since the October 2023 Hamas attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and more than 250 hostages, the ensuing war has killed 55,000 Palestinians according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Several Chicago-area universities, including Northwestern, the University of Chicago and Loyola, made national and international news for their encampments. Many students dove into the protests, understanding the consequences they'd face — possible suspension, expulsion, and, for some, their diplomas withheld. Yet, they continued, they said, passionate about the cause they were fighting for. More than a year later, the repercussions continue as well, as the Trump administration aims to punish the students who participated, signaling a wider, more coordinated federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses. As universities continue to discipline student activists and attempt to quell on-campus demonstrations, the pro-Palestinian movement has become a flashpoint in the national debate over free speech. Loyola law student Zak Cheikho helped coordinate several encampments across the city last year as a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, and said he witnessed institutions 'exercising the police against their students.' 'It took the courage and bravery of students and educators … to put their bodies between the students at the encampment and the police,' for the encampments to grow. Cheikho knew the possible consequences but that did not dissuade him, he said. 'I think it's a very easy moral question,' Cheikho said. 'The burden seems like a lot until you put it into the context of the others, of the suffering that's being faced by people, then it's very little.' When the bombardments on Gaza began in 2023, U. of C. grad student Mike Miccioli joined hundreds in protesting outside the Israeli Consulate in Chicago. His involvement continued in the following months — tabling daily in the quad at U. of C. and fundraising for Palestinians. The encampment at the Hyde Park school lasted eight days before being raided by campus police. Miccioli criticized the university's response to last year's encampments, also noting a 'violent' police raid at a protest on Oct. 11, 2024, that led to two student arrests and suspensions. Miccioli said he understood the consequences for participating in the demonstration. But his disciplinary case for participating in the demonstrations was eventually dropped, and he resumed his studies. As a precondition to negotiating, organizers insisted that the university implement a Gaza 'scholars at risk' program, where Palestinian scholars would study and teach at the U. of C. While some Palestinian scholars are now at U. of C., Miccioli said the university did not 'fully implement the program' and 'went back on their agreement.' In a statement to the Tribune, U. of C. said university faculty nominated one scholar impacted by the conflict in Gaza, approved by the Scholars at Risk committee, and the scholar has been on campus and teaching since winter quarter. The university said it welcomes nominations for more eligible scholars. But while the school portrays itself as the 'gold standard' of free speech and academic freedom, Miccioli said, it 'has shown that that only applies to certain types of speech.' In a statement, U. of C. said it is 'fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of speakers and protesters to express a wide range of views.' However, at the same time, university policies state, 'protests and demonstrations cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the University's operations, or involve unlawful activity.' Northwestern promised a similar program, agreeing to support two visiting Palestinian faculty members for two years and providing five Palestinian undergraduate students with the full cost of attendance. The Daily Northwestern, however, reported that only one Palestinian faculty member is currently a visiting scholar. Northwestern did not respond to a Tribune request for comment on the program. Several students told the Tribune that the U. of C. has been cracking down on alleged antisemitism on campus, following the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism's recent focus on investigating Chicago-area schools. The university launched an investigation in March into alleged antisemitic signs displayed in a faculty member's office. The faculty member voluntarily removed the signs, however, this marked the second probe by into antisemitism on campus following a March 13 incident involving vandalism of an on-campus Israel installation. Following the U. of C.'s implementation of revised protest policies that include the banning of encampments, overnight protests and demonstrations with 'amplified sound,' the advocacy group Palestine Legal filed a civil rights complaint on behalf of the campus group University of Chicago United for Palestine, demanding an investigation into the university's alleged 'nearly year-long, hostile environment of anti-Palestinian racism' on campus. Universities' responses to last year's encampments were typical, according to Genevieve Lakier, a University of Chicago professor specializing in freedom of speech and American constitutional law. However, what's occurred since then in recent months, she said, is increasingly concerning. 'Initially, universities responded in ways consistent with a long-standing tradition of permitting student protest,' Lakier said. 'Institutions like the University of Chicago, Columbia, and Harvard have historically welcomed protest as part of their educational mission. It's expected — students are supposed to question the status quo.' Lakier noted that the shift typically occurred after accusations the protests were antisemitic and schools began facing increased pressure from donors and their board of trustees to end them. It will be harder for dissenting voices to be heard on campus, she said. 'The university should not be governed by the desires of their rich alumni or boards of trustees, because that's inevitably, over time, going to mean that certain voices are going to be suppressed,' Lakier said. Pressure to keep pro-Palestinian protests off college campuses increased under the Trump administration, as President Donald Trump encouraged universities to have a heavier hand with student protesters, threatening cuts to funding and investigations into universities if they did otherwise. 'Trump is clearly signaling that universities need to not only discipline students more, but they need to change their speech rules altogether to make it harder for students to protest,' Lakier said. Until a couple of weeks ago, she said she believed the administration had succeeded in extinguishing the largest anti-war movement organized by students since the 1960s. But now, Lakier said, students are beginning to resist and push back. 'But the political environment is a very dangerous and scary one,' she said. 'Who knows what is going to happen next?' While her recollection is hazy, Jabateh said officers at the October protest trampled students and began hitting fallen students with batons. They charged the crowd and pepper-sprayed students. At some point, she intervened, deflecting a baton from hitting a fellow student, and again, when the officer then attempted to beat her, she said. Jabateh was accused of hitting a police officer during the protest and was later charged with aggravated battery of a peace officer, as well as resisting or obstructing a peace officer. While Jabateh said the protest was initially peaceful and escalated by officers, a U. of C. spokesperson said protestors 'vandalized and damaged property, instigated confrontations with police by physically surrounding a police car, blocked the public road and struck police officers who responded.' Though she walked away from the protest, she didn't leave unscathed. She remained in pain for a week after, she said, and it took hours for her to completely wash off the remnants of being pepper-sprayed. Two months after the October protest during finals week in December, she was led off campus by officers in handcuffs and charged. Jabateh said spending 30 hours in jail after her arrest was 'very scary.' Jabateh was evicted from her dorm and banned from campus immediately after her release. Nearly six months later, she has yet to return to the university as she was suspended from campus for two years. Jabateh also pleaded guilty to the criminal charges filed against her to have them expunged from her record in one year. 'I do not feel safe at UChicago anymore,' Jabateh said. 'This is something that I'm going to take with me for a very long time.' Manuel Rivera, the other U. of C. student arrested and suspended due to his participation in the protest, filed a civil rights complaint against the university in January. Rivera also filed suit against Dean of Students Michael Hayes, and two unnamed university police officers. He alleges that the university's decision to evict and place him on an 'involuntary leave' from campus violated the First Amendment and Illinois and Chicago housing law. This is the first lawsuit and second civil rights complaint against the university regarding pro-Palestinian protests on campus in the last year. Despite what she's faced in recent months and the uncertainty of her future, Jabateh said she has no regrets. She is not deterred from voicing her support for Palestinians. 'If anything, this entire situation has enraged me,' Jabateh said. 'I'm sitting in a moment of rage. There's a lot of healing I need to do, but I don't think that's going to stop me. We've been committed to this movement, and … there's no going back.'
GMA Network
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Fil-Am Sydney Loyola on his journey and transition in bio doc 'The Road to Sydney'
Sydney Loyola was enjoying her lunch at the Plage des Palmes at the Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes, France. Her bio documentary film just had an early screening at the Palais D at this year's Marche' du Film at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. And she looked very happy and pleased. Charming, gracious and polite, the well-coiffed and made-up Sydney had a big warm smile on her face. It was her first time in Cannes, and she just couldn't hide her excitement. "This is my first time in Cannes, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," she said, especially having her bio doc screened at one of the most popular festivals in the world. So, what does she look forward to doing or seeing here in Cannes, we asked. "I was looking forward to meeting Tom Cruise, but I missed him during the opening of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning," she confessed with a smile. "But the number one thing I want to do here in Cannes is to experience mingling with other folks and just the opportunity to screen the film and somehow give awareness to people as to where we're coming from and to be able to tell our story," she replied. Loyola, a trans woman and acclaimed Philippine dance master and choreographer, shares her deeply personal journey in the documentary film, "The Road to Sydney" which is helmed by writer-director-producer Benito Bautista ("HARANA: The Search for the Lost Art of Serenade") and produced by Emma Francisco of Wanderlustproject Films and Sonia Delen, Wendy Pascual and Conrad (Radi) Calalang of OneUp Film Studios. Contributed photo Born and raised in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, Loyola found solace in dance while enduring bullying during her childhood. Her passion led her to perform with the world-renowned Bayanihan Dance Company and later established herself as a premier choreographer of Philippine folk dance in the San Francisco Bay Area. Now facing the challenges of job loss and the threat of eviction following her gender affirmation and transition, Loyola begins a transformative path toward healing. "The Road to Sydney" follows Loyola's journey from Jay to Sydney as she embraces life as a woman, reconnecting with her cultural roots, reclaiming her artistry, and seeking reconciliation with her estranged father. "This film is a tribute to Sydney's resilience and a call for greater empathy toward the transgender community," says director Bautista. "I want this film to highlight the struggles faced by the transgender community and tell a powerful human story that fosters empathy and respect. My hope is that it inspires audiences to become allies and helps reduce the tragic challenges faced by the transgender youth." The film was screened twice at Marche' du Film at the Cannes Film Festival. From a young age, Sydney endured emotional and physical abuse—not just from the local kids and townsfolk, but also from her father. She concealed her deep desire to embrace her true identity. Encouraged by her mother, she discovered dance, which became her refuge from the discrimination and pain she experienced. With dedication, she honed her skills as a choreographer and ultimately moved to America, seeking a more compassionate and accepting society. The film began production in 2017 and was completed in March 2025. It weaves together the stories of Sydney's friends, each grappling with discrimination, labeling, transition, struggle, physical abuse, and eventual triumph. It's a compelling testament to resilience in the face of discrimination, offering a nuanced exploration of dance as a form of self-expression that rises above gender and societal bias. "At OneUp Film Studios, we are committed to amplifying LGBTQ+ voices through powerful storytelling. The Road to Sydney shines a light on the lived experience of a trans woman of color, and we're proud to support a film that challenges prejudice, fosters understanding, and celebrates authenticity. Sydney's journey is not just inspiring—it's necessary," reveals Sonia Delen, an executive producer of the film. Contributed photo We were able to interview Loyola in Cannes, and she shared with us the challenges she experienced in her journey and transition from Jay to Sydney. Your story is really moving from your transition from Jay Loyola to Sydney Loyola, and you made us cry, especially your first meeting with your father, Arthur, who is based in Camarines Norte, in Bicol. So, talk about that. When we were planning that we would be meeting my dad, I was ready to be disappointed. I'm always expecting the worst that will happen. But eventually, my dad was very open, and he gave me that huge hug that I was expecting. For me, it's very fulfilling. It's already a fulfillment of all the things I was having doubts about, like all of my frustrations when I was young, when I was growing up. When I met him face to face, I thought I was able to see the person whom I'm looking for, the person who would approve of me as an individual. And I found it. I found it in him when I met him. So, it's the fulfillment of my entire journey. It was like a full circle of that journey since I was able to talk to my dad, look him face to face, and look him straight in his eyes. It was unexpected that he would accept me. I was surprised that he gave me that warm embrace that I had been longing for all my life. Why did you decide that your story should be told? Very good question. Oh my God. That's a very tough question. Number one, I think it will be a good story, a good opportunity for others who are still hiding, for others who don't have courage. Because with film, it can go beyond the theaters and be seen by everyone around the world. Probably there's a young boy who is in the same place as me. And coming from my perspective, it might also serve as an inspiration for them to embrace their own identity. It might be a good platform for them to realize that all they need to do is just continue and be courageous. Just go on and take their own journey, and don't get disappointed or don't get discouraged by the things happening around them. For me, the film will help them focus on what they want to do for the rest of their lives. What was the most difficult thing that you encountered during the transition? What was the most challenging thing for you? I think I'm very critical of myself. The most challenging thing for me is when I am transitioning from Jay to Sydney, the physical change is because I feel that I am rushing, because I want to see Sydney already. But there's a process. The physical transition from Jay to Sydney was very challenging because when I wake up in the morning, I'm already expecting to be Sydney, but still, I am not. So, I still have to go through a lot of physical change, and my inner being is the same. I push myself too much. I am always very critical of myself. Can you talk about how blessed you are? Maybe we can call them your angels - your producers, and your director - and how you found each other? I always believe in destiny. And I think it is really a blessing for me. I think God will put you in a place and in a time and space, and you will be meeting the people whom you are destined to meet. So, I think meeting Wendy, Radi, Sonia, Emma, and Benito is destiny, and it's a blessing. It's something that you wouldn't even imagine is going to happen. So, for me, God will always put you in a place where you will meet the people in your destiny. It's the alignment of the universe. And I'm so blessed, and I am so thankful that I was able to meet them. Because imagine now it's the film, and now the film is no longer about me. It's for those who are still hiding, for those who are still scared of coming out, for those who are still finding the courage to speak out. So now it's my gift to them because I have received the gift from God of being able to tell the story. Now, I think I have to pay it forward. Wendy Pascual, Sonia Delen and Conrad (Radi) Calalang of OneUp Film Studios with Sydney Loyola in Cannes. Contributed photo When we were talking about it, my thinking was my life would be an open book now. No more hiding. And it took me a lot of courage. It's not that I am very courageous, but I think the world just left me with no choice. That I really have to speak up. But the first thing was trusting Benito on how he's going to tell the story on film. I told him that I'm putting my trust in you. This is a story that I really hold close to my heart. And it's up to you how you're going to present it to the world, using your lens as a director, as a storyteller. So, it takes a lot of trust and understanding of each other's craft, because my craft is dancing and his craft is film. So, I think that the fusion of these art forms is important in our collaboration. What do you hope your film can do? I am hoping for more visibility. I think Cannes is a very good platform for the film to have better visibility for other countries to see the film, and for us, a very good exposure. Also, being a Filipino American and being a Filipino, presenting what we have culturally because my transition is just part of the film, but it's also about Philippine culture as a whole. Dance is also involved. What was the reaction of the audience here in Cannes when you showed it to them? They are so curious about the journey and how I decided, and how we were able to get in touch with the director, and for the director to tell the story. So, they were asking how you guys find each other and how it all started? So, I was part of the committee of Kalayaan committee in San Francisco. I worked with Sonia and the rest of the producers. And I don't have any family in San Francisco, so I have like a chosen family. So, when I was transitioning, I thought of sharing this journey with them. So, it all started there. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
Vancouver Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Cowan: Panthers assistant Jamie Kompon has Montreal roots, link to Scotty Bowman
Here's a good hockey trivia question for you: Who are the only two coaches to win the Stanley Cup with three teams? This first one is pretty easy: the legendary Scotty Bowman won a record nine Stanley Cups as a head coach — five with the Canadiens, one with the Pittsburgh Penguins and three with the Detroit Red Wings. The second one is a lot tougher, but he also has a Montreal connection. Jamie Kompon has won the Stanley Cup three times as an assistant coach — in 2012 with the Los Angeles Kings, in 2013 with the Chicago Blackhawks and last year with the Florida Panthers. Kompon is looking for a fourth Stanley Cup with the Panthers, who were leading the Hurricanes 3-1 in the Eastern Conference final heading into Game 5 Wednesday in Carolina (8 p.m., CBC, SN, TVA Sports). Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Kompon was born in Nipigon, Ont., but he spent four seasons playing hockey at McGill University. A defenceman, he was named McGill's rookie of the year as a freshman in 1985 and was team captain during his senior season. During his final year at McGill, Kompon spent a three-month stage as a student teacher at Selwyn House School in Westmount , where Steve Mitchell — the father of former Canadiens player Torrey Mitchell — was the director of athletics. After graduating from McGill, Kompon spent two seasons playing in the ECHL with the Hampton Roads Admirals, Cincinnati Cyclones and Winston-Salem Thunderbirds before hanging up his skates and returning to Montreal, where he landed a job at Loyola High School. From 1991-96, Kompon taught phys-ed and math at Loyola and coached the juvenile boys' hockey team, including games against Mitchell's Selwyn House teams. Kompon also returned to his alma mater during that time as an assistant coach and later co-coach at McGill with Martin Raymond. During the 1995-96 season, the Loyola juvenile team won the Ed Meagher Sports Tournament for the first time with Kompon as head coach. 'He's turned out to be a very successful coach, but he's a really humble guy,' Mitchell said Wednesday when I asked him about Kompon. 'A real caring individual and he has always stayed in touch with me.' Kompon made the jump to the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, where from 1997-98 to 2005-06 he held a variety of jobs, including video coach, strength and conditioning coach, assistant coach and scouting coordinator. He then spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Kings, followed by two seasons as an assistant coach with the Blackhawks. After that, Kompon spent the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons as general manager and head coach of the junior Portland Winterhawks in the WHL before returning to the NHL as an assistant coach under Paul Maurice for six seasons with the Winnipeg Jets. When Maurice was hired by the Panthers before the 2022-23 season, he brought Kompon with him and they advanced to the Stanley Cup final during their first season together in Florida before winning the championship last year. The retired Mitchell had a chance to catch up with Kompon while in Florida last November. Kompon took Mitchell on a tour of the Panthers' spectacular new practice facility in Fort Lauderdale and he also had a chance to meet Maurice and Florida GM Bill Zito. When Maurice asked Mitchell what his connection was with Kompon, he said: 'We knew each other from high-school coaching when he was at Loyola, but they never beat us.' Maurice responded: 'Oh, boy, here we go!' Mitchell then had to admit: 'No, we never beat them.' Kompon told Mitchell that the Panthers are an extremely talented team, adding that the players are also 'very, very coachable and now they have experience.' Mitchell wishes he had been able to hire Kompon at Selwyn House back in the day. 'At Selwyn House, we were really impressed with his teaching, his dedication and I knew that he was extremely good with kids and we wanted to hire him, but we had no spots,' Mitchell said. 'We lost him to Loyola. I knew they were going to get a good one.' There was a feature story on Kompon in the summer/fall edition of Loyola Today magazine last year after he won his third Stanley Cup and he spoke about the demands of being an assistant coach today in the NHL. 'You're home by 11 p.m. after a game, rewatch it, and then your work starts again at 5 a.m. at the rink,' he said. 'When you're passionate about what you do, it never feels like work.' Last summer, Kompon had a chance to bring the Stanley Cup back to Thunder Bay, Ont., where he grew up. He was asked by the Thunder Bay News about matching Bowman's record of winning the Stanley Cup with three teams. 'Scotty is a legend, a founding father if you would,' Kompon said. 'He should be on a Mount Rushmore-type of thing. I'm just a piece. It is surreal. It's unbelievable when you say it like that. Sometimes it doesn't sink in and I never take it for granted.' Kompon has also never forgotten his Montreal roots.
