Latest news with #ScottFitzgerald
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
House Panel Subpoenas Harvard in Tuition-Pricing Inquiry
The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Harvard on Thursday in its investigation into whether Ivy League universities have coordinated their pricing, turning up pressure on a school already in an all-out battle with the Trump administration. In the subpoena letter, Representatives Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Scott Fitzgerald, a Wisconsin Republican who leads a key subcommittee, demanded documents and communications about the university's tuition and financial aid by July 17. They said they were issuing the subpoena after Harvard's response to an earlier request for information was 'inadequate' and 'substantively deficient,' with much of the material that was turned over already publicly available. Harvard disputed the committee's assessment. 'We are disappointed that the committee has chosen to issue a subpoena and believe it is unwarranted, unfair and unnecessary,' said Jason Newton, a Harvard spokesman. He added that the university 'has produced thousands of pages of documents regarding our tuition setting process and financial aid program.' The subpoena threatened to break open yet another front in what has become a sprawling legal battle between Harvard and Republicans in Washington. The Trump administration has sought to punish the university for not acceding to its demands as President Trump pushes to shift the ideological tilt of the higher education system. The university has been the target of investigations from at least six federal agencies, and the administration has already tried to cut off billions of dollars in federal funding and block international students from attending Harvard, among other measures. Courts have halted many of the Trump administration's actions, and the university has become a symbol of resistance for not bowing to Mr. Trump. But Harvard officials have concluded their legal victories alone may not be enough to protect the university and are debating whether they might be able to reach a deal with the administration. The House Judiciary Committee had originally sought information in a letter to Harvard on April 8, alleging that Ivy League schools were 'collectively raising tuition prices' in breach of antitrust laws and were 'engaging in perfect price discrimination by offering selective financial aid packages to maximize profits.' They requested a large swath of documents between Harvard, other Ivy League schools and the College Board that contained any communication related to tuition, financial aid and admission practices. As part of the request, the committee asked for any documents related to the 568 Presidents Group, a collection of universities that worked to provide similar tuition prices and financial aid. The organization was dissolved in 2022 amid a class-action lawsuit. Harvard was not involved in the group or in the lawsuit. In an attempt to address its high tuition, Harvard announced in March that students whose families earned less than $100,000 could attend the school for free, while those whose families earn less than $200,000 would not have to pay the cost of tuition.
CNA
6 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
US House committee subpoenas Harvard over tuition costs
The US House Judiciary Committee sent a subpoena to Harvard University on Thursday (Jun 26) seeking documents and communications for its probe into tuition costs and financial aid for Ivy League students. A letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, signed by committee chairman Jim Jordan and US Representative Scott Fitzgerald, both Republicans, described Harvard's response to previous requests for documents as inadequate and said the committee needs the documents "to fulfil its oversight and legislative responsibilities". A spokesperson for Harvard said in a statement: "We are disappointed that the Committee has chosen to issue a subpoena and believe it is unwarranted, unfair and unnecessary." It added: "There is no basis for an allegation of collusion in Harvard's setting of tuition and financial aid." The investigation into tuition is part of a larger fight between Harvard and the White House and Congress, including over cuts to federal funding and efforts to block foreign students from attending the university. President Donald Trump has said he is trying to force change at Harvard - and other top-level universities across the US - because in his view they have been captured by leftist "woke" thought and become bastions of antisemitism. The subpoena comes as part of an investigation by the Republican-controlled US House Judiciary Committee into whether Harvard and other Ivy League schools broke antitrust laws by raising tuition costs. "We are concerned that Ivy League member institutions appear to be collectively raising tuition prices while engaging in perfect price discrimination by offering selective financial aid packages to maximise profits," the letter to Harvard's Garber said. US Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee, called the investigation "plainly ridiculous" and "based on pathetically weak allegations". The Harvard spokesperson said the school has produced thousands of pages of documents on its tuition-setting process and financial aid. While the Judiciary Committee said it had received hundreds of requested documents, it added that some of them contained publicly available facts and lacked specific information that was desired.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US House committee subpoenas Harvard over tuition costs
June 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. House Judiciary Committee sent a subpoena to Harvard University on Thursday seeking documents and communications for its probe into tuition costs and financial aid for Ivy League students. A letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, signed by committee chairman Jim Jordan and U.S. Representative Scott Fitzgerald, both Republicans, described Harvard's response to previous requests for documents as inadequate and said the committee needs the documents "to fulfill its oversight and legislative responsibilities." A spokesperson for Harvard said in a statement: "We are disappointed that the Committee has chosen to issue a subpoena and believe it is unwarranted, unfair and unnecessary." It added: "There is no basis for an allegation of collusion in Harvard's setting of tuition and financial aid." The investigation into tuition is part of a larger fight between Harvard and the White House and Congress, including over cuts to federal funding and efforts to block foreign students from attending the university. President Donald Trump has said he is trying to force change at Harvard - and other top-level universities across the U.S. - because in his view they have been captured by leftist "woke" thought and become bastions of antisemitism. The subpoena comes as part of an investigation by the Republican-controlled U.S. House Judiciary Committee into whether Harvard and other Ivy League schools broke antitrust laws by raising tuition costs. "We are concerned that Ivy League member institutions appear to be collectively raising tuition prices while engaging in perfect price discrimination by offering selective financial aid packages to maximize profits," the letter to Harvard's Garber said. U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the Judiciary Committee, called the investigation "plainly ridiculous" and "based on pathetically weak allegations." The Harvard spokesperson said the school has produced thousands of pages of documents on its tuition-setting process and financial aid. While the Judiciary Committee said it had received hundreds of requested documents, it added that some of them contained publicly available facts and lacked specific information that was desired.
Herald Sun
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Marvel Stadium ranked in 2025 Pollstar Mid-Year Top 50 Worldwide Stadium list
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne's Marvel Stadium has been ranked in the top five sport and entertainment venues in the world for the first time. The Herald Sun can reveal the AFL-owned ground has been ranked Australia's top stadium in a global study, outpointing the MCG, Adelaide Oval, SCG, Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane and Optus Stadium in Perth. The Docklands venue ranked in the top 10 in the 2025 Pollstar Mid-Year Top 50 Worldwide Stadium rankings for both tickets and gross sales. Marvel Stadium was ranked the highest Australian venue in Pollstar's top 50 list, joining the likes of Mexico's Estadio GNP Seguros, California's SoFi Stadium and Japan's Tokyo Dome as international venues in the top 10. Measured between November 14, 2024 and May 14, 2025, Pollstar ranked Marvel Stadium as fifth in the world for highest-grossing stadiums and seventh for highest stadium ticket sales. During that period, more than 111,200 fans packed Marvel Stadium to see US country artist Luke Combs, 54,600 flocked to see punk pop rockers Green Day, and 108,100 rocked out to Pearl Jam. The data crunch also took in patronage for AFL matches featuring the likes of Essendon, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda. Marvel Stadium general manager Scott Fitzgerald said the ranking reinforced the venue's place on the international touring map. 'To be named among the best stadiums on the global stage is a true testament to the investment and innovation that has gone into evolving Marvel Stadium into a world-class, 365-day multipurpose venue that is delivering unforgettable experiences for fans, artists, and athletes alike,' he said. The milestone marks the first time Marvel Stadium has been recognised in the top five venues for grossing stadiums, following its eighth position in the same list in 2023. Mr Fitzgerald said: 'Melbourne is a city that lives and breathes sport and live entertainment, and we're proud that Marvel Stadium is continuing to shine on an international stage and creating experiences that rival the world's best.' It was the highest Aussie stadium in Pollstar's top 50, surpassing fellow Australian sites Accor Stadium, Flemington Racecourse, Brisbane Showgrounds and ENGIE Stadium. And it is the second global ranking recognition Marvel Stadium has received in the past year after its number one top-grossing concert revenue result for October in the 2024 Billboard Boxscore rankings. Marvel trailed only Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, SoFi Stadium in the US, Allianz Parque in Brazil and Mexico's Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for gross sales. It was the seventh top arena based on ticket sales, behind Estadio GNP Seguros, Allianz Parquel, Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and SoFi Stadium. While footy rules in Melbourne during winter, the venue will host some more big acts this year including Oasis, Metallica, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and Wrexham AFC's tour Down Under.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lawmakers accuse medical residency matching program of violating antitrust laws
WASHINGTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust debated Wednesday whether the program that matches new doctors with residency opportunities violated antitrust laws and should have its antitrust protections repealed. Medical students in the United States are required to complete a residency program to work as licensed physicians. For the past 70 years, students in their final year of medical school have been assigned to these programs through the National Residency Matching Program or the "Match." The Match was instituted to replace a chaotic system of hospitals bidding on residents. The Match uses an algorithm that takes into account the preferences of medical students who submit a ranked list of residency programs. It also considers the hospitals' own preferences for applicants. Every year, on the third Friday of March, medical students open an envelope to learn their match, which likely determines where they will live for the next several years, how much money they will make and what specialty they are allowed to pursue. Students are legally bound to their matched program with no room to negotiate salary, vacation time or working hours. "When America's future doctors apply for residency, they enter a closed market controlled by a single accreditation monopoly," said Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis, who chairs the subcommittee. "As a result, there's no competition now, and it decides the fate of more than 50,000 residents and fellows each year." In 2004, Congress exempted the National Residency Matching Program from antitrust liability, reinforcing the existing, restrictive system, many observers argue. While there was bipartisan acknowledgement of flaws in the Match, Republicans and Democrats were divided on how to approach reforming the system. GOP members of the committee were more inclined to support repealing antitrust protections granted to the program. "At a minimum, we need to narrow the scope of an overly broad exemption that literally puts a gag order on getting any information," Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif, told Medill News Service. Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., expressed skepticism toward repealing antitrust protections for the Match. He suggested alternative measures medical residents could take to negotiate better working conditions. "I think there are several ways for [reforming the Match] to happen, including unionization, especially in urban areas," Garcia said. While unionization can be a method for residents to advocate for higher salaries and better working conditions, it does not address the blind sorting nature of the Match. Thomas Miller, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who testified before the committee, said unionization was not a holistic solution. "Unionization is a response to a problem, and when you have a power imbalance, you will have more residents finding that unions are their main or only option," Miller told Medill News Service. "That's a symptom rather than a solution, but when that's your best solution, you'll gravitate more toward it." Many Democrats also favored reforming the Match, but were unsure of what steps to take. "I'm not sure how to improve it," Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y. told Medill News Service. "No one has suggested an intelligent way to improve it." Miller proposed a middle-ground solution of modifying the antitrust protections without outright repealing them. He offered a few possible modifications to the system, such as letting institutions compete for medical students and expanding the time frame during which students would have to accept offers. "You could have more than one [residency] offer to have some degree of negotiating room," Miller said. "We can set rules to eliminate set periods so you don't have exploding offers. They have to be around for a while. You can have early deadlines and later deadlines." Miller dismissed the idea that no viable proposed alternatives exist to the Match system. "The current system is not a proposal, either," Miller said. "No, there are all kinds of proposals. The issue is, what's the first step?"
