Latest news with #UC
New York Post
16 hours ago
- Health
- New York Post
University of California system pushed DEI training before Trump discrimination probe: ‘Equality isn't fair'
WASHINGTON — The University of California system forced students to undergo diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training that taught 'equality isn't actually fair' and implied it may be 'racist' to oppose the Black Lives Matter movement, according to internal records exclusively obtained by The Post. The training module, contracted from a vendor used by the UC system as recently as the 2024-25 school year, largely consists of interactive role-playing scenarios in which students are forced to imagine situations involving perceived 'microaggressions' against certain identities. The training module was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the advocacy group Do No Harm, which is focused on 'keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice.' 'This course is a clear example of the political indoctrination the University of California system forces its students to go through,' said Do No Harm medical director Dr. Kurt Miceli in a statement. 'Instead of spending precious time developing critical thinking and analytical skills, students in the UC System are subjected to learn progressive political dogma. The UC System and any other school using this training should refocus on the basics of academic excellence rather than DEI and critical theory.' 3 The training module was obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request from the advocacy group Do No Harm, which is focused on 'keeping identity politics out of medical education, research, and clinical practice.' Vector Solutions It's unclear how widespread the training is in the UC system, but a UCLA student had been required to take the DEI module before graduating this spring, according to reps for Do No Harm. A rep for the University of California said in a statement that the vendor, Vector, no longer had a contract with any school in the 10-campus system. 'Like many large institutions of higher education across the country, for a time, Vector (formerly, EverFi) was a training vendor for the University of California system. The University no longer has a systemwide contract with Vector,' the spokesperson said. 'The University of California ended its systemwide contract with Vector for employee sexual harassment prevention training in May 2024. For student harassment training, the Vector contract was extended through the end of May 2025 to ensure a smooth transition to the new platform and is now ended,' the rep added. 'The University of California did not renew a systemwide contract with Vector for diversity training, and that offering is no longer in use. UC campuses require students, faculty, and staff to complete a variety of trainings based on legal and/or regulatory requirements, UC system requirements, and individual campus needs.' In one video module on 'power, privilege and oppression,' participants were asked to distinguish between 'equality' and 'equity.' '[S]ometimes, equality isn't actually fair,' the script states. 'Equity means fairness, which is about giving everyone what they need to be successful.' Another situation asks trainees to navigate how to respond when a fellow student expresses skepticism about the Black Lives Matter movement and suggests that rallying around the phrase 'All Lives Matter' might be a better way to 'bring people together.' The options for the trainee to pick from include educating the skeptic about why 'Black Lives Matter' is an important movement, telling the student that he's 'naïve' and his 'comments are racist,' or a final option, which is to 'engage in a discussion.' 3 The module details cut against several executive actions taken by the Trump administration — and raise questions about whether the UC system could be subjected to greater scrutiny. Pool/ABACA/Shutterstock The document also instructs students on what types of speech they should and should not use. It reminds trainees to use 'inclusive language' and avoid terms including 'lame' and 'insane,' which purportedly contribute to the 'stigma that disabled people face,' while affirming 'that transgender and intersex people are entitled to use facilities that reflect their gender identity.' If a student '[has] religious, political, or cultural objections to someone's gender identity or expression,' the document advises that they 'remember that our community values include treating everyone with dignity and respect.' The end of the document provides a list of resources for students to 'inspire further learning.' 3 A UCLA student was required to take the DEI module as recently as June, according to reps for Do No Harm. ALLISON DINNER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Among the organizations to which students are referred is 'Showing Up for Racial Justice,' an initiative that aims to '[bring] hundreds of thousands of white people into fights for racial and economic justice.' The group has also accused white voters of casting their ballots for 'self-described Nazis, white supremacists, and those with strong ties to white nationalists,' and described the Republican Party's success among Southern white voters as a result of 'appealing to their racism.' The module details cut against several executive actions taken by the Trump administration — and raise questions about whether the UC system, which receives more than $17 billion in federal funding annually, could be subjected to greater scrutiny. On Thursday, the Trump administration launched an investigation into the UC system to determine whether it ran afoul of federal law by engaging in racial or sex-based discrimination when hiring faculty for certain fellowship programs. Earlier this year, the UC system was hit with a lawsuit by the group Students Against Racial Discrimination for allegedly continuing race-based admissions — even after a Supreme Court ruling outlawed the practice in 2023. Reps for UCLA did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
I spent all day counting Keir Starmer's 17 U-turns
That didn't mean I didn't have a go at putting a list together, but where to start - the U-turns he made after taking over the Labour leadership and ditching his 10 pledges? Or since he moved into Number 10 just under a year ago, surely that would be an easy list to compile? Well it took me all day, so let's see what the PM has changed his mind on. 1. Welfare reforms After more than 120 Labour backbenchers staged a rebellion by signing an amendment that would kill off the Government's plans to make changes to disability payments that would send hundreds of thousands of people in the UK into poverty, Starmer and his Cabinet agreed to several 'concessions'. Those currently claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit (UC) will not be impacted by the changes, but future claimants will be. After being forced to make the changes, Starmer said the climbdown was 'common sense' and struck the 'right balance'. READ MORE: Labour rebels urged to 'stand by their conscience' over welfare cuts 2. Winter fuel payment Just weeks after coming to power, Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners who do not receive pension credits or other means-tested benefits. This was a bid to save £1.5 billion each year. But, at the start of May, the UK Government changed is position, reinstating the payment, which is worth up to £300, to the vast majority of pensioners who had previously received it, at a cost of £1.25bn. 3. Grooming gangs In January, Starmer refused to hold a national inquiry into grooming gangs, claiming those who called for one were 'jumping on a far-right bandwagon'. Following recommendations in a report by Baroness Louise Casey, the PM announced there would be a full national statutory inquiry, after initially only agreeing to five local inquiries. 'I've never said we should not look again at any issue,' Starmer said when asked about the change. (Image: PA) 4. National insurance and tax rises Labour's 2024 manifesto said that the party would not increase National Insurance, rates of income tax or VAT. Yet, in Reeves's first budget she announced plans to increase the employers' rate of National Insurance. The Government insisted this was not a breach of its manifesto commitments, despite economists arguing that it did. 5. Waspi women While leader of the opposition, Starmer said it was an 'injustice' that a generation of women were impacted by changes to the pension age. Once in office, the UK Government refused to pay out compensation, with Starmer saying he could not afford the 'burden' on taxpayers. 6. Transgender rights In 2022, Starmer said that 'trans women are women', adding that this was defined by law. Following the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010, Starmer parroted gender-critical language by stating a woman was an 'adult human female'. READ MORE: Will changes on disability benefit cuts affect Scotland? Starmer's 10 pledges Starmer made 10 pledges to Labour party members during the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn and dropped most of them over time. They were: 7. Two-child benefit cap When Starmer suspended the whip from seven MPs who voted to scrap the two-child benefit cap at the start of his tenure as PM, you would be remiss for thinking this was a long-standing position. But in 2020, Starmer called for the cruel cap to be removed, before changing his position just before the 2024 election. He also said the party would abolish Universal Credit and tuition fees under his social justice pledge. 8. Increase income tax for the top 5 per cent of earners and reverse cuts of corporation tax 9. Put the "Green New Deal" at the heart of his Government's policy. Before coming to power, Labour promised to spend £28bn a year on green investment, before drastically scaling it back. Recently, publicly-owned GB Energy had its funding for clean energy raided, with £2.5bn being given to nuclear power. 10. Putting "human rights at the heart of foreign policy". A top Westminster committee recently wrote to Cabinet ministers over concerns that supplying F-35 jet components to Israel was a breach of the UK's international human rights obligations. 11. Nationalisation of rail, mail, energy and water. While the Government is working to nationalise rail in parts of England, and set up GB Energy, though there is no confirmation it has any employees yet and private companies still dominate the industry and set prices - Royal Mail and water companies remain privately owned. 12. An immigration system based on "compassion and dignity". The UK Government's immigration white paper extended automatic settlement from five years to 10, ended international recruitment of care workers and made tests for foreign students applying to UK universities stricter, among other changes. READ MORE: We investigate the state of the welfare state – read our new series 13. Strengthen worker's rights. Labour rebranded itself as the " party of work" rather than party of workers under Starmer, and watered down its New Deal for Workers. 14. Abolish the House of Lords. This did not happen. Hereditary peers were scrapped, but no radical changes have been made since Labour took over in Westminster. Elsewhere... 15. Bankers' bonuses When short-term prime minister Liz Truss scrapped the cap on bankers' bonuses during those hazy 49 days she was in Number 10, Starmer vowed to reinstate it. Right before the election, Reeves announced Labour had no intention of doing that whatsoever. 16. Farmers Starmer promised a 'new relationship' with farmers in a speech in 2023, but then once in power scrapped agricultural property relief. This means farms, who were previously exempt, with assets more than £1 million will be hit with a 20 per cent levy. 17. Non-Doms Labour were set to abolish the non-dom status. It allows those whose permanent home is outwith the UK to only pay tax on the money they earn here. But at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Reeves said she would 'tweak' the transition period to make it more attractive to the super-rich. It is not surprising Starmer changed position on three policies in the space of a month, it is becoming the defining feature of his leadership of the Labour party. It gives the impression of a man, and a party, easily swayed by big business and the super-rich, who are happy to put the burden of balancing the public purse on the backs of those who need support the most, rather than those who can afford it. It paints a picture of a still out-of-touch Westminster led by a party that promised change, but all it can offer is a man who changes position as often as the Tories used to change prime minister.
Wales Online
a day ago
- Business
- Wales Online
The full statement as major DWP U-turn on PIP payments announced
The full statement as major DWP U-turn on PIP payments announced The announcement comes after crisis talks with backbenchers Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall (Image: PA ) This is the full statement that has been issued by the Government explaining the major U-turn on PIP payments. It has today been announced that people who currently receive the personal independence payment (PIP) will continue to do so after concessions were made to Labour rebels on controversial welfare reforms. A letter from work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall to MPs said adjustments to universal credit would also see incomes protected. It read: "Dear colleague. We have always said we are determined to reform the social security system so it is fair, provides dignity and respect for those unable to work, supports those who can, and is sustainable so it is there for generations to come. "The broken system we inherited from the Tories fails all of those tests. These important reforms are rooted in Labour values, and we want to get them right. "We have listened to colleagues who support the principle of reform but are worried about the impact of the pace of change on those already supported by the system. As a result we will make two changes to strengthen the Bill. "Firstly, we recognise the proposed changes have been a source of uncertainty and anxiety. Therefore, we will ensure that all of those currently receiving PIP will stay within the current system. The new eligibility requirements will be implemented from November 2026 for new claims only. Article continues below "Secondly, we will adjust the pathway of Universal Credit payment rates to make sure all existing recipients of the UC health element – and any new claimant meeting the severe conditions criteria – have their incomes fully protected in real terms. "Colleagues rightly want to ensure that disabled people and those with ill health are at the heart of our reforms. We will take forward a ministerial review of the PIP assessment, led by the Minister for Social Security and Disability, to ensure the benefit is fair and fit for the future. "At the heart of this review will be coproduction with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and MPs so their views and voices are heard. The review will then report to me as Work and Pensions Secretary. These commitments sit alongside our raising of the standard rate of the Universal Credit – the biggest real-terms permanent increase of any benefit since the 1980s – the protection of the incomes of the most vulnerable who will no longer be reassessed and the introduction of 'right to try'. "Our reform principles remain; to target funding for those most in need and make sure the system is sustainable for the future to support generations to come. We believe those who can work, should, and those who cannot, should be protected. "We will front load more of the additional funding generated by these reforms for back to work support for sick and disabled people. "Taken together it is a fair package that will preserve the social security system for those who need it by putting it on a sustainable footing, support people back into work, protect those who cannot work and reduce anxiety for those currently in the system. "Thank you to colleagues for engaging with us on these important reforms to social security." The announcement comes after crisis talks with backbenchers, with some 126 MPs within the party signing an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks. Sir Keir Starmer's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has its second reading on Tuesday, the first opportunity for MPs to support or reject it. The Government's original package restricted eligibility for PIP, the main disability payment, and limited the sickness-related element of universal credit. Existing claimants were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition by aiming to soften the impact of the changes. The change in PIP payments would protect some 370,000 existing claimants who were expected to lose out following reassessment. Article continues below
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Are the Universal Credit and PIP cuts going ahead? We explain how changes could affect you
LATE-NIGHT concessions were granted to Labour rebels on the flagship welfare reforms - giving relief to some benefits claimants. Ministers announced a slew of welfare reforms back in March aimed at getting more people off sickness benefits and into work. 1 Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall made a series of late-night concessions to Labour rebsls Credit: Getty Changes outlined included curbing access to the main disability benefit known as Pip - personal independence payment - and sickness-related universal credit. But hopes of Chancellor Rachel Reeves saving around £5 billion by the end of the decade have been dashed by 126-strong army of Labour MPs voicing their opposition. What are the Pip changes? Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall says ANYONE currently receiving Pip will keep their benefits. Only new claims kicking in from November NEXT year will fall under the new criteria under beefed-up eligibility requirements. The new measures would have seen 800,000 people lose out with an average loss of £4,500 every year. The changes would have seen a staggering 370,000 people totally lose the Pip pay-outs. What isn't changing to Pip? Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall says ANYONE currently receiving Pip will keep their benefits. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the change will also indirectly boost around 50,000 carers who look after someone on Pip, ensuring they keep their carer's allowance of around £4,340 per year. What are the Universal Credit changes? More than 2 million people will see themselves protected from a loss of between £250 and £500 a year. Increases to UC will see a boost of £7 a week to £106 per week for new and existing claims from April 2026. What isn't changing to Universal Credit? The Cabinet Minister vowed that all those currently receiving the UC health element - and new claimants meeting the severe conditions criteria will see their incomes 'fully protected in real terms'. But Mikey Erhardt, from Disability Rights UK, accused the Government of 'playing politics with our lives', saying the vote next Tuesday must still be pulled. He said the changes will mean 'a benefits system where future generations of disabled people receive less support than disabled people today'. He added that the original decision 'prioritised balancing its books over improving the lives of disabled citizens'. Mr Erhardt added: 'Despite seemingly rowing back on some of the worst aspects of its plans, the Government is still attempting to slash billions of pounds from a system that doesn't provide enough support as it stands.' The MS Society said Ministers were simply 'kicking the can down the road and delaying an inevitable disaster'. They urged MPs 'not to be swayed by these last-ditch attempts to force through a harmful Bill with supposed concessions'. Food bank network Trussell welcomed the 'significant' concessions. But they said the proposals 'still present a bleak future for future claimants and still risk placing the Government's commitments to end the need for emergency food and tackle poverty in serious jeopardy'.
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Labour rebels urged to 'stand by their conscience' over welfare cuts
The SNP called on backbenchers to reject the welfare cuts despite Keir Starmer's latest U-turn on the policy. In March, the UK Government announced restricting access to personal independence payments (PIP), the main disability payment, and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit (UC). They said this would save £4.8 billion by 2029-30. As a result of the changes, an estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, were likely to fall into relative poverty by the end of the decade. READ MORE: Westminster committee calls out Labour on F-35 exports to Israel However, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall made two changes to the Bill after more than 100 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment to halt the legislation. Kendall said that current PIP recipients would keep their benefits, but new claims from November 2026 would come under tightened eligibility requirements. She also said those currently receiving the UC health element, as well as new claimants meeting the severe conditions criteria, will have their incomes 'fully protected in real terms'. The SNP, who also signed the amendment in a bid to stop the legislation, urged rebels not to back down over the concessions. (Image: PA) Kirsty Blackman MP (above), the SNP work and pensions spokesperson, said the party will continue to 'strongly oppose and vote against' the cuts. "I urge rebel Labour MPs to stand by their conscience and reject Keir Starmer's disability cuts bill,' she said. "The Prime Minister's so-called 'concessions' have created a dog's dinner of a system that makes no sense and punishes those who are young or newly disabled. 'They are blatantly discriminatory, of questionable legality, and will see disabled people with the exact same needs treated differently just because of when they were born or became sick, injured or disabled. "If these Labour Party cuts go ahead, they will embed discrimination into the Westminster welfare system - creating an unfair two-tier system of disability support that will punish younger disabled people and anyone who becomes sick, injured or disabled in future. It's shameful and must be scrapped. READ MORE: Patrick Harvie and Angus Robertson face-off over Israel divestment "The SNP Scottish Government is clear it won't follow these discriminatory two-tier disability cuts. 'Any Labour MP thinking of supporting this bill must explain how they can possibly justify a system that will discriminate against their own constituents - and will treat some disabled people worse than others simply to save Keir Starmer an embarrassing defeat in parliament." It comes as Scotland's Social Justice Secretary said that Labour's 'two-tier' system will not be replicated north of the border. Shirley-Anne Somerville criticised the 'backroom late night deal', adding that disabled people had still not been consulted on the plans.
