Latest news with #studentrights
The Independent
10-07-2025
- The Independent
Principal arrested after girls stripped for ‘period check' in India school
Police in India arrested the principal and an attendant of a school for allegedly stripping around 10 girl students to check if they were menstruating after blood stains were found inside a toilet. The incident took place in Thane in western India's Maharashtra state when blood stains were spotted in a washroom by the school's staff members on Tuesday. The Thane Rural Police issued a statement confirming that they have taken action against the school authorities after parents of the aggrieved minors staged a protest. The information to the school principal about the stains in the washroom led to the faculty summoning the girls from grade 5 to grade 10 at the convention hall. The students were then shown photos of the blood stains in the toilet and on the tiles, police said. School teachers then asked the students to disclose their period cycles and confirm who was on their periods. The teachers noted down the details of the girls and teenagers who raised their hands and took them to the washroom where they were stripped and checked by the attendants, police said, according to The Indian Express. The principal and the attendant arrested are both women. The students reportedly went home in tears and informed their parents about the disturbing probe by the school authorities. Several parents on Wednesday went to the school and protested against the act. The parents also demanded strict action against the management and teachers. One of the students complained she was asked by the principal about why she was using a sanitary pad when she was not on her periods. The principal then accused the student of lying and forced her to submit a thumb impression, according to the Thane Rural Police. A parent said that the action by the school teachers 'amounts to mental harassment to the girls'. The police have also arrested four teachers and two trustees for the incident and the arrested will be produced before the court on Thursday. All have been booked under relevant sections of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The investigation is underway and the police officials said they are collecting more evidence from the students. The school principal denied that she ordered a strip-search or that it took place, according to the BBC.
Irish Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
University fees hike controversy
Sir, – I see there is division in Government in relation to a potential increase in university fees. I think I know the perfect solution that will result in all parties including students being happy and nobody loses face. A special commission should be set up to produce a report on how universities should be funded. It will probably take a year or so to complete. In the meantime, no hard decision is required and we kick this thorny issue down the road yet again. Sound familiar? – Yours, etc, EAMONN BYRNE, READ MORE Dublin 15.
Telegraph
01-07-2025
- General
- Telegraph
German university bans Muslim society over gender-segregated meetings
A prestigious German university has banned a Muslim student society after it held a gender-segregated meeting in a lecture hall. Charité, which dates back to the 18th century and is Europe's largest university hospital, says it has banned the group Medislam Collective (MSC) from using its premises in Berlin, in the interests of a 'discrimination-free' environment. It comes after photographs of a MSC meeting, which showed male and female students sitting apart from each other in a lecture hall, were widely published by German media. The students organised the meeting themselves and there is no suggestion that Charité university has started holding gender-segregated classes or lectures. The student group has not commented on the dispute. A spokesman for Charité university said: 'Based on current information, and in the interests of a discrimination-free, integrative and values-based environment, the group is immediately prohibited from holding events and activities on the university grounds, until further notice.' As of Tuesday morning, the university had also removed the MSC's society page from its official website. MSC describes itself as a society for Muslim medical students and non-Muslim students with an interest in their faith. The group hosts quizzes, networking events and Iftar dinners, for the breaking of the fast of Ramadan, as well as study groups and discussions about preventing racism. The video that caused the row was posted on Instagram, and features several brief clips showing female and male students sitting in two groups on each side of a lecture hall. A caption on the video states: 'We began the new semester with a meaningful recital from the Quran, and exciting insights into the history and vision of MSC – perfect for new faces to arrive and feel welcome right away. We rounded off the evening with team games, tasty snacks and valuable discussions.' Separate entrances It follows a similar incident at Germany's Kiel University, where a Muslim student group reportedly held an event requiring men and women to use separate entrances and sit apart. In 2017, the London School of Economics also came under fire for allowing gender segregation at an Islamic Society gala dinner, with tickets marked for 'brothers' and 'sisters'. The university later conceded that the event was 'likely to fall foul of the Equality Act 2010 and be unlawful on the grounds of discrimination by gender due to the segregation'. The far-Right Alternative für Germany party has claimed that the Chariŧé incident is a sign of the gradual 'Islamification of our universities'. 'These incidents show this is not about an academic debate, but about the politicisation of the freedom of our universities,' said Christoph Birghan, a member of the Bundestag.
Washington Post
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
We're Jews. Kristi Noem's war on Harvard doesn't protect us.
Regarding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem's June 24 op-ed, 'Harvard flouted the rules. Now, it's getting a hard lesson.': I take issue with Noem's op-ed, which berated Harvard for alleged antisemitism and threatened to revoke the Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification that allows the university to admit and enroll foreign students. I am a Harvard degree holder, Class of 1964, as well as a Jew and a Zionist who supports a two-state solution. My automobile bears a sticker stating 'I support Jewish college students.' By this, I mean I support Jewish students who either support or oppose Israel's actions and tactics toward Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel proper. We do not need the federal government telling Harvard how to deal with students — whether U.S. or foreign — who peacefully express their views on public issues, do not threaten others with physical harm, and observe reasonable rules that ensure noninterference with the university's teaching and other educational procedures. These are the 'American values' that matter, not some of those Noem espoused in her op-ed. Some students might be angry or outraged by the views peacefully expressed by their fellow students. That frustration is a part of life, and it is not something from which the government can protect them — though of course colleges and the government have an obligation to keep all people safe from physical harm. I would add two thoughts. Foreign students add immeasurably to the quality of the educational experience of all students, whether they remain in the U.S. or return to another country. And I believe that most of the unfortunate increase in hateful speech directed at Jews, including Jewish students, is not a product of antisemitism but a reaction to Israeli government policies and practices that have caused so much pain and suffering to Palestinians. Elihu I. Leifer, Chevy Chase Secretary Kristi L. Noem claimed in her recent op-ed both that Harvard is unsafe for students and fostered 'antisemitic extremism,' and that the Department of Homeland Security 'reached out in good faith' before attempting to ban foreign students from campus. As a Jewish student at Harvard Kennedy School, where more than half the students come to Cambridge from other countries, I want to share a different perspective. Yes, antisemitism is real. Yes, I know what it's like to feel afraid as a Jew. But today, what scares me most is not knowing what illegal attempt Noem might make next in the name of antisemitism to suppress constitutional freedoms and target my classmates who have visas to study in the U.S. In April, more than 550 rabbis and cantors condemned the Trump administration for twisting Jewish safety to these ends. Noem should know better than to seemingly maintain that the administration represents all Jews' interests months later. And she certainly cannot speak for all Jews at Harvard. This spring, when demand letters from the Trump administration began arriving both at Harvard and at federal agencies that have contracts with the university, my classmates and I read each one with growing concern. These did not seem like 'good faith' efforts at negotiation — a topic I study closely as a public policy student — but threats to seize control of university hiring, admissions, governance, discipline and teaching. The law is clear: Noem and President Donald Trump unconstitutionally retaliated against Harvard, attacking freedom of thought, expression and speech, and threatening the university with immediate, irreparable harm. This is the opinion of U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, who issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's attempt to keep visa holders from coming to Harvard. At Harvard Kennedy School, my closest friends come from Colombia, Germany and Singapore. They have enriched my learning and my life in countless ways. Our program would be shattered without them, and Harvard without its international students would become the epicenter of the Trump-fueled brain drain. Perhaps Noem needs a lesson in the economic benefits that foreign students bring to the entire nation, not just Harvard, and a refresher course on the First and Fifth amendments. And Harvard leadership should continue to stand against the unlawful actions of the Trump administration. Harvard students stand with them — and we fully expect to prevail. Daniela Schulman, Cambridge, Massachusetts Of all the claptrap that emanates from the Trump administration, Kristi L. Noem's op-ed lecturing Harvard about antisemitism has its own place of dishonor. Speaking as an American Jew, I would like to tell her what makes me feel insecure: What makes American Jews like me feel most threatened is using us as an excuse to impose draconian strictures on society and then, when there is blowback (and eventually there will be, if history is any guide), using Jews as a scapegoat. The political theater that President Donald Trump engages in about antisemitism is naked political opportunism. Joyce Saadi, Gaithersburg Student and Exchange Visitor Program compliance is a legitimate regulatory concern, but the public, punitive framing the Trump administration is using to explain its actions toward Harvard University — especially when conveyed in an op-ed rather than a formal legal proceeding — suggests the goal is more than enforcement. The aim also appears to be intimidation and humiliation. The action comes in the context of culture-war grievances: Conservatives have criticized Harvard for its response to pro-Palestinian protests and for its perceived 'wokeness.' Threatening the university's ability to enroll international students — essential to its mission and funding — looks a lot like retaliation, not neutral governance. Robert Stewart, Chantilly What exactly is Harvard's offense, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem's strange and furious diatribe? Rampant antisemitism, she alleges. And what exactly does the secretary intend to do about it? She appears intent on strangling Harvard until it complies with … something. Ten percent of Harvard's undergraduates were Jewish as of 2023. Why would they enroll at Harvard if it was antisemitic? Its president, Alan Garber, is Jewish, for heaven's sake, and so are many of its faculty members. The administration seems to see Harvard and its peer institutions as labs breeding a cultural virus that they believe infected the country with liberal and progressive anti-Trumpism. Noem appears to have appointed herself the germ-hunter who's going to eradicate the source of that epidemic. The secretary writes that Harvard has to decide whether to get with the program or be 'an adversary to American values,' by which she means MAGA values. But it's Harvard's values that are quintessentially American: the search for truth and knowledge and understanding. The idea that Harvard should fall under the purview of DHS because it's a threat to our national security is laughable. This is not the department's business. Bruce Carnes, Fairfax It might be true that there are antisemitic students enrolled at Harvard University. I would be willing to bet, though I do not have proof, that this is true of virtually every university in the United States. The same goes for racism, anti-Muslim sentiment and other biases that might be present in our diverse nation. But I'm curious: Did Harvard as an institution support the 'Unite the Right' rally in Charlottesville in 2017? Did the university encourage protesters who opposed Israel's operations in Gaza to adopt ugly slogans or anti-Jewish language? I did not read any substantiation of Noem's statement that Harvard 'encouraged and fostered antisemitic extremism.' Instead, did the university state that there is a right to peacefully express one's opinions, be they in support of gay pride, in opposition to Israel's actions, or for or against abortion? I want to see proof that universities are encouraging a position before the university is punished for them. Howard Pedolsky, Rockville
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'You cannot take away choice from girls'- reactions to possible school skirt ban
A GROWING number of schools across the UK are moving to ban skirts from their uniform policies — and the reaction from parents and residents has been anything but quiet. The latest flashpoint is Honywood School in Coggeshall, Essex. Earlier this month, the school announced that from September, students would only be permitted to wear trousers or knee-length tailored shorts — effectively banning skirts altogether. The school said the decision was due to ongoing issues with students rolling up their skirts. However, following a backlash from parents, the ban was postponed — though not entirely scrapped. The Gazette took to the streets to ask residents what they thought of the controversial move, and the community offered a range of strongly held views. Kerry Martin (Image: Newsquest Reporter) 'I think it's a little bit extreme that these schools are banning skirts,' said Kerry Martin, 36, an artist living in Blackheath. 'I understand that there are some concerns, and they are valid and they must have rules in place to ensure everyone is wearing the right length skirt. "However, they shouldn't take it away from everybody. Girls should be allowed to wear skirts if they choose to. Especially in this hot weather.' James Ferris (Image: Newsquest Reporter) James Ferris, 39, an engineer from Tollesbury, said he sees the issue from the perspective of a parent. He said: 'I don't think it's fair at all. As a girl dad, I fully believe that the girls should be allowed to wear whatever they want to wear. "They should have the right to choosing if they want to wear a skirt or trousers. You cannot take away choice from young women as they are growing up.' Anna Gayle (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Anna Gayle, 42, who works in HR and lives in Manningtree, said: 'As a mum, I feel that it seems unnecessary to ban the skirt. "If the length of the skirt is an issue, have stricter guidelines about what's the appropriate length. "As a parent, I believe schools should have the right to policy making, but you cannot take away choice from young women. "Have rules in place about what's the right length of the skirt permitted, and for kids who don't follow that rule, have a chat with their parents.' Matt Gayle (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Her husband, Matt Gayle, 43, a CBT therapist also from Manningtree, agreed that banning skirts goes too far. He said: 'I know girls tend to roll up their skirts, but a ban is over the top. If there is a certain uniform, have a guideline and make sure people abide by it. "Discipline is important but we cannot simply dictate girls to not wear skirts. "Skirt or trouser, the choice must be theirs and parents must also take full responsibility in making sure the girls wear the right length of skirt that is outlined in the school's uniform policy.' Matt Coowes (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Matt Coowes, 34, a production engineer, living in Clacton said: "Well my organisation had banned shorts last year actually, which we all sided with because it was from a health and safety standpoint. "So, this sort of uniform policy is only acceptable in my opinion if it's to safeguard the children from a health and safety perspective. But clearly that's not the case. "It's a case of taking away choice from young women to decide if they want to wear a skirt or a trouser, it's about controlling how they chose to express themselves. "Sure the girls roll up the skirts, then find a better way so they don't. Banning is not the solution." Linda Lloyd (Image: Newsquest Reporter) Linda Llyod, 56, a screening officer for a learning disability organization living in St Osyth, said banning skirts fails to address the real issue. She said: 'Well girls rolling up school skirts is very normal for their age. It's life, it's just girls for you. "Now it's absolutely ridiculous they want to ban skirts. I think they shouldn't ban it. Girls wear skirts and they should be allowed to wear it if they choose to. "The length is an issue, and that should be addressed in a better way. If your concern is girls' safety, make sure you outline it as a rule they wear knee-length skirts, but don't ban it entirely. "I see both sides of this argument but a ban... that's still a bit unfair and I hope they don't implement it.'
