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UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Justice Department asked to investigate N.Y. school mascot case
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Tuesday asked the Department of Justice to investigate the New York Department of Education and Board of Regents for alleged civil rights violations related to a public school's mascot. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- New York state education officials might face a U.S. Justice Department investigation into potential Title VI of the Civil Rights Act violations related to a public school's chosen mascot. The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday announced it has asked the DOJ to investigate the New York State Department of Education and Board of Regents for banning Massapequa, N.Y., High School's mascot, which is the "Chiefs." The mascot refers to the Massapequa Tribe that formerly occupied New York's Long Island. "Both the New York [State] Department of Education and the Board of Regents violated federal anti-discrimination law and disrespected the people of Massapequa by implementing an absurd policy: prohibiting the use of Native American mascots while allowing mascots derived from European national origin," Education Secretary Linda McMahon said. "Both of these entities continue to disrespect the people of Massapequa by refusing to come into compliance with the Office for Civil Rights' proposed agreement to rectify their violations," McMahon added. Officials with the state's Education Department and Board of Regents have banned schools from using mascots and logos that refer to and depict aboriginal tribes. The U.S. DOE's Office of Civil Rights had proposed a resolution to the matter by requiring the state to rescind its ban on aboriginal tribal mascots and logos, but the state rejected it. The DOE has opened a Title VI investigation into the matter to determine whether or not the state's ban amounts to discrimination based on race and national origin. A New York Education Department spokesperson called the matter a "farce" in an emailed statement to UPI. "The referral of this matter to the Department of Justice shows that USDOE's investigation was a farce from the outset," NYDE spokesman JP O'Hare said. "To the extent that any investigation took place, it represents a blatant attempt to do a political favor for the Massapequa Board of Education." He called the use of aboriginal tribal mascots "indolent symbolism masquerading as tradition" and said nearly all state school districts are complying with the state's regulations. "To date, with the exception of four school districts that have contacted us to request an extension, every school district in New York, 727 of them, has engaged in the community-driven process to rebrand their team names, mascots and logos," O'Hare said. "Rather than wrestling over mascots, maybe we could all focus on what's paramount, ensuring our schools are inclusive and respectful for every student," he added. State education department officials have threatened to withhold state funding from the Massapequa school district if it does not change its mascot to one that conforms with New York regulations. Those regulations don't ban the use of mascots and logos that reference other racial or ethnic groups, such as the "Fighting Irish," "Huguenots" and the "Dutchmen," which the DOE says violates the Civil Rights Act. "The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools," McMahon said on April 25. She visited the school district on May 30 after the DOE investigated the matter and determined the state violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Native American Guardians Association agrees with McMahon and the DOE. "The [NAGA] stands firm in asserting that the preservation of Native themes and imagery in New York schools is not only a matter of cultural dignity but a fundamental civil right for all students," NAGA Vice President Frank Blackcloud said. "We call on federal and state leaders to help us defend these dwindling expressions of our presence and contributions," Blackcloud added. Massapequa Board of Education President Kerry Watcher thanked NAGA, the DOE and the Trump administration for their support. "Attempts to erase Native American imagery do not advance learning," Watcher said. "They distract from our core mission of providing a high-quality education grounded in respect, history and community values."
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
University regents approve fiscal 2026 budget that cuts spending, raises tuition and fees
The "M Circle" on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. (Photo by Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters) The University System of Maryland's Board of Regents voted Friday to approve a fiscal 2026 budget that is 7% smaller than last year's allocation, as well as tuition increases of up to 5% and fee hikes up to 10%. The almost $8 billion budget, already approved by Gov. Wes Moore and the General Assembly, will trim operating costs while aiming to increase revenue to make up for $155 million in reduced funding. These reductions follow an almost 4% cut to the University System last year. 'At this extraordinary time, our universities must make some difficult decisions as they close their budget gaps,' University System Chancellor Jay Perman said Friday. On Thursday, Perman took the unusual step of sending a video message to more than 40,000 faculty and staff members across the system, apologizing for the coming budget cuts but telling staff to brace for them. He replayed that video for the board on Friday. While university administrators will first seek to generate new revenue and will protect employees from cuts as much as possible, the 'sheer size of the cut we're absorbing means that, for some universities, personnel actions cannot be taken off the table,' Perman said in the video. At their previous meeting in May, the regents approved a resolution that allows presidents of individual campuses to implement furloughs and temporary salary reductions as part of their budget plans. Universities told they should brace for the coming year's 7% budget cut Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Ellen Herbst said 60% of the system's operating costs are personnel-related. Two-thirds of the system's employees are funded by state support, Herbst said, while about a quarter are funded by federal grants and contracts. She said though universities are looking to low-impact actions to address personnel costs first, such as eliminating vacancies and allowing 'natural attrition' to reduce payrolls, those actions alone may not be enough. 'We will take these actions with great care, but we will need to take some further actions,' Herbst said. 'We cannot address the shortfall in state funding without addressing personnel costs.' Patrick Moran, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Maryland Council 3, which represents more than 6,000 University System employees, said the union and system need to work together to defend their shared values and protect employees as they face 'very real and critical threats.' Moran said the system must evaluate its use of costly vendors, reduce reliance on contractual employees, and listen to feedback from staff on how things can be better run. 'All of these things can be done before deciding to make devastating cuts to your personnel, especially those on the front lines,' he said. Katherine Wasdin, a representative of the University of Maryland, College Park's American Association of University Professors chapter, expressed the importance of shared governance as the system makes its budget decisions. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE 'Faculty and university senates must be involved in making these difficult budgetary decisions, as well as in how to respond to changing federal policies on education and research,' Wasdin, an associate professor of classics, said. 'It is thus imperative that all parts of the USM system promote the involvement of faculty in university management, rather than trying to thwart it.' Under the budget plan, the University System will receive 29% of its funding from state appropriations, while 27% will come from tuition and fees. The next largest contribution comes from restricted funds, which consist mostly of federal contracts and grants, and will cover about 24% of the budget. In addition to the reduction in state funding, the system estimates that the federal government's significant cuts to research grants and contracts could cost up to $150 million across its campuses, Herbst said. To increase revenue to offset the losses in funding, tuition will increase across the system by 2-4% for in-state residents. The University of Maryland, College Park will see the highest increase at 4%, while the rest will see increases of 3% or less. Tuition for nonresident undergrads will increase by 5% at Towson and UMBC, and 2% at the system's other institutions. Regents committee calls for OK of $69 million for time to pull back spun-off businesses Student fees, such as housing, dining and parking, will see bigger increases. Housing will see increases from 2% at Towson to 10% at Bowie State University, while board fee increases range from 2.2% at Salisbury University to 10.5% at College Park. Bowie State University and the College Park campus will also raise parking fees by 3.8% and 5%, respectively. The regents also voted Friday to approve extending the University of Maryland Global Campus's contract with UMGC Ventures, the university's former in-house information technology services unit which it turned into an independent business. The online university will spend $69 million on the 18-month contract extension while it works to reintegrate Ventures and AccelerEd, a subsidiary of Ventures, back into the university. The reintegration comes after an August 2024 audit from the state's Office of Legislative Audits that found the spin-offs were too costly and appeared to bypass the school's normal procedures. Herbst said that staff across the University System are continuously drawing up contingency plans for budget scenarios they could face later in the year, such as lower-than-expected enrollment, further federal funding cuts or change to eligibility for federal financial aid. Pell Grants, the system's largest source of financial aid, covered more than $204 million in aid for about 45,000 students in fiscal 2024. More than 58,000 students in total received some form of federal student aid, Herbst added, and any significant eligibility changes could potentially impact enrollment numbers. 'All we know for sure about budgets is they're simply a plan, and then the year starts and we have to actually manage,' she said. 'This year will probably prove to be more challenging than many.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smithsonian Director Resigns After Trump Claimed He Fired Her
Two weeks after President Donald Trump claimed he'd fired her because she's a 'highly partisan person,' the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, announced she was stepping down. In a memo sent to staff Friday, first obtained by The New York Times, Sajet didn't address Trump's attacks but said she believed this was the right move for the museum. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,' she said in a memo sent out by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch. 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart.' Bunch praised Sajet, saying she 'put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her.' In late May, Trump announced on social media that he was 'terminating' Sajet, who'd held the position for 12 years and was the first female director of the National Portrait Gallery. 'She is a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI, which is totally inappropriate for her position,' the president wrote, referring to diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Trump's authority to fire Sajet from the Smithsonian, which is not part of the executive branch, immediately came into question, and Sajet continued to show up to work through Friday. The House Administration Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), and the House Appropriations Committee's top Democrat, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), released a joint statement last week saying Trump had 'no authority' to fire anyone from the Smithsonian. 'The dismissal of Director Sajet is unacceptable and has the same legal weight as the President's prior attempts to undermine the Smithsonian's independence: absolutely none,' the lawmakers said. 'Should the White House require a copy of the Constitution, we would be more than happy to provide one.' The Smithsonian's Board of Regents backed up that position, saying Monday that all personnel decisions are directed by Bunch, who 'has the support of the Board of Regents in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' The board includes several lawmakers, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Vice President JD Vance. The White House acknowledged Sajet's departure Friday, with spokesperson Davis Ingle saying in a statement: 'On day one, President Trump made clear that there is no place for dangerous anti-American ideology in our government and institutions. In align[ment] with this objective, he ordered the termination of Kim Sajet. The Trump Administration is committed to restoring American greatness and celebrating our nation's proud history.' In March, Trump issued an executive order banning federal spending on any Smithsonian exhibits that 'divide Americans based on race.' Sajet has not issued any public statements about the order. In a December interview with The Guardian, Sajet ― who was born to Dutch parents in Nigeria and raised in Australia ― spoke about her 'great love' for the U.S. and its cultural influence on the rest of the world, calling it a 'tremendous gift.' 'If anything, I don't think Americans realize how much impact they have across the globe,' she said, adding: 'Sometimes I think Americans look inward so much and they fail to see what an impact they have across the world.' Trump's Latest Executive Order Is 'Erasing History' In Smithsonian Museums, Governor Says Suit With A Story: Congressman Donates Clothes From Viral Jan. 6 Photo To Smithsonian Thousands Of 'No Kings' Protests Against Trump Expected Saturday
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Smithsonian museum director resigns two weeks after Trump said he fired her
President Trump got his way Friday, just not on his terms. Two weeks after Trump said he fired the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, she stepped down of her own accord. 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one," Sajet wrote in a note to staff shared in an email by the Smithsonian Institution's leader, Lonnie Bunch. "From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart. The role of a museum director has never been about one individual — it is a shared mission, driven by the passion, creativity, and dedication of an extraordinary team." The news follows Trump's May 30 post on Truth Social that he was firing Sajet, the first woman to hold her post at the National Portrait Gallery, for being 'a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI.' Trump's authority to fire Sajet immediately came under question. The Smithsonian is not part of the executive branch, and the president does not choose its Board of Regents. Reports soon surfaced that Sajet continued to show up at work each day. On Monday the Board of Regents held a lengthy meeting and then issued a statement that said Secretary Bunch had the board's support "in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' The statement declared the institution's full independence, including in personnel decisions. The statement said Bunch had been directed to "articulate specific expectations to museum directors and staff regarding content in Smithsonian museums, give directors reasonable time to make any needed changes to ensure unbiased content, and to report back to the Board on progress and any needed personnel changes based on success or lack thereof in making the needed changes." It is unclear if Sajet, who served as the museum's director for 12 years, made her decision prior to the Board of Regents meeting. The Smithsonian did not respond to a question about that. "Once again, we thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated," Bunch wrote in his email to staff. "I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her." Kevin Gover, the undersecretary for museums and culture, will serve as acting director, Bunch said. The Smithsonian has a delicate task ahead as it moves forward following Trump's March 27 executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.' It directs Vice President JD Vance to remove 'improper ideology' from the Smithsonian's 21 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and threatens to end federal funding for exhibitions and programs based on racial themes that 'divide Americans.' Bunch's email to staff stressed that the organization has an imperative to remain nonpartisan. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Smithsonian museum director resigns two weeks after Trump said he fired her
President Trump got his way Friday, just not on his terms. Two weeks after Trump said he fired the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, she stepped down of her own accord. 'It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery. This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right one,' Sajet wrote in a note to staff shared in an email by the Smithsonian Institution's leader, Lonnie Bunch. 'From the very beginning, my guiding principle has been to put the museum first. Today, I believe that stepping aside is the best way to serve the institution I hold so deeply in my heart. The role of a museum director has never been about one individual — it is a shared mission, driven by the passion, creativity, and dedication of an extraordinary team.' The news follows Trump's May 30 post on Truth Social that he was firing Sajet, the first woman to hold her post at the National Portrait Gallery, for being 'a highly partisan person, and a strong supporter of DEI.' Trump's authority to fire Sajet immediately came under question. The Smithsonian is not part of the executive branch, and the president does not choose its Board of Regents. Reports soon surfaced that Sajet continued to show up at work each day. On Monday the Board of Regents held a lengthy meeting and then issued a statement that said Secretary Bunch had the board's support 'in his authority and management of the Smithsonian.' The statement declared the institution's full independence, including in personnel decisions. The statement said Bunch had been directed to 'articulate specific expectations to museum directors and staff regarding content in Smithsonian museums, give directors reasonable time to make any needed changes to ensure unbiased content, and to report back to the Board on progress and any needed personnel changes based on success or lack thereof in making the needed changes.' It is unclear if Sajet, who served as the museum's director for 12 years, made her decision prior to the Board of Regents meeting. The Smithsonian did not respond to a question about that. 'Once again, we thank Kim for her service. Her decision to put the museum first is to be applauded and appreciated,' Bunch wrote in his email to staff. 'I know this was not an easy decision. She put the needs of the Institution above her own, and for that we thank her.' Kevin Gover, the undersecretary for museums and culture, will serve as acting director, Bunch said. The Smithsonian has a delicate task ahead as it moves forward following Trump's March 27 executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.' It directs Vice President JD Vance to remove 'improper ideology' from the Smithsonian's 21 museums and the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., and threatens to end federal funding for exhibitions and programs based on racial themes that 'divide Americans.' Bunch's email to staff stressed that the organization has an imperative to remain nonpartisan.
