Latest news with #BostonUniversity
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MIT joins group of universities suing the DOD over funding cuts
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has joined a lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) over funding cuts related to indirect costs for military-based research. The institution joins a group of 11 other universities, including Brown University in Rhode Island, and three higher education organizations that filed the complaint against the DOD on Monday. Boston University supported the lawsuit as a member of the Association of American Universities. As of Tuesday, a federal judge had approved a temporary restraining order to halt the implementation of the cuts. 'We underscore that MIT drives US national security through its cutting-edge research, defense innovation and substantial contributions to military leadership,' said Kimberly Allen, a spokesperson for MIT, in an email. DOD declined to comment because it is ongoing litigation. Boston University didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday. 'DOD's latest action would have an immediate and dire effect on our national security by disrupting research designed to help our military,' the group of those suing said in a statement released Monday. Read more: MIT sues federal science agency over cuts to 'crucial research' The lawsuit comes in response to the DOD's announcement that it would limit facilities and administrative reimbursements to a 15% cap for all DOD research grants. Facilities and administrative costs include maintenance and administrative staff, research facilities and safety expenses, among others, which the group cites as being essential costs in maintaining the country's status as a leader in military technology research. Initially proposed by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in a memo sent on May 14, the cuts are set to save the DOD $900 million per year, according to Hegseth. According to court filings, MIT received $107 million in funding from the DOD in the 2024 fiscal year. They estimate that a 15% cap on Facilities and administrative expenses by the DOD would result in an estimated loss of $21 million annually. MIT has expressed it intends to apply for new funding awards from the DOD in addition to pending funding proposals. MIT is also involved in lawsuits against other federal organizations over cuts to indirect costs in other departments, namely the National Institute of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Science Foundation. 'Far reaching consequences' — UMass Amherst sounds the alarm amid federal uncertainty As federal funding cuts hit Harvard, a private investment firm and other donors step up 20 NIH grants restored to UMass system after judge rules against Trump admin Trump admin asks court to rule against Harvard without a trial Federal judge orders Trump admin to reinstate hundreds of NIH grants Read the original article on MassLive.
The Hill
a day ago
- Health
- The Hill
Trump's deportation pause ignores vital immigrant health care workers
President Trump has signaled his intent to pause deportations on immigrant workers in the hotel, agriculture and restaurant sectors: an important step toward lowering the temperature that led to riots in the streets of Los Angeles last week. It's welcome news for millions of hardworking individuals. But it ignores another important industry demographic, one we can't exist without, where millions more will continue to live in perpetual fear: immigrant health care workers. Today, over 20 percent of doctors who practice in America were born outside the U.S., a number that has grown by 30 percent since 2004. Not surprisingly, a large number of physicians who trained overseas today serve rural and underserved U.S. populations — marginalized communities that already suffer from compromised access to quality medical care. While some are U.S. citizens who attended international medical schools, ' most ' are from other countries of origin. Specifically, a report by the American Immigration Council found that over a third of doctors in America who practice in areas where poverty is high were trained outside of the U.S. In places where the majority of the population is nonwhite, it's over 35 percent. In regions where annual per-capita income is lower than $15,000, it's over 40 percent. Proposed cuts to Medicaid will further decrease access to care and likely result in rural hospital closures. U.S. reliance on immigrant physicians to serve underprivileged communities is 'due, in part, to America's growing and aging population,' says Selma Hedlund, a Boston University postdoctoral associate. Hedlund argues many U.S.-born doctors have an 'unwillingness to move to poorer and more rural areas' due to a 'lack of interest in going into primary care, which can be less lucrative and prestigious than other areas of medicine.' It's why immigrants are 'indispensable in hospitals and clinics across the nation,' she says. Sadly, we're giving these medical professionals reason to wonder if they made the right decision. Foreign-born physicians require federal visas to live and practice in America, a ' privilege ' the U.S. State Department has made clear it will use as a weapon, decreasing the nation's ability to provide basic care across the country. The ongoing immigration debate will likely raise even more questions in the minds of both foreign-born doctors who are here and those considering emigrating to America. Such as: Will they feel safe to practice in America when immigration status is a flash point in urban and rural communities? When U.S. officials signal to the world that immigrant visas can be revoked at any moment, will foreign-born doctors want to bring their skills, and their families, to a place that says to the world: 'We don't want you here'? The impact on the health care system goes beyond doctors. Immigrants make up a sizable portion of the healthcare support workforce, too. Legal and undocumented individuals comprise nearly 30 percent of direct-care workers in America. Over 16 percent of nurses on staff are immigrants. Over 800,000 people served in this capacity in the U.S. as of 2023: 500,000 of them were naturalized citizens, and over 300,000 were noncitizen immigrants. Immigrants also represent a significant percentage of the home-care workforce. One out of every three, to be exact. Over 20 percent of staff in nursing facilities and nearly a quarter of those who work in residential care environments came from other countries. These individuals play a vital role in caring for the elderly, the disabled and supporting the needs of overcrowded hospitals and emergency rooms. And as our population increases, we will need more of them, not less. Today, 75 million baby boomers in America will soon need long-term care services. Without immigrants, America will not be able to address the needs of this fast-growing community. Our immigration system is broken. We must find sustainable and dignified paths for those who currently live here illegally, and those who wish to enter. Immigrants who provide critical health care services for a large segment of the U.S. population need to know they are welcome and appreciated. Implementing responsible immigration reforms while ensuring the stability of the U.S. health system that relies on a strong immigrant workforce isn't mutually exclusive. We can achieve both if the political will is there. But it doesn't stand a chance if our immigration crackdown is interpreted as a warning shot to skilled doctors and caregivers around the world that America is no longer a viable place to build a career. We must value, not vilify, the role immigrants play in supporting our nation's public health. And we must encourage more to come, not give them reasons to question what will happen to them if they do.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
'We are still here, yet invisible.' Study finds that U.S. government has overestimated Native American life expectancy
Official U.S. records dramatically underestimate mortality and life expectancy disparities for Native Americans, according to a new, groundbreaking study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research, led by the Boston University School of Public Health, provides compelling evidence of a profound discrepancy between actual and officially reported statistics on the health outcomes of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations in the U.S. The study, novel in its approach, tracks mortality outcomes over time among self-identified AI/AN individuals in a nationally representative cohort known as the Mortality Disparities in American Communities. The researchers linked data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 American Community Survey with official death certificates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Vital Statistics System from 2008 through 2019, and found that the life expectancy of AI/AN populations was 6.5 years lower than the national average. They then compared this to data from the CDC's WONDER database, and found that their numbers were nearly three times greater than the gap reported by the CDC. Indeed, the study found that the life expectancy for AI/AN individuals was just 72.7 years, comparable to that of developing countries. The researchers also uncovered widespread racial misclassification. The study reports that some 41% of AI/AN deaths were incorrectly classified in the CDC WONDER database, predominantly misrecorded as 'White.' These systemic misclassifications drastically skewed official statistics, presenting AI/AN mortality rates as only 5% higher than the national average. When they adjusted the data to account for those misclassifications, the researchers found that the actual rate was 42% higher than initially reported. The issue of racial misclassification 'is not new for us at all,' said Nanette Star, director of policy and planning at the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health. The recent tendency for journalists and politicians to use umbrella terms like 'Indigenous' rather than the more precise 'American Indian and Alaska Native' can obscure the unique needs, histories and political identities of AI/AN communities, Star noted, and contribute to their erasure in both data and public discourse. 'That is the word we use — erasure — and it really does result in that invisibility in our health statistics,' she said. Issues related to racial misclassification in public records persist across the entire life course for AI/AN individuals, from birth to early childhood interventions to chronic disease and death. Star noted that in California, especially in urban regions like Los Angeles, Native individuals are frequently misidentified as Latino or multiracial, which profoundly distorts public health data and masks the extent of health disparities. 'It really does mask the true scale of premature mortality and health disparities among our communities,' Star said. Further, said Star, the lack of accurate data exacerbates health disparities. 'It really is a public health and justice issue,' she said. 'If you don't have those numbers to support the targeted response, you don't get the funding for these interventions or even preventative measures.' According to U.S. Census data, California is home to the largest AI/AN population in the United States. That means it has a unique opportunity to lead the nation in addressing these systemic issues. With numerous federally and state-recognized tribes, as well as substantial urban AI/AN populations, California can prioritize collaborative and accurate public health data collection and reporting. Star noted that current distortions are not always malicious but often stem from a lack of training. She suggested that California implement targeted training programs for those charged with recording this data, including funeral directors, coroners, medical doctors and law enforcement agents; allocate dedicated resources to improve the accuracy of racial classification on vital records; and strengthen partnerships with tribal leaders. The study authors suggest similar approaches, and there are numerous examples of successful cases of Indigenous-led health partnerships seen across Canada and the U.S. that have helped reduce health disparities among AI/AN communities that could be used as a template. These efforts would not only help to move toward rectifying historical inaccuracies, but also ensure that AI/AN communities receive equitable health resources and policy attention. 'When AI/AN people are misclassified in life and in death, it distorts public health data and drives inequities even deeper,' said Star. 'Accurate data isn't just about numbers — it's about honoring lives, holding systems accountable and making sure our communities are seen and served.' This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Dozens of former players show support for ex-Boston University soccer coach accused of sexual harassment by Alex Cooper
A letter signed by 'student athletes and members of the Boston University Women's Soccer team,' obtained by the Globe, includes 74 names, mostly comprising players in Feldman's years at BU (1995-2022), and six assistant coaches. There also are 25 anonymous signatories, all said to be from the graduating classes of 2011-25. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'We want to share our collective perspective in light of the recent allegations against Coach Feldman,' the letter read, 'not to diminish or discredit anyone's individual experience, but to speak as a united group of alumni about how our time in the program was different. Advertisement 'During Coach Feldman's time leading the program, we categorically never felt unsafe. We were never at risk of or witness to inappropriate behavior or anything that could be characterized as sexual harassment. 'As a leader, she approached every day with professionalism, making decisions in service of the success of the team. For many of us, over the years, Coach Feldman has remained an important part of our lives, and we stand by her.' Advertisement Of those who signed the letter with their names and graduation years or stated their time on campus, at least four overlapped with Cooper, who graduated in 2016. They include three players ― goalkeeper Andrea Green, who graduated in 2014; forward Taylor Krebs (2015) and defender Kai (Miller) Wallace (2015) ― and one assistant coach, Ben Knight, who worked under Feldman from 2013-16. Though she signed the letter, Wallace said she was so burned out after playing for Feldman, she didn't touch a soccer ball for five years. 'I certainly can't say Nancy was my favorite coach I've ever had,' said Wallace. She compared Feldman to a hard-line corporate boss who wears out those underneath them. Wallace signed the letter, she said, because 'as a human being, I never felt unsafe.' Wallace, a Santa Barbara, Calif., native who was a year ahead of Cooper, said Feldman was an unnecessarily controlling coach. She said Feldman would pit players against each other for playing time, instituted dress codes that made her feel as if she was back in high school, and used BU financial aid as a cudgel to keep players in line. However, Wallace also said Cooper was an unprofessional teammate who clashed with Feldman regularly. 'One of the rules wasn't even Nancy's rule, it was that you didn't drink in the 48 hours before games,' Wallace said. 'There were multiple times of that not being the case. Things like that start to rub you the wrong way. Advertisement 'She was very loud about her life and what she's doing with it. That's fine. But we're all here trying to get a conference championship and make the NCAA Tournament.' Green, a goalkeeper from Nashua, N.H., is no longer involved with soccer. She said she signed the letter because she 'never saw, heard about, or experienced sexual harassment' under Feldman. 'I can't speak to any experience but my own,' Green said. '[Cooper] has a big megaphone and she's decided to share her experience. Most of us [signatories] are not public figures nor want to be. I don't have any interest in being in the public [eye], but if my opinion is asked I feel comfortable speaking my truth.' On Wednesday, a group from Plymouth State released a similar letter of support including 25 names of former Feldman players and coaches. Feldman, who coached at the school from 1990-95, was inducted into the PSU Hall of Fame last October. She earned the same honor at BU in 2008. Read the letter sent by supporters here: Matt Porter can be reached at
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The US military doesn't march well. So what?
Marching, as anyone who was in a high school marching band knows, is a particular skill. It takes years of practice — or at least two weeks of band camp — to put the oo in goosestep. American soldiers just haven't had that kind of preparation. Get The Gavel A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr. Enter Email Sign Up 'It wasn't as accurate or as clean and crisp in all areas as you might expect,' said Aaron Goldberg, the director of athletic bands at Boston University. The Globe asked Goldberg, a member of the Crossmen Drum Corps Hall of Fame who has been marching and teaching the skill since 1993, to critique the military's performance. Advertisement There was certainly variety: marching bands, troops on horseback, soldiers in historic uniforms, and plenty of tanks. Goldberg said the troops who perform ceremonially as part of their regular function, like the Old Guard, were generally well-drilled. But the troops who don't were out of sync and messy. Advertisement Even the basics were sometimes forgotten: 'Some of the trumpets are pointed slightly up, some are pointed flat, some are pointed slightly down,' Goldberg noted while watching the US Army Band 'Pershing's Own.' 'As a marching musician, that always irks me a little bit,' he said. 'You gotta think about all parts of it. Uniformity doesn't just end with your body.' Precision, from the angle of a chin to the articulation of a heel hitting the ground, distinguishes a shoddy march from an excellent one. 'At the end of the day, you want to see something that's uniform,' Goldberg said. 'Uniformity is what's impressive, no matter what.' North Korean soldiers march in lockstep during a mass military parade in Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung Square to celebrate 100 years since the birth of North Korean founder, Kim Il Sung on April 15, 2012. Ng Han Guan/Associated Press That's not what happened Saturday, and even viewers without marching expertise could tell something was missing. Americans have also been comparing Trump's military parade to ones hosted by other countries. Google searches for North Korean, Indian, and French military parades spiked on Saturday. Some Before Trump's ceremony, the most recent American military parade was in 1991, when the National Victory Celebration parade crossed through D.C. But there's a reason Americans have staged so few military parades, and have even looked down on fancy-dress prancing on the old continent. When you're the world's only superpower, you don't have to prove it. Showing off is for insecure kleptocracies. Advertisement 'This is with full respect to our military: They got bigger and better things to do than come out here and dress rehearse for it like it's the Oscars,' Goldberg said. Many Americans probably agree. It's to the military's credit that basic training isn't band camp. Not marching at North Korean levels of uniformity is not a reflection of American soldiers' effectiveness. If anything, if the parade had gone off without a hitch, you'd have to wonder why troops spent so much time learning skills most Americans left behind in high school. The military's job is to win wars, not the battle of the bands. Trump might have wanted a military that looks impressive; instead the world saw one that actually is. Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us
