Latest news with #KimberlyAllen
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.
Middle East Eye
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
MIT bars student from graduation over pro-Palestine speech
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) barred its 2025 class president from attending Friday's graduation ceremony after she delivered an unauthorised pro-Palestinian speech a day earlier. The university announced the decision on Friday, without naming the student, stating she gave a speech during Thursday's OneMIT commencement that had not been approved in advance. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," said university spokesperson Kimberly Allen. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organisers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." The Palestinian Youth Movement later identified the student as Megha Vemuri. Wearing a keffiyeh, Vemuri criticised MIT's connections with the Israeli military, accusing the institution of 'aiding and abetting' its actions against Palestinians. "As scientists, engineers, academics and leaders, we have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni, that MIT cuts the ties," she said. The crowd responded with applause, with some students waving Palestinian flags. 'Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza,' Vemuri said. 'We are watching Israel try to wipe out Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it."
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Indian-origin MIT class president barred from graduation commencement after pro-Palestine speech
Other social media users suggested deportation proceedings, calling her speech, an attempt to grab attention, and calling her remarks 'unacceptable.' Some users distanced her views from the broader Indian-American community, describing her as part of the 'woke' movement. MIT's response MIT clarified that Vemuri's delivered speech differed from the one previously submitted to the university. According to NBC News, MIT banned her from participating in the ceremony due to her actions. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," said university spokesperson Kimberly Allen. Allen added that MIT supports free expression, but the act was misleading the organisers of the commencement, and disrupting an important ceremony. (This story was originally published in EdexLive)
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
MIT bans class president from graduation commencement after pro-Palestinian speech
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology banned the 2025 class president from Friday's graduation commencement ceremony after she delivered a pro-Palestinian speech during an event Thursday. The university made the announcement on Friday without naming the student, saying that she delivered a speech at Thursday's OneMIT commencement ceremony that was not the one provided in advance. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," said university spokesperson Kimberly Allen. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." The speech was shared online by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which named the student as Megha Vemuri. Vemuri wore a Keffiyeh during the speech, and called out MIT for having research ties with the Israel army and "aiding and abetting" the country with its "assault on the Palestinian people." Israel's war in Gaza has killed over 52,000 people since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 people hostage. Israel has received intense criticism from around the world, including from the United Nations, for its actions in Gaza, which include cutting off aid to the enclave. "As scientists, engineers, academics and leaders, we have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni, that MIT cuts the ties," Vemuri said. Her speech was met by cheers and applause from her fellow classmates, some of whom held up a Palestinian flag. "Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza," Vemuri said. "We are watching Israel try to wipe out Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it." Vemuri mentioned that the undergraduate body voted in favor of the university cutting ties with Israel, and faced "threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials." "But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide," Vemuri said. Vemuri then called on her fellow classmates to partake in the MIT tradition of turning their class rings that bear university mascot "Tim the Beaver." "And as you lift it off your fingers, notice that the beaver is no longer facing you, it is now facing the world," Temuri said. "This is a world that we will be entering with an immeasurable responsibility. We will carry with us the stamp of the MIT name, the same name that is directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian so we carry with us the obligation to do everything we can to stop it." NBC News has reached out to Vemuri for comment. On Friday, MIT President Sally Kornbluth made her remarks at the commencement for the class of 2025, encouraging them to become ambassadors for scientific thinking and discovery. Kornbluth said that the university allows "a lot of room for disagreement, whether the subject is scientific, personal, or political," but encouraged the new grads to rely on the "beauty and power of the scientific method." "I need you all to become ambassadors for the way we think and work and thrive at MIT," Kornbluth said. Kornbluth did not mention any specific incident during her remarks, including the one involving Vemuri. It's not clear at this time if Vemuri was officially allowed to graduate from MIT. Vemuri is not the only graduate who has been penalized for her political views. Earlier this month, New York University withheld student Logan Rozos' diploma after he delivered an unapproved commencement speech to address what he called the 'atrocities currently happening in Palestine' during the Israel-Hamas war. NYU condemned Rozos' speech, calling it an expression of "his personal and one-sided political views." This article was originally published on
NBC News
30-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
MIT bans class president from graduation commencement after pro-Palestinian speech
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology banned the 2025 class president from Friday's graduation commencement ceremony after she delivered a pro-Palestinian speech during an event Thursday. The university made the announcement on Friday without naming the student, saying that she delivered a speech at Thursday's OneMIT commencement ceremony that was not the one provided in advance. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today's Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today's events," said university spokesperson Kimberly Allen. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organizers and leading a protest from the stage, disrupting an important Institute ceremony." The speech was shared online by the Palestinian Youth Movement, which named the student as Megha Vemuri. Vemuri wore a Keffiyeh during the speech, and called out MIT for having research ties with the Israel army and "aiding and abetting" the country with its "assault on the Palestinian people." Israel's war in Gaza has killed over 52,000 people since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 people hostage. Israel has received intense criticism from around the world, including from the United Nations, for its actions in Gaza, which include cutting off aid to the enclave. "As scientists, engineers, academics and leaders, we have a commitment to support life, support aid efforts and call for an arms embargo and keep demanding now as alumni, that MIT cuts the ties," Vemuri said. Her speech was met by cheers and applause from her fellow classmates, some of whom held up a Palestinian flag. "Right now, while we prepare to graduate and move forward with our lives, there are no universities left in Gaza," Vemuri said. "We are watching Israel try to wipe out Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it." Vemuri mentioned that the undergraduate body voted in favor of the university cutting ties with Israel, and faced "threats, intimidation and suppression coming from all directions, especially your own university officials." "But you prevailed because the MIT community that I know would never tolerate a genocide," Vemuri said. Vemuri then called on her fellow classmates to partake in the MIT tradition of turning their class rings that bear university mascot "Tim the Beaver." "And as you lift it off your fingers, notice that the beaver is no longer facing you, it is now facing the world," Temuri said. "This is a world that we will be entering with an immeasurable responsibility. We will carry with us the stamp of the MIT name, the same name that is directly complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian so we carry with us the obligation to do everything we can to stop it." NBC News has reached out to Vemuri for comment. On Friday, MIT President Sally Kornbluth made her remarks at the commencement for the class of 2025, encouraging them to become ambassadors for scientific thinking and discovery. Kornbluth said that the university allows "a lot of room for disagreement, whether the subject is scientific, personal, or political," but encouraged the new grads to rely on the "beauty and power of the scientific method." "I need you all to become ambassadors for the way we think and work and thrive at MIT," Kornbluth said. Kornbluth did not mention any specific incident during her remarks, including the one involving Vemuri. It's not clear at this time if Vemuri was officially allowed to graduate from MIT. Vemuri is not the only graduate who has been penalized for her political views. Earlier this month, New York University withheld student Logan Rozos' diploma after he delivered an unapproved commencement speech to address what he called the 'atrocities currently happening in Palestine' during the Israel-Hamas war.
