Latest news with #UniversityofNewHaven
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Around the world, students aiming to the study in US are scrubbing down their social media accounts
Nigerian student Owolabi has been meticulously scrubbing his X feed, deleting tweets and comments about US policies, especially those relating to then President Donald Trump's 2018 reference to 'shithole countries' in Africa. Owolabi, 23, got a place at the University of New Haven in Connecticut for a master's degree in cybersecurity this year, but with the Trump administration pausing student visa appointments ahead of new social media vetting guidelines, he is worried. 'I don't know what to write on Facebook or X now that won't put me in trouble. It feels like someone is watching my every move,' he said. Owolabi, who only wanted to be identified by his last name for fear of repercussions, was about to schedule a visa interview at the US embassy in the capital Abuja when he heard about the appointment pause for all applicants. Around 50,000 students from sub-Saharan Africa come to the United States every year to study, though China and India send many more. Around 20,000 Nigerian students went to study at US colleges in 2024 – the highest number from Africa. The United States is a top destination for international students because of the post-degree career opportunities. In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed embassies to stop scheduling new visa appointments, saying the Trump administration would review the process and expand vetting of students' social media profiles. The directive is part of a broader crackdown on international students with the administration seeking to revoke visas and increasing deportations of international students. The US administration has also taken aim at elite universities, notably Harvard. In early June, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from barring US entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programmes at the Ivy League school. The policies on foreign students are part of a broader immigration crackdown, which the White House says aims to tighten borders and enhance national security. Unwarranted digital surveillance Since 2019, most US visa applicants have been required to disclose their social media identifiers, such as their Facebook or X handles. But Rubio's announcement marks an escalation of the scrutiny applicants will face and raises questions about digital surveillance and the data privacy of applicants, according to digital rights lawyers. They argue that the level of scrutiny that appears to be under consideration could set a dangerous precedent for digital surveillance in immigration processes. While details about the new procedures have yet to be revealed, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States was prepared to use 'every tool' to vet anyone who wanted to enter the country. Scrutinising visa applicants' social media activities as part of the immigration process blurs the line between legitimate security concerns and unwarranted digital surveillance, said Khadijah El-Usman, a digital rights lawyer from Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise. El-Usman said profiling applicants based on their online activity meant innocuous posts on X or Facebook might be misinterpreted, and applicants could be denied visas based on opinions or political jokes. 'We've seen how even social media companies, mostly US-based, misinterpret posts. What this means is that attempts at humour or political critique can be unfairly flagged as security threats,' El-Usman said. 'Chilling effect' Digital rights campaigners warned the US move could prompt other countries to normalise digital surveillance as part of immigration processes. If that happens, all social media users are at risk of being wrongly profiled, said Mojirayo Ogunlana, executive director of Nigeria-based DiGiCiVic Initiative. 'If someone in a moment of anger says, ' Why is America supporting Israel?' and they post that on X or Facebook, does that mean they are a terrorist? Or that they are a national security threat? Is that a legitimate reason to deny them visas?' Ogunlana said. She said people would increasingly self-censor online by sharing content that aligned with the religious and political ideologies of the US government in case they needed to apply for visas. This has a 'chilling effect on freedom of expression' globally, she said adding that young people, who use social media to express frustrations and draw the world's attention to specific causes, will be afraid to do so. 'Knowing that a foreign government might review their tweets or Instagram stories would lead to self-censorship,' El-Usman said. 'It encourages the idea that being authentic about your thoughts is risky and forces potential visa applicants and asylum seekers to conform to a government agenda – the US in this case.' Barbadian student Blackman, who lives in the capital Bridgetown and also only wanted to give his last name, said he deleted his X and Facebook accounts after receiving an email in May saying his visa application was on administrative hold. Blackman, 20, who has been accepted for a master's degree in pharmacy at the University of Massachusetts, said classes start in August, but he has yet to hear back about his application. He has deleted his social media accounts, but is worried about his blog posts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States as they are still visible online. 'The internet gave young people like me a voice to speak about racism and police brutality. Now, I feel silenced and monitored,' Blackman said.
The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Foreign students scrub social media as US expands visa vetting
LAGOS: Nigerian student Owolabi has been meticulously scrubbing his X feed, deleting tweets and comments about US policies, especially those relating to then President Donald Trump's 2018 reference to '(expletive) countries' in Africa. Owolabi, 23, got a place at the University of New Haven in Connecticut for a master's degree in cybersecurity this year, but with the Trump administration pausing student visa appointments ahead of new social media vetting guidelines, he is worried. 'I don't know what to write on Facebook or X now that won't put me in trouble. It feels like someone is watching my every move,' he said. Owolabi, who only wanted to be identified by his last name for fear of repercussions, was about to schedule a visa interview at the US embassy in the capital Abuja when he heard about the appointment pause for all applicants. Around 50,000 students from sub-Saharan Africa come to the United States every year to study, though China and India send many more. Around 20,000 Nigerian students went to study at US colleges in 2024 – the highest number from Africa. The United States is a top destination for international students because of the post-degree career opportunities. In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed embassies to stop scheduling new visa appointments, saying the Trump administration would review the process and expand vetting of students' social media profiles. The directive is part of a broader crackdown on international students with the administration seeking to revoke visas, and increasing deportations of international students. The US administration has also taken aim at elite universities, notably Harvard. In early June, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from barring US entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programmes at the Ivy League school. The policies on foreign students are part of a broader immigration crackdown, which the White House says aims to tighten borders and enhance national security. Unwarranted digital surveillance Since 2019, most US visa applicants have been required to disclose their social media identifiers, such as their Facebook or X handles. But Rubio's announcement marks an escalation of the scrutiny applicants will face and raises questions about digital surveillance and the data privacy of applicants, according to digital rights lawyers. They argue that the level of scrutiny that appears to be under consideration could set a dangerous precedent for digital surveillance in immigration processes. While details about the new procedures have yet to be revealed, US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States was prepared to use 'every tool' to vet anyone who wanted to enter the country. Scrutinising visa applicants' social media activities as part of the immigration process blurs the line between legitimate security concerns and unwarranted digital surveillance, said Khadijah El-Usman, a digital rights lawyer from Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise. El-Usman said profiling applicants based on their online activity meant innocuous posts on X or Facebook might be misinterpreted, and applicants could be denied visas based on opinions or political jokes. 'We've seen how even social media companies, mostly US-based, misinterpret posts. What this means is that attempts at humour or political critique can be unfairly flagged as security threats,' El-Usman said. 'Chilling effect' Digital rights campaigners warned the US move could prompt other countries to normalise digital surveillance as part of immigration processes. If that happens, all social media users are at risk of being wrongly profiled, said Mojirayo Ogunlana, executive director of Nigeria-based DiGiCiVic Initiative. 'If someone in a moment of anger says, 'Why is America supporting Israel?' and they post that on X or Facebook, does that mean they are a terrorist? Or that they are a national security threat? Is that a legitimate reason to deny them visas?' Ogunlana said. She said people would increasingly self-censor online by sharing content that aligned with the religious and political ideologies of the US government in case they needed to apply for visas. This has a 'chilling effect on freedom of expression' globally, she said adding that young people, who use social media to express frustrations and draw the world's attention to specific causes, will be afraid to do so. 'Knowing that a foreign government might review their tweets or Instagram stories would lead to self-censorship,' El-Usman said. 'It encourages the idea that being authentic about your thoughts is risky and forces potential visa applicants and asylum seekers to conform to a government agenda – the US in this case.' Barbadian student Blackman, who lives in the capital Bridgetown and also only wanted to give his last name, said he deleted his X and Facebook accounts after receiving an email in May saying his visa application was on administrative hold. Blackman, 20, who has been accepted for a master's degree in pharmacy at the University of Massachusetts, said classes start in August, but he has yet to hear back about his application. He has deleted his social media accounts, but is worried about his blog posts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States as they are still visible online. 'The Internet gave young people like me a voice to speak about racism and police brutality. Now, I feel silenced and monitored,' Blackman said. – Thomson Reuters Foundation
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Morgan cheers on son at University of New Haven graduation: VIDEO
WEST HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Actor and comedian Tracy Morgan was in West Haven this May to cheer on his son, who graduated from the University of New Haven. His son- Tracy James Morgan- walked in the May commencement ceremony after earning a bachelor's degree in music and sound recording. Connecticut pizzeria named a Food & Wine 'must visit' Video from the university shows Tracy James Morgan walking off stage to his father's open arms. They share an embrace and Tracy Morgan gives his son a forehead kiss before they walk off together. An Emmy Award-nominee, Morgan is most known for his time as a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' and recurring character on '30 Rock' with Tina Fey. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Foreign students scrub social media as US expands visa vetting
Nigerian student Owolabi has been meticulously scrubbing his X feed, deleting tweets and comments about U.S. policies, especially those relating to then President Donald Trump's 2018 reference to "shithole countries" in Africa. Owolabi, 23, got a place at the University of New Haven in Connecticut for a master's degree in cybersecurity this year, but with the Trump administration pausing student visa appointments ahead of new social media vetting guidelines, he is worried. "I don't know what to write on Facebook or X now that won't put me in trouble. It feels like someone is watching my every move," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 'Swing is King': Mr. Hemant's Strategy Finally Explained in Free Session TradeWise Learn More Undo Owolabi, who only wanted to be identified by his last name for fear of repercussions, was about to schedule a visa interview at the U.S embassy in the capital Abuja when he heard about the appointment pause for all applicants. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Around 50,000 students from sub-Saharan Africa come to the United States every year to study, though China and India send many more. Live Events Around 20,000 Nigerian students went to study at U.S. colleges in 2024 - the highest number from Africa. The United States is a top destination for international students because of the post-degree career opportunities. In May, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed embassies to stop scheduling new visa appointments, saying the Trump administration would review the process and expand vetting of students' social media profiles. The directive is part of a broader crackdown on international students with the administration seeking to revoke visas, and increasing deportations of international students. The U.S. administration has also taken aim at elite universities, notably Harvard. In early June, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from barring U.S. entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programmes at the Ivy League school. The policies on foreign students are part of a broader immigration crackdown, which the White House says aims to tighten borders and enhance national security. UNWARRANTED DIGITAL SURVEILLANCE Since 2019, most U.S. visa applicants have been required to disclose their social media identifiers, such as their Facebook or X handles. But Rubio's announcement marks an escalation of the scrutiny applicants will face and raises questions about digital surveillance and the data privacy of applicants, according to digital rights lawyers. They argue that the level of scrutiny that appears to be under consideration could set a dangerous precedent for digital surveillance in immigration processes. While details about the new procedures have yet to be revealed, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the United States was prepared to use "every tool" to vet anyone who wanted to enter the country. Scrutinising visa applicants' social media activities as part of the immigration process blurs the line between legitimate security concerns and unwarranted digital surveillance, said Khadijah El-Usman, a digital rights lawyer from Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise. El-Usman said profiling applicants based on their online activity meant innocuous posts on X or Facebook might be misinterpreted, and applicants could be denied visas based on opinions or political jokes. "We've seen how even social media companies, mostly U.S.-based, misinterpret posts. What this means is that attempts at humour or political critique can be unfairly flagged as security threats," El-Usman said. 'CHILLING EFFECT' Digital rights campaigners warned the U.S. move could prompt other countries to normalise digital surveillance as part of immigration processes. If that happens, all social media users are at risk of being wrongly profiled, said Mojirayo Ogunlana, executive director of Nigeria-based DiGiCiVic Initiative. "If someone in a moment of anger says, 'Why is America supporting Israel?' and they post that on X or Facebook, does that mean they are a terrorist? Or that they are a national security threat? Is that a legitimate reason to deny them visas?" Ogunlana said. She said people would increasingly self-censor online by sharing content that aligned with the religious and political ideologies of the U.S government in case they needed to apply for visas. This has a "chilling effect on freedom of expression" globally, she said adding that young people, who use social media to express frustrations and draw the world's attention to specific causes, will be afraid to do so. "Knowing that a foreign government might review their tweets or Instagram stories would lead to self-censorship," El-Usman said. "It encourages the idea that being authentic about your thoughts is risky and forces potential visa applicants and asylum seekers to conform to a government agenda - the U.S in this case." Barbadian student Blackman, who lives in the capital Bridgetown and also only wanted to give his last name, said he deleted his X and Facebook accounts after receiving an email in May saying his visa application was on administrative hold. Blackman, 20, who has been accepted for a master's degree in pharmacy at the University of Massachusetts, said classes start in August, but he has yet to hear back about his application. He has deleted his social media accounts, but is worried about his blog posts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States as they are still visible online. "The internet gave young people like me a voice to speak about racism and police brutality. Now, I feel silenced and monitored," Blackman said.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A CT university is opening a campus on the other side of the world. Here's why and where.
A Connecticut university is the first in the nation to partner with Saudi Arabia to create a branch campus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia next year with hopes to create a global workforce while continuing to strengthen relationships between the two countries. Jens Frederiksen, the president of the University of New Haven, said the goal of opening the branch campus in Riyadh is to expose students to global experiences. 'The overarching philosophical goal is that we here at the University of New Haven for a very long time have had an intensely global component as part of the experience,' he said. 'We all believe here that the world is only getting smaller and the exposure to global experiences is the path of the future for both our students here and elsewhere.' In April, the University of New Haven signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, its Ministry of Investment and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to support the formation of the branch campus. University officials said the planned branch campus follows the Saudi government's Vision 2030, a program launched in 2016 that includes diversification of the country's economy and the increase of the private sector's participation in higher education. Further, university officials noted that with key advancements in women's roles in the country from the ability to drive and now work, the university will provide further opportunities for higher education advancements for women. While noting reforms for women in the country, human rights groups continue to voice concern that women are facing discrimination from the male guardianship program, which requires male approval for women to conduct basic activities, according to UN Watch, a nonprofit promoting human rights. Even so, university officials said they hope to lead by example in the formation of the campus, with both male and female faculty, integrated classrooms and women in leadership training programs. The Riyadh campus is expected to begin with 600 to 800 students with the goal over 10 years of having between 8,000 and 9,000 undergraduate students and 2,000 to 3,000 graduate students, Frederiksen said. The university plans to open three separate schools at the campus over the years beginning with business and digital innovation, followed by the College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing and lastly the College of Applied Sciences. The branch campus, similar to the University of New Haven, would include a tuition-driven institution. The campus would also be open to all students from across the globe, subject to admissions and visa requirements. University officials expect most students will be local from Saudi Arabia. Frederiksen said the global economy is not likely going anywhere anytime soon, with the university providing an important training ground for students with the campus. 'It is also, pragmatically, you are going to be competing in a market, whether it is semiconductors or hospitality or sports or wherever, it is very much a global environment,' he said. 'Adding that dimension to return on investment of education is a key pillar. We want to have a transformative impact on our students in very tangible ways.' He said the university has also partnered with other countries including India, Ukraine and also founded an Afghan women's scholarship program for students. 'This next generation is going to have global challenges to solve,' he said. 'We are preparing students in the most thoughtful ways across the globe to really be positioned to take on these incredibly complicated challenges.' The university began its relationship with Saudi Arabia decades ago, with students coming to study at the University of New Haven, according to Mario Thomas Gaboury, vice president for governmental affairs and global engagement at the university. 'We have a longstanding relationship and that is the framework for it,' said Gaboury, explaining that the number of people who are below the age of 20 is increasing in Saudi Arabia. The Charge d' Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said in a statement that they 'are seeing an increase in U.S.-Saudi joint research, student exchange and university engagement. 'The news of the University of New Haven opening a campus in Riyadh next year is extremely exciting for both the United States and Saudi Arabia and we look forward to seeing this project continue to progress,' said the Charge d'Affaires of the U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. David Mednicoff, chair of the department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies, said in an email that the relationship between U.S. and Saudi Arabia has been strong for a long time 'because of the strategic importance of oil. 'This relationship has long included employing American expatriates in the oil industry, which has also had a minor impact on the U.S. economy,' he said. 'Economic change in the Kingdom is not a major factor in the relationship, which has been based on oil, and more recently shared American and Saudi concerns about Iran and its role in the region.' Mednicoff added that the two countries have historically 'high levels of cooperation' because President Donald Trump 'feels a personal connection with Saudi rulers' and is less concerned about political and civil rights in the Kingdom. He added that Saudi policies to make 'tourism an important part of their economic diversification will likely modestly increase the economic interconnections of the two countries.' Mednicoff said higher education in the Kingdom has a growing importance 'as the economy diversifies and a broader range of the citizenry enters the labor market.' He said a U.S. branch of an American university could contribute to Saudi-American ties but such branch campuses 'typically are more about providing a presumed economic windfall and advancing the global brand reputation of the U.S. institution. 'These branch campus arrangements can be tricky, in terms of attracting steady students and meeting the specific needs and expectations of the host country,' he said. Mednicoff said that Saudi Arabia has had an image of being a backwards country for women. 'The image was based in the Kingdom's longstanding connection to a conservative form of Islam that favors fairly strict separation of men and women in the public arena,' he said. However, Mednicoff said, the Kingdom has loosened the grip of this type of Wahhabi Islam on the Kingdom's daily life. 'As a result, women are enjoying more ability to enter the workforce and go out in public more freely,' he said. 'This liberalization of women's access to social spaces includes freedom for women to drive, which was long a source of criticism by outsiders.' Frederiksen said that he has been to Saudi Arabia five times in the past 12 to 13 months and he views it as a 'country that is transforming at the speed of light,' adding that women make up 36% of the workforce. And he added that 45% of small to medium-sized businesses are owned by women. 'It is a country that is dramatically modernizing,' he said. Gaboury said that he has seen how the culture has evolved, remembering his first trip in 2008 when he could feel the oppressiveness of the culture. During his trip last year, he saw men and women together as opposed to being separated previously. He also observed women in high level positions. But Amnesty International also raised concerns stating that Saudi Arabia's new Personal Status Law touted as major reform 'also codifies some of the practices inherent in the male guardianship system, fails to adequately protect women from domestic violence and entrenches a system of gender-based discrimination in marriage, divorce, custody and inheritance.' Gaboury said the university's branch campus will include male and female faculty and that the program will be taught in the same methodology that is on the main campus. He added that Saudi Arabia is looking to 'elevate the role of women. 'It is leading by example,' he said, adding that the university has programs that advance women in law enforcement and is adding training programs for women in the Ministry of Education. He added that the collaboration is going a long way. 'Good economic relations and stability are actually helpful in terms of peace and prosperity,' he said. 'We are not giving dividends. We are trying to contribute to a civil society.'
