Tag Archives: discrimination

Cornell University Reaches Agreement with Trump Administration

Posted on by
Reply

The Trump-Bondi Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached an agreement with Cornell University to unfreeze federal funds in exchange for significant reforms at the institution. The agreement includes a substantial investment in agricultural research and financial payouts to the federal government. Additionally, Cornell will be required to provide all employees with guidelines prohibiting discrimination related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.

“The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEI policies,” declared U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon in a press release on Friday. “Thanks to this deal with Cornell and the ongoing work of DOJ, HHS, and the team at ED, U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit, rigor, and truth-seeking—not ideology. These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world.”

As part of the agreement, Cornell University will invest $30 million through 2028 in research programs related to agriculture and farming. According to the DOJ press release, this investment will support American farmers by helping reduce production costs and increase efficiency. Additionally, Cornell will pay $30 million to the United States over the next three years.

The university has agreed to provide the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” as a training resource for faculty and staff. Cornell will also conduct annual surveys to evaluate the campus climate for students and comply with lawful requests from the United States related to foreign funding sources.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also involved in the agreement. “The Trump Administration is actively dismantling the ability of elite universities to discriminate based on race or religion,” stated HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “The DOJ’s agreement with Cornell strengthens protections for students against antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination.”

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ Civil Rights Division celebrated the deal as a victory for fairness and civil rights. “As a result of securing this groundbreaking settlement between the United States and Cornell, applicants and students will receive fair and equal treatment as required by our civil rights laws, and American farmers will have expanded opportunity for agricultural development and productivity,” said Dhillon.

She added, “The Cornell agreement exhibits this administration’s deep commitment to vigilantly enforce our federal civil rights laws on college campuses and ensure that American universities manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.”

Cornell had faced significant cutbacks in hiring and budgeting in August amid the loss of federal funding, as the university delayed implementing required reforms. In October, the university’s student newspaper sparked controversy by publishing a professor’s artwork containing Nazi imagery.

It appears that since then, Cornell has recognized the need to prioritize federal funding over controversial ideologies. One hopes the university will now uphold its commitments under this agreement.

—

*For Our VIPs:*
**Trans Teacher Makes Death Threat Over Pronouns as Court Rules Against Forced Use**
https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2025/11/08/cornell-university-reaches-agreement-with-trump-admin-n4945764

What is gerrymandering? Here’s a deeper look at the controversies of redistricting, voters’ impact

Posted on by
Reply

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — A significant political battle is shaping up in North Carolina, while a Supreme Court case in Washington, D.C., could have far-reaching effects on voters across the United States, including those in the Tar Heel State.

Texas and California have already attempted to influence the balance of power in Congress through redistricting efforts designed to favor Republicans or Democrats. Texas is widely recognized as a red state, and California is considered a blue state. North Carolina, however, is viewed as a deep shade of purple.

### Supreme Court Review of Voting Rights Act Challenge

The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a major Republican-led challenge to the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana. This case has the potential to undermine a critical provision of the landmark Civil Rights Movement legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.

Enacted in 1965, the Voting Rights Act forbids gerrymandering based on race, ensuring that redistricting does not discriminate against voters of color.

David McClennan, a political scientist at Meredith University in Raleigh, explains,
*“This idea that, particularly in southern states like North Carolina, but other southern states as well, the basic principle of one person, one vote was being basically ignored. The Voting Rights Act was a way to guarantee that Black voters in particular couldn’t be marginalized.”*

### What Is Gerrymandering?

Gerrymandering refers to the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.

For example, consider a voting population with 20 purple voters and 30 orange voters. If the area is divided evenly, the result would be five majority orange districts and no purple districts. However, by redrawing the lines strategically, as illustrated in the diagram, purple voters could secure a majority in certain districts despite being outnumbered overall.

Gerrymandering is legal when based on political affiliation but illegal when based on race.

McClennan notes,
*“Gerrymandering is a powerful tool, and again in North Carolina, it gives much more power to the Republicans than they would otherwise have.”*

### North Carolina Redistricting Plans and Legal Challenges

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts once again, which could potentially increase the number of Republican members of Congress.

In response, Democrats aim to prove that the redistricting is racially motivated and therefore violates the law. For courts to rule the redistricting illegal, they must find clear evidence that race was a significant factor in the redistricting process.

### New Congressional Maps Released

On Thursday, North Carolina House and Senate leaders released copies of the new proposed congressional map, marking the next step in a contentious political and legal battle over representation in the state.

As the situation develops, voters and officials alike are closely watching how redistricting efforts and the Supreme Court ruling will shape future elections in North Carolina and beyond.
https://abc11.com/post/gerrymandering-nc-other-states-redistrict-congressional-maps-help-republicans-scotus-weigh-voting-rights-act-decision/18016215/

Need to integrate trans-inclusive science in medical education, says study

Posted on by
Reply

**Integrating Trans-Inclusive Science in Medical Education: A Crucial Step for India’s Healthcare System**

NEW DELHI: Transgender individuals in India routinely face discrimination in healthcare, often encountering prejudice and ignorance from medical providers. Addressing this issue, a recent study published in the American journal *Advances in Physiology Education* emphasizes the urgent need to integrate trans-inclusive science early within India’s medical curricula. This integration is essential to adequately meet the specific medical needs of transgender people.

Globally, many medical schools dedicate minimal to no hours to LGBT health education. India is no exception. Despite the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019—which prohibits discrimination—transgender individuals continue to face barriers in education and healthcare.

To tackle this challenge, a first-of-its-kind study was conducted in India, offering fresh hope if its recommendations are incorporated into medical education. Dr. Satendra Singh, Director Professor of the Department of Physiology at the University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital in Delhi, and one of the study’s authors, highlighted the shortcomings of the National Medical Commission (NMC), the body that regulates medical education in India.

“The NMC has failed to adequately address LGBT health,” Dr. Singh said. “Unfortunately, the NMC has made repeated U-turns on including LGBTQI content in the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum, first in 2019 and again in 2024.”

According to the 2011 census, India has approximately 4.88 lakh transgender persons. This study is the first in the country to longitudinally integrate trans-affirmative competencies into the MBBS physiology curriculum, marking a significant milestone for medical education in India.

Dr. Singh was recently honored with the prestigious WHO South-East Asia Region award for Public Health Champion in the individual category, recognizing his efforts in championing disability inclusion within health systems and medical education.

The pilot study employed a mixed-methods approach to integrate trans-affirmative competencies into the MBBS physiology curriculum, explained the study’s primary author, Dr. Athul KM, based in Kozhikode.

Co-author Prof. (Dr.) Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of Community Medicine at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, added, “From dehumanization in the old curriculum to a human-centered approach in this pilot, we have taken a small step in the right direction.”

The findings from this study highlight a critical path forward for transforming India’s medical education system—towards inclusivity, sensitivity, and comprehensive care for transgender individuals.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2025/Sep/28/need-to-integrate-trans-inclusive-science-in-medical-education-says-study