Northeast
Moral 'failures' of academic leaders wouldn't have seen accountability if not for Congress: Stefanik
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., responded Tuesday to Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation, telling Fox News the “failure of leadership” by Gay and now-former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill would not have been met with accountability if not for Congress.
Stefanik’s stern questioning last month of Magill, Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth on the subject of virulent antisemitism on campus has been credited for leading to the resignations of Magill and Gay, who stepped down Tuesday.
Stefanik told “America Reports” all three women offered “morally bankrupt” testimony in response to what she called an extremely simple question – whether calling for Jewish genocide violates academic codes of conduct at each institution.
Each collegiate leader offered a different version of “it depends on the context,” Stefanik recounted, saying that as a Harvard graduate herself, she recognized Gay’s failure of leadership from the start.
HARVARD PRESIDENT CLAUDINE GAY RESIGNS
“We have seen… from Claudine Gay a failure of moral leadership, but also a failure of academic integrity, which is a cornerstone of any higher education institution,” she said. “So I called for her resignation as I did for all three [presidents] because of their abject failure in that congressional testimony and their failure to protect Jewish students.”
“This is long overdue. It should not have taken the Harvard Corporation Board this long to demand her resignation.”
She said members of Harvard’s corporation are also “complicit” in covering up Gay’s reported repeated plagiarism; separate from her controversial House testimony – connecting the sudden scrutiny of her past written works with the fallout from her disastrous hearing performance.
HARVARD PRESIDENT CLAUDINE GAY FACES SIX NEW PLAGIARISM CHARGES: REPORT
“You have to remember, she was selected as president of Harvard in a shorter executive search than any other previous president. And they should have found out that there were 50 credible allegations of plagiarism and the fact that the Harvard Corporation, we now know, knew about that before the congressional hearing and tried to cover it up and threatened media outlets to sue them is a disgrace,” Stefanik added.
“When you are a board of any university, you need to make sure that your president, your faculty and your students uphold the rigors of academic integrity…”
“So this accountability would not have happened were it not for the very clear moral questions at the hearing.”
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In her resignation letter, Gay said it has been “distressing” to have people doubt her commitment to confronting hate and “upholding scholarly rigor,” claiming she has been since subjected to “threats fueled by racial animus.”
Prominent Harvard alumni Alan Dershowitz and billionaire hedgefunder Bill Ackman have been noted critics of Gay in the time since her testimony to Stefanik.
Dershowitz offered repeated criticism on Fox News, while Ackman was notably vociferous on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Gay did have a few defenders following her resignation, including Al Sharpton. The MSNBC host reportedly wrote that his organization plans to picket outside Ackman’s offices, according to CNN.
In regard to Harvard’s future, Stefanik said the college should prove it will have a new direction of leadership protecting Jewish students facing threats and assaults.
“This congressional investigation is not going to stop because of the resignation of these university presidents. There are deep institutional rots in these formerly prestigious universities, whether it’s their DEI offices or whether it’s the antisemitism that we see raging on college campuses,” she said.
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Two men were killed in a shooting along Linnview Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Carrick neighborhood on Thursday, authorities said.
The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. on the 1200 block of Linnview Avenue, according to a Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesperson.
When first responders arrived at the scene, they found two men with multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk about 10 feet apart. Both men were taken to local hospitals in grave condition, but they were pronounced dead when they arrived, Pittsburgh Public Safety’s spokesperson said. The victims were 23 and 27 years old. However, the victims have not been identified as of Thursday night.
Officials said the suspect fled on foot down Nobles Lane. No other information was released about the suspect. No arrests have been made as of Thursday night.
Neighbors told KDKA they heard at least six gunshots. Investigators at the scene recovered two firearms, the spokesperson for Pittsburgh Public Safety said. Police are investigating.
“At one point, I heard what sounded like fireworks,” one neighbor said.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Doctors are voicing concerns on the rising number of flu cases, including a new strain some are referring to as the “super flu,” as many are gathering indoors with loved ones for the holiday season.
With Christmas just a week away, Dr. Ulysses Wu, the chief epidemiologist at Hartford HealthCare, said there are growing concerns over the new H3N2 flu strain.
“We had a very late flu season this year, but we’re making up for it like gang busters,” Dr. Wu said. “What’s happening with this one is, this has changed a bit, making it a little bit more infectious. It invades our immune system a little bit more, and that’s why we’re seeing a rise in cases.”
The most notable jump in the U.S. has been happening in New York City, with 14,000 cases reported in the first week of December. That is a 460% jump from the same time last year, according to the state flu tracker.
Dr. Wu warned that, because of its location, Connecticut is at risk to see a jump in flu cases.
“Remember, we’re sandwiched between New York and Boston, and we do have our share of travelers and commuters as well,” Dr. Wu said. “Our rates have certainly increased and that’s to be expected.”
Dr. Wu recommended that it is best to listen to medical professionals when it comes to the flu vaccine and the new H3N2 strain.
“So people are saying, ‘Oh well it’s changed, the vaccine isn’t going to work.’ It is still going to work,” Dr. Wu explained. “The whole point is to modulate the course of the disease so it’s not as severe.
Dr. Wu said that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also up among children and older adults in Connecticut. When it comes to holiday celebrations, Dr. Wu recommends using common sense — wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get vaccinated if you haven’t been already.
The shortest day of the year, also known as the winter solstice, is Sunday. Maine ranks among five states with the shortest winter daylight, with about 8.5 hours. Averaging day length across the year, Maine is also near the bottom, with roughly 11.5 hours, second only to Alaska.
Day length varies strongly with latitude, even within Maine. On Sunday, Fort Kent will see almost a half hour less daylight than Portland, with 8 hours, 28 minutes compared with 8 hours, 56 minutes.
Why acknowledge the solstice?
The winter solstice serves as both a scientific marker of Earth’s orbit and a cultural symbol of the cycle of darkness and light. It is a time to look forward to longer days and opportunities for outdoor recreation, including winter-specific activities.
Watch the sunrise or sunset
With such a short day, take time to appreciate the daylight we do have. Head to a scenic spot near Bangor, such as Black Cap Mountain or the Waterfront, or for a longer drive, visit Bass Harbor Head Light in Acadia National Park or Mount Battie in Camden. Watch the sun rise or set over the winter landscape. Cross-country ski or snowshoe these areas to make the outing even more exciting. Rent equipment if needed, and carry a headlamp. Don’t let the waning light shorten your plans.
Visit holiday-themed lights
The Stillwater River Trail in Orono features a free light display with tunnels and wrapped trees, open nightly from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For those willing to travel farther, the Gardens Aglow display at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay lights up nature-themed paths with thousands of beautiful lights.
L.L. Bean in Freeport is always decorated with lights and holiday music, and the Cape Neddick Light in York has lights outlining its tower, keeper’s house and surrounding buildings.
Make winter crafts
After the sun sets, residents can mark the winter solstice with indoor activities such as creating seasonal crafts using Maine materials.
A handcrafted Christmas wreath made with Maine balsam fir brings natural holiday cheer to any home, and can be embellished with other natural trimmings like turkey feathers. Credit: Susan Bard / BDN
Options include wreaths and simple candle holders made from evergreens, pinecones and berries.
Many Maine land trusts allow public access to conserved forests and trails, providing materials for crafts with a permit. Creating your own wreaths and decorations is not only rewarding; they also make great gifts and are traditions worth starting.
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