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EXCLUSIVE: Brown University Has Received Over $11M in Funding From Palestine

Brown University has received millions in funding from sources in “Palestinian Territories,” according to a review of federal data by GoLocal. 

The United States Department of Education “requires institutions of higher education that receive Federal financial assistance to disclose semiannually to the U.S. Department of Education any gifts received from and contracts with a foreign source that, alone or combined, are valued at $250,000 or more in a calendar year.”

According to the “College Foreign Gift and Contract Report” — Brown University has received $11,692,251 from sources in “Palestinian Territories” over an indeterminate amount of time. 

Federal records show that the biggest gifts include separate $2,000,000 donations — including one to “support an assistant professorship at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, with preference for Security Studies.”

In addition, records show two entries from “Palestinian Territories” of $643,000 which state “the purpose of the Fund is to provide support for a Professorship in Palestinian Studies within Middle East Studies.”

The professor who those gifts supported is Beshara B Doumani, the Mahmoud Darwish Professor of Palestinian Studies at Brown. He also simultaneously has served as the President of Birzeit University from 2021 to 2023, located in the Palestinian West Bank territory. His Brown University bio does not mention his role heading the Palestinian University, but his Birzeit bio features his role at Brown.

When Doumani was named to the Presidency at Birzeit, the American conservation publication the American Spectator wrote, “Palestine’s ‘Terrorist University’ Picks Ivy League Prof as New President.”

The Birzeit University was raided in September of 2023, and eight students were arrested by Israeli Defense Forces for suspected ties to a terror plot.

The Times of Israel reported in September, “The students, from Birzeit University near Ramallah, were nabbed following an investigation into Hamas cells in Palestinian educational institutions, the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said. They were allegedly recruited by Hamas operatives in Gaza, receiving weaponry intended for the attack.”

Doumani was the featured speaker at the Brown University vigil on Tuesday — an event closed to the press.

According to the federal database, Brown reported gifts and contracts from countries including England, Spain, Thailand, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and more. 

It did not report any donations from Israel to Brown. 

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The stage is set for Saturday’s annual in-state rivalry meeting between the Rhode Island Rams and Providence College Friars.

TV schedule: Sunday, December 2, 7:30 p.m. EST FS1

Arena: Amica Mutual Pavillion in Providence, Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island and Providence College’s annual in-state rivalry is renewed for the 135th time on Saturday, with the Friars leading the series 76–58. The Friars have won nine of the last 11 meetings with the Rams, including their most recent game last season, where Providence was victorious 88–74 at the Ryan Center.

All five of PC’s starters finished in double figures, but the team was led by Bryce Hopkins, who posted 14 points and 15 rebounds. Clifton Moore and Jared Bynum each contributed 14 points, while Noah Locke had 13, and Devin Carter and Ed Croswell each had 10.

While Providence’s lineup is relatively similar to last season and is expected to continue its recent success against Rhode Island, this time, they’ll be led by a new face of the program. Kim English will make his Ocean State rivalry debut on Saturday. The former George Mason head coach took over the Friars this past offseason for Ed Cooley, who left the team for an opening at Georgetown.

While the Friars managed to retain seven players from last year’s roster, the program brought in several new faces, including three from George Mason who followed English to downtown Providence. However, the player to watch out for is returning junior forward Hopkins.

After his first year at Kentucky, Hopkins transferred to PC before last season. In his second year with the program this season, Hopkins is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and shooting 40.2 percent from the field. We can certainly expect another dominant performance out of him.

The Rhode Island Rams are 5-2 through the season’s first seven games. Still, now they will face the most formidable opponent of their non-conference schedule in the in-state rival Providence Friars, showing fans what to make of Rams in year two of the Archie Miller era.

Despite several players leaving the program this offseason, Coach Miller and his staff improved the roster, adding plenty of talent from the transfer portal and some key depth pieces that have adjusted to his style nicely, such as Luis Kortright, Jaden House, Tyson Brown, and David Fuchs. Still, the player to watch out for is Bradley transfer guard Zek Montgomery.

Montgomery leads the Rams in points, averaging 15.6 per game and shooting 54.9 percent from the field. The 6-foot-6 guard has scored in double figures in every game this season. He posted 14 points, nine rebounds, and two assists on 42.9 percent shooting in Rhody’s last game.

The Rams are coming off a 76-72 upset victory at home against the Yale Bulldogs. Rhody was down by as much as 18 at one point but came from behind in the second half to remain undefeated in the Ryan Center this season.

The Rams will look to carry that momentum with them on Saturday when they face PC. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rhody comes out of the gate with a lot of energy to keep it close throughout the first half. Still, their lack of experience as a younger team, combined with the home-court disadvantage, will get the best of them in the second half, allowing Providence to pull away within the final eight minutes.

While the Rams will make this Ocean State rivalry matchup a more competitive game than in their previous matchups with the Friars over the last few years, Providence’s roster is too good to be matched, and URI will run out of answers for them. Regardless, we can expect a great show from both programs, who are fighting for bragging rights of the Ocean State in front of a sold-out crowd in one of the most competitive atmospheres in all of college basketball.

Prediction: Providence 89, Rhode Island 77

• Published on 12/02/2023 at 10:13 AM EST
• Last updated on 12/02/2023 at 10:13 AM EST

Rhode Island Rams (5-2) at Providence Friars (6-1)

Providence, which got 21 points from Ticket Gaines in an 86-52 victory over the Wagner Seahawks on Tuesday, hosts the Rhode Island Rams. The Friars have gone 5-0 at home. Providence is second in the Big East in team defense, giving up 62.9 points while holding opponents to 35.3% shooting.

More: Here’s how Ticket Gaines rebounded from an off-night, as Providence basketball routed Wagner

More: If you’re a fan of college basketball in Rhode Island, this weekend is for you. Here’s why.

The Rams, who are coming off a comeback win vs. Yale, play their first true road game after going 5-2 to start the season. Rhode Island averages 76.3 points while outscoring opponents by 7.2 points per game.

More: Here’s how Rhode Island basketball’s late surge proved too much for Yale to handle

Providence averages 76.3 points, 7.2 more per game than the 69.1 Rhode Island allows. Rhode Island has shot at a 49.3% rate from the field this season, 14.0 percentage points higher than the 35.3% shooting opponents of Providence have averaged.

Who are the top performers for Providence and Rhode Island?

◘Devin Carter averages 1.7 3-pointers per game for the Friars, scoring 15.0 points while shooting 30.8% from beyond the arc. Bryce Hopkins is shooting 40.2% and averaging 15.7 points for Providence.

◘Zek Montgomery is scoring 15.6 points per game and averaging 5.7 rebounds for the Rams. Jaden House is averaging 14.3 points and 3.3 rebounds for Rhode Island.

When and where does Providence play URI?

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. in Providence at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.

More: Villanova jumps, Providence holds steady in latest Big East basketball rankings

How to watch the Providence Friars vs. Rhode Island Rams?

The game will be televised on both FS1 and The Varsity Network.

How to listen to the Providence vs. Rhode Island game?

The game will be aired on WPRO-AM (630) and WPRO-FM (99.7).

What is the betting line for the Providence vs. Rhode Island game?

Odds will be posted here on the day of the game. 

Associated Press