by Staff Reporter | May 12, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona State University (ASU) banned a professor after his verbal confrontation with a Muslim woman on campus went viral online.
ASU professor Jonathan Yudelman, a School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership postdoctoral research scholar, confronted a hijab-clad Muslim woman during a pro-Israel protest near campus last Sunday, captured in viral footage amplified by pro-Hamas activists.
The events leading up to the heated, expletive-laden exchange weren’t captured or circulated, and the identity of the woman is unknown. It is also not known if she is an ASU student.
“You’re disrespecting my religious boundaries,” said the woman.
“What does this have to do with religion? You’re spewing hate,” said the man with Yudelman, former IDF soldier Sammy Ben.
“You disrespect my sense of humanity, b****,” said Yudelman.
“Get the f*** out of my face,” responded the woman.
“Get the f*** out of here,” said Yudelman.
“Go back to Jihad,” said Ben, to which another woman recording the viral exchange began screaming “Hate Crime!” and yelling for the cops to come handle the two men. At that point, Ben turned around to face the woman filming.
“What do you say about the seventh of October? Do you have an opinion about it? You also glorified it? You’re happy about it?” asked Ben.
Clemson University professor C. Bradley Thompson, a peer of Yudelman, offered some background to the viral exchange: the mystery woman had allegedly engaged by verbally accosting him first, and Yudelman wasn’t initially part of the pro-Israel protest.
According to Thompson, Yudelman is talking with a lawyer about his situation.
ASU President Michael Crow said in a statement that Yudelman was not only dismissed, but completely banned from campus and future teaching opportunities.
“He is no longer permitted to be on campus and will never teach here again,” said Crow.
Yudelman resigned before Sunday’s incident, though his resignation wasn’t scheduled to take effect until the end of June. Yudelman is an associate professor with University of Austin, a new private university enrolling its first undergraduate class this fall.
Yudelman formerly held positions with Harvard University, Princeton University, Baylor University, and the University of Texas.
Activists and organizations such as the Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) demanded Yudelman to be arrested and fired for the exchange.
CAIR-AZ Executive Director Azza Abuseif said Yudelman’s rhetoric amounted to a “broader pattern of Islamophobia and religious intolerance weaponized by pro-Israel, pro-genocide extremists.” Abuseif also called for any criminal charges possible to be filed.
In a Wednesday press release, ASU reported that it had placed Yudelman on leave on Monday pending their investigation. The university referred the matter to Tempe police.
“Arizona State University protects freedom of speech and expression but does not tolerate threatening or violent behavior,” said ASU. “While peaceful protest is welcome, all incidents of violent or threatening behavior will be addressed.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 11, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Charter school students are making a name for Arizona schools nationwide: two BASIS Charter School students were named presidential scholars by the Department of Education.
The department selected only 161 high school seniors for the honor, and two of the three came out of Arizona charter schools: Matteo Huish from BASIS Mesa, and Sruti Peddi, from BASIS Scottsdale. The third student, Vivian Saavedra, attends Chaparral High School.
There are an estimated 3.7 million students expected to graduate from high school this year. Out of that total, over 5,700 candidates qualified for the scholars recognition.
The three Arizona students were selected out of 144 Arizona candidates total, and 19 semifinalists from the state. This year’s presidential scholars announcement marks the program’s 60th anniversary.
In a press release, BASIS Charter Schools CEO Carolyn McGarvey said she was proud of Huish and Peddi for their hard work and talent.
“Their achievements reflect the rigorous academic standards and commitment to excellence that define BASIS Charter School campuses nationwide, and particularly here in our home state of Arizona,” said McGarvey.
11 of BASIS Charter Schools were recently ranked in the top 100 public schools out of 24,000 schools in America by U.S. News & World Report, including the number-one school in the country overall: the BASIS Peoria campus. Both Huish and Peddi’s campuses were among the 11 ranked.
Semifinalists represented Bell Academy Homeschool, BASIS Scottsdale (three students), Brophy College Preparatory, Primavera Online High School, Paradise Valley High School (two students), BASIS Mesa (two students), Desert Mountain High School, University High School, BASIS Phoenix, BASIS Chandler (two students), Chaparral High School, The Jones-Gordon School, Arcadia High School, and Northland Preparatory Academy.
Presidential scholars are not selected on an application basis; the recognition comes through invitation only.
Eligible students must have scored exceptionally well on either the SAT or ACT. The Department of Education takes the top 20 male and female scorers in each state, and reaches out to them to submit candidacy materials such as essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. The department evaluates the candidate materials on academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and service activities, and essay content.
Each Chief State School Officer — in Arizona, the superintendent — may also nominate 10 male and 10 female candidates, and partner programs may nominate up to 40 candidates.
Semifinalists were selected by an independent national committee of educators convened by the Commission on Presidential Scholars.
The Department of Education also recognized three Arizona teachers for distinguished teaching paired with their respective 2024 Presidential Scholars: Sadie Puerner, a chemistry teacher out of Chaparral High School nominated by Saavedra; Charity Taylor-Antal, an English teacher out of BASIS Scottsdale nominated by Peddi; and Greg Thorson, an economics teacher out of BASIS Mesa nominated by Huish.
The department also recognizes presidential scholars in the arts as well as career and technical education. This year, however, Arizona didn’t have any scholars listed in those categories.
BASIS Charter Schools has had one or more Presidential Scholars in seven years since its inception in 1998: 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2013.
The network of charter schools has 40 campuses serving over 24,000 students in Arizona, as well as Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 11, 2024 | Economy, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One Arizona Republican lawmaker is speaking out against Democrats’ economic policies.
Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope recently addressed the economic pains being felt by his constituents – as well as many Arizonans around the state. He singled out President Joe Biden and attributed the support of Democrat state legislators for aiding in the economic ailments of everyday Americans.
Shope wrote, “Reckless policies implemented by Joe Biden and supported by Democrat lawmakers have caused the inflation nightmare currently costing you more of your hard earned dollars. Americans are now paying nearly $1,100 more each month compared with just three years ago. If you were hoping to buy a house soon, don’t expect relief in the near future, as 30- year mortgage rates are sitting above 7%, the highest level in 20 years, and the feds indicated this week they may not cut rates in 2024 while inflation remains high.”
The state senator added, “Gas prices are surpassing $4 per gallon in Arizona, when they were just $2.50 at this time four years ago. Our citizens are spending 11% of their disposable income on food, which is the highest level in more than three decades. More and more working class citizens are relying on credit cards to cope with rising costs, as one in three consumers are currently maxing them out. Senate Republicans remain focused on easing these financial burdens, despite the out of touch priorities Biden, Hobbs, and Democrat lawmakers are pushing.”
A recent Gallup Economy and Personal Finance Poll showed that only 38% of respondents had “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of President Biden “to do or recommend the right thing for the economy.” This approval rating (or lack thereof) for Biden has plummeted since the start of his presidency in 2021, when he began his term at 57% for this specific question. Just 34% of independents have confidence in the 46th President’s ability to turn the economy around, according to the poll.
During a recent campaign appearance, former President Donald J. Trump again reiterated that he would reignite the American economy if voters entrusted him with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He said, “Upon taking office, I will impose an immediate moratorium on all new spending, grants, and giveaways under Joe Biden’s mammoth socialist bills like the so-called Inflation Reduction Act. We are going to stop the Biden spending spree. We are going to halt his inflation death spiral. We are going to terminate his Green New Scam. We are going to end his war on American energy. And we are going to drill, baby, drill.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 10, 2024 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona’s school’s chief is taking on the state’s fentanyl crisis.
Earlier this week, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced the creation of “an initiative to supply schools with the anti-overdose drug Narcan and a statewide task force to address this crisis.”
According to the press release issued by the Arizona Department of Education, “among all age groups, Arizona recorded more than 1,800 opioid-related deaths and more than 4,000 overdoses in 2023.”
In a statement to accompany his announcement, Horne said, “Sadly, overdoses are a reality for school-aged children throughout Arizona. Fentanyl can kill students within minutes of an overdose. It is vitally important that all schools have Narcan available to help save student lives if it should happen on campus. With the establishment of the STOPIT task force, we will work to get Narcan into schools and assist with training for its use. I am also endorsing the work of The Sold Out Youth Foundation, which has excellent resources to address this ongoing crisis.”
The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce (STOPIT) “will include representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders,” as per the information received from Horne’s office. Terros Health and the Mayo Clinic have expressed support for the taskforce.
Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale said, “There has never been a greater need to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. With more than 50 percent of U.S. fentanyl being trafficked directly through our state, we are ground zero. It’s time to bring solutions as big as the problem to the table. This taskforce has assembled a wide array of proven thought leaders whose collective expertise can and will change the landscape of our state’s opioid overdose trends.”
Dr. Karen Hoffman Tepper, president and CEO of Terros Health said,”Terros Health is honored to join the STOPIT task force. Too many young people are being impacted by the harmful effects of fentanyl. Our team has been on the front lines, educating thousands of Arizonians on when and how to use Narcan and we have seen it save lives. We look forward to working collaboratively to make this life-saving tool available in every school and community.”
In addition to the initiative and task force, Horne also endorsed an effort to get free anti-drug awareness materials into all Arizona schools.” He shared his support of the Sold Out Youth Foundation, which “provides interactive online materials warning of the dangers of illegal drugs, proven Accredited Fentanyl Education Curriculum and online platform and promoting health and wellness and fitness education.”
Sold Out President Roman Gabriel III said, “Sold Out is committed to partnering with K-12 public schools attacking our countries current youth drug, alcohol, and mental health crisis. The SOYF Program is saving lives by equipping school staff, parents and students with a comprehensive program that includes a PLA Accredited Fentanyl Education Platform. The emphasis is on education and awareness for parents and students to understand the grave dangers that this deadly poison poses, and in turn saving lives.”
The Republican Superintendent added, “The American Medical Association reports that overdose deaths nationally among adolescents has doubled since 2019. Fentanyl is responsible for more than three-quarters of those deaths and Arizona is not immune from this scourge. The rise of illicit fentanyl and its trafficking via social media is having a disproportionate impact on our children. This is a tragedy beyond words, it shows no sign of abating and schools are a vital resource to educate children on these dangers.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Elizabeth Troutman | May 10, 2024 | News
By Elizabeth Troutman |
Congressional candidate and University of Arizona law school professor Kirsten Engel has refused to stand by Israel as her alma maters, Northwestern University and Brown University, blow up with antisemitic protests, a new report shows.
“Kirsten Engel is not a fighter for Arizona, she is a scared politician who is too afraid of the extreme left to speak up against antisemitism,” National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesperson Ben Petersen said in a statement.
Engel has “been silent in the face of protests taking place at their alma mater.”
Engel is running to represent Arizona’s sixth district. She is a former legislator, Charles E. Ares Professor of Law at the James E. Rogers College of Law, and an environmental lawyer.
She received her undergraduate degree from Brown and her J.D. from Northwestern.
Students at Northwestern set up an encampment on school grounds to demand the administration divest from Israel. Terrorist sympathizers even became violent with police officers.
At Brown, students also set up a pro-Palestine encampment, which they agreed to clear April 30.
Students across the country are skipping classes and final exams to protest on behalf of Hamas-controlled Palestine.
At Columbia University, students took over Hamilton Hall overnight, barricading themselves inside. At the University of Texas, more than 80 arrests have occurred.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | May 9, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to help Arizonans with their “second chance” was recently signed into law.
Last month, Governor Katie Hobbs, signed SB 1367 into law. The bill “modifies statute relating to a petition for review of criminal records for an occupational license” – according to the overview provided by the Arizona House of Representatives.
Senator Shawnna Bolick, the bill’s sponsor, shared some insight into her proposal, writing, “I worked with the Alliance for Safety and Justice to help make Arizona a safer place to live, as well as to help those individuals who are released from prison acclimate successfully back into society and become productive members contributing to their communities. Typically, when people are unable to get a job, secure a place to live, or provide for their families, they have a greater chance of reoffending and often end up back in prison.”
Bolick added, “My bill, SB 1367, was recently signed into law and will create a pathway for folks to get a job quicker after being released by expanding access to occupational licenses for non-serious offenses. This measure was supported by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, which includes thousands of members here in Arizona. This legislation will benefit our state by filling job vacancies, stopping cycles of crime, and improving the safety of our citizens. This is a win for crime victims, as well as for our citizens who are in search of a second chance.”
In March, the Arizona Senate overwhelmingly approved of the legislation with a 24-4 vote (with two members not voting). Later that month, it passed out of the Arizona House of Representatives with a 45-9 vote (with five members not voting and one seat vacant).
After the State House gave a green light to the legislation, the “X” account for the Alliance for Safety and Justice praised Bolick’s leadership on the issue, stating, “We are so grateful to Shawnna Bolick for leading the passage of pro-safety, pro-jobs SB 1367 in AZ today! SB 1367 will: 1. Create a pathway to jobs for those with old records and help them rebuild their lives, 2. Make communities safer, and 3. Strengthen our economy.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from Action for Safety And Justice, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Justice Action Network, and State Conference NAACP signed in to support the bill.
SB 1367 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature officially concludes its business for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
