The Trump administration is threatening to cut funding for a Middle East studies program run by the University of North Carolina and Duke University, arguing that it's misusing a federal grant to advance "ideological priorities" and unfairly promote "the positive aspects of Islam" but not Christianity or Judaism.
An Aug. 29 letter from the U.S. Education Department orders the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies to revise its offerings by Sept. 22 or risk losing future funding from a federal grant that's awarded to dozens of universities to support foreign language instruction. The consortium received $235,000 from the grant last year, according to Education Department data.
Officials at Duke and at UNC-Chapel Hill, which houses the consortium, declined to comment. The Education Department declined to say if it's examining similar programs at other schools.
Academic freedom advocates say the government could be setting a dangerous precedent if it injects politics into funding decisions. Some said they had never heard of the Education Department asserting control over such minute details of a program's offerings.
"Is the government now going to judge funding programs based on the opinions of instructors or the approach of each course?" said Henry Reichman, chairman of a committee on academic freedom for the American Association of University Professors. "The odor of right wing political correctness that comes through this definitely could have a chilling effect."
More than a dozen universities receive National Resource Center grants for their Middle East programs, including Columbia, Georgetown, Yale and the University of Texas. The Duke-UNC consortium was founded in 2005 and first received the grant nearly a decade ago.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ordered an investigation into the program in June after North Carolina Rep. George Holding, a Republican, complained that it hosted a taxpayer-funded conference with "severe anti-Israeli bias and anti-Semitic rhetoric." In a response to Holding, DeVos said she was "troubled" by his letter and would take a closer look at the consortium.
The department's findings did not directly address any bias against Israel but instead evaluated whether the consortium's proposed activities met the goals of the National Resource Center program, which was created in 1965 to support language and culture initiatives that prepare students for careers in diplomacy and national security.
Investigators concluded that the consortium intended to use federal money on offerings that are "plainly unqualified for taxpayer support," adding that foreign language and national security instruction have "taken a back seat to other priorities." The department cited several courses, conferences and academic papers that it says have "little or no relevance" to the grant's goals.
"Although a conference focused on 'Love and Desire in Modem Iran' and one focused on Middle East film criticism may be relevant in academia, we do not see how these activities support the development of foreign language and international expertise for the benefit of U.S. national security and economic stability," the letter said.
Investigators also saw a disconnect between the grant's mission and some academic papers by scholars at the consortium. They objected to one paper titled "Performance, Gender-Bending and Subversion in the Early Modern Ottoman Intellectual History," and another titled "Radical Love: Teachings from Islamic Mystical Tradition."
The letter accused the consortium of failing to provide a "balance of perspectives" on religion. It said there is "a considerable emphasis" placed on "understanding the positive aspects of Islam, while there is an absolute absence of any similar focus on the positive aspects of Christianity, Judaism or any other religion or belief system in the Middle East."
It added that there are few offerings on discrimination faced by religious minorities in the Middle East, "including Christians, Jews, Baha'is, Yadizis, Kurds, Druze and others." Department officials said the grant's rules require programs to provide a "full understanding" of the regions they study.
Jay Smith, a history professor at UNC and vice president of its chapter of the American Association of University Professors, said the letter amounts to "ideologically driven harassment." He said the Education Department official who signed the letter, Robert King, "should stay in his lane and allow the experts to determine what constitutes a 'full understanding' of the Middle East."
But Holding, the Republican who sparked the investigation, said it's clear the consortium stepped outside the bounds of the grant. The Education Department has an obligation to ensure its funding is used as intended, he said, adding that other schools should make sure they're following the rules.
"This has fallen through the cracks, and this could be going on at other educational institutions," he said in an interview. "If the department's providing the money and giving guidance on how the money is to be used, I think they can be as in the weeds as they need to be."
The National Resource Center grant program provided a total of $22 million to language programs at about 40 universities last year. Of that total, about $3.5 million was for Middle East programs.
Along with its objection to the nature of the UNC-Duke offerings, the department also said it's concerned that, out of 6,800 students enrolled in the consortium's courses, just 960 were enrolled in Middle East language classes, and that only 11% of the program's graduates pursue careers in government, while 35% takes jobs in academia.
Department officials instructed the consortium to provide a "revised schedule of activities" for the next year and to explain how each offering promotes foreign language learning and advances national security interest.
Follow Collin Binkley on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cbinkley
OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2024--
As May marks Vision Health Month, the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) releases a digital national campaign to raise public awareness about eye health and vision care, encouraging Canadians to get their eyes checked. Several provincial associations of optometrists ( New Brunswick Association of Optometrists, Newfoundland & Labrador Association of Optometrists, Nova Scotia Association of Optometrists, and The Prince Edward Island Association of Optometrists ) and sponsors from the industry - Alcon, CooperVision, and Sun Pharma - joined and supported this campaign.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240501239056/en/
Urgent need for public education about eye health and vision care
8+ million Canadians are at risk of eye-threatening conditions, yet 75% of vision loss can be treated or prevented if diagnosed early. Despite Canadians highly valuing their eyesight and fearing its loss, there is a prevalent lack of awareness regarding the necessity of regular, comprehensive eye exams. Many individuals often overlook the importance of thorough examinations for early detection.
A 2022 survey 1 revealed a telling statistic: 37% of respondents who had not seen an eye care professional in over two years did so because they believed there was nothing wrong with their vision. Additionally, the survey found that men in Canada are less likely than women to prioritize eye health.
With those statistics in mind, the CAO released a new digital campaign to raise public awareness about eye health and vision through a simple yet potent message: “GetEyeWise!”
“Many serious eye conditions do not present obvious symptoms initially. Waiting for symptoms to appear can expose individuals to significant risks, particularly within an aging population, those engaging in increased near-work, and amidst a myopia epidemic among children. Integrating eye care into the healthcare routines of all age groups, from toddlers to seniors, is crucial, ” says Dr. Martin Spiro, President of the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
Think of an eye exam as a physical for your eyes…and more
A comprehensive eye examination is the best tool for the early detection of eye disease and several systemic diseases. It is based on the premise that structural change in the eye (often at the microscopic level) manifests itself well before any functional changes and vision loss occur.
Optometrists diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases and disorders affecting the visual system (the eye and related structures).
They also assist in identifying general health conditions like stroke, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, some cancers, brain injuries, and neurological conditions that are often first detected through a comprehensive eye exam. They provide referrals to specialists and can help manage post-eye-surgery health. From infants to seniors, optometrists provide care to help maintain good vision, eye health and quality of life.
The Canadian Association of Optometrists developed evidence-based guidelines for Recommended Frequency of the Comprehensive Eye Examination and calls on all Canadians to “GetEyeWise.”
“If grownups think their eyes are fine…then why are they always doing things like this?”
The national campaign features children mimicking adults’ faces in daily situations to encourage everyone to “GetEyeWise” and book an appointment with an optometrist. It will run throughout May on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify in both official languages.
“Together with the Canadian Association of Optometrists, we are dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of regular eye exams and to helping people see brilliantly,” said Vanessa Johari Hansen, Country Business Unit Head, Vision Care, at Alcon Canada. “Too often, eye exams are neglected, but through our partnership, we're determined to enhance vision and improve eye health, recognizing their vital role in overall well-being."
To find more about the CAO campaign, please visit: https://opto.ca/geteyewise
About the Canadian Association of Optometrists
The Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) is the national voice of optometry and is dedicated to providing leadership and support to its 8,300+ members to enhance the delivery of healthy eyes and clear vision for all Canadians. For more information, visit www.opto.ca
About Alcon
Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning over 75 years, we offer the broadest portfolio of products to enhance sight and improve people’s lives. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 25,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with Eye Care Professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.ca
About CooperVision
CooperVision, a division of CooperCompanies (NYSE:COO), is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of contact lenses. The company produces a full array of daily disposable, two-week and monthly soft contact lenses that feature advanced materials and optics, and premium rigid gas permeable lenses for orthokeratology and scleral designs. CooperVision has a strong heritage of addressing the toughest vision challenges such as astigmatism, presbyopia, childhood myopia, and highly irregular corneas; and offers the most complete portfolio of spherical, toric and multifocal products available. Through a combination of innovative products and focused practitioner support, the company brings a refreshing perspective to the marketplace, creating real advantages for customers and wearers. For more information, visit https://coopervision.ca
About Sun Pharma
Sun Pharma entered the Canadian market in 2015 with the purchase of Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, a Top 10 generic company in Canada since 2005. Sun Pharma is a world leader in branded and generic drugs and we are now well positioned to be an even larger contributor to the Canadian healthcare landscape.
With global manufacturing across six continents, we are investing in Canada by bringing high quality, affordable and innovative medicines to market. Our global strength in R&D with an unwavering commitment to quality ensures Sun Pharma will offer a wide range of affordable medicines for Canadians.
Taro Pharmaceuticals is the exclusive distributor of our specialty and generic products in Canada.
We feel the strength of our global Sun Pharma capabilities together with Taro Pharmaceutical’s 30-year commitment to Canadian manufacturing and distribution creates a unique pharmaceutical partner for our Canadian customers. It is our continued goal to provide our customers and partners with high quality products and exceptional customer service.
We look forward to many more years of providing Canadians with high quality and affordable medicines. To learn more, visit: https://sunpharma.com/canada-branded-products/
The Canadian Association of Optometrists Releases a New “GetEyeWise” Digital Campaign to Bring Awareness About Eye Health and Vision Care
