Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Columbia University’s board of trustees backs President Minouche Shafik amid resignation calls
The Columbia University Board of Trustees threw its support behind embattled President Minouche Shafik, praising her handling of anti-Israel unrest shortly after House Speaker Mike Johnson called for her resignation in an on-campus address. Published April 25, 2024
Speaker Johnson confronts Columbia protesters, calls on university president to resign
House Speaker Mike Johnson called on Columbia President Minouche Shafik to resign over her handling of anti-Israel protest turmoil, chiding school officials for allowing "lawless agitators and radicals" to take over the campus. Published April 24, 2024
Speaker Johnson urges Columbia president to resign, scolds student protesters to ‘go back to class’
House Speaker Mike Johnson called on Columbia President Minouche Shafik to resign Wednesday over her handling of anti-Israel protest turmoil, declaring in an extraordinary visit to the Ivy League university that school officials have allowed "lawless agitators" to take over the campus. Published April 24, 2024
West Virginia AG Patrick Morrisey seeks Supreme Court review of Save Women’s Sports law
Twenty-five states have approved measures barring transgender athletes from girls' and women's scholastic sports, but West Virginia could become the first to have its law taken up by the Supreme Court. Published April 24, 2024
Columbia University extends deadline by 48 hours for anti-Israel protesters to disperse
Columbia University has given students another 48 hours to clear out the vast encampment covering the lawn in front of the Butler Library. Published April 24, 2024
Biden accused of mocking Catholicism for making sign of cross during abortion rally
President Biden has long been at odds with the Catholic Church over his pro-choice stance, but some Catholics were nonetheless flabbergasted to see him make the sign of the cross during an abortion-rights event in Florida. Published April 23, 2024
Senate Republicans prod Justice Department to crack down on ‘antisemitic, pro-Hamas mobs’ on campus
The Biden Justice Department has zeroed in on Catholics, pro-life activists, and rowdy parents at school-board meetings, but Senate Republicans wish the feds would turn their attention to those supporting blood-soaked terrorists. Published April 23, 2024
Spread of campus ‘Gaza solidarity encampments’ fuels arrests, antisemitism concerns
Anti-Israel protests and encampments continued to grow Tuesday despite efforts by college administrators to turn down the temperature, spurring more arrests as pressure mounts to restore order and protect Jewish students. Published April 23, 2024
Biden condemns ‘antisemitic’ protests on college campuses
President Biden on Monday decried the anti-Israel protests that have taken over college universities across the country, calling them "antisemitic," but also called for sympathy for the Palestinians in Gaza. Published April 22, 2024
AOC hails ‘peaceful’ anti-Israel protests on college campuses
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hailed the anti-Israel protesters at college campuses on Monday, depicting them as "peaceful" despite tense confrontations that forced a rabbi linked to Columbia University to urge Jewish students to stay away. Published April 22, 2024
Columbia President Minouche Shafik faces rising calls from Congress to step down
Calls for Columbia President Minouche Shafik to resign surged Monday over what congressional critics described as her failure to rein in the virulent anti-Israel protests that have engulfed the Ivy League institution. Published April 22, 2024
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pulls support from Columbia over antisemitism
The same kind of donor revolt over campus antisemitism that roiled Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania is getting real at Columbia. Published April 22, 2024
Columbia president declares ‘crisis’: Pro-Palestinian activity builds, Jewish students express fear
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik declared Monday that the Ivy League institution is facing a "crisis," ordering classes to be held remotely and stepping up security over escalating anti-Israel protests that have Jewish students in fear for their safety. Published April 22, 2024
Transgender athlete takes girls’ track title after court win; five girls refuse to compete
It was a week to remember for West Virginia track-and-field athlete Becky Pepper-Jackson, but not so much for the girls competing against the transgender teen. Published April 19, 2024
Biden revises Title IX, adding biological males to landmark women’s rights law
The Biden administration released Friday its long-awaited overhaul of Title IX, inserting "gender identity" into the watershed civil rights amendment aimed at eliminating discrimination against girls and women in education. Published April 19, 2024
North Carolina teen slapped with three-day suspension for saying ‘illegal alien’ in class
The case of the North Carolina teen suspended for using the term "illegal alien" in class is quickly becoming a cause celebre on the right. Published April 18, 2024
Planned Parenthood annual report: More abortions, more taxpayer cash, fewer patients
Planned Parenthood saw fewer patients but performed more abortions -- and raked in more taxpayer funding -- in the fiscal year that saw the fall of Roe v. Wade. Published April 18, 2024
House Republicans grill Columbia University president over rampant campus antisemitism
Columbia President Minouche Shafik aced the biggest test at Wednesday's House hearing on campus antisemitism, but she was no match for House Republicans who caught her in multiple contradictions related to the school's reaction to hate against Jewish people. Published April 17, 2024
What is a woman? Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes biological definition of ‘woman’ in state law
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to codify the meaning of "woman" in state law, becoming the second female Democratic governor to nix such legislation over concerns about transgender rights. Published April 17, 2024
Operation Rescue endorses Trump: ‘He hit it out of the park’ with Supreme Court picks
Pro-life groups were dismayed when former President Donald Trump declined to support federal limits on abortion access, but one leading organization says that shouldn't stop abortion foes from voting for him. Published April 16, 2024
