Family of Late NCCU Basketball Player Devin Butts Files Lawsuit, Blaming University for Fatal Cardiac Incident

DURHAM, N.C. — The family of Devin Butts, a former basketball player at North Carolina Central University, has initiated a lawsuit against the school, two years after his tragic death. Butts, a 22-year-old senior, was deeply passionate about basketball and aspired to play professionally. His father, Derex Butts, reflected on his son’s early love for the game, recalling how Devin began playing at the age of three. On the evening of April 30, 2023, Devin Butts suffered a cardiac arrest while with his teammates at McDougald-McLendon Arena, according to legal documents filed by his family. … Read more

Judicial Controversy: North Dakota Judge’s Columbia University Boycott Raises Ethical Questions Amid Campus Protests

BISMARCK, N.D. — A federal judge in North Dakota has sparked a significant debate over academic hiring practices after announcing he will not recruit law clerks from Columbia University. This decision stems from the university’s handling of protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The chief judge of the Eighth Circuit expressed concern that the judge’s actions may set a troubling precedent, yet he also dismissed an ethics complaint against the judge’s boycott. This measure taken by the North Dakota judge draws attention to the larger national discourse surrounding free speech and academic freedom, … Read more

Southern University Hazing Case Advances: Grand Jury to Review Charges Against Key Suspect in Student’s Tragic Death

BATON ROUGE, La. — A grand jury will review the case of at least one of the three individuals charged with criminal hazing linked to the death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson, according to an attorney representing one of the suspects. Franz Borghardt, representing Isaiah Smith, stated that a bond review hearing for his client in the 19th Judicial District Court went smoothly. Borghardt confirmed that the state intends to bring the case before a grand jury in September. Smith was arrested in March following Wilson’s death and was released on a $25,000 bond … Read more

Justice Department to Launch Major Legal Offensive Against University of California Over Alleged Antisemitism

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s aggressive stance against alleged antisemitism in U.S. universities is taking shape, with officials indicating that the University of California system may be the next target of legal action. As part of a broader effort to address rising antisemitic sentiments on campuses, the Justice Department is preparing to initiate lawsuits against multiple institutions, signaling an escalation in the fight against discrimination in higher education. Leo Terrell, a senior counsel with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, leads a multi-agency task force focused on combatting antisemitism. In a recent interview, Terrell outlined … Read more