Columbia professor marches for Gaza while funded by your tax dollars

New York Post - Mar 14th, 2025
Open on New York Post

Columbia University professor Jennifer J. Manly has sparked controversy by participating in pro-Hamas demonstrations on campus, raising questions about the use of taxpayer funds for her research. Manly, a neuropsychologist known for her work on the social determinants of health, has received over $100 million in grants over the past two decades. Her research posits that racism, sexism, and homophobia can cause brain diseases like Alzheimer's, a thesis some critics label as pseudo-scientific. Her involvement in the demonstrations and her research focus have drawn criticism from figures such as psychiatrist Kurt Miceli, who sees her work as politically motivated rather than scientifically grounded.

This development underscores a broader debate about the politicization of academic research and the allocation of public funds. Critics argue that Manly's research is ideologically driven, citing her linkage of historical racism to present-day health disparities. The controversy comes amid efforts by the Trump administration to scrutinize and potentially cut funding for projects deemed lacking in traditional scholarly rigor. This case highlights tensions between academic freedom and accountability in publicly funded research, as well as the ongoing cultural and political battles over diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia.

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RATING

4.8
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a critical view of Jennifer J. Manly's research and political activities, focusing on the use of taxpayer dollars for what is perceived as ideologically driven science. While the article raises important questions about accountability and transparency in publicly funded research, it lacks a balanced perspective by not including supportive views or diverse expert opinions.

The article's accuracy is mixed, with some claims requiring further verification and a lack of transparent sourcing. The reliance on a single critical viewpoint without corroborating evidence from other experts affects the overall credibility and balance of the piece. Additionally, the clarity and readability are generally strong, but the article could benefit from more detailed explanations of scientific concepts.

Overall, the article engages with timely and controversial topics that are likely to provoke debate and capture attention. However, its impact and engagement potential are limited by its one-sided approach and lack of depth in analysis. By providing a more balanced view and exploring the broader implications of the issues discussed, the article could offer a more comprehensive and impactful contribution to the public discourse.

RATING DETAILS

5
Accuracy

The story makes several claims about Jennifer J. Manly's participation in a pro-Hamas demonstration and her research being funded by taxpayer dollars. The claim of her participation in the demonstration is supported by a description of her wearing an orange vest and standing with other professors. However, the context of the demonstration and whether it was explicitly pro-Hamas requires further verification.

The article states that Manly has been connected to over $100 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over 20 years. This claim needs verification through public grant databases or NIH records. Additionally, the story mentions a recent grant of nearly $700,000 for research linking racism to brain disease, which should be checked against NIH funding announcements.

Critiques of Manly's research, such as those from Kurt Miceli, are presented, but the article lacks a balanced view from other experts in the field to confirm or refute these criticisms. The claim that her research is politically motivated rather than scientifically valid needs further exploration with input from the scientific community.

Overall, while the article presents some verifiable facts, such as the existence of Manly's research and her funding sources, it also includes claims that require additional evidence and context to be fully accurate.

4
Balance

The article heavily emphasizes criticisms of Jennifer J. Manly's research and her political activities, primarily presenting a negative view of her work. It cites critics like Kurt Miceli, who argue that her research is politically driven and a waste of taxpayer money. However, it does not provide a balanced perspective by including counterarguments or supportive views from other scholars or institutions that might defend the scientific validity of her research.

The lack of diverse viewpoints leads to an imbalanced presentation, as the article does not explore potential merits of Manly's research or the broader context of her work within the scientific community. This one-sided portrayal suggests a bias against her and her research, failing to offer readers a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

By not including voices that could provide a more nuanced view of Manly's work, the article misses an opportunity to engage with the complexity of the issues at hand, such as the intersection of politics and scientific research.

6
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting its main claims and criticisms in a straightforward manner. The narrative is easy to follow, with a logical progression from discussing Jennifer J. Manly's political activities to her research and the criticisms it faces.

However, the clarity is somewhat undermined by the lack of nuanced explanation of the scientific concepts involved in Manly's research. Terms like "social determinants of health thesis" and "racism is associated with inflammation and dementia risk" are mentioned but not thoroughly explained, which might leave readers without a scientific background confused about the specifics of her work.

The tone of the article also leans towards being critical, which might influence the reader's perception of the information presented. While the article communicates its points effectively, the lack of detailed explanations and potential bias in tone could affect the overall clarity and understanding for some readers.

5
Source quality

The article cites specific figures and claims about Jennifer J. Manly's research funding and activities, suggesting some level of investigation. However, the sources of these figures, such as the claim of $100 million in NIH grants, are not directly cited or linked to verifiable databases or official records, which weakens the credibility of the information presented.

The article relies heavily on the perspective of Kurt Miceli, a critic of Manly's work, without providing information about his qualifications or potential biases. This reliance on a single critical viewpoint without corroborating evidence from other experts or institutions undermines the reliability of the critique.

Overall, while the article appears to draw on some factual information, the lack of transparent sourcing and reliance on a limited range of perspectives affects the overall source quality and credibility.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its sourcing and methodology. It presents claims about Jennifer J. Manly's research funding and activities without providing direct links to sources or detailed explanations of how these figures were obtained. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to verify the information independently.

Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that might influence the reporting, particularly regarding the perspectives of the authors or the critics cited. This omission raises questions about the impartiality of the article and whether it presents a fair and balanced view of the topic.

Overall, the article would benefit from greater transparency in its sourcing and methodology, allowing readers to better understand the basis for its claims and the potential influences on its reporting.

Sources

  1. https://www.city-journal.org/article/columbia-professor-hamas-protest-grants-research
  2. https://gopillinois.com/tag/dupage/
  3. https://mickhartley.typepad.com/blog/2025/03/mechanisms-of-inequalities-in-cognitive-aging.html
  4. https://gopillinois.com/tag/cannabis/
  5. https://canarymission.org/professor/Jennifer_Manly