academy travel tour leaders

Hi! We're Academy Travel.

Academy travel.

Your Travel Experts

• Book Your Vacation

• Become a Travel Agent

Featured on the Blog

May 2, 2024

Universal Orlando Resort Unveils Exciting New Details About SUPER NINTENDO WORLD – Coming To Universal Epic Universe In 2025

May 1, 2024

Can I Bring My Pet to Walt Disney World?

April 30, 2024

Disney Eats: Mother’s Day Foodie Guide 2024

Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point Updates: Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Tropical Destination

Universal Orlando Resort Reveals Exciting Collection of Experiences Debuting This Summer

April 24, 2024

EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Dates, Details Announced!

April 19, 2024

Special Offer for Returning Guests: Save on Select 2025 National Geographic Expeditions Private Jet Departures

Best Viewing Spot for the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom

A little something for your suitcase….

Hello friend!

It's lovely to meet you.

Academy Travel is a Diamond EarMarked Travel Agency and has been planning Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, runDisney and Universal Studios vacations since 1996. Academy Travel has received the highest designation that Disney Destinations can bestow upon a travel agency, EarMarked Diamond! Founded in 1996, Academy Travel is celebrating over 25 years in business and as the original “Disney Exclusive” travel agency. As an “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner”, our team of experienced travel agents can provide the utmost in professional assistance in planning customized Disney vacations. Learn More...

Explore Disney

Disney Cruise Line

Walt Disney World

America , Destinations , Featured , Travel News , Universal · May 2, 2024

Hey Travellers, Next year, guests can jump into the action of their favorite video games when SUPER NINTENDO WORLD makes its much-anticipated debut at Universal Orlando Resort as one of five imaginative worlds at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme…

America , Destinations , Disney , Disney World , Featured , Travel News , walt disney world · May 1, 2024

Hey Travellers, We know that your pets are part of the family, but should you bring them on your Disney World vacation? If staying onsite, there are four pet-friendly hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort so you can bring…

America , Destinations , Disney , Disney World , Disneyland , Featured , Travel News , walt disney world · April 30, 2024

Hey Travellers, Happy Mother’s Day! This lovely occasion is coming up on May 12, and I’ve got your list of all the decadent delights coming to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Once you see these bites and sips,…

America , Caribbean , Cruise , Destinations , Disney , Disney Cruise Line , Featured , Travel News · April 30, 2024

Hey Travellers! Follow along for exclusive updates as we await the grand opening of Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, Disney Cruise Line’s newest, one-of-a-kind tropical retreat on the island of Eleuthera, The Bahamas. Today, we’re excited to share new…

America , Destinations , Featured , Travel News , Universal · April 30, 2024

Hey Travellers, This summer, Universal Orlando Resort will debut a captivating collection of new, must-see experiences that offer exciting entertainment for the whole family from day to night. The lineup of summertime adventures includes the June 14 grand opening of…

America , Destinations , Disney , Disney World , Featured , Travel News , walt disney world · April 24, 2024

Hey Travellers, Mark your calendars: The 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE takes place at Walt Disney World Aug. 29 through Nov. 23! As many of you know, there’s always something to celebrate in the neighborhoods…

• Next →

Trending Now

Want to hear about special vacation offers before anyone else?

Join our email list.

Email (required) *

Academy Travel is a Diamond EarMarked Travel Agency and has been planning Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, runDisney and Universal Studios vacations since 1996.

Get Started

• Find Your Travel Agent
• Disney Dream
• Disney Wish
• Disney Cruise Itineraries
• Disney World Resorts
• Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

More Disney

• Aulani Resort
• Adventures by Disney
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Academy Travel · Theme by 17th Avenue

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Xi’s European tour: where is Chinese leader going and what are visit’s aims?

Emmanuel Macron and Viktor Orbán among leaders Xi is meeting, with several key issues on the table

China’s president, Xi Jinping , has begun a three-country tour of Europe – his first state visit to the continent in five years – at a time when China-EU ties are under strain from trade disputes and Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Where is Xi visiting and who will he meet?

The Chinese leader’s visit begins on Monday in Paris, where he is meeting the French president, Emmanuel Macron, for a day of talks that will include a trilateral meeting with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen , and a state banquet at the Élysée Palace in the evening.

On Tuesday, Macron will accompany Xi to the Tourmalet pass 2,000 metres up in the Hautes-Pyrénées mountains, an area where the French president spent childhood holidays visiting his grandmother, for a day of less formal discussions. The two last met in April 2023 during a three-day state visit to China by Macron .

On Wednesday, Xi will travel to Belgrade for talks with Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vučić, and on Thursday he will go to Budapest where he will meet Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán . Both countries are pro-Russia and big recipients of Chinese investment.

What is the purpose of his visit?

Officially, Xi’s visit to Paris is to mark 60 years since diplomatic relations were established between France and China: France was the first western country to formally recognise the People’s Republic of China, on 27 January 1964.

His visit to Belgrade coincides with the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Serbia , when three people died after a US strike accidentally hit the compound during Nato’s air campaign against Serb forces occupying Kosovo.

Analysts have said that in his meetings with Macron and von der Leyen, away from the ceremonies, Xi will mainly be aiming to lobby against the EU’s anti-subsidy investigations, particularly on electric vehicles, and on stabilising diplomatic relationships.

In Serbia , where China is the biggest single source of inward investment, he will hope to play up Beijing’s anti-US, anti-Nato agenda – one reason why China has maintained its support for Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

In Hungary, Xi will underline the close economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, including in security cooperation, and discuss progress on China’s belt and road initiative , which includes a high-speed Budapest-Belgrade rail link.

Hungary, a vocal supporter of China that has blocked some EU motions criticising Beijing on human rights, has Huawei’s largest base outside China and will soon host the carmaker BYD’s first European factory.

What big issues will be on the table?

Overshadowing the visit are EU concerns over China’s support for Russia two years into war against Ukraine, and Beijing’s concerns over the bloc’s economic security agenda, including the threat of heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

Macron and von der Leyen will call on China to stop exports to Russia of “dual-use” and other technologies aiding Moscow war effort. Beijing claims to be neutral in the conflict but China-Russia trade has helped offset western sanctions on Moscow.

after newsletter promotion

Beijing, for its part, aims to head off the threat of European tariffs on Chinese EVs after an EU investigation into state support for the industry in China. Studies put China’s subsidies at between three and nine times those of other major economies.

Human rights groups have said the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang , where the UN has said China may have committed crimes against humanity by placing up to a million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in re-education camps, must be raised.

What is the outcome likely to be?

Most analysts doubt that the EU and its messages on the looming trade dispute and Chinese support for Russia over Ukraine will make much headway with Xi, whose visit seems designed to exploit the bloc’s internal differences.

China’s economy is facing some difficulties and the US is increasingly reticent about opening up to Chinese companies, meaning the EU could have some leverage, but its 27 members are not fully aligned on China policy, undermining their influence.

Macron wants a more aggressive EU stance on subsidies and has warned that the bloc risks falling behind without one, but other leaders, such as Germany’s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, stress the importance of the Chinese market for their own exporters.

Overall, said Janka Oertel, of the European Council on Foreign Relations, Xi’s Paris visit is “unlikely to have a significant impact on Chinese behaviour”. And Shen Dingli, a Shanghai-based analyst, said the Belgrade and Budapest stops were part of China’s efforts to deepen divisions within the west.

• European Union
• Ursula von der Leyen

Most viewed

China's Xi arrives in Hungary for talks on expanding Chinese investments

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Hungary, the final stop on his five-day European tour

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hungary late Wednesday, the final stop on his five-day European tour, where he’s expected to finalize a number of agreements with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that will deepen China’s economic footprint in the region.

Xi is set to spend two nights in the Hungarian capital Budapest where he will meet with Orbán and Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok. Talks will center on future Chinese investments in the Central European country, which has courted deep economic ties with Beijing even as mainstream European leaders have pursued more protectionist policies to limit its reach on the continent.

Orbán, a nationalist populist whose illiberal policies have pushed him to the fringes of the European Union, made his country the first in the 27-member bloc to participate in Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative . Hungary has straddled a middle ground between its membership in the EU and NATO and a willingness to establish diplomatic and trade relationships with autocratic governments outside those groupings.

Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, told a news conference on Monday that Xi and Hungarian officials would sign at least 16 bilateral agreements during the visit, Xi’s first to the country as president.

Szijjártó called the visit “historic,” and pointed out that China had provided more foreign investment to Hungary than any other country in 2023. He added that some of the agreements to be signed would involve expansion of Belt and Road in Hungary, and could include investments in infrastructure and energy.

Xi’s arrival in Budapest came after a two-day visit to Serbia’s capital Belgrade, where he signed an agreement on building a “shared future” with the Balkan country which, like Hungary, is considered friendly to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

China has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s military capacity. Hungary has condemned the Russian invasion but threatened to block EU sanctions against Moscow and refused to provide Kyiv with military support.

Xi and Orbán are likely to discuss the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s neighbor to the east. Hungary’s government has vocally urged China to take a leading role in brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and expressed its support for a China-proposed peace plan .

Before Xi’s arrival on Wednesday, a number of demonstrators gathered in central Budapest to protest his visit and call for autonomy for Tibet, which lies under Chinese control.

Tibor Hendrey, a representative for the Tibet Aid Society, said that doing business with China is important for Hungary’s economy, but highlighted the dangers of a relationship with a country with a spotty democratic and human rights records.

“We need a good relationship with a great empire, that’s not a problem. The problem is that China has a completely different culture, a completely different approach to human rights,” Hendrey said. “I feel that they want to export this kind of thinking here to Hungary, and that the Hungarian government is willing to accept that.”

Russia Victory Day Parade: Russian weapons & 9,000 soldiers parade in central Moscow

Posted: 9 May 2024 | Last updated: 9 May 2024

Russia stages its main annual Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square marking victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. President Vladimir Putin expected to make an address at the event, with leaders of Kazakhstan, Laos, Guinea-Bissau,

More for You

Rhymes with Orange by Hilary Price

Judge Merchan Hands Trump a Win

7 CDs You Probably Owned, Threw Out and Now Are Worth Bank

Kristi Noem now banned from over 90 percent of tribal land in South Dakota after sixth tribe bars entry

17 Smartest Dog Breeds

Law Roach Names "Big Five" Designers Who Refused to Dress Zendaya: "If You Say No, It'll Be a No Forever"

Red and Rover by Brian Basset

The US Army's new plan to counter Russia and China has a glaring problem, experts say

Heirs to $35 Billion Fortune Face Off Over Atlanta's Controversial ‘Cop City’

Renewed and Canceled TV Shows 2024 Guide

These Are the 12 Cheapest Horses to Keep as Pets

The Far Side Comic Strips Featuring Aliens, Ranked

My soon-to-be ex-husband placed his money in a trust before we married, and used it to buy properties. Am I entitled to any of these?

10 Items From the 1980s That Are Worth a Lot of Money

Power Warning Issued As First 'Extreme' Geomagnetic Storm Hits in 20 Years

The Most Successful Western Series Of All Time

20 Signs You’re Financially Better Off Than the Average American

8 Dog Breeds That Look Like Puppies Forever

Take a look inside a historic 54-room Gilded Age mansion that belonged to one of America's richest families

Biden plans for higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations to extend middle-class tax breaks

• Skip to Navigation
• Skip to Main Content
• Skip to Related Content
• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Credit card rates
• Balance transfer credit cards
• Business credit cards
• Cash back credit cards
• Rewards credit cards
• Travel credit cards
• Checking accounts
• Online checking accounts
• High-yield savings accounts
• Money market accounts
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Car insurance
• Home buying
• Options pit
• Investment ideas
• Research reports
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard
• Scores/Schedules
• Wemby Watch
• Fantasy Basketball
• In-Season Tournament
• All-Star Game
• Power Rankings
• Fantasy Baseball
• Draft Grades
• Scores/Schedule
• Fantasy Football
• Free Agency
• Fantasy Hockey
• How To Watch the 2024 Season
• UFC Schedule
• Yahoo Sports AM
• Leaderboard
• PGA Championship
• Masters Tournament
• Tournament Schedule
• French Open
• Australian Open
• Playoff and Bowl Games
• March Madness
• Caitlin Clark Scoring Record
• College Sports
• Fantasy Sports
• Sports Betting 101
• Bet Calculator
• Legalization Tracker
• Casino Games
• Paris Games Home
• Kentucky Derby
• Preakness Stakes
• Belmont Stakes
• Ball Don't Lie
• Yahoo Fantasy Football Show
• College Football Enquirer
• Baseball Bar-B-Cast
• Pacers win electric G3 vs. Knicks
• Report: Suns hiring Budenholzer
• Mbappé announces PSG exit
• Never count the Nuggets out
• NBA fines Carlisle for ripping refs

Moscow Bears softball is off to state tourney

May 10—The Moscow softball team downed the Lakeland Hawks of Rathdrum 7-1 in an Idaho Class 4A district championship game Thursday at the Moscow Community Playfields to cap off the best two-year stretch the team has had in a decade.

The win gives the Bears a berth to State, which begins May 16 at Lake City and Coeur d'Alene high schools.

The Moscow baseball and softball teams posed for a spontaneous photo-op with their respective district championship trophies after the game.

"We knew Lakeland wasn't going to roll over," Moscow coach Eric Kiblen said. "They're a good hitting team and we knew they were going to come out swinging the bats. They were hitting the ball hard right at people. But our defense stepped up today and bailed us out."

The Bears held the lead for most of the game, but the team had to display some patience before running away with the score at the end.

Moscow bounces back

Moscow (16-10) came into the game with the expectation that Lakeland (10-14) would be strong at the plate.

The Hawks proved the Bears right — especially in the beginning.

Lakeland had no problem getting players on the base, but bringing them home was another story.

The visitors left 10 runners stranded over the course of the game. The Hawks' lone run was in the first inning courtesy of an RBI single from Ada Blakemore. Lakeland ended up leaving three more potential scores on base in the first.

The Bears immediately responded in their half of the frame. Junior Kaci Kiblen scored after a throwing error and senior catcher Megan Highfill had one of her four RBI for the game to bring Moscow up 2-1 through the first inning.

"I think everyone was just so excited to come out and play at the beginning," Highfill said. "And it took us those first few innings to settle down a little bit and realize, 'Hey, you got time in your count. You got time at the plate.' So we just relaxed a bit and saw those good pitches. Lakeland's a good team. You can't just hit the ball right to them."

Stodick sticks the Hawks

Highfill knocked in her second and third RBI with a two-run single in the fifth to bolster the Bears' lead to 4-1.

Moscow's ace, senior pitcher Kelly Stodick, held the Hawks' in check after the first inning. Stodick walked four batters and let up five hits for the game. She struck out four and didn't allow another run after the opening inning.

Stodick's win on Thursday gave her a record of 7-0 on the year.

Bears secure the hardware

The two players who started off the scoring for the Bears also capped it off. Kaci Kiblen and Highfill had an RBI single apiece in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring Moscow's advantage to the eventual final margin.

Ella McCallie scored before her teammates courtesy of an RBI sacrifice grounder from Sadie Newlan.

Moscow's district title win added another accolade to the best two-year stretch the team has had in over a decade.

"I think it's special to see both the softball and baseball programs playing well and competing," Eric Kiblen said. "It's been a lot of years since we had some winning programs. So it's good that we're putting the programs on the map."

Last year was the breakthrough year for the team — a winning season, district championship and state tournament berth.

This year, those accolades weren't breakthroughs for the Bears. They were expectations.

Another expectation is to go down there and win some games.

Moscow has gone 5-3 in the regular season against southern Idaho opponents the last two years. It's not a question of whether the team can win against bigger-city teams, it's simply a matter of doing it when it counts in the state tournament.

"I think last year we were just super, super nervous and didn't know what to expect when we went to state," Highfill said. "And I think now, having a little bit of experience and knowing what's going to be there, we won't have as much nerves. And if we do have those nerves, we've practiced how to calm them down. Our coaches have been great with addressing pregame routines and really just calming yourself before stepping onto the field and into the box and I think that'll help us."

Lakeland 100 000 0—1 5 3

Moscow 200 023 x—7 9 1

Abigial Helmholz, Mia Kesner (6) and Payton Sterling; Kelly Stodick and Megan Highfill.

Lakeland hits — Delilah Zimmerman 2, Sterling, Kiersten Drake, Ada Blakemore.

Moscow hits — Highfill 2, Hannah Robertson 2, Kaci Kiblen 2, Stodick, Addi Branen, Ella McCallie.

Kowatsch can be contacted at 208-848-2268, [email protected] or on Twitter @Teren_Kowatsch.

Recommended Stories

Rory mcilroy denies rift between him and tiger woods despite disagreements: ‘there’s no strain there’.

“I think friends can have disagreements or not see eye to eye on things.”

Atlanta Hawks 2024 NBA offseason preview: There's nothing left to do but compete

The Hawks have no lottery balls to play for, which has given them every incentive to field a competitive team, regardless of what they do with Trae Young and Clint Capela.

Flavor Flav is the U.S. women's water polo team's official hype man and sponsor

The U.S. women's water polo team is getting some unexpected support in its pursuit for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal from hip hop icon Flavor Flav.

Former MLB infielder, Little League World Series star Sean Burroughs dies at 43

The seven-year major leaguer collapsed while coaching his son's Little League game on Thursday.

Reports: Cardinals signing ex-Jaguars wide receiver Zay Jones to 1-year, $4.25 million deal

Zay Jones was released by the Jaguars last month after two seasons with the team.

Novak Djokovic hit in head by water bottle, needed medical attention after opening win at Italian Open

Italian Open organizers said a water bottle accidentally fell out of a fan’s backpack while they were trying to reach down to get an autograph.

The Cheap Seats: Fantasy baseball mailbag (with one key fantasy football question)

Fantasy baseball analyst Scott Pianowski answers your pressing questions in his latest mailbag as we head toward the end of Week 6.

Malik Nabers, Jayden Daniels call off $10,000 bet on Offensive Rookie of the Year award after gambling education

Well that didn't last long.

Kylian Mbappé announces he is leaving PSG at the end of the season

Mbappé's final game with PSG will be the French Cup final on May 25 against Lyon.

The best QBs for 2024 fantasy football, according to our experts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first quarterback rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

The Michael Penix Jr. era begins in Atlanta: ‘I've got to produce’

The Michael Penix Jr. Era in Atlanta could culminate in a Super Bowl, or it could cost a whole lot of people their jobs. Either way, it began in earnest on Friday.

Kansas man pleads guilty to stealing Jackie Robinson statue, faces more than 19 years in jail

Ricky Alderete will be sentenced on July 1.

NBA fines Pacers coach Rick Carlisle $35K for criticizing officials

Carlisle has not been happy with the officiating through two games of their series with the Knicks.

With latest big move, Padres president A.J. Preller showing once again that he and San Diego won’t go down without swinging

Missing the postseason for the second year in a row could lead to questions about Preller’s future in San Diego.

The best RBs for 2024 fantasy football, according to our experts

The Yahoo Fantasy football analysts reveal their first running back rankings for the 2024 NFL season.

Mike Trout on choosing knee surgery over DH-only role: 'It would have been a tough road for the rest of the year'

Trout is a career .214 hitter in 81 games as a designated hitter.

Once Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa agree on monster contract extension, what will Miami look like?

Mike McDaniel faces arguably his toughest test as the Dolphins’ head coach this season as they retool the roster with an increased salary-cap hit for Tua Tagovailoa, who has a huge extension coming.

Brunson leads Knicks over Pacers, Hornets hire Charles Lee & big questions for eliminated teams | No Cap Room

Jake Fischer and Dan Devine discuss the Knicks taking a 2-0 lead over the Pacers, the Hornets hiring a new head coach and some big questions for the Bucks, 76ers, Clippers & Magic.

Report: Suns fire head coach Frank Vogel after 1st-round playoff sweep, eyeing Mike Budenholzer as replacement

Frank Vogel's out after one season in Phoenix failed to produce a playoff win.

Ex-LSU teammates Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers place $10,000 bet on Offensive Rookie of the Year

It’s unclear if the wager will actually hold up under the league’s gambling policy.

Advertisement

Supported by

Why Antiwar Protests Haven’t Flared Up at Black Colleges Like Morehouse

The White House appears anxious about President Biden’s coming speech at Morehouse College. But for complex reasons, such campuses have had far less visible Gaza tensions.

• Share full article

By Maya King and Reid J. Epstein

Maya King reported from Atlanta, and Reid J. Epstein from Washington.

As President Biden prepares to give graduation remarks this month at Morehouse College in Atlanta, a prestigious historically Black institution, the White House is signaling anxiety about the potential for protests over the war in Gaza.

During a recent visit to Atlanta, Vice President Kamala Harris stopped to ask the Morehouse student government president about the sentiment on campus about the conflict, how students felt about Mr. Biden’s visit and what the graduating class would like to hear from him on May 19.

Then, on Friday, the White House dispatched the leader of its public engagement office and one of its most senior Black officials, Stephen K. Benjamin, to the Morehouse campus for meetings to take the temperature of students, faculty members and administrators.

The reasons for concern are clear: Nationwide demonstrations over the war and Mr. Biden’s approach to it have inflamed more than 60 colleges and universities , stoked tensions within the Democratic Party and created new headaches for his re-election bid.

Yet Mr. Biden appears to be entering a different type of scene at Morehouse.

While anger over the war remains palpable at Morehouse and other historically Black colleges and universities, these campuses have been largely free of turmoil, and tensions are far less evident: no encampments, few loud protests and little sign of Palestinian flags flying from dorm windows.

The reasons stem from political, cultural and socioeconomic differences with other institutions of higher learning. While H.B.C.U.s host a range of political views, domestic concerns tend to outweigh foreign policy in the minds of most students. Many started lower on the economic ladder and are more intently focused on their education and their job prospects after graduation.

At Morehouse — which has a legacy of civil rights protests and is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s alma mater — discontent over the Gaza war has played out in classrooms and auditoriums rather than on campus lawns.

“This should not be a place that cancels people regardless of if we agree with them,” David Thomas, the Morehouse president, said in an interview on Thursday. Of Mr. Biden’s visit, he said, “Whether people support the decision or not, they are committed to having it happen on our campus in a way that doesn’t undermine the integrity or dignity of the school.”

Some students have held contentious meetings with university leaders and urged them to rescind Mr. Biden’s invitation, and a small group of faculty members has vowed not to attend commencement. Some alumni wrote a letter expressing worries that student protesters could be punished, noting Morehouse’s history of “celebrating student activists long after they have graduated.”

But the college might appear politically safer for the president to visit than many others. Morehouse is a custom-bound place where undergraduates traditionally do not step on the grass in the heart of campus until they receive their degrees. Alumni view commencement as a distinguished event not only for students but also for scores of family and community members — making it a less likely venue for a major disruption.

Mr. Biden chose to speak at Morehouse after the White House had received invitations from an array of colleges. It will be the third time in four years he has addressed graduates of a historically Black institution; he has also spoken at commencement for one military academy each year.

Among those lobbying Mr. Biden to come to Morehouse was Cedric Richmond, a member of the college’s class of 1995, who ran Mr. Biden’s public engagement office and is now a senior adviser at the Democratic National Committee .

Mr. Richmond, who has a nephew at Morehouse, predicted Mr. Biden would speak about the high expectations of the college’s alumni, promote his record of reducing Black unemployment and narrowing the racial wealth gap, and deliver familiar exhortations about perseverance.

Mr. Richmond does not think Mr. Biden will face protests.

“The Morehouse College graduation, at least as I remember it, is a very solemn event,” he said. “You have almost 500 African American males walking across that stage, whose parents and grandparents sacrificed and those students worked their butts off to, one, get into Morehouse, and two, to graduate. That’s a very significant day. And I’m just not sure whether students or protesters are going to interfere with that solemn moment.”

Vice President Harris, who graduated from Howard University, another historically Black institution, is engaged in her own virtual tour of such colleges. A congratulatory video she recorded will be played for graduates at 44 H.B.C.U.s; she is often introduced as a surprise guest and greeted with cheers.

In Atlanta last month, Ms. Harris asked the Morehouse student government president, Mekhi Perrin, what approach Mr. Biden should take in his address.

“I think really she was just trying to gain an idea of what exactly students’ issues were with his coming, if any at all,” Mr. Perrin said. “And what would kind of shift that narrative.”

Mr. Biden has been trailed by Gaza protesters for months. The last time he spoke at a four-year college campus was in January, when demonstrators interrupted him at least 10 times during a rally at George Mason University in Virginia.

Morehouse’s traditions are strong. Dr. King said it was a place where he had advanced his understanding of nonviolent protest and moral leadership — which current Morehouse students say they take seriously.

“I feel like the protests do need to come out, because if you don’t see students advocating for what they believe in, then the change that they’re advocating for will never come about,” said Benjamin Bayliss, a Morehouse junior. Looking toward the statue of Dr. King in front of the chapel named for the civil rights leader, he added, “You really feel the weight of what King did and the fire of the torch that he lit that we have to carry on.”

Yet even as some students feel compelled to protest, outside factors can shape their decisions. Roughly 75 percent of students at H.B.C.U.s, including 50 percent of Morehouse students, are eligible for the Pell Grant , a federal aid program for low-income students. More than 80 percent of Morehouse students receive some form of financial aid. In the Class of 2024, nearly a third of graduates will be the first in their family to receive a bachelor’s degree.

Some students at Black colleges also may decide against protesting because of family pressure , which amplifies the importance of securing their degrees.

“Your student body at Columbia is very different than the student body at, say, Dillard,” said Walter Kimbrough, who spent a decade as president of Dillard University, a historically Black institution in New Orleans. “It doesn’t mean that people aren’t concerned. But they understand that they have some different kinds of stakes.”

The stakes are also high for Mr. Biden, whose standing with Black voters has softened ahead of November’s presidential election. Young people are less enthusiastic about voting at all — partly because of Mr. Biden’s handling of the Gaza war, but also because they are unhappy with the choice between him and former President Donald J. Trump.

“I think it’s really just picking the lesser of two evils,” said Freddrell Rhea Green II, a Morehouse freshman. “Anything better than Donald Trump, a madman, a quote unquote tyrant, is better for me.”

“Joe Biden is probably a very nice person,” said Samuel Livingston, an associate professor of Africana studies at Morehouse. “But niceness is not the level of leadership that we need. We need ethical leadership. And continuing to support the aiding, abetting and the stripping of Palestinian land, from Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, is not ethical.”

Some students, like Auzzy Byrdsell, a senior studying kinesiology and journalism, support their classmates’ protests but fear a possible response from the police to a crowd of largely Black young men.

“Do we get tear-gassed?” said Mr. Byrdsell, the editor in chief of The Maroon Tiger, the school’s student newspaper. “Do we get arrested? That would not be the greatest look for a Morehouse College graduation.”

Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia, a 1991 Morehouse alumnus, said that he hoped Mr. Biden would highlight his record and his agenda — but that there was little the president could say about the Gaza conflict to assuage his critics on campus.

“While what he says is important,” Mr. Warnock said, trying to put himself in the shoes of student protesters, “I think much more important is what he does in the future.”

Kitty Bennett contributed research.

Maya King is a politics reporter covering the Southeast, based in Atlanta. She covers campaigns, elections and movements in the American South, as well as national trends relating to Black voters and young people. More about Maya King

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

Our Coverage of the U.S. Campus Protests

News and Analysis

Penn:  The Philadelphia Police Department cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators  off the campus of the University of Pennsylvania, making arrests and bringing an end to a two-week standoff  between administrators and protesting students.

M.I.T.:  The police entered a pro-Palestinian encampment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and arrested about a dozen demonstrators , in what appeared to be an effort to clear the area after days of tensions.

Princeton:  The eruptions that have marked campus life have entered the hunger strike phase at Princeton University, where about a dozen students occupying a corner of Cannon Green were on the fifth day of a fast in solidarity  with the idea of Palestinian liberation.

A Brief Moment of Joy :  With fireworks, a marching band, celebrity congratulations and a drone show, the University of Southern California tried to smooth over the weeks of tumult that have cleaved its campus with a hastily assembled party for its graduates .

An Agreement to Divest :  Discontent over the war in Gaza had been building for months at Trinity College Dublin, but what had been a rumble suddenly became a roar . Here’s how pro-Palestinian students pushed  the school to divest.

Hillary Clinton’s Accusation :  In an interview on the MSNBC show “Morning Joe,” Clinton criticized student protesters , saying many were ignorant of the history of the Middle East, the United States and the world.

Republican Hypocrisy:  Prominent Republicans have seized on campus protests to assail what they say is antisemitism on the left. But for years they have mainstreamed anti-Jewish rhetoric .

54 episodes

A series that draws on the passions, expertise and interests of Academy Travel's academic tour leaders, to bring a wealth of additional knowledge to your travels, one topic at a time. Our tour leaders talk on a range of topics and interests related to travel, covering history, culture, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts.

The Thinking Traveller Academy Travel

• Society & Culture
• 4.6 • 54 Ratings
• 26 APR 2024

The Story of Theatre - History, Customs & Experiences

We all love going to the theatre, whether it’s a light-hearted musical or a deep thought-provoking drama.  But the term theatre encompasses so much more… From Ancient Greece to modern day West End, every civilisation has (or had) some form of theatre performance and each is quite unique. In this episode we are joined by Dr Kate Foy to discuss the history of theatre, the various associated customs and the many experiences to be had. Kate's PhD studies focussed on world theatre history, whilst her final dissertation was a cultural history on aspects of colonial and post-federation developments in Australian theatre. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• 29 MAR 2024

Archaeology of Chile's Atacama Desert

Flanked by the towering Andes to the east and the wild Pacific Ocean to the west, the impossibly dry Atacama Desert is the spectacular result of this unique geography.  Despite its aridity, the Atacama region was first occupied by humans over 10,000 years ago and this hyper arid environment has subsequently allowed for the preservation of materials that most archaeologists can only dream of. In this episode we are joined by Dr Chris Carter to discuss what can be found in the region, from the scant remains of the early camps to the oldest artificial mummies in the world. Chris' PhD research was based on excavations he carried out in northern Chile at coastal sites of the Desert. He has continued to work in this region since the late 1990s and has contributed to Chile's proposal to have the Inka trails included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• 23 FEB 2024

House of Tudor - Monarchs & Dynasty

Founded in 1485 by Henry VII, the Tudor dynasty, although short lived, was coloured by rebellions, conspiracies, challenges to succession, and fear of further civil war. From historical research to popular novels, TV series and even a West End musical, the Tudor period in England continues to hold an amazing fascination In this episode, Dr Lauren MacKay delves into the history (and truth) of this infamous dynasty. Lauren is an historian of Early Modern Europe. Her debut book, Inside the Tudor Court: Henry VIII and his Wives through the Eyes of the Spanish Ambassador is the first biography of Imperial Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• 19 JAN 2024

The Lombards in Northern Italy

The Lombardy region of Italy, bordered on the north by Switzerland and south by the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, has a fascinating and complex history.  But where did the name Lombardy originally come from?  The Lombards were a Germanic tribe who fought their way across Europe during the Early Middle Ages, before settling on the northern part of the Italian Peninsula where they would establish a powerful kingdom that grew rapidly. In the process, the Lombards became a major thorn in the side of the Byzantine Empire and its capital Constantinople. In the first episode for 2024, we are joined by Dr Eireann Marshall to discuss the Kingdom of the Lombards. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• 10 NOV 2023

Ramses II - Egypt's Golden Empire

In the lead up to the Sydney exclusive exhibition 'Ramses & the Gold of the Pharaohs' at the Australian Museum, we are joined on this episode by Egyptologist Dr Bill Manley as he provides a fascinating insight into the Pharaoh who continues to enthral, more than 3,000 years after he ruled Egypt. Known as Ramses the Great, Ramses II was one of the most powerful and influential Pharaohs to have ruled Egypt in its Golden Age. Ramses also built more monuments and sired more children than any other Egyptian King. As a result, his 66-year reign is considered to be the height of Egypt’s glory. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• 13 OCT 2023

STAGES | Broadway Spotlight EP8 - Actor Singer Kaye Tuckerman with Peter Eyers

Tune in to this special Broadway Spotlight series, brought to you by Peter Eyers, host of the STAGES podcast. In January 2024, Peter will be leading a 10-day tour to sample the best of Broadway and New York - alongside a host of cultural experiences at museums and galleries populating The Big Apple. In this episode, Peter talks with Kaye Tuckerman, who played Broadway in the Donna Summer Musical! - and has appeared in extensive Musical Theatre product around the globe. She relishes living in the Big Apple - and all that it offers culturally to its inhabitants and many visitors. Academy Travel is a leading specialist in small-group cultural tours, allowing you to travel with like-minded companions and learn from internationally renowned experts. Like our podcast, our tours are designed to appeal to travellers with a strong interest in history, archaeology, architecture, the visual arts and the performing arts. Learn more here - https://academytravel.com.au/

• © 2024 The Thinking Traveller

Customer Reviews

Great balanced insight.

Special on the Ukrainian-Russian dynamic was thoughtful and balanced. Genuinely conveyed the nuance required to counter the black and white media headlines.

Thinking Traveller is just what we need right now!

Interesting subjects, wonderfully explained. I absolutely loved the Medici episode in particular. Thank you for a fabulous podcast, Thinking Traveller! So glad to have met you now, for when we are allowed to leave Australia I will be in touch.

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

You might also like.