This year, a Manhattan public school that most people call “ICE” quietly decided to give itself a new name in order to distance itself from the federal agency’s reputation. The Institute for Collaborative Education has now adopted the moniker “Ny.ICE,” a change the principals said was made with careful consideration. In a letter to parents, Principal Peter Karp explained that the new name will be used in all official communications to “avoid any confusion or unnecessary emotional responses to our school’s acronym.” He added, “Although we were founded in 1993, I believe that this is an appropriate and respectful response to the current climate in our city and our country,” and finished with, “I hope you will join me in this, and know that I do not make this adjustment lightly.”
The city’s Department of Education confirmed that the school in the Gramercy Park neighborhood, which serves about 6th‑through‑12th graders, has not officially changed its name, but the new branding is already visible on the school’s website and merchandise. Parents dropping their children off on Friday seemed divided over the switch. One man, David Seiter, 41, told The Post, “I don’t know what else you would expect them to do,” before adding, “You know, if you got a name of something….if your school’s name all of a sudden became like a new brand of something that ethically you didn’t support, which it seems like they’ve kind of branded this federal institution with something that a lot of New Yorkers don’t support, then it just seems natural to change it.”
Another parent, 40‑year‑old Veronica, said she understood the motivation for the change but preferred the old name, noting that a piece of ICE‑branded apparel worn by her 7th‑grade daughter could “catch New Yorker’s attention.” She added, “And I remember saying, wow, [if] my daughter wears that down the street, you’re going to have these leftists being pissed off and saying why is she wearing a shirt with ICE,” before acknowledging the complexity of the decision. The DOE has yet to respond to a request for comment.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
