College officials said time constraints with the May 28 graduation at Barclays Center will force them to skip that part of the ceremony for some 4,000 students. 

"We have a required end time at Barclays," Brooklyn College said in a statement to CBS News New York. "While this is not our preference, we have had to make similar adjustments to the format in the past, given time and venue constraints. While individual stage walking was possible in three recent ceremonies, prior to 2022 this was not part of graduation." 

The decision quickly sparked outrage, however, since many Brooklyn College students hoped to have the moment to mark their years of hard work. 

"It just shows how the administration has very little care about their students," said Magali Ramos, a senior. "I think that they should definitely cancel or cut down on the speeches to be able to let the students walk. I think the students are what graduation is centered on, what it's about."

Students who are not graduating this year said they fear this means the school is getting rid of the tradition for good. 

"Not being able to walk across the stage, it's so heartbreaking, and it also feels disrespectful to see my accomplishments not being highlighted," a student named Ari said. 

Others said they're not going to let it ruin their graduation. 

"At this point, I'm just over it. I'm going to enjoy my day. It's about me. I've gotten this far," senior Savannah Spence said. 

Thousands of people signed an online petition urging Brooklyn College leaders to reinstate the stage walk.

Police say the crime happened in Parking Lot 26 on Bartlett Street just after 5 a.m. on Saturday.

The lot is just steps away from the university's Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance, and around the corner from the College Avenue Student Center.  

The latest on the investigation

Investigators say the victim, who is affiliated with Rutgers, was standing outside her vehicle when she was approached by a man, and after a brief conversation, they got into her car, where the woman says she was sexually assaulted.

Information about the suspect is limited. Rutgers University police say they've increased patrols in the area and are reminding students and staff to stay alert, avoid poorly lit areas, and, when possible, travel in groups.

Police also emphasize that campus safety escorts are available for students, faculty and staff upon request.

Students want more emphasis on safety

News of the incident has raised concerns among some students.

"When I hear about something like this, I guess I feel like maybe there was a lapse somewhere in Rutgers, you know, caring of the students' safety," Rex Harvilla said. "I feel bad that it happened, but I hope that the school can take the active steps to make the school a safer place moving in the future."

"The fact that it happened so close to our office during Sexual Assault Awareness Month is also, I think, a really strong indictment on the work that we have left to do," said Dr. Rebecca Vazquez, with the university's Office for Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance.

That center at Columbus Circle is now closed, but what is the city doing to keep other day cares safe, and how will safety play into the mayor's plans for universal child care across the city?

• See more CBS New York Investigations

Day cares must post inspection performance summaries

From paperwork to pests, from the plaster to the power sockets, city Health Department Inspector Ashantii Bernateau keeps her eyes peeled for hazards or violations any time she inspects day cares.

Now, those day cares are required to publicly post their child care performance summaries, which are recaps of any inspections from the last year.

"It informs parents, visitors, how the program has done on previous inspections," Bernateau said.

"That is key information at a glance that parents and caregivers can use to learn how many children are authorized to be on site at any one time, what are the ages of the children able to be in that child care program, and a quick lookback: what was their inspection history like last year?" Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Corinne Schiff said.

Those summaries also include a QR code which takes parents to a website with more information about the day care.

The city said it updated the summary sheets and revived the de Blasio-era requirement this spring because it was paused during COVID.

Parents hope that and other new initiatives can create real change and accountability.

Last year, for example, the mom of a child at Bright Horizons at Columbus Circle said she learned of a health code violation not from a performance summary, but from a CBS News New York Investigation. That violation was for an employee putting a cleaning solution with bleach in a water pitcher, which was then served to kids. Bright Horizons said that was an accident.

"Had it not been for you, I would've never known. Like, this was never communicated to us at all in any way, and it's just really bad practice," the mom said.

• Do you have a story that needs investigating? Let us know.

Universal child care expansion

The revived requirement for day cares comes as Mayor Zohran Mamdani works to expand free child care across the city.

"We are so excited to be a part of the mayor's expansion to universal child care, and I think it has been made very clear that meeting these high health and safety standards will be a key part of that program," Schiff said.

Mamdani revealed the city's enforcement plans earlier this year in response to the bleach incident and child abuse allegations at that same Bright Horizons location.

"The health department is also holding Bright Horizons accountable and seeking a revocation of Bright Horizons' permits to operate a child care center of any kind at ... Columbus Circle," Mamdani said in February.

Weeks later, the city announced that Bright Horizons surrendered its permits for the Columbus Circle center and agreed in a settlement to not open any new centers in New York City for 10 months.

The company said it's encouraged by the settlement, is committed to transparency, and had already taken corrective actions, including appointing a new leader of New York operations. A Bright Horizons spokesperson also said Bright Horizons is now installing security cameras in all classrooms.

"If it's really a serious, serious condition, where we think that that program isn't operating safely, we will require that program to close, and we'll work with that provider to make those corrections," Schiff said.

The health department encourages people to check out any day cares they're thinking of enrolling in at the NYC Child Care Connect website, which does include inspection histories.  

The situation has raised concerns in a community with many Jewish residents.

Here's what happened  

The incident happened Friday at Scarsdale High School, one of New York state's highest-rated public schools. The district gave the Israeli Culture Club permission to put up flyers promoting a gathering to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of Israel.

Several of the flyers were torn down and some were placed in a urinal, officials said.

Scarsdale High Principal Kenneth Bonamo said such actions "are unacceptable [and] disturbing for the intolerance they represent."

The district said it is interviewing students and reviewing surveillance video to determine who tore down the flyers and put them in the urinal. Superintendent Drew Patrick said those actions were clear violations of the district code of conduct.

Joanne Wallenstein is publisher of the Scarsdale 10583 community web site.

"I was surprised and actually very, very sad, but I think this does not define us at all," Wallenstein said.

"They are absorbing hate and then they are expressing it"  

There is strong support for Israel in this part of Westchester County. Many Jews say they are concerned antisemitic material reaches impressionable teenagers online and influences them.

"They are absorbing hate and then they are expressing it," resident Rachel Klein said.

"Listening is a big problem in the world right now. People don't listen, and mutual respect ... it seems like it's lost," area resident Deborah David said.

"We should just look to one another to figure out how to build bridges and how we can stop this in the future," Wallenstein added.

Patrick said the district will continue to work to foster respect, and promote civil discourse.

Three days after the flyers were torn down students held their celebration of the founding of Israel as scheduled, undeterred by the deliberate insult of something they hold dear.

The class is captivating young minds and helping them move and connect.

The three students cofounded the 12-week program, raised funds and secured a studio.

It rolled out last year in partnership with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai as part of a program called Approach To Dance Autism Through Personalized Teaching, or ADAPT. The class is geared towards children ages 7-12 with autism.

"It's a form of physical therapy," said Sheena Ranade, associate professor of pediatric orthopedic surgery. "It enables kids to work on their mobility, which is a major issue in this patient population."

Experts say the class goes beyond mobility; it helps build meaningful connections.

"It gives me confidence," student Kylie Reid said.

The studio has become a safe space for the students, which can hard to come by.

"There are not many spaces that are made for children with special needs and like a formal dance training," mom Shaneeka Reid said.

Twelve-year-old Isabella Richardson is in her second year taking the course.

"Ballet makes me so happy," she said. "I like to learn new dance moves, like plié, especially plié."

Mom Adalia Richardson said she saw improvements after just a few classes.

"I feel like she's become more confident. Her coordination has improved," she said. "She's done amazing and made so many friends."

Now, Joseph Falco is exceeding expectations again, this time in college. 

Falco will graduate from Hofsta University next month with top honors. 

"I love the fact that I have autism"

"I never thought I would get this far," Falco said. 

Neither did the experts who once said he may never speak. Now, his success speaks volumes about what's possible on the spectrum. 

"It's real, and it's here, right now, and I'm enjoying every minute of it," Falco said. "I used to think it was something that potentially held me back, made me different, weird, wrong. But I couldn't disagree with that any more now. I love the fact that I have autism. It has helped me focus."

"They told me he's going to be nothing"

At first, Falco's fixations led to a diagnosis of severe autism. 

"When he was 2, they told me he was going to be nothing. Like, 'He's probably never gonna speak, probably is not gonna do anything, he's really autistic, don't expect a lot out of him,' ... The hand flapping, walking on his toes, no eye contact," Joseph's mother Dolores Falco said.

Early intervention and determination made the difference. He was the valedictorian of his Copiague High School class in 2022. 

"His story says that anything and everything is possible"

Four years later, Joseph is mastering what once seemed impossible. He's about to graduate college with a computer science and cybersecurity degree, in the top 10% of honors students. He'll get the highest designation Hofstra gives: honors, with distinction. 

"His story says that anything and everything is possible," Hofstra University's Dr. Tomeka Robinson said. 

Joseph is also reading social cues. 

"I've been joining tons of clubs, making a bunch of friends, and just letting everyone know, hey, this is who I am," he said. 

"Making things that may seem impossible all come true" 

"The day he walks across that stage ... they're probably going to have to bring a pump in, to pump out all the water from my tears," Falco's mom said. "Support them, fight for them, advocate for them, and watch them bloom." 

"I want people to see what I'm doing and think hey, you know, I can do that too," Joseph said. 

Now, he says he's focused on "making things that might seem impossible all come true." 

On May 17th, he will graduate Hofstra cum laude, and he's already halfway finished with his masters. 

He's looking forward to a career in cybersecurity, either in the private sector or in law enforcement. 

The poll's results have set off an alarm among educators.

• Read more: Graphic Holocaust sketches found in New York couple's home on display in Manhattan University exhibit

What the poll asked and what respondents had to say

New York state mandates schools to teach about the Holocaust and the systematic murder of 6 million Jews, but the recent survey of 400 registered voters shows local knowledge is lacking.

• 30% either do not believe the Holocaust should be required curriculum or declined to answer.
• 15% said they believed Holocaust deaths have been exaggerated or declined to answer.
• 27% either agreed with or refused to answer the question: "Are Jews too focused on the Holocaust and should they move on?"

Steve Krieger's company, B2K Development, underwrote the survey, which he says shows indifference to one of the most tragic chapters of human history. He said he hopes it becomes a roadmap to better educate and teach tolerance.

"How do you move on from something like this? How do you say you can move on and people overestimated the number of people who were killed?" Krieger said.

• Read more: Antisemitism at Long Island school prompts lecture from Holocaust memorial speaker

Testing remains key to understanding Holocaust, educators say

A coalition of history educators also had a lot to do with the survey.

"The Holocaust is unique. To trivialize it, to say it's here and there and this is a Holocaust and this is genocide -- it trivializes it," said Gloria Sesso of the Long Island Council for the Social Studies.

Educators say the best way to monitor how well the subject is being taught is through testing, but there has not been a Holocaust-related question on the New York State Regents Exam in three years, and the Global Studies Regents will soon become optional.

"Evil will prevail if good people do nothing"  

A little more than eight decades after Americans liberated Nazi death camps, students who visited the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage learned about the tanks and troops that found unthinkable horrors.

"I feel I understand it but not a lot of other people do, so I feel they can teach it a little more," said Steven Barile, a senior at Connetquot High School.

In response to the results of the survey, Connetquot junior Vincent Micilello said, "That's pretty shocking. I don't think that's how it should be at all. You should keep learning so history doesn't repeat itself."

Museum trustee Jason Halloren said the survey must be a call to action.

"Evil will prevail if good people do nothing. Well, if people don't know about it, then it is doomed to repeat itself," Halloren said.

Read the survey