Helen Thomas' School Scraps Award

Oh boy: Ninety-year-old Helen Thomas just can't stop offending people. Now, her own alma mater is canceling an award that was to be given in her name over Thomas' latest hostile remark about Jews. The Lebanese-American veteran of Hearst Newspapers got herself in hot water this year when she told a reporter Israelites should "get the hell out of Palestine" and return to their original homes in Europe. At a diversity conference in Michigan Thursday, Thomas went further. "Congress, the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by the Zionists. No question," she said. Wayne State University in Detroit told Thomas Sunday it is canceling its annual Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity in the Media Award because of the comment. "Wayne State encourages free speech and open dialogue, and respects diverse viewpoints," the school said in a statement. "However, the university strongly condemns the anti-Semitic remarks made by Helen Thomas during a conference yesterday."