Uzbekistan’s veteran dictator and first President, Islam Karimov, left his country as he ruled it: plagued by inconsistencies in news reports, government cover-ups, and incorrigible deceit. While Karimov reportedly died on September 2nd at the age of 78 due to a brain hemorrhage, he likely passed away well before his government’s official announcement. The full … Read more
On September 26, Monday Night Football viewership was at its lowest in the last quarter-century as the eyes of the nation were tuned into another entertaining contest on most national news networks. In the last few months, phrases such as “braggadocious” and “big league” have experienced multifold increases in the number of online dictionary searches. And over … Read more
As The Eagles’ so aptly put in their song Hotel California, “some dance to remember, some dance to forget.” Fidel Castro’s long-awaited death has caused tears of sorrow in Havana, and tears of joy in Miami. Regardless of one’s opinion of the eccentric “El Lider Maximo” of Cuba, his death signifies a symbolic transitory period, … Read more
It was reported in late November that Time Inc., the publisher of popular magazines and websites, including Time, PEOPLE, and xoJane, rejected a $1.8 billion buyout bid led by a consortium of media investors. Many in the industry have wondered why anyone would be interested in print journalism, a dying American industry. The answer? Brands, … Read more
The morning after a shocking electoral defeat, Hillary Clinton, the eyes and television cameras of the nation trained on her, took the stage in New York to deliver her second presidential concession speech. In her 13-minute swan song—no doubt as heartbreaking for her as was for the millions of Americans who voted for her and … Read more
The familiar AAU statistics indicating the prevalence of sexual assault at Harvard triggered the initial push to penalize membership in all-male final clubs. But the administration decided to expand these sanctions to all unrecognized single-gender social organizations due to the alleged harms of all gender-based membership policies. Dean Khurana and President Faust have invoked gender … Read more
In Iceland, children are told the saga of a red-haired, freckled, and bad-tempered boy called Grettir the Strong. Grettir’s life is tumultuous, and he is an anti-hero. Although he courageously destroys a malevolent ghost, he also violently kills innocent men. Grettir is tremendously strong, but he is unaware of the extent of his strength. Grettir … Read more
More than 200 days since President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, the Republican controlled Senate has yet to hold hearings on his confirmation. Garland, a moderate leaning liberal, has not been questioned on the basis of his merits to the highest court in the land; rather, his appointment on the Supreme … Read more
“A message to the silver-spoon-spoiled students of Harvard” read the title of a recent article from the New York Post. In it, author Jonathon Trugman attacked Harvard’s “smug, silver-spoon-spoiled students” for reacting to Harvard’s recent $2 billion loss in endowment value. Trugman’s arguments were at best fallacious and at worst blatantly wrong. Trugman’s first claim … Read more
“I love HUDS workers, but I don’t think I have enough information to take a side.” “I wish I knew more about Harvard’s perspective.” “I don’t feel comfortable speaking out; no one seems to be asking the right questions.” I support the strike. I find many of the workers’ demands to be reasonable. I’ve talked … Read more