Op Eds
Crossing the Line
Rush Limbaugh had a First Amendment right to say exactly what he said, but listeners have a corresponding right to call in and complain about the comments, and to urge advertisers to drop their financial support for the program.
Yardfest: It’s Worth It
If Harvard really cares about making Yardfest the special and exciting event that it is supposed to be, it should seriously reconsider charging for entry.
Grandstanding on the Hill
The United States rates a respectable 7.1 out of 10 on the Corruption Perceptions Index. Unlike many countries, in which government employees regularly embezzle and abuse taxpayer dollars, America has a fairly good record on government accountability, and structures to investigate any abuses.
Earth Day Sucks
The enthusiasm aroused on Earth Day is not sustained and does not create meaningful change.
Stupid, Absurd Sports
Sports are stupid. And the idea that Harvard, supposed bastion of the non-stupid, should fund them, support them, and even—on rare occasions—succeed in them, is a tragic one. Sports are plebian; they are for semi-morons, not for Cambridge’s brightest.
Students and Administration Together
Thus far, individuals and organizations in the Harvard community seem to overwhelmingly agree that the goals of Responsible Investment at Harvard are both important and necessary. However, few have considered the perspective of the Harvard administration.
Harvard's Latino Problem
This weekend’s 15th Annual Latino Law Policy and Business Conference celebrated the rise of Latinos in the U.S. and Latin America, but also revealed Harvard’s most glaring weakness: After forty years, a Latino Studies Center is still missing on campus.
Why Harvard's Hate Speech Policies Are Necessary
I find the Libertarian Forum’s dedication to complete freedom of speech, regardless of whether or not the speech is harassment, alarming and indicative of a larger, troubling trend in American society.
What the World Bank Needs
We applaud President Obama’s nomination and the bank board’s appointment of Dr. Kim as representing an important shift away from the neoliberal orthodoxy of the Washington Consensus.
Disillusionment Is Not an Option
Our conference does not ignore the reality of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as some have blatantly and unjustly claimed. On the contrary, we devote half of our panel discussions and the concluding keynote speech to addressing the conflict and innovative peace initiatives.
Raise Your Voice
We sincerely believe that students should have a stronger, more unified, productive voice on campus, in communicating with each other and with the administration. This school can feel more like a distant institution than a place where we all live and study; students should be changing that, and we really want to help.
The Great Procrastination of 2012
I am a mere novice when it comes to procrastination. The true masters of the trade have orchestrated a house-wide war to distract us all from upcoming deadlines and projects and essays and midterms and finals.
A Call for Justice
I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Ulcerative Colitis; six months later, I withdrew from Harvard.
Innovation and Occupation
The involvement of any panelists who violate international law in their daily lives proves to us the conference's lack of credibility and "civility," and reflects quite clearly the inextricability of Israeli "innovation" from the occupation of Palestinian land and violation of Palestinian rights.
Reconceiving Intervention
In order to prevent future interventions from becoming botched in the manner seen in Haiti and Afghanistan, the international community will have to overhaul its approach to training policy-makers and development officials.
A Legacy of Cancer
Seven and a half years ago, at the age of fourteen, I had no idea that a disease called cancer would change my life forever.
Applicant? Facebook Password, Please
Recently, a number of employers have taken the intrusive measure of asking job candidates to provide their Facebook login information. This action is an example of how companies have overstepped their boundaries in the hiring process
Standing Up For AIDS
The outpouring of global health research and information from within Massachusetts has situated the state as a leading locus of knowledge and work in this field. However, it does not seem that this focus has been reflected in the priorities of our legislators.
Safeword “Safety” and BDSM
Any utopian claim that the BDSM community-at-large “hugely” upholds consent is a naiveté that is too dangerous not to address.
A Call for Civil Discourse
Any program, conference, or contest that engages in the debate over Israel and Palestine must challenge itself to change the old paradigms and find new ways to engage with these issues.
Cancer at Harvard
As much as survivorship is a struggle, I have come to cherish the small things in life—late-night talks with friends, bike rides with my little sister, family dinners—because I’ve realized how easily they can be lost.
The Fallacy of Tuna Fish Economics
Union members take their responsibility to care for every student, faculty member, and worker on campus seriously. Rather than pitting students against workers, we should all work together to further our community’s well-being and our university’s ideals.
Have You Seen Your Gift?
Harvard needs our support if it is to continue to play a leadership role among universities and as a training ground for future world leaders.
Standing My Ground
Trayvon Martin’s death sheds light on a much larger picture of the American consciousness.
Making ROTC Work at Harvard
By framing the debate over ROTC as only an issue of gay rights, the administration has misrepresented the causes of ROTC's removal, and in doing so willfully distorted the debate surrounding its return.