Andrew W. Shlomchik
Latest Articles
50 Years Later, What Is Our Magazine?
Though a tired analogy, the Ship of Theseus is apt for the case of our magazine: can it really be said to be the fiftieth anniversary of something that has undergone so many reinventions?
The Case for Autodidacticism
There is indeed an education to be had outside of courses and competitive extracurriculars. That one does not take a class in a given subject by no means implies that they can’t learn about it on their own.
Literary Criticism for an AI Age
In my humanities-dominated circles, I risk being labeled a heretic by admitting that I think AI prose can be quite skillful, often better than what most college students are capable of.
The Universal(ly Replicable) Mind of Bill Evans
The notion that one could make a generative AI model that sounds like Bill Evans, that an act of such unique human creativity might be automized, is unnerving. To make an AI music generator “play like Bill Evans” is actually a rather strange thing to say, because how exactly does Bill Evans play?
A Schism in the Harvard Right
I resent that I echo a College slogan, but intellectual vitality is actually important — and so it is “vital” that the dominant strain of conservatism on campus is a credible and inclusive one.
The Art of Appeasing the River Gods
Three decades after Harvardians first conducted a ritual sacrifice to avoid being Quadded, what do the River Gods want now?
Hegseth’s Self-Defeating Hatred for Harvard
In severing ties with Harvard, Hegseth rejects forms of academic knowledge that would make for a more enlightened and effective military.
The Great Leveling
Advanced AI models pose unprecedented challenges to Harvard’s meritocracy. What comes next?
Distinction Shouldn’t Require a Comp
It’s good that Harvard has such a thriving extracurricular community; that’s part of what attracted many of us to study here. But our current system, where academic distinction is nearly impossible, has simply placed too much weight on their participation.
Do Harvardians Dream of Quincy Grille?
The history of Quincy Grille is rife with lively (and, at times, illicit) tales of late nights, greasy burgers, and community bonding. Today, following a series of controversies, the student-run, late-night refuge has reopened. Can it live up to its storied past?
Latest Media
Harvard Proposes Cap on A’s, 13 Affiliates React
Last October, a now-infamous report sparked intense debate over Harvard’s grading system. A new faculty report proposing a cap on A grades has reignited that discussion. Are grades for mastery or distinction, and will the proposal restore rigor or damage pedagogy? 13 affiliates weigh in. — Heidi S. Enger ’27 and Zakiriya H. Gladney ’27, Editorial Chairs