Harvard is a Hashtag
Jenny Ng ’28 was scrolling on her phone one evening when a “Day in My Life at Harvard” video appeared on her TikTok “For You” page. At first, she didn’t think much of it; the genre has become a staple of college social media, and she likes supporting other creators. Then, she kept swiping. The […]
Clavicular, Looksmaxxing, and the Price of Online Influence
Braden Peters, better known as the social media influencer Clavicular, has built an online persona around pursuing physical attractiveness. Now, criminal charges in Massachusetts, which allege he raped a 17-year-old, have brought a different kind of attention to the 20-year-old streamer. Harvard researchers and students describe him as a symptom of a culture that sells […]
Why Anne Carson Won the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature
On Oct. 8, the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature was announced, and classicists around the world celebrated: Anne Carson—acclaimed poet and translator of many Ancient Greek works—had won at last. Although I root for Haruki Murakami every year like a middle-aged father cheering on his favorite football team (next year I swear Murakami is going […]
Complexities and Controversies Regarding Financial Aid at Harvard
Admission to Harvard College requires immense work and rigor. Still, it does not necessarily mean a student will attend: the cost of attendance can become a barrier between a student and their dream school. The cost of attendance at the College has increased significantly in the past three years: the Harvard Griffin Office of Financial […]
Economical Emotions
On my way back from my Econometrics section, a classmate told me that a good approach to women is to pick the one that minimizes costs and maximizes utility. In plain language: pick the woman who gives you the most while you give the least. I thought of Arabic music, specifically Umm Kulthum, the Egyptian […]
Painting a Nation: Mexican Muralism and the Making of a National Identity
In 1932, Mexican muralist Diego Rivera was commissioned to paint a mural in the center of Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center. Fast forward two years, and workers are chiseling the mural off the wall. “Man at the Crossroads” was intended to depict the many sides of contemporary social and scientific culture. The piece features workmen and machinery, […]
Voltaire’s Volitions
I know very little about François-Marie Arouet, better known as Voltaire, beyond reading “Candide,” a book I remember disliking thoroughly at age 15. However, throughout college, Voltaire has crept back into my consciousness (albeit in a much more palatable form). Despite having a complicated relationship with religion, Voltaire spoke of it often, writing on a […]
We Are Eating Purple Gold: The Gentrification of Survival Foods
Between rushing from midterm office hours to an evening club meeting, I walk down JFK Street for a quick sweet treat from Ten One or Playa Bowls. Yet behind the minimalist packaging and pastel Instagram marketing lies a jarring paradox: the digital hype machine demands cheap quantities of global staples such as açaí and ube, […]
The Black Plague Returns
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has been on edge. Whether it’s the suspected outbreaks of Hantavirus, Monkeypox, or bird flu, every couple of months something new to fear appears, a new reason to stock up on an unreasonable amount of toilet paper and canned goods. But are any of our fears justified? On Oct. […]
The Privilege of Passing By
AI-generated fruit videos. Scroll. “What I eat in a day.” Scroll. Brutal, unflinching disaster in Nepal as hundreds die from floods. Scroll. “Get ready with me to try out a new nail salon!” Scroll. Reading this routine may feel unnerving, but nearly all of us have experienced this sequence of content. Social media has taught […]
Inadequacy in Gender Equity is Institutional
In kindergarten, one of my closest male friends shoved a banana into my crotch at lunch. Uncomfortable with the sensation, I told my teacher and asked to be moved away from him in the seating assignment. The next thing I knew, I was dragged into the principal’s office and asked to report it. I was […]
One Word to Describe “The Social Reckoning”? Flat.
On Oct. 9, one of the most iconic Harvard movies released a companion film in theaters called “The Social Reckoning.” While “The Social Network” follows Mark Zuckerberg as he creates Facebook at Harvard and navigates the legal trouble it brings, “The Social Reckoning” takes place about 15 years after Facebook’s launch, after it has grown […]
Exploring Worldwide Hometowns: Hong Kong
When humidity suffocates me and the air smells of seawater tinged with garbage, I know I am home. This is probably not how the tourism board would introduce the city. They would want to show you Hong Kong Island across Victoria Harbor at night, with its bright skyscrapers backed by mountains. Of course, these attractions […]
Exploring Worldwide Hometowns: Negaunee, Michigan
Have you ever asked someone from Michigan where they’re from, only for them to show you with their hand? They probably made a mitten with one palm and explained it was the state’s outline after noticing your raised eyebrow. But this representation forgets that Michigan has another peninsula, one that often gets overlooked: the Upper […]
Harvard’s Take on “Othello”
In Harvard College’s “Othello,” produced by Hyperion Shakespeare Company, power is visible before anyone explains it. The opening scene begins with Roderigo (River Wynne ’30) rowing a boat while Iago (George Atkin ’28) sits upright beside him, holding himself above the man doing all of the work. Against ominous music, designed by Brian Hawkins ’30, […]
Weekly Sports Preview: October 22–29
As the second month of school wraps up, Harvard’s fall sports are moving from packed schedules to morning lifts and the occasional matchup. For many fall sports, this is the last week of regular-season play before conference playoffs. Meanwhile, winter sports are finishing their preseasons and starting their first games. With parents and families on […]
Branching Out
Cultural events take different forms worldwide, creating a shared bond that remains unique to each people. Coming-of-age celebrations have distinct names and customs across Jewish, Latin American, and Māori communities, but the core idea stays the same. Harvest festivals in the United States, Canada, and India vary in practice, but they celebrate similar themes. Sporting […]
Fan Fiction: A Field Guide to World Cup Super Fans
After this past summer’s World Cup, millions of viewers have evaluated which teams were the best, who had the most infectious energy, and who had the most fun on the pitch. But few took a serious look at the fans. A team’s most fervent supporters can reveal a lot about their nation—and the crowds themselves. […]