When Goodness Becomes Obedience
It is a Sunday morning. I am in middle school, having just woken up at my best friend’s house from the sleepover we begged for. My friends are still asleep, so I tiptoe upstairs and rush out the door, my mom waiting outside to drive me to religion class. As I halfheartedly listen to my […]
Weekly Sports Preview: November 12–19
The weather is getting colder, which means a new season for Harvard Athletics! While most fall sports have finished their regular seasons and are heading into post-season playoffs, winter conference play is already underway. It’s an exciting time for fans to watch their favorite teams develop early in the season. Field Hockey (15–2) On Friday […]
Get Off the Field
During a game on Oct. 29, Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs reached the end zone and placed his hands behind his back in a mock handcuff gesture. Jacobs later claimed the celebration was an ode to the gospel song “Break Every Chain,” but the imagery was an uncomfortable call to reality. Just months […]
A Blue Wave and Red Flags
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters nationwide cast their ballots in one of the most contentious midterm elections in recent history after months of furor over federal policies, legal battles over voting rights, and aggressive campaign efforts by the Trump administration. The results were staggering: Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress, flipping eight Senate […]
Harvard’s $68 Billion Question
On Oct. 15, the Harvard Management Company released Harvard’s annual financial report, detailing the state of the University’s endowment. The report shows that Harvard’s endowment grew to a record $68 billion, generating a 27.1% return. At the same time, Harvard cut $104 million from salaries and wages, in part through layoffs. The gap between those […]
Disillusionment, Distrust and Demand for Change
The Harvard Public Opinion Project (HPOP) recently released its 53rd edition of the Harvard Youth Poll, the largest survey of young adults in the United States. Released on Oct. 22, the poll showed growing disillusionment among young Americans, consistent with the frustration young voters expressed in the midterm elections. Run by the Institute of Politics […]
Protesting Shouldn’t Destroy the Arts
“BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP.” The blaring of a fire alarm filled Sanders Theater around 7:40 p.m. on Nov. 6. Having lived in Adams House, I found it nothing new. However, the shrill alarms and flashing strobes interrupted a conversation between Yo-Yo Ma ’76 and Stephen Colbert, cutting short a performance featuring Ma and the Crimson Cellos. […]
“Ride the Cyclone”: A Roller Coaster of a Show
A girl stands at the foot of the stage, facing away from the audience, her head down. She holds a headless doll in her arms. Slowly, she ascends the stairs and walks onto the stage, singing a hauntingly beautiful description of life: “I know this dream of life is never-ending. It goes around and round […]
We Want YOU: The Sexiest Politicians
The most important part of a politician is not, of course, their beliefs, but how hot they are—and some clear, sexy front-runners stand out on the ballots around the world. Vladimir Putin CC: Putin may be one of the more controversial picks, but trust me on this one: the entire country of Russia agrees. Aside […]
MAGA Makeup
If you have ever wondered who is teaching America’s MAGA women how to look like a less fabulous version of RuPaul, look no further. The main culprit behind the infamous MAGA makeup, also called the “Mar-a-Lago” face, is Adrienne Gray, a former “Fox News” commentator turned makeup artist who has recently gained traction among conservative […]
Hung Up on Power
Step into the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s “America’s Presidents” hall and you will notice that all the faces look strangely alike. They sit or stand with a flag, desk, or column nearby, and they all wear the expression of someone who knows history is watching. They are meant to feel timeless. But are they really […]
A Playlist for the Revolutionary
Across cultures and time, throughout wars and revolutions, one thing has remained consistent: when oppressed peoples cannot speak, they sing. Protest music has unified movements of all kinds, whether it comes in the form of soft folk or hard rock. If you are feeling especially revolutionary after the Nov. 3 election, want to learn more […]
Dear Evan Hansen: How Do We Experience Collective Grief?
“Dear Evan Hansen” is a humorous, sensitive exploration of family, friendship, and authenticity. Director Ava Della Pietra ’27 and the Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club brought the show to campus, and it concluded its five-day run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 1 at the Loeb Ex Theater. The show opens with Evan Hansen (Jack McCarthy ’30) cross-legged […]
They Shall Grow Not Old
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. These are lines familiar to anyone who grew up in the United Kingdom or any Commonwealth country, as I […]
An Ode to Mortality
Remember, we will die. I know this is true, but I had never truly considered it until my grandmother fell in February 2025. Perched beside her hospital bed, I could hardly believe what I saw: the woman who had once dragged me through every gallery in Manhattan suddenly seemed so fragile. That was the day […]