03.28.24: Marching Along
Quest for Knowledge: The Senior Thesis
Narratives of intellectual exploration and discovery.
In the heart of many undergraduate academic journeys lies a pinnacle moment, representing years of learning, exploration, and dedication: the senior thesis. Crafting a senior thesis allows students to get involved in a rewarding process of exploring new challenges that leave a lasting impact on their lives. The senior thesis is a research project, typically […]
Mouse-Capades
Horror stories behind Harvard’s mice infestation.
The Harvard mice are more like you than you may want to admit; you both are in search of good food, comfy nesting quarters, and nighttime action. My roommate was the first to arrive on campus in early August, brimming with excitement to move into our dorm. As she climbed the stairs of Canaday’s concrete […]
A Professor’s Break
Harvard University educators discuss their opinions on the current structure of Spring Break.
Spring Break has come to an end. As we resume our final stretch of classes, we often disregard how much changes within the one-week University-wide break. As the campus quiets down and lecture halls empty, students attempt to immediately disconnect from the academic stresses of college and “forget about” their professors and classes. But Harvard’s […]
Counterpoint: Silence is a Stance
Universities should not remain neutral on endemic social issues.
In the hallowed halls of academia, there exists an impossible dichotomy. On the one hand, universities are being told not to speak out against pressing political issues, and if they do, their comments are heavily critiqued. On the other hand, if they do nothing, then their ability to retain a diverse student body and maintain […]
Point: Major Decisions Take Time
Waiting until sophomore fall to choose your concentration will change your life for the better.
“What’s your concentration?” is a question all of us have heard one too many times. Even freshmen are faced with the infamous question, despite having months before they need to make their decision. The expectation is clear—we all need to have a defined path from the moment we step on campus. With course registration opening […]
A Joyous Spring Break in Pakistan
My ode to Harvard Pakistan Trek and other political musings.
Pakistan’s ex-Prime Minister, Shahid Abbasi, turned towards me. “What’s your 9/11 theory?” I threw out my question to him from behind my cup of tea, perched in his living room post-dinner buffet at his home in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Al Jazeera journalist had left a short while ago. Her departure lent casualness and intimacy to […]
Lent Update!
Almost 40 days in review: the highlights of Lent 2024 and looking forward to Easter.
Prayer, fasting, almsgiving—the phrase Christians repeat over and over during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. In the Christian tradition, across denominations, Lent is a time of “solemnity and self-reflection,” as described by the United Kingdom’s Christian Enquiry Agency. Christians use this time to repent for their wrongdoings and turn towards a more […]
Point: The Case for Institutional Neutrality
Nurturing critical thinking and open dialogue in higher education.
The role of universities in shaping public discourse has been widely contested, especially in recent months. In the wake of rampant debate on issues such as the Israel–Hamas war and President Claudine Gay’s resignation from her post, universities have been criticized for both partisan and neutral responses. Some institutions have released formal statements on these […]