Christina Kim: Threads of Time
On Sept. 24, the East Asian Studies Department hosted Christina Kim, designer and founder of dosa, to guest lecture for EASTD 154: “Threads: Histories and Theories of Clothing and Fashion.” Kim is known for transforming clothing scraps that are often cast aside as waste into garments and art installations. Through this medium, she draws attention […]
Bavaria: Barker-Style
“O’zapft is” echoes out every September as the first beer barrel is tapped at the Schottenhamel Festhalle to open Oktoberfest. Hosted in Munich, Germany, the Oktoberfest dates back to 1810 as a celebration of the nuptials between Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Today, Oktoberfest is a celebration of German and […]
Memories of Oktoberfest
Once again, the time of the year has snuck up on me: it’s October—or, as it’s esoterically translated in German, Oktober—and that means it’s time for Oktoberfest (literally “October Festival,” another toughie to figure out). Now a college sophomore, it’s been two years since I’ve celebrated Oktoberfest in Germany with friends. While I haven’t shuffled […]
Spooky Stories for the Halloween Season
The fall season is traditionally hallmarked by pumpkin spice and sweater weather. But to me, fall is characterized rather by curling up next to a crackling fire, beverage of choice steaming in hand, while leisurely reading a good book. With Halloween just around the corner, horror and all things spooky are on everyone’s minds—making reading […]
The Hunt for Oktoberfest
Boston promised Oktoberfest, so two (technically) German-Americans brought a voice recorder and low expectations to the nearest function. By 2 a.m. last Friday—why so early, Boston?—we had yet to keep any steins, but we did get enough audio to stitch together an eight-tier beer flight, with a ranking translated into nicotine profiles. What follows is […]
What is it Like to Be a Republican Student at Harvard?
Harvard’s ideological climate faces unprecedented national scrutiny. This summer, the Trump administration claimed that the University was guilty of silencing viewpoints unpopular with the liberal majority while examining on-campus antisemitism. While University President Alan M. Garber ’76 called several federal requests “intrusive and unconstitutional,” he acknowledged parts of the White House’s critique, including concerns that […]
Somerville: A Tale of Two Mayors
Somerville residents headed to the polls on Sept. 16 to vote in the preliminary elections for mayor, councilor at large, school committee member for Ward Three, and councilor for Ward Seven. The city is divided into seven wards, each represented by its own councilor, in addition to the four councilors elected at large. Somerville is […]
Inside Trump’s Hold on Power: A Conversation with Maggie Haberman
Harvard’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum welcomed Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maggie Haberman in conversation with moderator Setti Warren on Sept. 25. The discussion traced President Donald Trump’s path from his early tabloid notoriety to his enduring hold over the Republican Party. Over the course of the evening, Haberman unpacked the blend of ambition, grievance, and […]
“Who am I…to Tell You What You Should Put in Your Body?” Harvard’s Flu Vaccine Mandate in Question
On Sept. 22, Harvard students received an email titled “Immunization holds start Sep. 26” from the Harvard Registrar’s office, notifying University affiliates that students who have not received the seasonal influenza vaccine will face holds on their academic accounts. While the vaccine requirement has been standard practice since 2021, this year, such a policy comes […]
Conservatism, Christianity, and Control: Former Vice President Mike Pence at the IOP
“Christian, conservative, Republican—in that order.” On Sept. 30, former Vice President Mike Pence described himself with these words as he took the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum stage for a conversation entitled “The Future of Conservatism and American Democracy.” The discussion was moderated by Professor Archon Fung, Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance […]
Thoughts from New Quincy: Getting Experimental
Sir Galahad: Growing up, my dad had one rule for tree-climbing: if you can get yourself up, you can get yourself back down. I would scurry up branches as they bent under my weight until I sat perched too high on limbs too thin; the ground looked impossibly far away. When it came time to […]
Does Youth Fade When the Sun Goes Down?
Halloween’s coming up! My younger self is shrieking at the prospect of trick or treating, Now it’s just “dance! dance! dance!” repeating and I’m conceding, Despite my better judgement. And now I’m misleading random people I never thought I’d be meeting, “Yes I’m on the football team” (words I should never be speaking), And their […]
Fantasy Roundup: Week 4
Only about a month into NFL play, and for some, the season already feels like a loss. The Titans, Saints, and Jets all fall to 0-4. Meanwhile, the Ravens are falling short of their playoff hopes with a 1-3 record, and that’s not to mention all the teams that have suffered season-ending injuries to their […]
From Spain to the Stadium: My First American Football Game
I don’t watch sports. Back home in Spain, “football” means something entirely different. So with my European roots and little knowledge of American sports, I anticipated crossing the river this past weekend to watch my very first game. I left the stadium on Saturday in awe, having watched Harvard dominate Brown 41-7 at their home […]