Conversations
Puppy Chow
What do I say? How do I ask her? Am I coming on too strong? How do I word this so I don’t sound like a total freak?
Hey Professor: The Sleepers
With reading period upon us and many exams fast approaching, long nights in are becoming staples in every undergraduate’s life. The trendiest bags at the moment are the ones under everyone’s eyes. But is it better to choose an extra hour of studying over an extra hour of sleep? When does an all-nighter do more harm than good?
Native Americans at Harvard
Dating back to its original charter, the University committed itself to the “education of the English and Indian youth of this country.” Since then, Harvard, with the help of the small yet formidable population of Native American students on campus today, has been working to follow through on its stated purpose and responsibility.
Fifteen Minutes with Cornell Belcher
Cornell Belcher is the president of brilliant corners Research & Strategies, having previously served as Pollster for the Democratic National Committee under Howard Dean and on the polling team for Obama’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns. Fifteen Minutes sat down with him to discuss the 2016 election, the future of polling, and more.
A Conversation with Alicia Garza
On Oct. 30 in Memorial Church, Alicia Garza—the special projects director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the co-founder of the #BlackLivesMatter network—gave the Ninth Annual Robert Coles “Call of Service” Lecture. She discussed her thoughts on #BlackLivesMatter, the transformative power of resistance, and how the call of service must be redefined. Afterward, there was a brief press period for reporters.
Fifteen Minutes with Ambassador Wendy Sherman
I spend the week leading up to my interview with Ambassador Wendy Sherman, America’s chief negotiator on the Iran deal, negotiating the terms of our meeting. The ambassador’s office and I come to the following deal: I will have exactly 15 minutes for a Q & A, including the time it takes to photograph the ambassador. I must send over the topics I will cover in advance. I must also accept the fact that there will be another person in the room, who looks and acts exactly like Tom Hagen, Don Corleone’s consigliere.
15 Minutes with Michael Pollan
Michael Pollan, the acclaimed food journalist, is a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute exploring psychedelic drug therapy. Pollan talked with FM about healthy eating hacks in college and his self-proclaimed “spiritual retardation.”
Conversations: The Gilbert Sullivan Orchestra
While many of the musicians in the Harvard-Radcliffe Gilbert and Sullivan Players are students at the College, the orchestra constantly plays host to students in the graduate schools, students from other universities, alumni, and residents of Cambridge and Boston.
Out to Lunch with Aaron Slipper
Aaron A. G. Slipper ’18 shepherds us to the secret home of the Science Center's sole easy-access stapler. “This is one of the less exciting parts of the day here, but wait until we get to class,” Slipper tells us, stapling his problem set on the way to Algebraic Topology.
High Society
Forced to choose from about 400 nominees at the top of their respective Ph.D. programs, the Society has an admit rate roughly comparable to the College’s. In an anemic academic job market, being a junior fellow offers some measure of security for those aspiring to land a tenure track position at a top university. Indeed, many choose the fellowship over tenure track job offers from other universities. In short, it’s a safe bet for professional success.
Conversations with: Ian Reynolds
It’s rush hour on the Red Line, and space is at a premium. A woman casts a sideways glance at us and rises somewhat resentfully from her seat to move further down the packed subway car. Other passengers frown. It’s loud so we try talking loud, and then louder still. The train’s ringing and rumbling form the soundtrack to our interview.
Jukebox: Professors
FM gets the lowdown on what a few professors are singing in the shower these days.
A Conversation with Kevin Holden
Kevin B. Holden ’05 quotes poetry slowly, cautiously, dredging each line from memory with a look of intense concentration.
