Sign in Subscribe

Leland Culver '24

Symposium: The Thought-Terminating Cliché

Antifa. Antifa, antifa, antifa. There’s a phenomenon in psychology called “semantic satiation.” It happens when you say a word over and over again so many times that, to you, it starts to lose all meaning and becomes a series of almost nonsensical sounds. Say the word “antifa” enough, and

The Symposium: To Desystematize Racism, Start With Criminal Justice

Black Lives Matter. One might see such a statement as uncontroversial. People’s lives matter. Black people are people. Therefore Black Lives Matter. It’s the simplest kind of argument you could make — a deduction following from two premises. And yet, the American justice system routinely devalues Black lives. Black

The Symposium: To Desystematize Racism, Start With Criminal Justice

Black Lives Matter. One might see such a statement as uncontroversial. People’s lives matter. Black people are people. Therefore Black Lives Matter. It’s the simplest kind of argument you could make — a deduction following from two premises. And yet, the American justice system routinely devalues Black lives. Black

The Symposium: Please Don’t Go to Brunch

I remember the first time I ever heard the name“Donald Trump.” I was in eighth grade and it was October 2015. I came home from school to hear my mom talking about this guy who was running for president and saying all these crazy things. Neither of us knew,

The Symposium: Please Don’t Go to Brunch

I remember the first time I ever heard the name“Donald Trump.” I was in eighth grade and it was October 2015. I came home from school to hear my mom talking about this guy who was running for president and saying all these crazy things. Neither of us knew,

The Symposium: Ranked-Choice Voting in Massachusetts and the Power of Local Activism

Last week, I considered the viability of local activism in response to a grid-locked national system. On that thread, this week I will take a look at a particular motion on the ballot in Massachusetts next week. Popularly known as “Question 2,” since it is the second question on the

The Symposium: Ranked-Choice Voting in Massachusetts and the Power of Local Activism

Last week, I considered the viability of local activism in response to a grid-locked national system. On that thread, this week I will take a look at a particular motion on the ballot in Massachusetts next week. Popularly known as “Question 2,” since it is the second question on the