One of the most memorable scenes in “Moonlight” features a black man teaching a black boy how to swim. I think the power of the imagery is that it is at once tender and fierce: tender as an expression of trust, love and nurture; fierce because this is a rite of passage, […]
Moonlight and Eastern Solidarity Read Post »
It’s an atrocity on our campus. Students scream in terror before it. Small children run in fear from it. Professors are generally miffed by it. I am, of course, talking about the library’s broken door!…Wait, what?…They fixed it… It’s a miracle on our campus. Students cheer for it. Small
Fixing the Warner Library Door Read Post »
James K.A. Smith, a professor at Calvin College and esteemed author, recently wrote an editorial piece for his online journal “Comment,” entitled, “Teach Us (How) to Trust: Suspicion and Cynicism Play Right Into the Hands of Authoritarian Demagogues. Let’s Consider Another Way Forward.” In the piece, he outlines how “the web of
Communities As Webs of trust Read Post »
After many days and long hours of training, today you finally make it to race day. This is the moment you have been waiting for, to put your skills to the ultimate test. You’re full of excitement, all the adrenaline rising up as you take your place at the starting line. The
Faith Focus: The Race of Grace Read Post »
On Feb. 17, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) hosted guests from University of Pennsylvania, Haverford College, John Jay Institute, Alliance Defending Freedom and various other organizations. It was a time to discuss and ponder ideas of liberty and religion and their intersection. The weekend started with a debate on Christian libertarianism between
Eastern Hosts ISI Conference Read Post »
What does the future of American politics look like? That’s a question a lot of people are asking these days. We’re almost two months into the new presidency, and already so much has happened. The rollout of the travel ban sent shockwaves throughout the country. Thousands protested at airports, while others turned
What Is the Future of Conservatism? Read Post »
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” In light of recent events that have taken place in our nation, I believe this concept is especially evident. Over the last month or so, I have had the opportunity to participate in several protests and advocacy projects
Why does America need a Black History Month? Why do both Caucasian and African Americans need to acknowledge this month? We need to acknowledge this month because we do not all have a common memory. Canadian political scholar George Erasmus once stated, “Where common memory is lacking, where people do not share in
Creating a Common Memory- A reflection on Black History Month Read Post »
This February, Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman, professor at the University of Pennsylvania, delivered a lecture at Eastern on the current state of social and political discourse on college campuses. Zimmerman’s thesis was that the psychological language (of trauma, injury and safety, for example) that characterizes much of the dialogue on college campuses is actually
Language and Victimhood Read Post »
I am well aware that the political dead horse has been beaten to a pulp. I cannot, however, resist taking one more stab at a dangerous trend I see rising on both the left and the right. This trend is largely comprised of pointing out loudly and obnoxiously that the United States isn’t a
Saying No to Democracy Read Post »
