Journalism by Jewish college students, for Jewish college students.
I’m sorry, but the Internet is here to stay. Source of endless amusement, endless frustration, and endless things you may or may not have ever wanted to know about (what up, Wikipedia), it’s an ever-important presence in the modern world. And I’m sorry Haredim, but you can’t just elect to ignore it. Yes, the Internet can…
Facebook Co-Founder renounces U.S. Citizenship [Washington Post] Eduardo Saverin, the savvy entrepreuner who was one of the co-founders of Facebook, has renounced his United States citizenship to become a resident of Singapore. The move is drawing criticism from those who claim that Saverin’s move was motivated by tax purposes. Facebook is poised to go public, an…
‘The Dictator’ talks Obama, Arab Spring, and more [Forward] Sacha Baron Cohen’s alter egos are famous for making a splash. And his latest project, a satire loosely based on the of the rule of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, is no exception. Forward Editor Dan Friedman has The Dictator’s take on everything from the Arab Spring to…
Obama Supports Gay Marriage [ABC News] The president came out in favor of same sex marriage yesterday, declaring in an interview with ABC News that he believes same-sex couples should be able to be married. Obama’s announcement, after years of equivocation, comes on the heels of the passage of a constitutional amendment in North Carolina…
As John so eloquently posted yesterday, the death of a celebrity always leads to an outpouring of grief, real or feigned. Maurice Sendak’s profound influence on children over the past fifty years stands on its own. And if I may hypothesize, someone who spent so much of his life breaking barriers wouldn’t want to be…
Jewish ‘Avengers’ [JTA] As the latest round of superhero adaptations makes its way into theaters, JTA harks back to its Jewish roots, which this time, go further than the creators. The Avengers was a handle taken on by a group of Jewish resistance fighters in Lithuania during World War Two. “So as you’re chewing on…
I like to reflect on endings a lot. More accurately, I hate when, in books and movies, the scene ends with a character driving away and immediately having this crystalizing moment of reflection in which everything that had been so murky becomes clear. That’s not how life works. So when it comes to addressing graduates, those…
What they don’t tell you at graduation [Wall Street Journal] Is it May already? Blogger Charles Wheelan offers well meaning, touching advise to graduating seniors. Note: it may not always be what you want to hear. “1. Your time in fraternity basements was well spent The same goes for the time you spent playing intramural sports,…
Recent articles about hazing at Dartmouth, as well as the embattled chapters of Jewish Fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi, left me wondering: why do we give fraternities, as institutions of our peers with little, if any, distinguishable qualities from the rest of the student body, positions of power in our colleges and universities? What makes otherwise respectable…
Bye Bye AEPi [JewSchool] The Gamma chapter of international Jewish fraternity AEPi is being shut down, amidst reports of repeated hazing. The chapter, located at the University of Pennsylvania, is not the only chapter of AEPi whose bad behavior has been making ripples lately. The virtues of the fraternity with the highest national GPA are…
Urban Outfitters recently released a shirt whose insignia bears a resemblance to the Star of David bearing the word JUDE that Jews were forced to wear during the Holocaust. The ADL wasted no time in condemning the Philadelphia based clothing brand, saying that it is not the first time they have marketed clothing considered offensive….
Yom Ha’atzmaut Sameach! [JTA] Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu wishes constituents a happy independence day. For those who don’t speak Hebrew, the cat and parrot at the end should make it clear that even for Hebrew speakers, this message is bizarre. Click the embedded link for the English version, as well as an insightful discussion about…
Cultural appropriation is, for lack of a better word, weird. An indisputable part of our cultural milieu, the lines have been blurred in an increasingly global world until origins and intent are nearly invisible. So when I read about how Israeli gas marks have been appropriated by Americans in order to smoke Marijuana, I…
Your bong’s military history [Forward] The gas mask bong, which has grown in popularity over the past few years, a phenomena some sellers are attributing to fellow Jew Seth Rogan’s character in 2007’s “Knocked Up”, has a hidden origin. Many of the rubber products being sold in the U.S. were originally produced in Israel, presumably…