// from the editors //
Fall 2017
From the Editors
On October 5, 2017, The New York Times ran the following headline: “Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades.” Written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the article revealed decades of scandalous allegations against the producer. Ronan Farrow supplemented their reporting with his own detailed and similarly explosive exposé in The New Yorker shortly thereafter. Weinstein was fired from his eponymous production company, and a chain effect of seismic proportions ensued.
Not since Watergate has reporting felt so saliently impactful and as opposed to being simply interesting. Over the past two months, we have seen unprecedented turnover in entertainment, media, and now politics, as one of us discusses in the essay “The Political Immunity of Sexual Harassment.” Our writers seem to have been inspired by this exciting moment in journalism, and have produced thoughtful, well-researched, and pressingly relevant articles to show it.
Aliza Lifshitz writes about the burgeoning movement of progressive Jewish student activism in her piece, “Reclaiming the Conversation.” Estie Berkowitz explores a recent development in the world of Jewish publishing: the idiosyncratic automated translation of the Talmud into Italian. Even our cultural content is written with a keen awareness of the present. Morty Zadik’s review of philosopher-turned-public-intellectual Bernard Henri Levy’s film, Peshmerga, doubles as a political piece about the situation in Kurdistan. Julia Crain’s interview with Met curator Ian Alteveer touches on the role of art during an era of political divisiveness.
Our writers also expand upon themes that have been explored in previous issues of The Current. Dore Feith continues last semester’s exploration of Columbia’s controversial Confucius Institute in his piece, “Exploiting a Reputation.” Our feature on the history of racial integration at Columbia continues the past few issues’ focus on the making of Columbia’s diverse student body. In “Gut Shabbes, Vienna,” Gidon Halbfinger continues the great Current tradition of Jewish students feeling uncomfortable in European cities with illustrious—and horrific—Jewish pasts.
Over the past year, we have been inundated with reports of what would have formerly been defined as unimaginable. From the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency to the hateful chaos in Charlottesville to the recent revelations of systemic sexual abuse in nearly every industry, 2017 has certainly been a year for the history books. Throughout this time of immense political and societal unrest, many have discussed the importance of remaining alert to largely unwelcome developments while also continuing life as it was before. In this issue, The Current does just that.
Not since Watergate has reporting felt so saliently impactful and as opposed to being simply interesting. Over the past two months, we have seen unprecedented turnover in entertainment, media, and now politics, as one of us discusses in the essay “The Political Immunity of Sexual Harassment.” Our writers seem to have been inspired by this exciting moment in journalism, and have produced thoughtful, well-researched, and pressingly relevant articles to show it.
Aliza Lifshitz writes about the burgeoning movement of progressive Jewish student activism in her piece, “Reclaiming the Conversation.” Estie Berkowitz explores a recent development in the world of Jewish publishing: the idiosyncratic automated translation of the Talmud into Italian. Even our cultural content is written with a keen awareness of the present. Morty Zadik’s review of philosopher-turned-public-intellectual Bernard Henri Levy’s film, Peshmerga, doubles as a political piece about the situation in Kurdistan. Julia Crain’s interview with Met curator Ian Alteveer touches on the role of art during an era of political divisiveness.
Our writers also expand upon themes that have been explored in previous issues of The Current. Dore Feith continues last semester’s exploration of Columbia’s controversial Confucius Institute in his piece, “Exploiting a Reputation.” Our feature on the history of racial integration at Columbia continues the past few issues’ focus on the making of Columbia’s diverse student body. In “Gut Shabbes, Vienna,” Gidon Halbfinger continues the great Current tradition of Jewish students feeling uncomfortable in European cities with illustrious—and horrific—Jewish pasts.
Over the past year, we have been inundated with reports of what would have formerly been defined as unimaginable. From the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency to the hateful chaos in Charlottesville to the recent revelations of systemic sexual abuse in nearly every industry, 2017 has certainly been a year for the history books. Throughout this time of immense political and societal unrest, many have discussed the importance of remaining alert to largely unwelcome developments while also continuing life as it was before. In this issue, The Current does just that.
Cover art by Lipa Schmelczer, GS '18