Northeastern’s Testing Dashboard Is Misleading

Since late June, when Northeastern announced plans to re-open campus, the university has been dedicated to strict guidelines and thorough testing protocols. The administration reduced classroom density, allowed students and faculty to attend and teach classes remotely, switched dining halls to take-out, and banned guests from campus housing. Students, faculty, and staff must undergo routine […]

How to Fight a War Without Weapons

War between states no longer starts on the battlefield. States continue to pursue hegemony—being powerful enough to dominate all other states. As weaker states become stronger, other powerful states will attempt to undermine them to prevent the rise of an alternative unipolar or bipolar power balance.  Within the modern context of nuclear proliferation and the […]

The Macro Problems with Brazilian Microfinance

The proverb “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime” preaches temporary help aimed at long-term self-reliance. Microfinance attempts to follow this adage but consistently fails to deliver. That said, the opportunity it has provided to those on the cusp of or in […]

All Is Fair in Love Island and War

Illustration by Emily Rubin. “Anye impietie may lawfully be committed in love, which is lawlesse.” –John Lyly, Euphues Lyly’s adage—commonly uttered as “all is fair in love and war”—implies that conflict is as inherent to human nature as love and that rules don’t apply. The proverb also reflects realist theory, which believes states are rational […]

Episode 9: “America’s Health-Care Quilt” with Isabel Present

Photo by Pixabay Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Spotify | Via Apple Podcasts Isabel Present joins Max and Bryan to continue NUPR-spectives’ investigation of American health care. They discuss hidden costs, the individual mandate, and Medicare for All.  Finally, Isabel joins Ariana for another installment of “Class Struggle.” To learn more, check out Isabel’s article “Bold […]

The Blackface Spectrum

What race should I be today?  This is what YouTuber, model, and makeup mogul Nikita Dragun “jokingly” asked her Twitter followers in response to her history of racial insensitivity. She has repeatedly tried to appear Black—one day her skin is pale, the next it’s dark. She has also worn box braids, twists, cornrows, and durags […]

American Theocracy and the War on Christmas

It rolls around each year. String lights, trees, and wreaths pop up everywhere you look. An army of bell-ringing Salvation Army Santas descends on every street corner. Coffee chains serve peppermint drinks in red and green to-go cups. An overworked department store employee greets you with “Happy holidays!” As you browse the aisles, Mariah Carey’s […]

A Positive from 2020: The Overdue Modernization of American Theatre

What comes to mind when you think of going to the theatre? It might be dazzling lights, a show-stopping dance break, or the plush velvet seats of a Broadway house. Maybe it’s a more intimate setting, with a smaller space and cast. Regardless, you probably do not imagine yourself sitting alone on your couch, watching […]

The Ugly Side of Fashion: How the Industry Harms People of Color

Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and former editor-at-large André Leon Talley. In December 2018, luxury fashion brand Prada released a collection of “fantasy charms” that critics say were inspired by blackface. The products, which Prada claimed were “imaginary creatures,” resemble black monkeys with bright red lips—seemingly a callback to nineteenth-century minstrel shows.  Following immediate social media […]

Episode 8: “The 2020 Elections”

Photo by Adam Schultz Listen and subscribe to our podcast: Via Spotify | Via Apple Podcasts In the wake of the 2020 Elections, Max sits down with a panel of NUPR contributors to discuss the results and implications of the elections. Alex Jarecki, Stephanie Luiz, Noah Colbert, and Taraneh Azar address questions about why the election turned out […]