7 mins read

Chilling effects of Trump’s war on free speech extend far beyond campus walls – and that’s the point

A persistent government strategy to sow fear through punitive measures has corroded freedom and democracy.

9 mins read

I’ve been studying racist costume parties for a decade, and colleges are failing at educating the students about why they’re wrong

A series of racist costume parties at Bowdoin shows the contradiction colleges have to navigate – encouraging open, reasoned debate, while creating a safe campus for all students.

7 mins read

Chinese American teens experience depression, anxiety at higher rates than peers – here’s why their parents may miss the warning signs

After my niece died by suicide, I began researching how Chinese immigrant families feel about their children’s mental health and why they often avoid care.

8 mins read

To ‘86’ occasionally means to kill but usually doesn’t: A linguistic investigation into the Instagram threat charge against James Comey

Does a seashell arrangement in the form of the numerals ‘86 47’ amount to a criminal threat to assassinate President Donald Trump, as prosecutors suggest?

7 mins read

Education Department is investigating whether Smith College’s admissions violate Title IX – but this law doesn’t actually apply to the case

Title IX’s language is clear that the 1972 law does not cover the admissions decisions private colleges and universities make.

7 mins read

New reading textbooks, same problem: Why children’s reading scores in the US aren’t rising

There are many literacy textbooks available but no clear way to determine which ones are the best – and most likely to turn kids into better readers.