Jack Blum to receive Honorary Degree from Bard
Bard College has announced that Jack Arthur Blum ’62, a Bard trustee associate and lifelong public servant, will receive an Honorary Degree at its 2025 Commencement ceremony.
Blum earned a JD from Columbia Law School and began his distinguished career with the Senate Antitrust Subcommittee, where he led investigations into mortgage fraud and redlining. His groundbreaking work exposed discriminatory practices, including a redline map drawn by Boston bankers showing where Black Americans could access mortgages.
In 1972, he moved to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), contributing to the investigation of CIA involvement in Chile and foreign bribery by U.S. corporations. His efforts were instrumental in the passage of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and in the prosecution of Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Kakuei.
Blum returned to the SFRC in 1986 as special counsel, where he worked alongside Senator John Kerry to expose drug trafficking and money laundering networks. His investigations revealed the criminal activities of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International and the drug-related operations of General Manuel Noriega.
Beyond the Senate, Blum chaired a United Nations Expert Group on asset recovery and has served as an expert witness in major international fraud and tax evasion cases. Since 2006, he has collaborated with the government of Norway and the UN to help alleviate global poverty.
This honorary degree recognizes Blum’s tireless dedication to justice, transparency, and public accountability across a lifetime of legal, investigative, and humanitarian service.
To view all the Honorary Degree Recipients, visit:
Bard College Honorary Degrees 2025
Selendy Gay Files Suit to End Coercive Threats to Harvard University’s $9 Billion Federal Research Grants
Selendy Gay PLLC has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its Harvard chapter, challenging what it describes as the government’s coercive misuse of federal authority to threaten academic independence and free speech.
The complaint and Temporary Restraining Order argue that the federal government’s actions—targeting nearly $9 billion in research grants—violate the U.S. Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It asserts that government demands to overhaul Harvard’s governance, academic programs, admissions, and hiring processes are arbitrary, capricious, and politically motivated.
“These tactics amount to exploiting Title VI to coerce universities into undermining free speech and academic inquiry in service of the government’s political or policy preferences,” according to the Complaint.
Read the full article here:
Selendy Gay Challenges Federal Threats to Harvard’s $9 Billion Research Funding
Jennifer Selendy is a Director of the Trebuchet and a Convisero Mentor
Boy Brother Friend: Matthew Benson, Nichole Sobecki, and the Power of Storytelling in Fashion
The Columbia Journalism Review has spotlighted Boy Brother Friend, an independent fashion publication that brings together style and urgent geopolitical storytelling. Editorial director Matthew Benson and founder Kk Obi have redefined the boundaries of fashion media by using it as a vehicle to engage with real-world conflict, history, and identity.
Their latest issue centers on Sudan, featuring contributions from Sudanese thinkers, artists, and photographers. Among the visual work is a striking photograph by Nichole Sobecki of ancient pyramids in present-day Sudan—an image that speaks to history, cultural endurance, and the stakes of erasure in times of war.
Matthew Benson, whose editorial direction fuses creative innovation with investigative depth, has helped shape Boy Brother Friend into a platform that questions traditional narratives and foregrounds underrepresented voices.
Nichole Sobecki’s inclusion adds to the issue’s gravitas, aligning her continued commitment to ethical visual storytelling with the magazine’s mission to connect beauty and truth.
Read the full article here:
Columbia Journalism Review: Glamour Crashes Down to Reality
Courtesy Boy Brother Friend. (Nichole Sobecki)
Egypt and the Horn of Africa: Geopolitics, Water, and Regional Influence
Security in Context has published a timely and insightful analysis by Sherif Mansour, an Egyptian-American democracy and human rights advocate, exploring Egypt’s expanding political and military engagement in the Horn of Africa. At the center of the discussion is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which has been a flashpoint in regional diplomacy, with Egypt viewing the project as a threat to its water security and national interests.
Mansour, known for his longstanding work defending press freedom and civil society in the Middle East, brings critical insight into how Egypt’s strategic posture in the region intersects with broader authoritarian dynamics. He details Egypt’s efforts to counterbalance Ethiopian influence by supporting rival factions in Sudan and Somalia, as well as proposing peacekeeping deployments. His perspective highlights how overlapping environmental and political crises have intensified regional instability.
In highlighting the links between water, conflict, and power, Mansour urges a broader, collaborative response grounded in diplomacy and regional cooperation. His analysis serves as a reminder of how infrastructural and climate pressures are reshaping state behavior and alliances across East Africa.
Read the full article here:
Security in Context: Egypt and the Horn of Africa
The Human Cost of the Israel-Hamas War
Haaretz has published a detailed and harrowing timeline documenting how 50,000 Palestinians were killed in Gaza since the start of the war. This article serves as a vital record of a humanitarian catastrophe, mapping each stage of the destruction with precision and journalistic rigor.
The reporting presents an unflinching account of what occurred, day by day, from the first airstrikes to the ongoing devastation. It challenges readers to confront the reality behind the statistics and underscores the importance of bearing witness.
In a moment where narratives are contested and lives are politicized, this piece stands as a sobering reminder of the human cost of conflict.
Read the full article here:
Haaretz: 50,000 Palestinians Killed in Gaza
Al Jazeera has also published a powerful photo essay titled Israel’s War on Gaza: 12 Months, 12 Pictures, documenting the devastation experienced by Palestinians over the past year. The piece highlights the humanitarian toll through images of children queuing for food, families breaking their Ramadan fast amid rubble, and overwhelmed hospitals treating victims of bombardment. The photos, spanning January to December 2024, illustrate the widespread destruction of homes, displacement of families, and the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare and sanitation systems.
Witness a stark visual chronicle of devastation, displacement, and death:
Al Jazeera: Israel’s War on Gaza – 12 Months, 12 Pictures
To contextualize the other side of the tragedy, The Times has published a powerful visual record of the hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The piece includes an interactive graphic showing the faces and stories of those still in captivity, those killed, and those released or rescued.
As of January 2025, 95 individuals remain in Gaza, including 62 presumed alive and 33 whose bodies are being held. The Times’ database honors the memory and humanity of the victims, drawing from family forums, media reporting, and IDF investigations.
View the photo collection and interactive database here:
The Times: Israeli Hostages in Gaza
According to the Israeli government, approximately 1,200 people were killed during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The names of over 800 civilians who were murdered in their homes, towns, and communities confronting Hamas terrorists have been released, not including military and emergency personnel. This list is continually updated and includes casualties from related attacks following October 7.
Israeli Government Report on Civilian Casualties:
Government of Israel: Civilian Casualties (Swords of Iron)
The Human Cost of the Israel-Hamas War
Image Courtesy of Haaretz
The Human Cost of the Israel-Hamas War
Image Courtesy of Al Jazeera
The Human Cost of the Israel-Hamas War
Image Courtesy of The Times
The Human Cost of the Israel-Hamas War
Image courtesy of the Government of Israel
Leo Stern: Consultant, Educator, and FASPE Business Fellow
Leo Stern is a consultant at Volentia, a strategy consulting firm specializing in business, geopolitics, and public affairs. Before transitioning into consulting, he worked as an orchestra conductor and saxophonist. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business and Diplomacy from HEIP Paris and has been involved in economic development initiatives in the Indo-Pacific, serving as a member of the French committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC), chaired by Pascal Lamy. In addition to his consulting work, Leo is a guest lecturer in Paris, where he teaches business strategy and international relations.
In 2025, Leo was selected as a FASPE Business Fellow, recognizing his commitment to ethical leadership and integrity in professional life. The Fellowship at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE) engages emerging leaders in a rigorous examination of ethical leadership and responsibility in the business world, grounded in historical context and contemporary challenges.
To take a look at all the Fellows, visit: https://www.faspe-ethics.org/2025-business-fellows/
This organization and its Fellowships are all the more critical in this time of descent into the darkness of corruption and autocracy.
If you wish to be nominated please contact me.
Kansas Senators Urge Action Against Bird Flu Threat
Kansas Senators Patrick Schmidt, William Clifford, and Jeff Klemp are calling for urgent measures to combat the growing threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). With millions of birds already culled and rising concerns about potential livestock infections, the senators stress the need for increased funding, enhanced biosecurity, and accelerated vaccine development. They warn that without immediate action, food shortages and economic instability may worsen.
LTC Shanzhi Thia Recognized for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Maritime Research
LTC Shanzhi Thia was recently honored with two prestigious awards at the U.S. Naval War College.
LTC Thia (left) is seen receiving the esteemed Admiral Arleigh A. Burke Award from the President of the Naval War College, Rear Adm. Peter Garvin (right). The Admiral Arleigh A. Burke Award is presented to the International Student with the best academic performance across both intermediate and senior classes — a testament to LTC Thia's exceptional dedication and intellectual rigor.
In addition to this achievement, LTC Thia was also recognized with the Naval Submarine League Award, awarded for the best paper on a subject related to submarine warfare. His insightful essay, "Promises and Pitfalls: Prospects for Submarine Rescue Cooperation between the United States, and Russia and China, in the Indo-Pacific," stood out for its depth of research and strategic analysis.
LTC Thia's unwavering commitment to academic excellence and his invaluable contributions to maritime security studies continue to inspire and demonstrate the highest standards of scholarship and service.
Sai University Graduation Ceremony
A Letter from My Sai University Students:
Just wanted to take a moment to share some snapshots from the graduation ceremony with you. It was a truly special day, and we wanted to express my gratitude for all the guidance and support you provided throughout our academic journey.
On a side note, I was honored to receive the gold medal for securing the highest GPA in my cohort. Your mentorship and the knowledge I gained from your classes played a significant role in this achievement, and I sincerely appreciate all your encouragement.
Thank you once again for your invaluable support. We hope to stay in touch!
Regards,
Abhi, Dakshajaa and Veda
Meeting with Seth Karamage
Meeting with my dear Rwandan friend Seth. I'm advising him on his UMASS Boston political science PhD thesis on civil-military relations in Africa; coups and democracy.
Could the Israel/Hamas ceasefire lead to lasting peace?
NEW PODCAST EPISODE:
Could the Israel/Hamas ceasefire lead to lasting peace?
We should report the reality, which is complex and painful sometimes. But it's very difficult to do that when you are in specific system in your media outlet. You are a reporter, but you're also an Israeli or a Palestinian, a Gazan or a Tel Avivan. You report about what hurts you the most, and you tend to be oblivious to the suffering of the other. It's very human, but it's also very wrong."
— Ksenia Svetlova
Political analyst and peacebuilder Ksenia Svetlova has her finger on the pulse of Middle East politics and media — and a mission to build a peaceful, integrated region.
Israel and Hamas are just over two weeks into a ceasefire agreement after fifteen months of fighting.This is a paradoxical moment to talk about long-term peace. The horrific October 7th attacks and the near-destruction of Gaza that followed served to amplify already high levels of distrust, hate, and trauma. At the same time, the war has demonstrated to Gazans that their government placed conflict with Israel above their own survival. And it has shown Israelis that an indefinite blockade of Gaza doesn’t ensure their security.
Yet with all it's complications, the cessation of hostilities does offer an opportunity to envision a way out of this seemingly endless conflict.
Our guest for this episode is Ksenia Svetlova, an expert observer of politics and media in the Middle East and the executive director of the Regional Organization for Peace, Economics, and Security, or ROPES.
Svetlova is an immigrant to Israel from the Soviet Union, an Arabic speaker and a Middle East specialist. For fifteen years, Svetlova reported from Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and different countries in the region. She served four years in Israel’s parliament representing the center-left Zionist Union Coalition.
Dr. Bob Weintraub for Brookline School Committee
I’m running for School Committee because I have a long and rather unique professional history in education — as an English teacher in New York City, founding principal of the pre-k to 8 Micro-Society Magnet School in Lowell, BHS Head of School from 1992-2011, and professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Columbia University Teachers College and Boston University.
In partnership with my colleague Dr. Adrian Mims, we launched the Calculus Project at Brookline High School in 2009, and I’m currently Chair of the National Calculus Project.
In these challenging times, I believe that my experience in and passion for public education are vital to the necessary conversations about the present and future of our schools.
More of Dr. Bob's
core beliefs:
Leadership Matters
For administrative searches, we need democratic and inclusive search committees that have a real voice in the selection of our school and district leaders.
As well, our schools must be committed to cultivating leaders within the district.
Excellence in Teaching
As my colleague Ron Ferguson wrote, "Schools are built upon the three legs of a tripod—curriculum, instruction, and relationships—and without strong relationships, good curriculum and instruction are less likely to matter."
Prioritize People closest to the kids
Budget decisions must be driven by the return on investment (ROI) for the academic achievement and well-being of our students. Powerful research says that investment must be made at the schoolhouse — teachers, counselors/social workers, and principals who work with our kids every day.
The Academic goal for our schools
The academic profile of the school system — as measured by school attendance, course enrollments, student grades, and standardized test scores — improves over time. And the gap between the higher achieving and historically lower achieving students narrows.
To make this happen, the robust academic culture must be maintained (high standards), and intentional supports (such as the Calculus Project) must be provided so that more and more students can succeed within that academic culture.
The social-emotional goal for our schools
We must honor E Pluribus Unum in our schools.
This means understanding and respect for human differences and our essential kinship, and that every member of our school community has the freedom to define themselves and feel safe within that definition.
Media & Critical Thinking
We are a toxically divided nation. This is a reflection of politically driven information cultures, characterized by disinformation and misinformation.
Brookline should be a lighthouse in confronting this Brobdingnagian problem. We must address this through curriculum and through the practice of democracy in our schools
Vote On Or Before May 6th
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Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: 89 Seconds to Midnight
It is now 89 seconds to midnight
You can also watch the announcement on YouTube.
In setting the Clock one second closer to midnight, the Science and Security Board sends a stark signal: Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.
The Bulletin has reset the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock 26 times since its debut in 1947, most recently in 2025 when we moved it from 90 seconds to midnight to 89 seconds to midnight. Every time it is reset, we’re flooded with questions about the internationally recognized symbol. Here are answers to some of the most frequent queries.
The Doomsday Clock is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.
When the Doomsday Clock was created in 1947, the greatest danger to humanity came from nuclear weapons, in particular from the prospect that the United States and the Soviet Union were headed for a nuclear arms race. The Bulletin considered possible catastrophic disruptions from climate change in its hand-setting deliberations for the first time in 2007.
Kansas Senator and Convisero mentor Patrick Schmidt condemns Trump's pardon of violent Jan. 6 offenders
I have helped Patrick in a personal capacity to run for office and support his positions. Sen. Schmidt, D-Topeka, is one of five senators sponsoring a resolution condemning President Donald Trump's pardoning of Jan. 6 rioters convicted of violent crimes.
See here for the full article.
The resolution is unlikely to pass in a legislative body where Republicans have supermajority control. Trump won 57% of the vote in Kansas in 2024, and Republican leaders in the state are largely supportive of Trump's agenda.
"I don't think that this really should be a partisan issue," Schmidt said. "You had people that stole officers' service weapons, you had people that tasered law enforcement officers, you had, I think, almost 200 people with guns."
VII Foundation Executive Director and Convisero mentor Gary Knight on leading investigation of "Napalm Girl"
Gary Knight, Convisero mentor and whose organization VII Foundation I serve as an advisor to, was recently featured in this article on the investigation of “Napalm Girl” photo being credited to the wrong journalist.
Executive director Gary Knight, a photojournalist who led the film's investigation, told AFP it was "critical" that members of the news media "hold ourselves to account."
"The photograph in question is one of the most important photographs of anything ever made, certainly of war," he said.
Over the past two years, Gary has been working with a team of journalists at The VII Foundation and in Vietnam on an investigation into the veracity of the authorship of one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, or indeed, of any century. That investigation was documented by the Vietnamese American film director Bao Nguyen.
What VII Foundation uncovered speaks to the heart of what is most important in photography. The film grapples with questions of authorship, racial injustice, and journalistic ethics while shining a light on the fundamental yet often unrecognized contributions of local freelancers who provide the information needed to understand how events worldwide impact us all.
Gary says the following in a VII Foundation article on the matter:
This is a story that many people in our profession did not want told, and some of them continue to go to great lengths to make sure it isn't told. But regardless of the passage of time and however inconvenient it might be, nothing should stall the pursuit of truth in journalism because we are obliged to hold ourselves to account if we seek to hold everyone else to account. There is an old adage that journalism is 'the first draft of history'; sometimes it takes a second draft to set the record straight.
As one of the legendary Vietnamese journalists we spoke to told us: ‘There's nothing more important than the truth. When the truth is disregarded, that's when society becomes corrupted. (The truth) cannot be twisted, or torn apart, because if so, it's no longer the truth and we will have lost our moral compass.’
The Stringer premiered January 2025 at the Sundance Film Festival. Please watch this space for further information on theinvestigation and the film itself.
ISYP becomes a 2025 PACEY Award Finalist
In a rare bright spot in today’s news, there is a sincere congratulations to ISYP’s South Asia dialogue project as a finalist for the 2025 PACEY Awards.
ISYP, whose external advisory board I am on, is re-launching their South Asia initiative, which built a great community throughout 2022-2023 with successful roundtables on nuclear weapons issues in South Asia, including on the intersection of nuclear policy and cybersecurity. They hope to continue this work in 2025 and expand into producing published works and additional conferences.
Sanaa Alvira joins ISYP as a Research Associate specializing in nuclear policy and related issues at the Centre for Air Power Studies, India, and a Research Assistant at the Centre for the Governance of AI (GovAI). She is also a Marie Sklodowska-Curie fellow at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a recent graduate of the Non-Proliferation and Terrorism Studies master’s programme at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. She joined ISYP's Leadership Team in 2024 and will be working on the South Asia Programming, in addition to ISYP's other projects.
In mutual congratulations, the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the Japanese organization, Nihon Hidankyo, an organization dedicated to supporting and amplifying the stories of nuclear bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and educating the public on the dangers and humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons. ISYP warmly congratulates Nihon Hidankyo on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. ISYP honors the legacy of the Hibakusha - the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - whose courage and advocacy inspire our commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons.
Latest update on Power Ukraine from HRF
One month ago, HRF launched the Power Ukraine campaign to raise money for portable generators and deliver them to Ukrainians affected by the war and prolonged power outages.
The situation in Ukraine remains urgent: as the winter sets in, and temperatures hit as low as -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit), Russian forces continue to purposefully attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including boiler stations and power plants, in order to deprive Ukrainians of heat, electricity, and connectivity in the dead of winter. Portable generators allow the people of Ukraine to stay warm, charge their electronic devices, and stay connected with their loved ones.
Convisero mentor Rabbi Adina Allen in Boston
Creativity offers us a portal to transformation, spiritual connection, and revelation. It is there for us when we feel stuck, divided, or disconnected. In her highly anticipated first book, Rabbi Adina Allen delivers a paradigm-shifting and powerfully accessible reading of Torah as a contemporary guidebook for creativity and invites us to rethink and transform ourselves, our lives, and the world around us.
Join us for an afternoon with Rabbi Adina Allen, JSP Co-Founder and author of The Place of All Possibility: Cultivating Creativity Through Ancient Jewish Wisdom, in conversation with Joshua Foer, journalist, bestselling author, and co-founder of innovative Jewish enterprises including Lehrhaus and Sefaria.
Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement, reflections, calls to action
In a major turn of events, Israel and Hamas has reached a ceasefire agreement. In an early news segment, Al Jazeera interviews Mouin Rabbani, non-resident Fellow at the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies. A graduate of Tufts University and Georgetown University's Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Rabbani has published, presented and commented widely on Middle East issues, including for most major print, television and digital media.
January 16, 2025: Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha wrote a piece back in September 2024 that Etan Nechin says amid the ceasefire “demands more than reflection, it demands a reckoning with Gaza's destruction.” More on this here.
January 17, 2025: A recent article by Ussama Makdisiprovides revisits “Victims of the Victims,” Edward Said’s ethical humanism in the context of the Gaza genocide.
Much more will be added as this progresses.
Convisero mentor Jehane Sedky leads FXB Center at Harvard University
Jehane Sedky recently joined Harvard University’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights as its new Executive Director. Jehane is a seasoned senior executive with an excellent record in leadership roles, providing strategic guidance and support to influential leaders such as former US President Bill Clinton, former UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy and the late Harvard University Professor Dr. Paul Farmer. Her expertise spans a wide spectrum of responsibilities, including leading major initiatives, strategic program development for social impact, fundraising, media, and communications. Renowned for exceptional leadership and people management skills, Ms. Sedky excels in unifying teams toward common goals.
The work of health and human rights is imperative, especially as we see here the Lancet Study that discovered official Gaza death toll is estimated to be a 41% undercount.