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Harvard’s Student Newspaper Elects Its First Black Woman President

Published

6 years ago

December 2, 2018

Daughter of Haitian and Chinese immigrants, Kristine Guillaume makes history as the first Black woman president of Harvard’s newspaper.

Kristine Guillaume screamed into the phone when she learned that her colleagues at the Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper at the prestigious university, had selected her as their president. It was the end of a months-long process that would put a Black woman in the leadership for the first time in the school’s 145-year history.

The 20-year-old from Queens, N.Y., is a junior studying literature, history and African American studies. She hopes to bring further diversity in coverage and staffing at the paper and to strengthen its digital imprint.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this historical moment as the first Black female president,” Guillaume said in an email statement. “If my election to The Crimson’s helm affirms anyone’s sense of belonging at The Crimson or anywhere on Harvard’s campus, then that will continue to affirm the work I’m doing.”
Her Chinese mother and Haitian father are both immigrants and physicians, who had hoped their daughter would take up medicine or even law. But it was the family’s regular Sunday morning habit of reading the newspaper and columnists with opposing views that piqued Guillaume’s interest in journalism.
Now, perhaps her parents will be appeased that she has spent so much time in the Crimson newsroom: her new position could not be accompanied by more prestige. Her predecessors are not only renowned journalists who walk the halls of the New York Times, but become leaders in politics and business, including presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and CNN boss Jeff Zucker.
Only 20 years old, Guillaume takes on the mantle of leadership with confidence. “It’s your job, no matter what stage of leadership, to make sure you are imparting knowledge to your younger writers, but also reporting on things especially pertinent in today’s climate with cultural sensitivity,” she told the New York Times.
She starts as Crimson president in January 2019 and serves for the calendar year.
“I’m incredibly honored to have the opportunity to serve as the next president of The Crimson. We have an outstanding team of leadership next year and I’m looking forward to working with our new managing editor—Angela Fu—and business manager—Charlie Zhu,” she said.

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Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025

Published

4 days ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

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Supreme Court Decision Confirms Convicted Felon Will Assume Presidency

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In a 5-4 ruling, the court stated that Trump’s concerns could “be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal” and emphasized that the burden of sentencing was “relatively insubstantial” given that Trump will not face prison time. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in the majority, with four conservative justices dissenting.

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected President-elect Donald Trump’s emergency request to block criminal proceedings in his New York hush money case, ensuring that a sentencing hearing will proceed as scheduled on Friday. The decision makes it official that, on January 20, for the first time in its history, the United States will inaugurate a convicted felon as its president.

In a 5-4 ruling, the court stated that Trump’s concerns could “be addressed in the ordinary course on appeal” and emphasized that the burden of sentencing was “relatively insubstantial” given that Trump will not face prison time. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the court’s three liberal justices in the majority, with four conservative justices dissenting.

Trump was convicted in May for falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in a state criminal case, particularly before all appeals in state courts were exhausted.

Trump’s legal team claimed the sentencing process would interfere with his transition to power and argued that evidence introduced during the trial included official actions protected under the Supreme Court’s prior ruling granting former presidents immunity for official conduct. Merchan, the New York judge who presided over the trial, ruled in December that the evidence presented was unrelated to Trump’s duties as president.

Prosecutors dismissed Trump’s objections, stating that the sentencing would take less than an hour and could be attended virtually. They said the public interest in proceeding to sentencing outweighed the President-elect’s claims of undue burden.

Justice Samuel Alito, one of the four dissenting justices, confirmed speaking to Trump by phone on Wednesday. Alito insisted the conversation did not involve the case, though the call drew criticism given his previous refusals to recuse himself from politically sensitive matters.

The sentencing hearing is set for Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Manhattan. As the nation moves closer to an unprecedented inauguration, questions about the implications of a convicted felon assuming the presidency remain.

“No one is above the law,” Bragg said.

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Barbara Lee Launches Campaign for Mayor of Oakland

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided, but a community united,” she Lee. “If elected I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city, so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

Published

7 days ago

January 8, 2025

Oakland Post

By Post Staff

Barbara Lee on Wednesday morning formally announced her candidacy for Mayor in Oakland’s April 15 special election.

“Time and time again, Oaklanders have faced our toughest obstacles by uniting to meet our challenges,” said Lee.

“At this critical moment, we must not be a city divided but a community united,” she said. “If elected, I will bring my hands-on leadership, new ideas, and decades of experience in identifying billions in resources for our great city so all residents and businesses are stronger and safer and our community has optimism and confidence in Oakland’s future.”

“As Mayor, I’ll address our homelessness crisis, prioritize comprehensive public safety and mental health services, and lead with fiscal responsibility to deliver the core City services residents and business owners deserve. Let’s do this – together.”

“I’ve never shied away from a challenge,” said Lee. “I’m always ready to fight for Oakland.”

Watch her campaign video here, which is online at BarbaraLee4Oakland.com