June–August 2025

portrait of Charlotte Biltekoff with cheetos
Science & Tech

Food Fights

In her latest book, former chef and current food science professor Charlotte Biltekoff bites into processed food and the politics of knowledge.
portrait of Erroll Southers on a dark background
Education

Guardian

Erroll Southers ’78, who was racially profiled as a kid in New Jersey, is now one of California’s leading experts in law enforcement, campus safety, and homeland security.
photo of Michael Littman
Science & Tech

Man + Machine

Brown's new AI czar Michael Littman ’96 PhD

Under the Elms

Illustration by Veronyka Jelinek of two hands reaching for one another and paper in the background
History

The Banality of Kindness

Professor Emeritus Tony Molho on escaping the Nazis
Image of Brown football players back-to
Sports & Recreation

Playoffs, at Last!

Ivy League football teams will finally have a shot at post-season competition.
Image of students line dancing in a barn
Student Life

Study Break

Brown undergrads seek southern comfort in line-dancing.
An image of Janet Cooper Nelson with students in tuxes in the foreground
University News

Going Deeper

Beloved chaplain Janet Cooper Nelson retires after 35 years

Obituaries

Archival close-up image of Harold Ward
In Memoriam

Sustainability Pioneer

Harold Ward was an environmental studies elder, beloved by students and colleagues.
Image of Cecilie Richards sitting on a couch, smiling.
In Memoriam

The Good Fight

Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards ’80 fought injustice of all kinds
Archival image of Richard Foreman leaning on stage
In Memoriam

Theater Maverick

Richard Foreman ’59 mesmerized the downtown NYC performance scene

Content

Illustration by Tim Cook of a professor with chalkboard behind and a beaker flying through the air.
University News

Higher Ed Under Fire

How Brown is responding

From the Editor

Daffodils by Eilis Garvey
Ever True

Beach Daffodils

A letter from the Editor

From the President

Image of Matthew Guterl sitting in a chair with a wall full of art behind him.
University News

Diversity of Perspectives

A letter from Matthew Guterl

The Classes

Close-up image of Nate Poole and family in front of Bronze Bruno on Brown University Campus
Ever True

Circle of Support

When young parents Nate Poole ’04 and Tamara Lam-Plattes ’04 found their lives upended by a serious injury, Brown friends rallied round.

Beyond the Gates

Screenshot from the film "The Wedding Bouquet"
The Arts

Sundance Success
Illustration by Karol Banach of two parts of a head with trippy squiggles in the middle
Medicine & Health

What a Long, Healing Trip

From law school to the growing field of psychedelic-assisted mental health therapy
image of Lamont Gordan
Education

Future Vision

Helping low-income kids see themselves as college material
Image of costal Stockholm
Sports & Recreation

An Epic Island-Hopping Hike

Michael Lemmel ’88 created a trail that connects 22 islands off Stockholm
Image of Michael Morris
Humanities & Culture

What’s So Bad About Tribalism?

Michael Morris ’86 explores how cultural cues can be harnessed for good
Image of James Lowe on the ground on a baseball field with players watching him.
Sports & Recreation

Game Changer

“Coach Ballgame” is putting the fun back in youth sports
Close-up image of Percival Everett
The Arts

James Wins a Pulitzer
Close-up image of a painting of a man from the 1800s
History

Land of Six Hundred Thousand Despots

The autobiography of an enslaved man describes 1800s America

Fresh Ink

Image of the spines of books
The Arts

Fresh Ink for June–August 2025

Books by Rita Bullwinkel ’11, Ken Conca ’82, and Scott Allen ’91 MD

Current Obsession

Image of Elliot Stravato sitting with his knee up and the sun shining through the trees
Student Life

Seeing Stars

Five minutes with Elliot Stravato ’27

Courses of Study

An image of Sammus on stage with a microphone
The Arts

‘Shift the Vibrations’

In Intro to Rap Songwriting, students learn to listen deeply, engage with a complex art form, and share their hearts.

The Big Issue

Illustration by Celina Pereira of a dr in scrubs with someone swearing in behind him
Medicine & Health

When Doctors Make Mistakes

A film aims to show why the malpractice system isn’t working—and what might.