The resignation of Harvard president Claudine Gay will make no difference without a fundamental restructuring of what is taught. The same goes for other institutions of “higher learning.”
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Froma Harrop: Gutsy Democrats start turning on the far left
The Democratic mainstream should stop trying to placate the children and replace them with centrist independents and Republicans done with the Trump show. Happily, that may have started already.
Austin Bay: Six strategic challenges for 2024
Here’s 2024’s strategic challenges column — challenges to our so-called international strategic order, meaning threats to human life and economic well-being on a continent-regional or global scale.
Rep. Bill Bridgeo: Proposed Pickett Mountain mine is too risky for Maine
The Maine Land Use Planning Commission must reject Wolfden Resources’ application to rezone its land near Pickett Mountain in the Katahdin region for zinc mining.
Marc Jalbert: Re-electing Trump would make U.S. ‘the laughing stock of the world’
I want to make as fair a comparison as I possibly can. The Congress wasted very little time with addressing the issue of George Santos, without a conviction and overall disgust for what he stood for. A liar and under three indictments. On the other hand, some 40-plus percent of the Republican Party seem to […]
Bob Neal: The Countryman: The two bones of contention in academia
Until this week, the chatter about corruption in colleges revolved around massive amounts of money that drove a rejigging of athletic conferences. Then, a second discontent cropped up. Put it under the heading of “Be careful what you say.”
Farmington’s MaineHealth Franklin Hospital taps emergency department director
FARMINGTON — Blake Hotchkiss of Wayne has been appointed emergency department director at MaineHealth Franklin Hospital. He oversees clinical activities within the unit to ensure the delivery of patient- and family-centered care. He also manages business operations and serves as a mentor and coach, fostering the professional growth of the care team. Deanna Orfanidis, chief […]
Ken Johnson: Barring Trump from ballot is constitutional issue, not political
I am writing in support of the decision and action by Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows regarding Donald Trump’s right to be on the ballot in Maine. Her job and responsibility as secretary of state regarding the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, Section 3, is to hear arguments to determine if Trump has taken action that […]