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Embrace Institutional Neutrality, Reject Partisan Advocacy
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Embrace Institutional Neutrality, Reject Partisan Advocacy

Institutional neutrality is a common-sense policy, yet some students still don’t get the point. Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University. (Credit: Buckley Institute) Hannah Owens PierreStaff Writer, The Buckley Beacon On Wednesday, President McInnis sent an email to the Yale community announcing findings from the Committee on Trust in Higher Education, a coalition she convened to examine “declining trust in higher education.” The results are damning: The committee admits that Yale bears responsibility for this lack of trust, due to rising tuition costs, lack of clear standards for admission, and, most importantly, promoting political bias and censorship.  This last point has been the focus of much student discourse, from myself included. To combat the clear ...
Popular Internet Personality Hasan Piker Rallies the YPU
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Popular Internet Personality Hasan Piker Rallies the YPU

Controversial leftist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker argued that the ‘American Empire’ is in a righteous, inevitable decline. Hasan Piker addressing the YPU. (Credit: Sygne Stole) Emily Akbar Campus Reporting Editor, The Buckley Beacon On Tuesday evening, the Yale Political Union hosted the leftist political commentator Hasan Piker to debate the resolution “Resolved: End the American Empire.” Piker, who began his career as a journalist for the progressive The Young Turks show, is best-known for his daily streams on that platform Twitch, where he has amassed around 3 million followers. Indeed, Piker’s appearance drew a full house in Sterling-Sheffield-Strathcona’s lecture hall. Piker is often the subject of scrutiny from past controversial comments, which include ...
AI Safety Expert Argues Superintelligence Should be Banned
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AI Safety Expert Argues Superintelligence Should be Banned

The Buckley Institute hosted CEO of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, Malo Bourgon, for a fireside chat on the risks of a 'superintelligent' artificial intelligence. Yale School of Management student Nico Sahi, left, and Malo Bourgon, right, onstage during the fireside chat. (Credit: Hannah Owens Pierre) Hannah Owens Pierre Staff Writer, The Buckley Beacon Last Friday, the Buckley Institute hosted a fireside chat with Malo Bourgon, CEO of Machine Intelligence Research Institute, an organization focused on existential risks from artificial intelligence. The event was initially planned to be a Firing Line Debate with Dean Ball, who recently served as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology at the White House. However,...
Acclaimed Japanese-American Artist Lectures at STM
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Acclaimed Japanese-American Artist Lectures at STM

Yale’s St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel hosted Makoto Fujimura after Mass on Palm Sunday, where he lectured to the crowd about his philosophy of art. Fujimura speaking to the audience at STM. (Credit: Evelyn Hernandez-Chico) Evelyn Hernandez-ChicoStaff Writer, The Buckley Beacon This past Palm Sunday, Yale’s St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel welcomed internationally acclaimed artist and author Makoto Fujimura, who gave a lecture titled, “Art Is: A Journey Into the Light.” Born in America and brought up in Japan, Fujimura was inspired by traditional Japanese Nihonga painting, which is notable for its use of traditional Japanese pigments. He was the first Japanese-American to be invited to study in a prestigious arts program at the Tokyo University of the Arts dedi...
Former DNC Official Denounces US ‘Gerontocracy’ at the YPU
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Former DNC Official Denounces US ‘Gerontocracy’ at the YPU

David Hogg, a 25-year-old Democratic political activist, debated passionately against a status quo that he said allows older Americans to ‘monopolize’ power. David Hogg addresses the YPU. (Credit: Sygne Stole) Lucas MillerInvestigative Reporting Editor, The Buckley Beacon On Tuesday night, the Yale Political Union invited David Hogg to debate the resolution “No Country for Old Men.” Debaters spent the evening debating the prevalence of older Americans in politics and whether or not the United States ought to elect younger leaders, with Hogg speaking in the affirmative. The Pew Research Center reported in early 2025 that the median age of the House of Representatives was 57.5 years, while Senators were slightly older, at 64.7 years.  Hogg, 25, is a graduate of ...
The Government Didn’t Come. The Contractors Did.
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The Government Didn’t Come. The Contractors Did.

Yale should adapt its international security education to reflect the realities on the ground in 21st century warfare. 46 Hillhouse Avenue, where Yale’s International Security Studies program is housed. (Credit: Buckley Institute) Shailen SharmaContributor, The Buckley Beacon In April 2023, Sudan collapsed into open gunfighting in the streets as the state authority evaporated. The U.S. State Department embassy in Khartoum announced that, “Americans should have no expectation of a US government-coordinated evacuation at this time.” Around 16,000 American nationals were left stranded in the gray zone: a lawless space where territory is controlled by armed gunmen, and the U.S. government is incapable or unwilling to intervene.  Over two years later in October 2025,...
Former Texas Chief Justice and Law Professor Debate Originalism at YPU
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Former Texas Chief Justice and Law Professor Debate Originalism at YPU

Nathaniel Hecht, the former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, and NYU Professor Melissa Murray clashed Tuesday over the controversial legal framework. The Beacon’s Jason Cao gives a speech in the negative. (Credit: Emily Akbar) Emily AkbarCampus Reporting Editor, The Buckley Beacon On Tuesday evening, the Yale Political Union hosted Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Nathan L. Hecht, and NYU professor and “Strict Scrutiny” podcast host, Melissa Murray to debate on Originalism. Murray argued in the affirmative and Hecht in the negative of the resolution, “Reject Originalism.” Originalism is defined as a theory of interpreting legal texts, especially the Constitution, as it was understood at the time of its adoption. A graduate from Yale C...
As if You Yourself Were a Slave
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As if You Yourself Were a Slave

Reflections on Passover and the Yale regime. Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven, Conn. (Credit: Buckley Institute) Ari ShteinOpinions Editor, The Buckley Beacon Passover is upon us, the Jewish holiday which celebrates the Exodus narrative. As flowers burst forth from their buds, and throngs of Yalies pour out of the library onto Cross Campus in celebration of the muggy 65° overcast afternoons, we Jews spend a week remembering that only through the grace of God did we go free from slavery in Egypt 3,000 years ago. Indeed, we are told to remember that we went free — us, personally, not our ancestors. Why is this? The first answer I ever heard was a simple counterfactual: if not for God’s intervention, we would still today be slaves in Egypt. The point, then, is to dri...
Judge Andrew Arthur Says Americans Think Too “Small” on Immigration
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Judge Andrew Arthur Says Americans Think Too “Small” on Immigration

The former immigration judge and Congressional staffer defended ICE but criticized the larger immigration system. Judge Andrew 'Art' Arthur speaks to the Yale College Republicans. (Credit: Emily Akbar) Emily AkbarCampus Reporting Editor, The Buckley Beacon On Wednesday, Yale College Republicans hosted former immigration Judge Andrew “Art” Arthur to discuss the United States’ evolving immigration policy. Arthur is the Resident Fellow in Law and Policy at the Center for Immigration Studies. Arthur began his career at the Executive Office for Immigration Review, reporting to Attorney General Bill Barr under the first Bush administration. During the second Bush administration, Arthur worked in Congress and was oversight counsel for immigration on the House Judiciary...
‘College Play’ Review
Arts, Culture, & Scholarship, Featured

‘College Play’ Review

In his final Yale production, Brennan Columbia-Walsh asks how to cherish the life you're already living. Playbill for College Play. (Credit: Evelyn Hernandez Chico) Evelyn Hernandez ChicoStaff Writer, The Buckley Beacon It is not often that one is asked the question, can a playwright change the world?  On a small stage in the Off-Broadway Theater in New Haven, College Play, written and directed by Yale senior Brennan Columbia-Walsh, attempts to provide an answer. College Play, which debuted on February 11, 2026 and ran until February 13, 2026, narrates the lives of five Yale College students.  Act One, focuses on a day in the life of students Brennan Columbia-Walsh, Leo Greenberg, George Baily, and Oleg Laskov, who all are in the class of 2026 and played themse...