Politics Archives - THE STERN OPPORTUNITY

I have never heard of Rochelle Walensky

By David Kalan on December 11, 2020

Have you? If you don’t work in the world of infectious disease my guess is, “no,” but you probably hadn’t heard of Anthony Fauci a year ago either. Global Pandemics will make celebrities of the most unexpected faces.

Walensky, who was recently tabbed by President-Elect Joe Biden to lead the CDC under his administration, seems to be quite the source of relief to many epidemiological experts. When announced, her appointment was celebrated by many in the field, whom, I must assume, were disappointed her predecessor provided only the C. Everett Koop beard without the super fun name.

Of course, Walensky has a reasonably normal name and no facial hair.…

Give me all the Kornacki my TV can handle

Give me all the Kornacki my TV can handle

By David Kalan on December 11, 2020

If you’ve been following my columns this year, (which I’m sure most of you haven’t, but hi, mom!) you’ve probably noticed I’m “the politics guy.” That is to say, I’m the Oppy staffer who got stuck with putting political opinions in a public space where they can do me only personal and professional harm. But did you know I’m into sports, too?

It’s true!

I’ve written about it for The Oppy once or twice, and would you believe I wrote about it professionally once upon a time? If you need any indication for how respected my critical eye was in the world of sports journalism, well, I’m in business school now.…

The Work Begins Now

The Work Begins Now

By David Kalan on November 13, 2020

I had quite the shock last week. After eight months of what I thought were MBA courses at NYU Stern, I discovered I’ve actually been attending online classes with Stern Lawn N’ Landscaping, the only place in Wausau, Wis., worth calling if your home needs more curb appeal. While the employees have surprisingly deep knowledge of forecasting models and the Cobb-Douglas function — I mean, how else would it have taken me this long to notice? — it is clear I’ve been made a fool.

That tuition better cover a whole lot of lawn care.

Luckily, I learned last Saturday that I was in good company, though I use the term “good” loosely.…

Trump’s diagnosis is a tragedy. And it’s a reminder of our choice at the polls.

Trump’s diagnosis is a tragedy. And it’s a reminder of our choice at the polls.

By David Kalan on October 16, 2020

Well, here we are.

As the 2020 U.S. General Election finally arrives, it has been clear for months that Donald Trump’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic would be the central issue. But with a wild campaign drawing to a close, Trump’s positive test result, along with those of dozens of Oval Office insiders and White House staffers, is the type of deus ex machina that would seem comically forced in an Aaron Sorkin script.

However, there is no outlandish plot device that cannot be outdone by the reality of our modern political circus. With Nov. 3 around the corner, Trump’s Covid infection, and the confused timeline surrounding it, have seemingly nosed out all other issues – and there are many – that would play a pivotal role in the end of this race.…

Rest in Power, RBG

Rest in Power, RBG

By Deirdre Keane on September 19, 2020

On Friday night, we lost an American legacy: Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, affectionately known as RBG. She served as the most senior member of the court’s liberal wing, consistently voting for more progressive rulings, including but not limited to, equal rights, same-sex marriage, health care, affirmative action, abortion, and voting rights. With six weeks to go before election day, her passing will inevitably lead to a political battle on the timing of a nomination for a future Supreme Court Justice. While the subject is guaranteed to dominate the airwaves and social media in the days to come, I want to focus this article on the life of RBG.…