When we announced we were packing up our Boston offices and heading to Manhattan, our friends and advisors puzzled over the decision. Truth be told, there were times when we did ourselves. Our staff was compelled to brave the pressures and shocks of relocating, a tougher real-estate market, and more cramped quarters—all while compiling the third issue of 02138.
But ever since we conceived this magazine, the move was only a matter of time. Everybody comes to New York, some to work, others to visit. And we wanted to meet as many of them as we could, so that we could tell their stories to you.
So we moved the cast to 42nd Street, but just as we were unpacking our computers and getting used to the price of a coffee, sirens went off back at home. Harvard had appointed its 28th (and first female) president. Of course, we had to get to the bottom of how this had happened, or, more specifically, how she won the top job and how she almost didn’t. And our ace reporter Richard Bradley was thrown his second feature at the last minute (“The Search for Harvard’s Newest Leader,” p. 78).
Even before Faust’s appointment, we were examining another presidential race from the 02138 perspective. In this issue, we trace Mitt Romney’s path through Michigan, Utah, and Beacon Hill, as he runs for president and runs away from Harvard (“The Mitt Romney You Don’t Know,” p. 60). Debra Dickerson follows another path—the one which Barack Obama deftly navigated during his time at Harvard Law School, and which may have trained him for his presidential run (“What Harvard Taught Barack,” p. 70). Tracking leaders of all descriptions, we took detours to New Orleans, where Walter Isaacson is rethinking the post-Katrina cleanup (“What Does This Man Think He’s Doing?” p. 33), and North Carolina, where entrepreneur Phil Harvey is forging a juncture between pornography and philanthropy (“Good Sex,” p. 92)
Since people drive our sensibilities at home as well as in the public arena, we’ve redesigned “Passions”, our lifestyle section, which in this issue focuses on a fellow alum’s world of indulgence and good taste, far beyond a material agenda. Luxury mogul Thuy Tranthi expanded our vision a little, telling us about her devotion to family, dressing up her two-year-old daughter, and sharing her collection of antique French silver (p. 43). Some are tempted by these beautiful things, but, as we know, others can be seduced by the dark side. So we ourselves have also crossed over and compiled the first Hubris Hall of Fame: a gallery of Harvardians who, over the last few eventful years, have flown a little too close to the sun—and, in many cases, far from the law (p. 84).
Why did we move to New York? Because it’s a gateway city. We’ve always wanted to cover all of the disparate personalities who’ve attended Harvard. And now we can fly off and track them to the ends of the earth.
Bom S. Kim
Summing Up: The Simple Facts about the Hollywood Issue of 02138.
TOC
The Hollywood IssueShots in the Dark
Ripped Off by the Times
The Facebook Ruling
Shots in the Dark
Victory
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02138 is an independent magazine and is not affiliated with Harvard University. Please note that 02138 is available to the general public by subscription only, but is not automatically mailed to all Harvard alumni.
