AitN: April 23, 2018

The New York Times received a Pulitzer Prize for public service on April 16 for reporting — led by Jodi Kantor ’96 and Megan Twohey — that uncovered sexual abuses in Hollywood. The Times shared the honor with The New Yorker, whose reporting on the same subject was led by Ronan Farrow. The Pulitzer committee hailed the “explosive, impactful journalism that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators … bringing them to account for long-suppressed allegations of coercion, brutality and victim silencing, thus spurring a worldwide reckoning about sexual abuse of women.”

Neil Gorsuch '88

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch ’88 marked one year on the bench on April 10, shortly afterward making headlines for joining with the four liberal justices for the first time in a 5–4 ruling on immigration law. The vote “struck down a law that allowed the government to deport some immigrants who commit serious crimes, saying it was unconstitutionally vague,” The New York Times said. Additionally, an April 7 CCN article, “Trump’s originalist, Neil Gorsuch, finds his place,” looked at the youngest member of the court’s first year.

Ian Scheffler ’12 was recently profiled by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science as part of the run-up to the 2018 National Science Bowl Finals (to be held April 26–30). In the article, Scheffler, author of Cracking the Cube: Going Slow to Go Fast and Other Unexpected Turns in the World of Competitive Rubik’s Cube Solving, talks about his 2008 appearance at the bowl.

On April 8, Billboard announced: “[Q-Tip,] a Tribe Called Quest’s ringleader, is teaming up with journalist Ashley Kahn ’83 to teach a course at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute Of Recorded Music In The Tisch School of the Arts.” The seven-class, fall semester course will “explore the underappreciated connections between jazz and hip-hop and combines historical and social perspectives with the opportunity to produce original music at the nexus of the two genres.”

Olivier Knox '92

Olivier Knox ’92 has been named SiriusXM’s chief Washington correspondent. In his new role, which began April 16, Knox “will cover the day’s top news stories and provide analysis for all of SiriusXM’s political channels … In the coming months Knox will also host his own live weeknight show on the P.O.T.U.S. channel.” Knox is also the incoming president of the White House Correspondents Association; he will begin that role in July.

Gabe Liedman ’04 created and writes a new series coming to Comedy Central. Called Mall Town USA, the show is “an animated comedy that follows the afterschool misadventures of a 13-year-old girl navigating the complexities of life in the classic microcosm of American culture that is The Mall.” In other entertainment news, Janice Min ’90, JRN’91 is now advising E! and other female-skewing NBCUniversal cable networks. In a press release, E! President Adam Stotsky says of Min, “I can think of no one better to collaborate with as we create new initiatives that enhance and move forward our commitment and connection to women.”