Ian Buruma’s New Book Stay Alive Reviewed in the Forward
Julia M. Klein writes that Buruma’s work is “at once panoramic and intimate, dispassionate and deeply moving.”
Ian Buruma’s New Book Stay Alive Reviewed in the Forward
Ian Buruma. Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00
The Human Rights Program at Bard is a transdisciplinary program involving such diverse fields as literature, political studies, history, anthropology, economics, film and media, and art history. It emphasizes integrative historical and conceptual investigations, and offers a rigorous background that can inform meaningful practical engagements. The program seeks to orient students in the intellectual tradition of human rights and provide them the resources with which to appreciate and criticize its contemporary status.
Post Date: 03-24-2026
Bard College and PEN America Announce the Launch of the Central America Independent Media Archive
CAIMA was built in partnership with the Russian Independent Media Archive (RIMA) team, and is the latest project under the umbrella of Kronika.Bard College and PEN America Announce the Launch of the Central America Independent Media Archive
Ramón Zamora. Photo by Bernardo Díaz
Founded in response to the escalating criminalization and persecution of journalism in Central America, CAIMA’s mission is to empower journalists, researchers, and civil society actors to deepen investigative work across the region. The collection currently preserves archival publications from 12 media outlets, including the complete editorial history of elPeriódico, a Guatemalan publication internationally recognized for its decades of investigative reporting on corruption and abuse of power.
In 2022, elPeriódico’s founder and director, José Rubén Zamora, was arbitrarily detained after the newspaper published 144 consecutive weeks of investigative reporting on corruption during the administration of former Guatemalan president Alejandro Giammattei. Following his arrest, the newsroom faced political, legal, and financial pressure, forcing nine journalists into exile. In May 2023, the publication was forced to shut down, cutting off public access to decades of investigative journalism. To protect their father’s legacy and the work of the newsroom, Zamora’s sons, Ramón and José Carlos, secured a complete digital copy of elPeriódico’s archive, an effort that laid the groundwork for CAIMA.
“Our goal is to preserve the first draft of Central America’s history and ensure that the work of courageous journalists is never erased,” said CAIMA coordinator Ramón Zamora. “CAIMA is both a shield against censorship and a tool for journalists and researchers committed to exposing corruption and understanding how power operates across borders.”
The archive is designed to grow by continuously incorporating collections from other independent media organizations across Central America that face censorship, shutdowns, or forced exile. In a region where authoritarian practices increasingly restrict access to information, CAIMA strengthens journalism’s ability to hold power accountable and supports deeper, evidence-based regional analysis. To access CAIMA, please visit elarchivo.media/en
Post Date: 03-23-2026
Bard Alumna Sonita Alizadeh ’23 Profiled in Forbes
“Today, Sonita’s message is simple but profound: never underestimate the power of your voice.”Bard Alumna Sonita Alizadeh ’23 Profiled in Forbes
Sonita Alizadeh ’23, Bard College alumna and human rights activist.
Post Date: 03-17-2026
M. Gessen Spoke with WMCU’s Here and Now About Kronika, Joint Civic Tech Project of Bard College and PEN America
Gessen outlined how Kronika has gone from being an archive to a set of tools in response to worldwide threats to free speech.M. Gessen Spoke with WMCU’s Here and Now About Kronika, Joint Civic Tech Project of Bard College and PEN America
M. Gessen.
Post Date: 02-16-2026
Upcoming Events
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8/28Friday7:30 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Narcotics Anonymous Meeting
Wednesday, June 10, 2026 – Wednesday, June 23, 2027
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Olin Language Center, Room 115
Narcotics Anonymous meeting: This meeting is intended for people who are looking for support, community, or to learn more about addiction. Open to everyone! Olin Language Center, Room 115, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Contact: Wellness Education
E-mail: [email protected]
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8/28Friday
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8/29Saturday
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8/31Monday
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9/01Tuesday1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Democracy Innovation Academy with Shmuel Lederman
A Monthly Series with the Democracy Innovation Hub
Tuesday, September 1, 2026The Democracy Innovation Academy is back after a summer break! Join us on September 1st at 1 PM EST featuring Shmuel Lederman. Dr. Shmuel Lederman received his Ph.D. from the University of Haifa in 2012. He specializes in political theory and genocide studies and has published articles in major journals in these fields. His first book, Hannah Arendt and Participatory Democracy: A People's Utopia, has recently been published by Palgrave Macmillan. He serves as a research fellow at the Weiss-Livnat International Center for Holocaust Research and Education, as well as at the Forum for Regional Thinking - a research institute dedicated to the study of the Middle East. He is also the assistant editor of the journal History and Memory, which focuses on the relationship between history and collective memory from various perspectives.
1:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Online Event
The Democracy Innovation Academy is a drop-in webinar series that operates like a reading group, but with short videos followed by discussion. Each one hour session includes one ten minute video from our YouTube channel. This is not a formal college course - it's a drop-in academy and networking opportunity for those hoping to learn more, or to connect with organizations, practitioners, or facilitators.
How do assemblies fit into the history of democracy and the American republic? How do climate assemblies work? What does a permanent assembly look like? Join us for this short course featuring 12 videos on the history of citizen assemblies and sortition.