Feb. 12, 2019: Ressa ’86 Faces New Charges; Campbell ’04 on What Drives Her Work in Government

Free-press and human-rights groups backed Maria Ressa ’86, founder of the Philippines-based news site Rappler, as she faced new charges of “cyber libel” from President Rodrigo Duterte’s justice department. — Time

Boston City Council President Andrea Campbell ’04, whose twin brother Andre died in jail while awaiting trial seven years ago, explains how her life experiences drive her work in government. — CommonWealth

The U.S. Census Bureau’s upcoming nationwide survey will “inform staffing, training, and planning decisions,” says associate director Victoria Velkoff *92; it also will include a controversial citizenship question that has been challenged in the federal courts. — CNN

In a Medium post, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos ’86 accused AMI, the parent company of the National Inquirer, of threatening to publish embarrassing personal photos. — The New York Times

Vanessa Tyson ’98, an associate professor of politics at Scripps College, came forward to publicly identify herself and provide details of her sexual assault allegation against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. — The Washington Post
 

“In an increasingly algorithmic world, [notebooking] systems let us crack open the black boxes of our lives, allowing us to develop systems of our own and helping us figure out what matters to us along the way.”

— Cybersecurity expert Josephine Wolff ’10, writing about her obsession with books about writing in notebooks. Read more in The Washington Post. 

In discussing the revelation of a racist photo on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook page, Harvard professor Leah Wright Rigueur *09 says the scandal shows that engaging in racist acts is “a bipartisan endeavor.” — PBS NewsHour

Singer and entrepreneur Kwanza Jones ’93 and her husband, investment executive José E. Feliciano ’94, were among the key donors in a $8.2 million campaign to help Bennett College, a historically black institution in North Carolina, maintain its accreditation. — The News & Observer

Cheryl Johnson Watts ’85, a school-board member in Allentown, Pa., announced plans to run in the city’s mayoral race this year. — The Morning Call

Jacques Smith ’93, a featured actor in the national touring production of The Book of Mormon, says that behind the vulgarity, the show has “a great heart.” — New Orleans Advocate

On World Cancer Day, Arielle Kaden, a former staff member at Princeton’s Center for Jewish Life, paid tribute to her friend Jacob Kaplan ’18, who died of a rare form of cancer in 2017. — The Forward

Columnist Ari I. Weinberg ’99 paid tribute to Vanguard founder John Bogle ’51 for inspiring investors, writers, and others to “stare down financial products with a critical eye.” — Pensions & Investments

To experiment with furniture and accessories made of brass, Delhi-based designer Vikram Goyal *94 has been working with local artisans. — The Hindu

David Miller ’69, a longtime teacher and high school football coach in California, was honored with the Larry Bruno Foundation Circle of Achievement award in his hometown of Beaver Falls, Pa. — Beaver County Times

In a recent opinion piece, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker *85 was sharply critical of U.S. negotiations with the Taliban, saying they have “delegitimized the government we claim to support.” — The Washington Post
 
Toni Townes-Whitley ’85, Microsoft’s U.S. president for regulated industries, has been part of an effort to help Houston to rebuild as a “smart city” following Hurricane Harvey. — State Scoop
 
After the release of the final season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, actress Ellie Kemper ’02 reflected on what she’s learned from her castmates. — The New York Times
 
Novelists Emily Jeanne Miller ’95 and Curtis Sittenfeld talked about the importance of having “writer-friends” in advance of an appearance at the Winter Words series in Aspen, Colo. — The Aspen Times
 
Before the Super Bowl, commentator Ross Tucker ’01 wrote about his NFL career and the path of a fellow Ivy Leaguer, Patriots fullback James Develin. — The Athletic
 
Palliative-care doctor BJ Miller ’93 and his Zen Hospice Project play a central role in the documentary End Game, one of this year’s Oscar nominees. — Malibu Times