The independent news organization of Duke University
It is hard to imagine how anyone could offer better leadership to any organization at Duke than Karen Blumenthal provided for The Chronicle during the past few decades.
Karen was a loyal member of our neighborhood book club, whose fellow readers remembered Karen on May 25, appropriately, Memorial Day.
Karen emboldened me and all The Chronicle staff to feel that we had infinite potential. As a mentor, as with many things, Karen was unmatched.
That was quintessential Karen—she was ready and willing to give support and guidance, but she wasn’t going to be all delicate about it.
Karen seemed like everything a journalist should be, and I wanted to be like her, except for her disturbing love of the Dallas Cowboys.
If a moral obligation to care for our resource-poor neighbors is not persuasive enough, I hope self-preservation will drive us towards more sustainable public health policies.
I am extremely disappointed to see that Duke is sticking its hand in the CARES jar to fund the shortfall while thousands more small businesses go under because their stimulus money has run dry.
Raj filled our days with endless jokes, happiness and love.
I don’t know about you, but sneaking peeks of my colleagues’ kids and my students’ cats has helped me to realize that we are all real people, all dealing with various challenges in various ways and are worthy of so much grace.
In the last hand-written letter you wrote me, you said, “The highs showed me what life can be, and the lows showed me that I was alive.”
It makes sense for you to have felt like you did not fit in, because you did not—you were extraordinary.
Each and every witty joke, eye-opening conversation and beautiful sentiment that could only come from our very own Greyson Spector. I’m just sorry we couldn’t have a lifetime of you.
However, I am challenging myself to be a mental health advocate every day, whether it is for my personal mental health or that of others.
Memories provide great comfort in moments like these. Because when we remember the times we had, it helps us remember the time we have. Here and now. Together and forever. Always in our hearts.
In the next coronavirus response bill, Congress must pass a national moratorium on evictions and foreclosures and provide substantial resources for emergency rental assistance.
As no words are adequate enough for me to describe his generosity or smiling nature, all I can say is how glad I am that my last memories of Duke this semester were with a ray of sunshine.
Truly, you were the kind of person you only meet once in a lifetime. That is, if one’s lucky enough to meet you, and wise enough to become close with you.
Raj, thank you for blessing me with memories that I will cherish forever.
It could have turned into so much more. I wish it had the chance to
You hardly needed to speak for Raj to understand you, empathy was just innate to his being.