The Current (Columbia University journal)

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The Current is a journal of contemporary politics, culture and Jewish affairs at Columbia University. Launched in December 2005, The Current publishes essays on a broad range of subjects, with letters to the editor, an editorial, and book reviews appearing in each issue.

The Current has conducted interviews with Muhammad Yunus [1], Stanley Fish [2], Myron Kolatch[3] and others. Its editorials have addressed issues such as university speech codes[4], controversial campus speakers[5], corporate divestment[6], humanitarian activism[7], the Saffron Revolution in Burma[8], and the history of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry [9].

In the most recent Summer 2008 issue[10], The Current published an editorial regarding the 2008 Summer Olympics [11], an investigative piece exploring the role of the Jewish community in South Africa[12], and a review of a new book by Samantha Power, Chasing the Flame[13]. The Current also received a letter to the editor from former U.S. Ambassador Dennis Ross [14], regarding a review of his book Statecraft: And How to Restore America's Standing in the World published in the Fall 2007 issue[15].

The Current's Spring 2007 issue was the first-ever Columbia publication to be printed in an environmentally friendly manner. The Current's paper is 100% Forest Stewardship Council certified, and 50% of it comes from recycled sources, of which 25% is post-consumer waste. Additionally, no chlorine or acids were used to bleach the paper or publish the journal.[16] It is not yet known whether other Columbia publications will follow suit and move toward 'green' publishing.

The Current's work has been cited on blogs of The New Republic [17] and National Review [18] [19] magazines, by Instapundit [20], the Volokh Conspiracy [21], the Manhattan Institute's "Minding the Campus," and Democracy Project [22].