Nicholas Kristof, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author visited campus for the 43rd annual Max Rosenn Lecture in Law and Humanities on Sunday, March 16.
The Rosenn Lecture was established in 1980 in honor of Judge Max Rosenn’s extraordinary life of law and public service. Over four decades, the lecture series has featured authors, journalists, activists and leaders who exemplify the judge’s ideals of justice, freedom, honor and hope.
Kristof, who has traveled to more than 150 countries advocating for human rights and giving a voice to the voiceless, works and lives by those ideals. During his hour-long presentation to more than 425 guests, Kristof shared insights from his days covering the democracy movement in Tiananmen Square. He noted that his time in China gave him a sense of purpose, but also revealed the arrogance of his notion that those fighting were simple, uneducated people who didn’t understand democracy. “They might not have been able to define democracy, but they were willing to die for it,” said Kristof.
This year’s speaker talked about a recent visit to South Sudan, where a maternity facility that delivered lifesaving care was being dismantled due to lack of funding. He also discussed the addiction crisis in the U.S. and the overdoses which have caused the deaths of more than one million Americans since 2000. But despite the difficult state of world events, Kristof balanced his concerns with hope.
“I think a lot of people, especially young people, are really depressed about the state of affairs and their ability to do anything about it,” said Kristof. “I’ve kind of learned the opposite, that we may not be able to achieve perfect outcomes, but we can mitigate damage, and we can improve outcomes. That’s real. That’s something that really does make a difference.”
Kristof engaged in a small-group Q&A with 15 Wilkes students before the lecture. The Q&A gave students the chance to spend meaningful one-on-one time with the reporter. They asked him questions about current events, his work-life balance and the impact of his writing. For Marytere Quintana-Avila, a senior English major/communications minor on the pre-law track, the conversation with Kristof was inspiring. “His dedication to social justice and human rights is incredibly admirable and was truly empowering,” said Quintana-Avila. “I left this experience inspired and more motivated than ever to continue to do my part in creating a better world for all.”
Kristof later called out the students in the lecture audience, encouraging them to resist the overwhelm of current events by finding a purpose and giving back. “You’ve gotta address the challenges of your time,” said Kristof. “As our future leaders, you will be the agents of change.”
The journalist battles the emotional impact of reporting by spending time on his farm, where they produce wine and hard cider. “Our family farm in rural Oregon, that’s my place of healing,” said Kristof. “In my day job, I shout at the world and tell it what to do, and it pays no attention. But on the farm, we can make wine that we’re really proud of, and that’s healing.”
Though the 24/7 news cycle seems dire, Kristof has hope for healing on a bigger scale as well. He’s witnessed progress in poverty, health and literacy around the globe. With listening and empathy, he envisions greater potential. “Side by side with the worst of humanity, you can find the best of humanity,” he said. “Side by side with the worst problems, we can find the biggest opportunities.”
Kristof closed the 43rd annual Rosenn Lecture with an appeal for audience members to do their part to make a positive impact where they live, even if problems seem insurmountable. “Anybody can make a small dent,” Kristof said. “I’m a big believer in drops in the bucket. Take it from me. Drops in the bucket? That’s how you fill buckets.”
