Newsmakers

Hosted by the Levy Economics Institute, Bard alumna Erika McEntarfer ’95, former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), spoke to an audience of Bard students, faculty, staff, and community members in Olin Hall on September 16. She recounted the day of her abrupt dismissal following the release of the July jobs report and discussed the ways that nonpartisan statisticians affect our everyday lives as Americans. McEntarfer compared the efforts of the BLS to the work of city planners involved in transportation infrastructure. “Real-time economic data is like live traffic updates—helpful for making quick decisions—like adjusting interest rates quickly to avoid an economic downturn,” she said. The data produced by BLS is used widely, from top officials in the federal government to traders on Wall Street, whose decisions have real consequences for Americans. “The decisions they make—to adjust interest rates to avoid a recession, to build a new plant in your city, to sell stocks or bonds—impact how easy it will be for you to find a good job, how affordable it will be for you to buy a house and raise a family, and how comfortable your retirement will be.”

Introducing McEntarfer, Pavlina Tcherneva, president of the Levy Economics Institute of Bard College, noted that this event was more than just an academic talk. “This is our community gathering to champion a vital idea: that truth and rigorous analysis matter,” Tcherneva said. “That our ability to solve problems and find common ground depends on a shared commitment to facts and honest inquiry.” She emphasized that the work done at the Levy Institute relies on “reliable, trustworthy data,” and that without that, “We would lose our capacity to truly understand the economic forces shaping our communities and our country.”

McEntarfer warned of the potential costs of politicization of economic data. “Economic data must be free from partisan influence. That is essential to the mission of the agency. Markets have to trust that the data are not manipulated,” she said. “Firing your chief statisticians for releasing data you do not like will have serious economic consequences.” After the talk concluded, she took the time to answer questions from the audience, including from current students on topics ranging from data science, job prospects, and their Senior Projects. The talk was widely covered across all major news outlets, from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg to CNN.

The Levy Economics Institute of Bard College is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public policy research organization that encourages diversity of opinion in the examination of economic policy issues while striving to transform ideological arguments into informed debate. The Levy Institute is home to two Master's degree programs—a one-year MA and two-year MS—in Economic Theory and Policy.
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• New York Times: “Fired by Trump, a Former Labor Official Warns Against Politicizing Economic Data”
• Wall Street Journal: “Fired BLS Chief Breaks Silence, Calls Her Dismissal a ‘Dangerous Step’”
• CNN: “Former BLS commissioner says firing her was a ‘dangerous’ step for the US economy”
• Financial Times: “Fired BLS chief calls Donald Trump’s attack on US data agency a ‘dangerous step’”
• Bloomberg: “Former BLS Chief Recounts Shock of Getting Fired Over Jobs Data”
• Politico: “Ex-BLS chief said she was blindsided by Trump firing Erika McEntarfer said she is fearful about the possible loss of the statistical agency’s independence from political actors.”
• The Hill: “BLS chief fired by Trump over jobs report comments publicly for first time”
• The Guardian: “Labor statistics chief fired by Trump sounds alarm over White House’s ‘dangerous’ interference”
• Daily Mail: “Fired federal employee warns Trump he made a 'dangerous' misstep when he publicly terminated her”
• Business Insider: “The fired head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics is warning about data manipulation”
• Reuters: “Ex-BLS chief says her firing by Trump marked 'dangerous step' for economy”
• The Independent: “Former BLS chair breaks silence on being fired by Trump and going from unknown to ‘household name’”
• The Huffington Post: “Official Fired By Trump For Poor Jobs Report Breaks Silence On Shocking Ouster”

This October, Bard College presents renowned tenor and musical scholar Ian Bostridge delivering the Anthony Hecht Lectures in the Humanities in honor of preeminent poet, alumnus, and former Bard faculty member Anthony Hecht ’44. In his lecture series, “Ancestral Voices Prophesying: Notes on Britten's War Requiem,” Bostridge—who has performed War Requiem nearly a hundred times since 1994—will examine the layers of meaning and context in the piece, one of the most important works of classical music written after 1945.

The first lecture in the series, “Requiem,” takes place on Monday, October 27 at 5:00 pm, and the second, “Anthem,” will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at 5:00 pm.  A reception precedes both lectures, which will take place in Olin Auditorium on Bard’s Annandale campus. The final lecture in the series, “Akedah,” will be held on Friday, October 31 at 6:00 pm in the Irving Posner and Herman Ackman Space at Kaufman Music Center located at 129 West 67th Street, NYC.  All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information about this lecture series, please call (845) 758-7405.

Ian Bostridge’s extraordinary career has taken him to the foremost concert halls, orchestras and opera houses in the world, and his recordings have been nominated for 15 Grammys. An internationally celebrated author and academic, Bostridge published his book Schubert’s Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession in 2014, and his most recent book Song and Self was published in 2023. In 2004, he was made a CBE, or Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a prestigious British honor recognizing individuals for their significant contributions to their field or community.

Last Thursday, August 28, Bard College celebrated its annual Thank-a-Donor event, hosted by the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs. Thank-a-Donor events encourage students to write a thank you note to some of the College’s dedicated and generous donors who have supported the Bard College Fund. 

The Bard College Fund plays a vital role in supporting the annual costs of the undergraduate College. By providing essential resources for scholarships, academic programs, faculty support, and campus facilities, the Bard College Fund ensures that students receive a world-class liberal arts and sciences education in an environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and social engagement, and is where every gift—from $5 a month to $50,000—is welcome.

First-year students participated enthusiastically, handwriting messages on postcards featuring a photo of Bard students in an outdoor class or by creating short videos, while learning about the important role philanthropic support plays in making Bard possible. These freshly matriculated students sat down and shared a bit about themselves and what they already appreciate about Bard and hope to do with their time here. Donors will receive those cards in the next few weeks. 

Part of the Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs' mission is to recognize the vital role that donors play in supporting the College, and making them feel good about their decision to contribute to Bard. Thank-a-Donor is designed to help with this, as well as introduce students to the vital role philanthropy plays in their Bard journey, and that there is a community of people who believe in them and the power of a Bard liberal arts and sciences education. 
 
Explore the impact of Bard’s generous donors on our website at giving.bard.edu/donor-impact