How the big speech fared
President Barack Obama laid out an ambitious agenda for his second term during Tuesday night’s State of the Union address, and Harvard was listening. Hundreds of students from both sides of the political aisle gathered at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum for a watch party sponsored by the Institute of Politics (IOP). Popcorn, soda, and big-screen television aside, they were there for more than just political theater. The night provided them with an opportunity to evaluate the president’s goals on issues that most affect their generation, such as economic growth, college affordability, and employment prospects. The speech came on the heels of the IOP’s “Millennials Civic Health Index,” a report released last week with three other civic organizations that presented a stark portrait of America’s 18- to 29-year-olds. Although millennials constituted more than a fifth of voters in November’s election, they haven’t fared well in this economy: Only 62.9 percent are...