Lise's Lens: October 1, 2026

10/1/2026

This week, I consider a scandal in the French literary world, the impact of proximity in leadership, and last week’s wonderful Fall Fest.

WHAT I'M READING

Drama in the French Literary World

Have you heard of the AffaireThélison Orélien? It’s a scandal centering around the Canadian-Haitian novelist Thélyson Orélien, and I have recently found myself completely swept up by it. In a nutshell, Orélien wrote a novel (that I fortunately got a hold of before the scandal) called C’était ça ou mourir. I found it brilliant, poignant, and funny. I could hardly put it down. And I wasn’t the only one. The book became a finalist for Le Prix Goncourt, an important French literary prize. But then, overnight, a shock: an anonymous X account with few followers proclaimed that the book had to have been written by AI. A transatlantic debate ensued, bringing the timing and motivation behind the claim into question. To what extent was the skepticism surrounding Orélien’s authorship rooted in his race and immigrant status?

Interestingly, Orélien was born and raised in my husband's hometown of Gonaïves, Haiti, where his parents emphasized reading and writing as a daily discipline. He has been in love with the written word since his childhood and has won multiple prizes over the years for essays and poems, but this is his first big novel. Personally, I don’t see how AI could have possibly written a book with such subtleties tied to Haiti; to me, the writing and descriptions felt incredibly authentic to what I experienced.

But it’s gotten me thinking about how authorship will change in the future. What will we ask an author to report when they write? Must they identify all the places where the editor gave them suggestions or rewrote passages? Do they note what they googled for further detail?

Honestly? I just hope Orélien is okay… And I’m going to buy five more copies of his book to share with my friends!

WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT

Unmediated Leadership

Lately, I have been noticing an emerging pattern (specifically in the French-speaking world) of leaders and folks of high status making themselves more accessible and visible to everyday people, immersing themselves in otherwise ordinary environments. Did you notice the positive energy that Macron created on the streets of NYC when he chose to walk in lieu of traveling by caravan? And how about Celine Dion’s dramatic return to the stage after six years of treatment for her painful and debilitating disorder? She has literally been singing in the streets of Paris, and locals have flocked to hear her. Then, as if Celine Dion wasn’t exciting enough, the Pope visited! Folks of all faiths and walks of life were there to witness this wise and kind mind. At the end of the day, we’re all just human beings, and I think it’s incredibly impactful when leaders have the humility and self-awareness to strip away barriers and facilitate connection.

WHAT I'M WATCHING/LISTENING TO

Fall Fest 2026

I can hardly believe it’s been almost a week since Fall Fest. Though the weekend was cut short by the Nor’Easter, we managed to pack all the fun and excitement into Friday. I just loved watching students proudly show their parents around their stomping grounds, and parents re-entering classroom spaces after years, and sometimes decades, away to learn from our incredible teachers. Thank you for your grace as we navigated more than 200 guests on campus for the day. From meeting fellow parents to cheering on our athletes and enjoying dinner in the dining hall, we had an amazing time and are so grateful to have you as members of this community.

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE

On Monday, I was thrilled to be able to travel to NYC for an alumni gathering. Alums from as recent as the Class of 2026 and as far back as 1967 showed up to connect, reminisce, and celebrate CSW.

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