Opinion

Reactions: What should a Princeton education prepare us to do?

We asked our columnists, young and idealistic, still within the comforts of campus, how they hope to contribute to the world post-graduation, and what they think a Princeton education should prepare them to do.

We must think more critically about public service

“We need to endeavor to explore more deeply what public service actually means, and how we can be truly effective with the tools our Princeton education gives us.”

"We need to endeavor to explore more deeply what public service actually means, and how we can be truly effective with the tools our Princeton education gives us."

Humanities courses can solve Princeton's civic service problem

"When students do not take courses in the humanities, they miss out on studying works which ask how to determine what it means to be good, and why you should pursue the good. In a climate in which students don’t have the basic ability of interrogating these questions, how could a university expect its students to go forth and creatively serve their nation and humanity at large? Service cannot be reduced to post-graduation careers, but it can be predicted from the quality and type of an education itself."

"When students do not take courses in the humanities, they miss out on studying works which ask how to determine what it means to be good, and why you should pursue the good. In a climate in which students don’t have the basic ability of interrogating these questions, how could a university expect its students to go forth and creatively serve their nation and humanity at large? Service cannot be reduced to post-graduation careers, but it can be predicted from the quality and type of an education itself."

Hazing is shrouded in secrecy. Now is the time to start the conversation.

"A combination of haphazard adherence, lack of awareness, and perverse incentives for university administrators means that hazing remains shrouded in secrecy on Princeton’s campus and beyond—and students suffer the consequences."

Princeton must install air conditioning as temperatures rise

“Princeton must begin proactively updating its older residential colleges and buildings before worsening climate conditions make the change absolutely necessary.”

“Princeton must begin proactively updating its older residential colleges and buildings before worsening climate conditions make the change absolutely necessary.”

Letter to the Editor: Why did Princeton hire Robert Malley?

“Malley’s hiring while under investigation should concern members of the Princeton community, especially those pursuing careers ‘in the nation’s service.’”

“Malley’s hiring while under investigation should concern members of the Princeton community, especially those pursuing careers ‘in the nation’s service.’”

How the Class of 2027 pre-read falls flat

"Even when Ressa’s activism is unsuccessful, it is still framed as powerful. This stance clouds activism’s meaning and dilutes its significance."

The disgraceful legacy of legacy admissions

“While not explicitly affiliated with identity, legacy admissions, since their inception, have been successfully crafted to exclude minorities — first on the basis of religion, then on the basis of race — and should thus be abolished in our nation’s universities.”

“While not explicitly affiliated with identity, legacy admissions, since their inception, have been successfully crafted to exclude minorities — first on the basis of religion, then on the basis of race — and should thus be abolished in our nation’s universities.”

Princeton alumni seek status, not service

“It is troubling to see little to no action by the University to push for alumni outcomes favoring service, not individualistic financial gain. The administration should develop a comprehensive system that strongly encourages alumni to seek careers that are beneficial to humanity.”

"It is troubling to see little to no action by the University to push for alumni outcomes favoring service, not individualistic financial gain. The administration should develop a comprehensive system that strongly encourages alumni to seek careers that are beneficial to humanity."

Princeton’s scooter restrictions pose a harm to all students, especially disabled ones

“In addition to punishing responsible riders, the University is placing disabled riders, like myself, in a very uncomfortable position.”

"In addition to punishing responsible riders, the University is placing disabled riders, like myself, in a very uncomfortable position."

We need academic freedom for the pursuit of truth

“Larson’s course and its opponents can function symbiotically to promote open debate in pursuit of truth on Princeton’s campus.”

"Larson’s course and its opponents can function symbiotically to promote open debate in pursuit of truth on Princeton’s campus."

An open letter in solidarity with Satyel Larson and in support of academic freedom

“The CJL’s suggestion that Princeton students and faculty should not study controversial texts represents an attack on the very mandate of the University, which is to create an environment in which we wrestle with and question ideas, including — it should go without saying — some of the most pressing issues of our time.”

“The CJL’s suggestion that Princeton students and faculty should not study controversial texts represents an attack on the very mandate of the University, which is to create an environment in which we wrestle with and question ideas, including — it should go without saying — some of the most pressing issues of our time.”

To ask what you can do for humanity, ask first what you can do for your community

“With a new class of Princetonians entering campus, I urge them to care in the here and now.”

“With a new class of Princetonians entering campus, I urge them to care in the here and now.”

Princeton should not grant diplomas to insurrectionists

“Giberson’s behavior clearly implies that he believes in lies and is willing to violently act on them, violating Princeton’s code of conduct and demonstrating that he does not understand Princeton’s emphasis on principled civic engagement. Because of this, the University should not have awarded Larry Giberson a diploma.”

“Giberson’s behavior clearly implies that he believes in lies and is willing to violently act on them, violating Princeton’s code of conduct and demonstrating that he does not understand Princeton’s emphasis on principled civic engagement. Because of this, the University should not have awarded Larry Giberson a diploma.”

Elite universities are not the great equalizers of society

“As Emma Green proposed in her 2020 interview with President Eisgruber ’83, ‘an investment in the elite few is ultimately a less robust vision of justice.’ But this does not make Princeton’s existence, nor its goal of using education to achieve new intellectual and humane heights, unimportant or unattainable.”

“As Emma Green proposed in her 2020 interview with President Eisgruber ’83, ‘an investment in the elite few is ultimately a less robust vision of justice.’ But this does not make Princeton’s existence, nor its goal of using education to achieve new intellectual and humane heights, unimportant or unattainable.”

Princeton must respond to the Supreme Court’s decision as a leader, not a follower

“If eliminating legacy admissions is the best we can do to support diversity at Princeton, then we need to find better leaders with better ideas.”

“If eliminating legacy admissions is the best we can do to support diversity at Princeton, then we need to find better leaders with better ideas.”

One year post-Roe: The fight for reproductive justice continues

“On this one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Princeton Students for Reproductive Justice calls on students to join the fight for universal reproductive rights across the country and in our Princeton community.”

“On this one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Princeton Students for Reproductive Justice calls on students to join the fight for universal reproductive rights across the country and in our Princeton community.”

Class of 2027, to be a Princetonian is to vote

“The efforts of your peers and Princeton community members should not be forgotten, but rather built upon. Being part of the newest class of Princetonians means keeping up the momentum of our ongoing mission to participate in and improve our democratic processes.”

“The efforts of your peers and Princeton community members should not be forgotten, but rather built upon. Being part of the newest class of Princetonians means keeping up the momentum of our ongoing mission to participate in and improve our democratic processes.”

The debate on legacy admissions

“In a special project, The Daily Princetonian charts the debates about legacy admissions, drawing on different arguments for and against the practice from its inception to the present day.”

“In a special project, The Daily Princetonian charts the debates about legacy admissions, drawing on different arguments for and against the practice from its inception to the present day.”

Class-based affirmative action is not as forward thinking as Princeton’s progressives promise

“Though noble in its cause, class-based affirmative action is an insufficient means of achieving racial diversity. It will not be effective in maintaining racial diversity on campus. And further, it cannot take American racism writ large seriously.”

“Though noble in its cause, class-based affirmative action is an insufficient means of achieving racial diversity. It will not be effective in maintaining racial diversity on campus. And further, it cannot take American racism writ large seriously.”