Regarding "One step forward, two steps back" (Friday, Oct. 10, 2008)
I was surprised to read in The Daily Princetonian last Friday that I and other Republicans on campus "exhibit a severe lack of faith in what a female leader can do in her own right." Keith Griffin is puzzled how we, being "educated and informed," could support the candidacies of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Gov. Sarah Palin. After all, Griffin suggests that Palin is "fairly easy to manipulate."
I would suggest that he become more "educated and informed" on Palin's record, for he'd see much about what this "female leader can do in her own right." During her long career in Alaska politics, Palin has fought corruption in her state, challenging the state's entrenched Republican establishment at great risk to her own political career. When she discovered corruption in the state's Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in 2004, she blew the whistle on a fellow board member who was also the Chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, a stunning act of political courage. In 2006, Palin defeated the incumbent Republican governor, Frank Murkowski, in the primary by promising to clean up the state government. In fact, Palin has made an entire career of taking on entrenched and corrupt interests, just as McCain has. It doesn't sound like either of them is "dependent" or "malleable" to me.
If Griffin were more "educated and informed" on the record of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and his running mate, he would see that neither of them can point to a time in which they tackled corruption or stood up to their own party at risk to their political careers. Obama is so afraid to stand up to his own party that he voted with the Democratic Leadership 96 percent of the time during this session of Congress. This is why I am "blown away" by Palin. Not because she's a "young and attractive" woman, as Griffin suggests, but because she is a reformer - exactly the kind of change we need in Washington.
Andrew Malcolm '09
President, College Republicans
What's the problem with choosing a major based on money?
Regarding "Study reveals impact of wealth on academic choice," (Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008)
I don't understand why the existence of a correlation between social class and choice of academic concentration is a problem. I might be convinced to change my mind about that, but I refuse to believe that the answer is to influence less wealthy students through the Major Choices initiative into following capricious courses of study unless action is also taken to guarantee them wealth - or simply jobs - in the future. If smoothing demographics throughout various disciplines were extremely important, you'd do better encouraging rich students to study practical subjects. I find Tuesday's article to be evidence that regardless of class, Princeton students are too clever to be fooled into gambling irresponsibly with their futures.
Maybe the best solution before implementing a risky policy change is to look farther than academic concentration in the evaluation process. I'll bet it's just as common for Princeton grads to have translated an interesting major into a practical career as it is to have translated a practical major into an interesting career. As long as we don't open a business school and keep distribution requirements, Princeton grads will remain both versatile and successful.
Aindrais O'Callaghan '00
Read More
Why can’t lecturers win the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching?
Jerry ZhuLet’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Let’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Princeton’s administration of justice is Trumpian
Frances BroganThe disparity between the University’s approach to Giberson and its approach to pro-Palestinian protestors reflects a concerning trend of appeasing an increasingly emboldened right rather than resisting the threat it poses to academic freedom and the wellbeing of Princeton students.
Secular Opening Exercises? Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water
Frank StrasburgerThe secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
The secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
