The overarching goal that motivates our editorials is a desire to make Princeton the best university it can be. Often this involves criticizing the policies of the administration, and many who read this page may think we are solely an adversarial body. That’s not true. We give credit where credit is due, and we will be quick to praise the many good ideas, decisions and policies that come from Nassau Hall and West College. But you will read many critiques and suggestions in this space because we believe that giving air to fresh ideas is an important part of our job. We don’t expect every editorial to propose a paradigmatic shift in University policy: Practical and easy-to-implement solutions can go a long way to making Princeton great.
While board members may hold widely diverging opinions on any particular issue, two general principles drive our debates. The first is that student input is vital to the formation of good University policy. The administration has a strong track record of putting student interests first on issues such as financial aid and diversity, but there are times when the interests of the administration and the student body conflict. In these cases, robust student input is essential. This means more than informal discussions with students hand-picked by the administration; it means broad-based, campus-wide debate that fully considers the viewpoints of students most likely to be affected by a proposed policy change. At times, we will criticize the administration for failing to actively seek this input, but we are not afraid to turn our attention toward the student body when student apathy is the problem.
The second principle that guides us is that a student’s personal background and beliefs should not limit his or her ability to make the most of Princeton. Students come to Princeton from a number of different socioeconomic backgrounds, races and areas of the world, and sometimes these characteristics pose unique challenges to students in their attempt to thrive and succeed. We look for areas of campus life and University policy that may inadvertently impact certain groups negatively. While the editorials that result may seem small-bore to those not affected, we believe that even the simplest of suggestions have the potential to improve the experience and welfare of the student body.
Though these principles unify us as a board, they will often lead each of us to different conclusions when applied to specific issues. The debate and discussion on how to improve Princeton amid these jointly held beliefs is what makes our editorials interesting to write and, we hope, interesting to read.
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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.
