Columns

The library closes, but the work does not

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

Writing Seminars must prioritize substance over structure

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

Face it, Eisgruber is the man for the moment

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

Princeton can find the cash to weather the storm

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

Public intellectuals owe their institutions courage. Do not obey in advance.

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

Your Ivy League experience would not send anyone into a coma

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

Attacks on trans women affect us all

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

Trump is bringing authoritarianism to Columbia. Princeton must democratize in response.

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

The humanities benefit from FGLI voices. Let’s reach out to these students.

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

You’ve heard history holds power. This project shows us how.

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

Princeton must protect the sanctity of scientific research

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

Princeton Jews: Trump isn’t interested in our safety

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

For an FGLI student, there is truly no better place to be than Princeton

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

Princeton’s role in combating the drug crisis must start on campus

To maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.

To maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.

Princeton’s Russian program doesn’t belong in Estonia

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

Princeton should call itself a sanctuary city

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Princeton already effectively functions as a “sanctuary city.” So why does the town continue to distance itself from the title and opt for the distinction of “welcoming city” in its stead?

Bezos ’86 silenced his opinion section. We’re committed to protecting ours.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

Books are meant to be read

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

The dining hall’s architecture keeps workers out of sight. That’s a problem

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

Princeton, swap social media for real news

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other. 

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other.