Columns

Affirmative action’s shortcomings

Affirmative action’s shortcomings

Anais Mobarak

“Different experiences may lead to different perspectives; even similar experiences may lead to different perspectives. The lives and perspectives of underrepresented minorities vary greatly, and it’s essential not to make assumptions about them.”

"Different experiences may lead to different perspectives; even similar experiences may lead to different perspectives. The lives and perspectives of underrepresented minorities vary greatly, and it's essential not to make assumptions about them."

OPINION | 09/15/2023

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As Princeton remakes itself, incorporate native plants

As Princeton remakes itself, incorporate native plants

Thomas Buckley

“By creating and explaining its vision for an interconnected landscape of gardens filled with food for pollinators and habitat for insects, the University can inspire students, faculty, staff or anyone visiting campus to consider what they can do to create a better habitat for their local fauna.”

“By creating and explaining its vision for an interconnected landscape of gardens filled with food for pollinators and habitat for insects, the University can inspire students, faculty, staff or anyone visiting campus to consider what they can do to create a better habitat for their local fauna.”

OPINION | 09/13/2023

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We must think more critically about public service

We must think more critically about public service

Lucia Wetherill

“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."

OPINION | 09/11/2023

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Humanities courses can solve Princeton's civic service problem

Humanities courses can solve Princeton's civic service problem

Abigail Rabieh

"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."

OPINION | 09/10/2023

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Princeton must install air conditioning as temperatures rise

Princeton must install air conditioning as temperatures rise

Lucia Wetherill

“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.”

OPINION | 09/06/2023

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The disgraceful legacy of legacy admissions

The disgraceful legacy of legacy admissions

Christie Davis

“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.”

OPINION | 08/23/2023

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Princeton alumni seek status, not service

Princeton alumni seek status, not service

Davis Hobley

“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."

OPINION | 08/23/2023

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Princeton should not grant diplomas to insurrectionists

Princeton should not grant diplomas to insurrectionists

Frances Brogan

“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.”

OPINION | 08/09/2023

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Elite universities are not the great equalizers of society

Elite universities are not the great equalizers of society

Abigail Rabieh

“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.”

OPINION | 07/26/2023

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

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

Christofer Robles

“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.”

OPINION | 07/13/2023

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Colorblind meritocracy is untenable in a country that never cared about equality

Colorblind meritocracy is untenable in a country that never cared about equality

Gisele Bisch

“Equality and meritocracy cannot thrive in a country where such things were never the priority in the first place. A lack of affirmative action will only exacerbate this issue.”

“Equality and meritocracy cannot thrive in a country where such things were never the priority in the first place. A lack of affirmative action will only exacerbate this issue.”

OPINION | 06/29/2023

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Affirmative action has failed to create the diversity universities need

Affirmative action has failed to create the diversity universities need

Matthew Wilson

“Limiting what counts to the racial boxes an applicant checks off, as race-based affirmative action does, comes with serious pitfalls for pursuing the vision of diversity that universities owe their students. And the unique experiences that can accompany a student’s racial identity forms just one part of the diversity equation.”

“Limiting what counts to the racial boxes an applicant checks off, as race-based affirmative action does, comes with serious pitfalls for pursuing the vision of diversity that universities owe their students. And the unique experiences that can accompany a student’s racial identity forms just one part of the diversity equation.”

OPINION | 06/29/2023

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The Committee on Discipline needs reforms

The Committee on Discipline needs reforms

Mohan Setty-Charity and Alex Norbrook

“But its structure is flawed throughout: some involved with the COD have raised concerns around the committee’s impartiality and its structure, and accused students suffer a process which doesn’t adequately accommodate their wellbeing.” 

“But its structure is flawed throughout: some involved with the COD have raised concerns around the committee’s impartiality and its structure, and accused students suffer a process which doesn’t adequately accommodate their wellbeing.”

OPINION | 05/31/2023

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On Eisgruber's commencement sermon

On Eisgruber's commencement sermon

Matthew Wilson

“His ideologically-tainted polemics debasing the real value of free speech must cease, particularly in situations in which he (implicitly or explicitly) represents the University.”

“His ideologically-tainted polemics debasing the real value of free speech must cease, particularly in situations in which he (implicitly or explicitly) represents the University.”

OPINION | 05/31/2023

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Minors have a purpose. Don't let administrative obstacles get in the way.

Minors have a purpose. Don't let administrative obstacles get in the way.

Aly Rashid

The purpose of introducing new minors to complement the already existing certificate programs should be to increase formal recognition for students who prefer pursuing in-depth study in one department rather than taking a multi-disciplinary approach.

The purpose of introducing new minors to complement the already existing certificate programs should be to increase formal recognition for students who prefer pursuing in-depth study in one department rather than taking a multi-disciplinary approach.

OPINION | 05/31/2023

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Lesbian and sapphic communities on campus: in need of revival

Lesbian and sapphic communities on campus: in need of revival

Lucia Wetherill

“In the two years since I passed through FitzRandolph Gate, I’ve found a kind, caring, and inclusive queer community. Yet I’ve never felt a real sense of lesbian or sapphic community on campus. This is not because of a lack lesbian or sapphic women on campus; I’ve made a number of lesbian and sapphic friends. That these beautiful and essential sapphic friendships do, in fact, exist, makes the absence of a community all the more noteworthy and painful.”

“In the two years since I passed through FitzRandolph Gate, I’ve found a kind, caring, and inclusive queer community. Yet I’ve never felt a real sense of lesbian or sapphic community on campus. This is not because of a lack lesbian or sapphic women on campus; I’ve made a number of lesbian and sapphic friends. That these beautiful and essential sapphic friendships do, in fact, exist, makes the absence of a community all the more noteworthy and painful.” 

OPINION | 05/25/2023

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How do I have it all? Women, careers, and Princeton’s blind spot

How do I have it all? Women, careers, and Princeton’s blind spot

Abigail Rabieh

“While Princeton often begs us to think about the future, there are not enough offerings to realistically support women in this endeavor.”

“While Princeton often begs us to think about the future, there are not enough offerings to realistically support women in this endeavor.” 

OPINION | 05/25/2023

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Caring for friends like Maura Coursey requires better harm reduction for drug use

Caring for friends like Maura Coursey requires better harm reduction for drug use

Eleanor Clemans-Cope

“Maura’s death reminds us that this substance use occurs at Princeton, like it does everywhere, and that the University must react by making free and accessible harm reduction available for all students. Her life is a call to action for all of us to build a community that cares for the people who use these substances and people who have substance use disorders in a non-stigmatizing way.”

“Maura’s death reminds us that this substance use occurs at Princeton, like it does everywhere, and that the University must react by making free and accessible harm reduction available for all students. Her life is a call to action for all of us to build a community that cares for the people who use these substances and people who have substance use disorders in a non-stigmatizing way.”

OPINION | 05/18/2023

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Princeton's competitive culture is far too pervasive

Princeton's competitive culture is far too pervasive

Thomas Buckley

“The idea that a club can grow and become popular only by turning prospective members away is inherently toxic to fostering a positive and uplifting community. That this bet works implies that prospective members are largely motivated by the feeling that they beat someone out for their spot – that there can be no victory without an opponent to be vanquished.”

“The idea that a club can grow and become popular only by turning prospective members away is inherently toxic to fostering a positive and uplifting community. That this bet works implies that prospective members are largely motivated by the feeling that they beat someone out for their spot – that there can be no victory without an opponent to be vanquished.”

OPINION | 05/11/2023

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Ramadan reflections year two: improvements from last year, but still work to be done

Ramadan reflections year two: improvements from last year, but still work to be done

Ndeye Thioubou

In spite of noteworthy enhancements to the Princeton Ramadan experience, there still needs to be yearlong improvements made to the halal meat options at Princeton, as well as increased academic accommodations for students during both Ramadan and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Fitr.

In spite of noteworthy enhancements to the Princeton Ramadan experience, there still needs to be yearlong improvements made to the halal meat options at Princeton, as well as increased academic accommodations for students during both Ramadan and the holiday that follows it, Eid al-Fitr.

OPINION | 05/07/2023

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