Columns

Princeton should allow students to take five years

The University of Rochester’s “Take Five Scholars” program allows students to take additional courses in a five-year time period to help students find the time to pursue an academic interest that is unrelated to their declared major. Some Princeton students would benefit from a similar program, and the University should make this an option for the student body. 

The University of Rochester’s “Take Five Scholars” program allows students to take additional courses in a five-year time period to help students find the time to pursue an academic interest that is unrelated to their declared major. Some Princeton students would benefit from a similar program, and the University should make this an option for the student body. 

We should all be ashamed of what the Senior Survey shows

“The University is failing at its most important task: to form its students in the noble tradition of truth-seeking, dispassionate scholarship, liberal inquiry, and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.”

“If, as the Senior Survey’s data suggests, Princeton is fostering an environment that facilitates the mere training of ideologues and excludes those with unpopular opinions from full participation in campus discourse, then the University is failing at its most important task: to form its students in the noble tradition of truth-seeking, dispassionate scholarship, liberal inquiry, and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake.”

Until we can trust the University on mental health, we can’t solve the problem

“Princeton must become a space where students feel empowered to take advantage of support. Accessible and comprehensive mental health care can only be developed alongside a student body that trusts its administration. Only then can Princeton make a lasting change in the lives of students struggling in silence.”

“Princeton must become a space where students feel empowered to take advantage of support. Accessible and comprehensive mental health care can only be developed alongside a student body that trusts its administration. Only then can Princeton make a lasting change in the lives of students struggling in silence.”

It’s time for Princeton to contextualize students’ GPAs

“Adopting contextual grading through class medians ... will prove an excellent first step towards demystifying the student GPA and grading process at Princeton.”

“Adopting contextual grading through class medians ... will prove an excellent first step towards demystifying the student GPA and grading process at Princeton.”

Make the Board of Trustees transparent

“Only when Princeton holds its Board to a higher standard of representation, transparency, and accountability can the community begin to place confidence in its decisions.”

“Only when Princeton holds its Board to a higher standard of representation, transparency, and accountability can the community begin to place confidence in its decisions.”

Arabic is not an extension of Islam

“It is undeniable that the vast majority of the Arab world — 93% — is Muslim. This, however, does not mean that Islam should dominate religious and cultural lessons in Arabic classes. Minorities matter, and they should not be forgotten, especially because many religious minorities are persecuted in the Arab world.”

“It is undeniable that the vast majority of the Arab world — 93% — is Muslim. This, however, does not mean that Islam should dominate religious and cultural lessons in Arabic classes. Minorities matter, and they should not be forgotten, especially because many religious minorities are persecuted in the Arab world.”

When we celebrate athletics, it will bring us together

“Rooting for Princeton basketball is not just about liking basketball: It’s about celebrating Princeton. There is a reason why athletics are at the center of campus life at so many universities: They are a way for the entire school to come together around shared experiences.”

“Rooting for Princeton basketball is not just about liking basketball: It’s about celebrating Princeton. There is a reason why athletics are at the center of campus life at so many universities: They are a way for the entire school to come together around shared experiences.”

Make area studies cool again

“[Princeton] must now be proactive and lead the way in rebuilding area studies as a core discipline of social science. While it’s tempting to place the entirety of that burden on the administration, the best way to accomplish this would be for students and the University to meet halfway.”

“[Princeton] must now be proactive and lead the way in rebuilding area studies as a core discipline of social science. While it’s tempting to place the entirety of that burden on the administration, the best way to accomplish this would be for students and the University to meet halfway.”

As campus expands, we can’t leave the sense of community behind

With the campus expanding in size, cohesive spirit is fading. As Princeton increases class sizes and campus area, it runs the risk of weakening its liberal-arts-college-style community. While I agree that Princeton should increase class sizes and welcome more people into our undergraduate community, the acceleration of this process may leave school unity behind.  

With the campus expanding in size, cohesive spirit is fading. As Princeton increases class sizes and campus area, it runs the risk of weakening its liberal-arts-college-style community. While I agree that Princeton should increase class sizes and welcome more people into our undergraduate community, the acceleration of this process may leave school unity behind. 

NJ Gov. Murphy just signed a revolutionary campaign finance law. It’s bad news for Princeton students.

The new law is detrimental because it permits politicians to act without accountability. As we work towards becoming a more equitable nation, campaign finance regulation ensures that political power is more evenly distributed rather than held by a few who can afford to sway those in government.

The new law is detrimental because it permits politicians to act without accountability. As we work towards becoming a more equitable nation, campaign finance regulation ensures that political power is more evenly distributed rather than held by a few who can afford to sway those in government.

Room draw is unclear and its punishments too harsh

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

Let them eat crepes: stop abusing Pay with Points

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

Rejection is common at Princeton – and that’s a good thing

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

Athletic scholarships are not the solution. An activity stipend is.

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

Vote Masheke for Young Alumni Trustee

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

Class of ’27: choose scholarship, not dogmatism

“After all, ‘social justice activism’ can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

“After all, “social justice activism” can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

To alleviate student stress, Princeton must expand the pass/D/fail option

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

Class of ’27, it’s time to cause trouble

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

Princeton needs to up our composting effort

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

For climate, we need construction everywhere, all at once

The mindset we take on towards renewable infrastructure construction at Princeton will define the extent to which we are prepared for the wave of critical construction in the decades ahead.