Make the Pre-read a work of fiction

A story that’s intellectually ambitious and philosophically provocative doesn’t necessarily have to be nonfiction. A fictional text can help us understand political tensions or erosion of autonomy just as much as an explanatory novel can.

A story that’s intellectually ambitious and philosophically provocative doesn’t necessarily have to be nonfiction. A fictional text can help us understand political tensions or erosion of autonomy just as much as an explanatory novel can.

Bring back Communiversity

From its inception in 1985, when it subsumed the Arts People Party — the Arts Council’s pre-existing festival — Communiversity always aimed to be more than just an arts festival. It was both a physical and symbolic coming-together of the University and the town in a celebration of all that we have in common and all that makes us different.

From its inception in 1985, when it subsumed the Arts People Party — the Arts Council’s pre-existing festival — Communiversity always aimed to be more than just an arts festival. It was both a physical and symbolic coming-together of the University and the town in a celebration of all that we have in common and all that makes us different.

Who rights our rules?

With fairness for students in mind, the University must require that all changes to RRR go through the Committee on Rights and Rules.

With fairness for students in mind, the University must require that all changes to RRR go through the Committee on Rights and Rules.

Freedom of speech is a right, not an excuse

Freedom of speech should function to hold us to a high standard of honesty and transparency, not to excuse abuses of power and influence in the country’s most influential institutions.

Freedom of speech should function to hold us to a high standard of honesty and transparency, not to excuse abuses of power and influence in the country’s most influential institutions.

We know what has changed. How will future classes?

I am by no means the first student to complain about replacing the charm of meandering into Labyrinth on the first day of classes with navigating an e-commerce website, but I might be among the last. When the Class of 2027 graduates, so will the last class of students who remember Princeton before eCampus.

I am by no means the first student to complain about replacing the charm of meandering into Labyrinth on the first day of classes with navigating an e-commerce website, but I might be among the last. When the Class of 2027 graduates, so will the last class of students who remember Princeton before eCampus.

It’s time to end the alumni interview

Though it’s tough to diverge from tradition, the interview process presents far more possible risks than it does positive returns. Interviews’ ultimate and admirable goal is to get to know Princeton applicants better—and to let them get to know the University—but there are better and more equitable ways to achieve this.

Reducing student debt is more important than a No. 1 ranking

In terms of mean debt for all students, including those with zero debt, Princeton outperforms its peer universities.

In terms of mean debt for all students, including those with zero debt, Princeton outperforms its peer universities.

My class has an AI student

The goal of education should not solely be to make students better at doing everything AI can already do — reading, summarizing, iterating, designing. It should be to give students experiences that make them better thinkers in ways that cannot be reduced to producing the correct answer.

The goal of education should not solely be to make students better at doing everything AI can already do — reading, summarizing, iterating, designing. It should be to give students experiences that make them better thinkers in ways that cannot be reduced to producing the correct answer.

Stop sending us emails about your new AI thing

The potential extinction of the human race is grounds for expressing some concern. But, in Princeton email inboxes, recent public discussions of AI are altogether too frequent.

The potential extinction of the human race is grounds for expressing some concern. But, in Princeton email inboxes, recent public discussions of AI are altogether too frequent.

Why is Princeton so afraid of chalk?

Chalking upends the political order and tidiness of Princeton by forcing everyone — powerful players, ordinary students, and campus visitors alike — to notice what they see written on the ground. It claims a piece of campus, if only temporarily, for the drawer.

Read the news for more than just extra credit

Newsletters are everywhere, and they indubitably comprise an important part of the American news diet. So why am I catastrophizing about this one? Is it so wrong that news for college students be a bit more fun or accessible, especially in an era where less and less young people are reading the news at all?  

Newsletters are everywhere, and they indubitably comprise an important part of the American news diet. So why am I catastrophizing about this one? Is it so wrong that news for college students be a bit more fun or accessible, especially in an era where less and less young people are reading the news at all?  

Keep academic advising human only

When generative AI threatens academia in so many ways, both structurally and symbolically, it’s nonsensical for colleges to encourage its uptake through a tool that doesn’t really work in the first place.

When generative AI threatens academia in so many ways, both structurally and symbolically, it’s nonsensical for colleges to encourage its uptake through a tool that doesn’t really work in the first place.

The real crisis on campus isn’t cheating, it’s thinking

Further, a growing body of research confirms that use of generative AI undermines the cognitive effort that is essential to the development of the human brain. As AI use increases, learning, recalling, and critical thinking skills decline.

Further, a growing body of research confirms that use of generative AI undermines the cognitive effort that is essential to the development of the human brain. As AI use increases, learning, recalling, and critical thinking skills decline.

Trust in academia is at a low. Can Writing Seminar help?

Academia has a PR problem, and no amount of insular critical inquiry is going to solve it. Writing Seminars should live up to their name and teach us not just to solve thorny research problems but also to effectively communicate our solutions through clear and — perhaps more importantly — stylistically compelling prose.

Academia has a PR problem, and no amount of insular critical inquiry is going to solve it. Writing Seminars should live up to their name and teach us not just to solve thorny research problems but also to effectively communicate our solutions through clear and — perhaps more importantly — stylistically compelling prose.