Opinion

What this year’s dismal turnout says about civic life at Princeton

Both USG candidates and the University community as a whole must make an active effort to advertise, support, and center the student government voting process.

Both USG candidates and the University community as a whole must make an active effort to advertise, support, and center the student government voting process.

On cybersecurity, online modules don’t cut it

Ignored online training modules aren’t going to cut it in an environment that relies on technology for more and more aspects of our academic and personal lives. 

Ignored online training modules aren’t going to cut it in an environment that relies on technology for more and more aspects of our academic and personal lives. 

Your professors aren’t out to get you

When students assume that grading is ideologically motivated and in bad faith — and when they choose to take these concerns straight to reactionary publications that have it out for higher education instead of engaging in productive dialogue with the members of the University community — our ability to have academically fulfilling conversations begins to slip away.

When students assume that grading is ideologically motivated and in bad faith — and when they choose to take these concerns straight to reactionary publications that have it out for higher education instead of engaging in productive dialogue with the members of the University community — our ability to have academically fulfilling conversations begins to slip away.

If I wanted to steal that book, I would just throw it out the window

Given that some books in Firestone’s stacks are worth over $1,000, and that not all library visitors are members of the University community, it is understandable that the University takes some security measures. But the bag check as practiced isn’t a serious attempt to find contraband. Getting rid of the checks would emphasize a new level of trust between library administration and visitors. 

Given that some books in Firestone’s stacks are worth over $1,000, and that not all library visitors are members of the University community, it is understandable that the University takes some security measures. But the bag check as practiced isn’t a serious attempt to find contraband. Getting rid of the checks would emphasize a new level of trust between library administration and visitors. 

Terms of Respect defends student speech — but doesn’t respect it

Eisgruber characterizes student speech as practice, not real engagement. His one-dimensional view of students fails to account for our simultaneous existence within and outside of the Orange Bubble. But our speech, like us, is not confined to the Princeton community, and attempting to shield or protect students from the real world can underrate our participation in it.

Eisgruber characterizes student speech as practice, not real engagement. His one-dimensional view of students fails to account for our simultaneous existence within and outside of the Orange Bubble. But our speech, like us, is not confined to the Princeton community, and attempting to shield or protect students from the real world can underrate our participation in it.

Don’t swipe left just because you disagree on politics

We should strive for more than just “common courtesy” for everyone to “feel safe” in the discussion. We should hold space for the possibility that the human being sitting across from us may be one of good values and would bring immense joy and growth into our lives as a close friend or partner.

We should strive for more than just “common courtesy” for everyone to “feel safe” in the discussion. We should hold space for the possibility that the human being sitting across from us may be one of good values and would bring immense joy and growth into our lives as a close friend or partner.

Vote Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president: your guide to the winter 2025 USG ballot

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board weighs in on the USG candidates up and down the ballot, including endorsing Quentin Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president. In his platform and responses to our questions, Colón Roosevelt focused on relevant issues and pathways through which USG can exercise power — both in ways that address inefficiencies and leverage existing structures and in ways that expand the current role of undergraduate student representation.

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board weighs in on the USG candidates up and down the ballot, including endorsing Quentin Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president. In his platform and responses to our questions, Colón Roosevelt focused on relevant issues and pathways through which USG can exercise power — both in ways that address inefficiencies and leverage existing structures and in ways that expand the current role of undergraduate student representation.

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board should not endorse USG candidates

While the idea of endorsing candidates has merit, the nature of the endorsement process is flawed, opaque, lacks external accountability, and projects the confidence of an institutional voice while having unclear standards.

While the idea of endorsing candidates has merit, the nature of the endorsement process is flawed, opaque, lacks external accountability, and projects the confidence of an institutional voice while having unclear standards.

Vote ‘yes’ on Referendum No. 1: Princeton should not own a fossil fuel company

A vote for Referendum No. 1 is a vote for sustainability, in every sense of the word. And cutting ties with PetroTiger is a win-win-win for climate action, students, and the University.

A vote for Referendum No. 1 is a vote for sustainability, in every sense of the word. And cutting ties with PetroTiger is a win-win-win for climate action, students, and the University.

The University wants a compliant USG. Recently, it’s gotten what it wants.

It is not acceptable for our representatives to simply give up, even — and especially — when obstacles to student interests feel formidable.

It is not acceptable for our representatives to simply give up, even — and especially — when obstacles to student interests feel formidable.

Searching for a partner? Swipe left on intolerance

Your partner’s political choices say something about their values, and their values say something about your values as the person who chose them. Opting for non-confrontation to preserve a relationship that doesn’t align with your values is dismissing the increasingly salient political future ahead of us.

Your partner’s political choices say something about their values, and their values say something about your values as the person who chose them. Opting for non-confrontation to preserve a relationship that doesn’t align with your values is dismissing the increasingly salient political future ahead of us.

Elected CPUC members must answer for their egregious dereliction of duty

While many University members have a legitimate interest in a policy like this one, it is a dereliction of duty to allow administrators to propose an excessively vague and general policy, and then give them extremely wide latitude to interpret it.

While many University members have a legitimate interest in a policy like this one, it is a dereliction of duty to allow administrators to propose an excessively vague and general policy, and then give them extremely wide latitude to interpret it.

Princeton needs a first-year engineering design course

The University should give students the chance to make informed academic choices. If Princeton values interdisciplinarity and genuine exploration, then its commitment shouldn’t end when the study of engineering begins.

The University should give students the chance to make informed academic choices. If Princeton values interdisciplinarity and genuine exploration, then its commitment shouldn’t end when the study of engineering begins.

‘Princeton Rise Up’ showed Princeton students aren’t apathetic, just busy

Becoming more involved in campus activism has forced me to reckon with a simple fact: I’m not as busy as I thought I was. I had time to give. And because I find the job fulfilling, it doesn’t feel like a burden to devote that time to activism.

Becoming more involved in campus activism has forced me to reckon with a simple fact: I’m not as busy as I thought I was. I had time to give. And because I find the job fulfilling, it doesn’t feel like a burden to devote that time to activism.

AI is a bubble. So why don’t we act like it?

None of this is to say that there aren’t genuine uses for — and genuine concerns about — AI. But to discuss these well, we must first have the right conception of the technology.

None of this is to say that there aren’t genuine uses for — and genuine concerns about — AI. But to discuss these well, we must first have the right conception of the technology.

Joe Manchin’s remarks inspire unity, but not how you might think

Manchin’s message about the value of truly representative public service shows that, given Americans’ recent attitude toward elites and support for promises of representation, it is incumbent upon Princetonians who hope to enter public service, whether through organizing or running for elected office, to prove that they are worthy of a vote.

A is for authoritarianism

Academic perfectionism can dull our ability to recognize our own authoritarian tendencies because together they share a flawed reasoning that faultlessness reflects one’s value.

Academic perfectionism can dull our ability to recognize our own authoritarian tendencies because together they share a flawed reasoning that faultlessness reflects one’s value.

Princeton needs a program in Southeast Asian studies

If Southeast Asia is, as CISS described, “an area of global importance and future opportunity,” why does Princeton lack a Program in Southeast Asian Studies?

If Southeast Asia is, as CISS described, “an area of global importance and future opportunity,” why does Princeton lack a Program in Southeast Asian Studies?

Our humanities precepts make us human

If struggling precepts are a symptom of a cultural struggle with care, attention, and socialization, their reevaluation might be an opportunity for Princeton and its students to take a timely diagnostic of the University’s most monumental task: making smart people smarter by teaching them to care about and understand the world beyond their immediate orbit.

If struggling precepts are a symptom of a cultural struggle with care, attention, and socialization, their reevaluation might be an opportunity for Princeton and its students to take a timely diagnostic of the University’s most monumental task: making smart people smarter by teaching them to care about and understand the world beyond their immediate orbit.

Princeton’s scholarship time limits need to go

The University must eliminate these arbitrary time limits. Students should be able to redeem their scholarship benefit at any point during their four years, allowing them the flexibility to buy technology with the money they earned, when they actually need it.

The University must eliminate these arbitrary time limits. Students should be able to redeem their scholarship benefit at any point during their four years, allowing them the flexibility to buy technology with the money they earned, when they actually need it.