Opinion

Princeton must abolish the counselor recommendation letter

Princeton must abolish the counselor recommendation letter

Isaac Barsoum

“Princeton must abolish the counselor recommendation entirely. Today, it is more of a reflection on the resources of the high school and the biases of the counselor than the merits of the individual student.”

“Princeton must abolish the counselor recommendation entirely. Today, it is more of a reflection on the resources of the high school and the biases of the counselor than the merits of the individual student.”

OPINION | 10/30/2024

---

Manna isn’t trying to racialize religion

Manna isn’t trying to racialize religion

Sarah Park

“Although it is not innately a bad thing when a religious group doubles as an ethnic or cultural affinity space, it does become harmful when that aspect defines the primary narrative surrounding it.”

“Although it is not innately a bad thing when a religious group doubles as an ethnic or cultural affinity space, it does become harmful when that aspect defines the primary narrative surrounding it.”

OPINION | 10/29/2024

---

Princeton facilitates the exchange of Latin American ideas and futures

Princeton facilitates the exchange of Latin American ideas and futures

Juan Fajardo

“As the Latin American diaspora grows, we will have to accept that U.S. academia — despite sharing the blame for many of the region’s challenges — will have just as much of a role in shaping its solutions.”

“As the Latin American diaspora grows, we will have to accept that U.S. academia — despite sharing the blame for many of the region’s challenges — will have just as much of a role in shaping its solutions.”

OPINION | 10/29/2024

---

Vote for Franceschi and Santarpio for Board of Education

Vote for Franceschi and Santarpio for Board of Education

Akash Jim

"Princeton University students registered to vote in Princeton may not see the importance of voting for BOE in a school district that they do not attend, but their ability to sway the outcome of a tight school board election cannot be underestimated."

"Princeton University students registered to vote in Princeton may not see the importance of voting for BOE in a school district that they do not attend, but their ability to sway the outcome of a tight school board election cannot be underestimated."

OPINION | 10/29/2024

---

Princeton, it’s time for a halal dining hall

Princeton, it’s time for a halal dining hall

Jorge Reyes

There are no spaces where Muslim students’ dietary needs are truly foregrounded by design.

There are no spaces where Muslim students’ dietary needs are truly foregrounded by design.

OPINION | 10/29/2024

---

Tech companies say their AI can save the planet. They aren’t acting like it.

Tech companies say their AI can save the planet. They aren’t acting like it.

Alex Norbrook

In public, companies like Microsoft brand AI as a tool for the energy transition. But in private, they sell it as a way to expand our reliance on fossil fuels.

In public, companies like Microsoft brand AI as a tool for the energy transition. But in private, they sell it as a way to expand our reliance on fossil fuels.

OPINION | 10/29/2024

---

In defense of our undemocratic university

In defense of our undemocratic university

Abigail Rabieh

“Theorizing the University as a democracy which should base its decisions on the majority opinion of students, however, is a fundamentally misguided approach to higher education.”

“Theorizing the University as a democracy which should base its decisions on the majority opinion of students, however, is a fundamentally misguided approach to higher education.”

OPINION | 10/28/2024

---

Transgender athletes deserve better — at Princeton and beyond

Transgender athletes deserve better — at Princeton and beyond

Charlie Yale

“As the political zeitgeist of the right has become more anti-transgender, Princetonians committed to inclusion should not let this cultural phenomenon affect our willingness to address this in a nuanced manner, informed by data and compassion.”

“As the political zeitgeist of the right has become more anti-transgender, Princetonians committed to inclusion should not let this cultural phenomenon affect our willingness to address this in a nuanced manner, informed by data and compassion.”

OPINION | 10/28/2024

---

Not everyone impacted by this election can vote. Make sure you do.

Not everyone impacted by this election can vote. Make sure you do.

Gil Joseph

“As a non-citizen, I am not entitled to a vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, but the outcome of this election will potentially have dramatic consequences for my family and thousands of others who have taken refuge in this country — many of whom are related or connected to Princeton students and community members. Their future is in the hands of those who can vote — including many Princeton students.”

“As a non-citizen, I am not entitled to a vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, but the outcome of this election will potentially have dramatic consequences for my family and thousands of others who have taken refuge in this country — many of whom are related or connected to Princeton students and community members. Their future is in the hands of those who can vote — including many Princeton students.”

OPINION | 10/27/2024

---

For the sake of the Princeton community, tax the endowment

For the sake of the Princeton community, tax the endowment

Wynne Conger

“It is imperative that we at Princeton contend with and advocate for a more structured, progressive excise tax on the University’s endowment at large. In addition to other benefits, a system could primarily work to channel institutional money and resources back into the surrounding township under an organized system of federal jurisdiction and oversight.”

“It is imperative that we at Princeton contend with and advocate for a more structured, progressive excise tax on the University’s endowment at large. In addition to other benefits, a system could primarily work to channel institutional money and resources back into the surrounding township under an organized system of federal jurisdiction and oversight.”

OPINION | 10/25/2024

---

For meaningful discourse, free speech at Princeton must be combined with intellectual responsibility

For meaningful discourse, free speech at Princeton must be combined with intellectual responsibility

Kenneth Chan

“We can’t shy away from repulsive opinions. But we must also exercise intellectual responsibility when it comes to our own opinions, and scrutinize as rigorously as possible our own biases in light of new information.”

“We can’t shy away from repulsive opinions. But we must also exercise intellectual responsibility when it comes to our own opinions, and scrutinize as rigorously as possible our own biases in light of new information.”

OPINION | 10/25/2024

---

Give students a break from nuisance fees

Give students a break from nuisance fees

Thomas Buckley

“This charge is instead part of a genre of fees that are more of a nuisance than anything else. If they are intended to be punitive, they are too small to be an effective deterrent. However, raising them would come across as excessively cruel. Instead, the fees exist only to squeeze as much money out of the students using these services as possible.”

“This charge is instead part of a genre of fees that are more of a nuisance than anything else. If they are intended to be punitive, they are too small to be an effective deterrent. However, raising them would come across as excessively cruel. Instead, the fees exist only to squeeze as much money out of the students using these services as possible.”

OPINION | 10/24/2024

---

Princeton’s ‘no-loan’ policy doesn’t mean no debt

Princeton’s ‘no-loan’ policy doesn’t mean no debt

Eleanor Clemans-Cope

“Princeton reported that 11 percent of this year’s recent seniors graduated with debt — and 17 percent of “recent seniors” last year did. And that only counts loans taken out by students themselves — not including loans covered by students’ families and guardians, which Princeton does not report.”

“Princeton reported that 11 percent of this year’s recent seniors graduated with debt — and 17 percent of “recent seniors” last year did. And that only counts loans taken out by students themselves — not including loans covered by students’ families and guardians, which Princeton does not report.”

OPINION | 10/23/2024

---

The case for male-only spaces

The case for male-only spaces

Julianna Lee

Contrary to popular belief, men need more empowerment and solidarity than it may seem.

Contrary to popular belief, men need more empowerment and solidarity than it may seem.

OPINION | 10/22/2024

---

Princeton must bolster support for students pursuing grad school

Princeton must bolster support for students pursuing grad school

Asa Santos

This is the moment for Princeton to commit to improving the graduate application process for all students by using the model that works to support pre-med students to support students of all types — and to go beyond it. All of this will help Princeton build an undergraduate education, and graduate education, that supports a diverse student body in pursuing their diverse interests.

This is the moment for Princeton to commit to improving the graduate application process for all students by using the model that works to support pre-med students to support students of all types — and to go beyond it. All of this will help Princeton build an undergraduate education, and graduate education, that supports a diverse student body in pursuing their diverse interests.

OPINION | 10/22/2024

---

Post-graduate income is a flawed metric for success

Post-graduate income is a flawed metric for success

Davis Hobley

By analyzing job outcomes by additional factors, such as personal fulfillment, students might feel more confident in pursuing less lucrative careers that are nevertheless more enjoyable.

By analyzing job outcomes by additional factors, such as personal fulfillment, students might feel more confident in pursuing less lucrative careers that are nevertheless more enjoyable.

OPINION | 10/21/2024

---

Admissions needs to prioritize geographic diversity — here’s how

Admissions needs to prioritize geographic diversity — here’s how

Frances Brogan

At the very least, these steps would signal that Princeton’s investment in geographic diversity isn’t just an empty platitude. At best, this engagement would attract more rural talent to future Princeton classes and show historically disenfranchised communities that Princeton’s doors aren’t closed to them. 

At the very least, these steps would signal that Princeton’s investment in geographic diversity isn’t just an empty platitude. At best, this engagement would attract more rural talent to future Princeton classes and show historically disenfranchised communities that Princeton’s doors aren’t closed to them. 

OPINION | 10/21/2024

---

CitiBank tried to silence me for protest. We won’t let Princeton do the same.

CitiBank tried to silence me for protest. We won’t let Princeton do the same.

John Mark Rozendaal

"What can Princeton students, faculty and staff do now for climate justice and for freedom of speech? Please keep doing what you are doing. Just like city streets, university campuses are contested grounds for delivery of controversial messages."

"What can Princeton students, faculty and staff do now for climate justice and for freedom of speech? Please keep doing what you are doing. Just like city streets, university campuses are contested grounds for delivery of controversial messages."

OPINION | 10/20/2024

---

Through a flawed ‘community input’ process, Princeton delays action during a genocide

Through a flawed ‘community input’ process, Princeton delays action during a genocide

Sofia Menemenlis, Jessica Ng, Hellen Wainaina, and Givarra Azhar Abdullah

"We write to express our concern with this post-hoc, poorly defined, and inadequately communicated process. The Committee’s procedure for soliciting feedback all but guarantees a highly skewed sample of responses."

"We write to express our concern with this post-hoc, poorly defined, and inadequately communicated process. The Committee’s procedure for soliciting feedback all but guarantees a highly skewed sample of responses."

OPINION | 10/11/2024

---

Using faculty meetings to declare political positions undermines Princeton’s mission

Using faculty meetings to declare political positions undermines Princeton’s mission

Flora Champy, Stephen Macedo, Leora Batnitzky, Jonathan Mummolo, Sanjeev Kulkarni, Eve Krakowski, and Emmanuel Bourbouhakis

“When “the faculty” are conscripted to speak in one voice about an issue, dissenting opinions are discouraged, and our truth-seeking mission is compromised.”

“When “the faculty” are conscripted to speak in one voice about an issue, dissenting opinions are discouraged, and our truth-seeking mission is compromised.”

OPINION | 10/10/2024

---