Opinion

Reaffirming affirmative action

Reaffirming affirmative action

Ryan Born

I defend the University’s affirmative action policies by placing them in their definitional and historical context. Opponents of affirmative action call it racist, like my fellow columnist Hayley Siegel. Yet arguments like these do not properly understand affirmative action, its importance, nor its context at the University.

OPINION | 08/16/2017

Defining a "fair shake"

Hayley Siegel

President Eisgruber explained that Princeton does consider race in admissions, but that every applicant is nonetheless given “a fair shake.” A truly fair shake would level out the differences in performance resulting from an applicant’s socioeconomic background.

OPINION | 08/16/2017

Frosh know nothing

Ryan Born

I got an email from my editor. Ryan, the frosh are coming, he said, we need some articles for them.

OPINION | 08/16/2017

If you’re reading this, it’s already too late

Newby Parton

When I started to write this column, I intended it to be about freshman seminars. Apply, I was going to say, because they are the best courses you will ever take.

OPINION | 08/08/2017

Letter from the Editor: Welcome to Princeton – Princeton in the Nation's Service and the Service of Humanity

Sarah Sakha

Your class is taking – and will take – unprecedented strides forward in many respects, as the first class to enroll more women than men, the class with the highest percentage of first-generation college students, at 16.9 percent, and the first class to enroll five military veterans. So as Princeton serves this nation, serves humanity, as its unofficial motto prescribes, by moving towards greater equality in opportunity, expanding those opportunities for everyone, and redefining ‘public service’ and what it means to serve, it’s now your turn – as a part of our collective responsibility – to consider how you, too, will serve, not only your community here at Princeton, but humanity. Looking back, as an incoming freshman, I certainly didn’t give Princeton’s motto a second thought (granted, the University motto was different then too). In fact, the only conception of ‘service’ that I harbored before arriving at Princeton entailed volunteering at the local public library, hospital, or food bank.

OPINION | 08/08/2017

A Letter from Princeton Latinos y Amigos to the Class of 2021

Guest Contributor

To the Incoming Latinx Class of 2021, Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Bem Vinda! As one of the many voices you will hear from prior to your arrival on campus, on behalf of Princeton Latinos y Amigos, we want to extend you all another welcome to what will be some of the most challenging, yet educative and exhilarating years that are to come.

OPINION | 08/08/2017

What is Native American student life like at Princeton?

Guest Contributor

I’m going to be honest, at times your peers won’t recognize you as Native American. People will casually joke “I thought you were Asian the first time I saw you” or at best, “I wasn’t sure of your background.” In situations such as these I laugh along with them, proudly declaring my Diné ancestry.

OPINION | 08/08/2017

Welcome home: An open invitation from the Princeton Black Student Union

Guest Contributor

To the Black Members of the Class of 2021: On behalf of Princeton’s Black Student Union, congratulations on your admission and your accomplishments that have brought you thus far!

OPINION | 08/08/2017

A letter from AASA to the Class of 2021

Guest Contributor

To the Class of 2021, The Asian American Students Association (AASA) wishes you a warm welcome to the Princeton community!

OPINION | 08/08/2017

What NOT to bring: Packing advice for the Class of 2021*

Daily Princetonian Staff

Your cat Hopes and dreams Expectations A snake Pleasure reading A desire for moist chicken A keychain for your room key Your ego Your Eggos Melatonin Your SAT scores - also AP, IB, ACT Your microwave Coins for the laundry machines Eye drops A distaste for the color orange The pre-read A printer High school apparel A boomerang, or other utterly impractical items from your home country A weak liver T-shirts (you’ll get enough for free) Daddy’s trust fund money Dignity Most species of bedbugs Boat shoes (why would you want to fit in, anyways?) Canada Goose Jacket An aversion to ice cream (it’s everywhere) A watch (you’ll never have enough time anyway) Sunglasses (like T-shirts, you’ll get a bunch of them for free) A framed portrait of Ted Cruz Ted Cruz A healthy appetite for free food Your health *This piece provides satirical advice for moving to Princeton.

OPINION | 08/08/2017

Letter from the Editor: Finding yourself at Princeton?

Nicholas Wu

I wondered what I would write in this column. What would I have told myself three years ago, in the summer of 2014?

OPINION | 08/08/2017

Letter to the Editor: Transgender service ban

Guest Contributor

As the Pastor of Christ Congregation, an Open and Affirming congregation of the United Church of Christ and American Baptist Church — and as a friend and family member to many who have served in the military — I emphatically denounce the White House’s most recent policy denying transgender people the privilege and right to serve in our nation’s military. Scripture says this: “So God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God, God created them; male and female, God created them.” If, like me, you believe all humans were created in the image of God, then we can assume that God’s existence does not conform to binary definitions of gender.

OPINION | 08/02/2017

An indefensible policy

Mason Cox

The University’s policy on the Student Health Plan (SHP) and financial aid is indefensible. An article published over the summer by The Daily Princetonian details Nasir Ismael’s ‘21 decision to start a funding campaign in order to ensure the $1,800 fee for SHP be covered, despite receiving a full financial aid package, because the SHP fee was not covered at the time of his financial aid package’s awarding.

OPINION | 07/21/2017

Sailing the populist moment across the Atlantic

Guest Contributor

The Herman Melville novella “Benito Cereno,” in which a merchant ship is taken over by a slave mutiny, may seem to many like the perfect allegory for populism today. However, I do not believe that populism tricks democracy into such a scenario. We must learn to steer our ship without fearing the foreseeable intrusion of the populist guest, as we sail into perilous and unforeseen depths of the new order in need of a democratic horizon.

OPINION | 07/16/2017

Letter to the Editor: President Eisgruber responds to 'Sign on to "We Are Still In"'

Guest Contributor

Thank you for your recent note and for transmitting your petition. I appreciate your concern for the environment and your commitment to sustainability.

OPINION | 06/15/2017

Letter to the Editor: Naughty by Nature

Guest Contributor

The choice of the group Naughty by Nature as entertainment for the Class of 1992 25th Reunion was short-sighted at best, deplorable at worst.

OPINION | 06/14/2017

Sign on to 'We Are Still In'

Guest Contributor

We believe that by committing to the Paris Agreement as part of the We Are Still In coalition statement, Princeton would — as one of the highest-profile universities in the United States — bring greater attention to how universities are mobilizing in response to Trump’s withdrawal decision. We believe that Princeton’s leadership would heighten climate change awareness among its vast and influential network of students, staff, alumni, and affiliates. Most importantly, we believe that Princeton’s involvement would be consistent with its most deeply held values.

OPINION | 06/09/2017

Does political correctness infringe on free speech?

Chang Che

The old motto “actions speak louder than words” has always contained a grave misunderstanding: it assumes that words and actions are fundamentally different modes of communication.

OPINION | 06/06/2017

Celebrating complacency at Princeton

Guest Contributor

“Ya se agotó,” I said, incredulous (I shouldn’t have been; it’s a weekly occurrence). It’s already run out.

OPINION | 06/06/2017

Standardize the thesis deadline

Guest Contributor

As a glaring disclaimer, I did not write a thesis. As a BSE COS major, I opted to complete my independent research requirement during my junior year.

OPINION | 06/06/2017

Most Popular