Opinion

Eisgruber’s empty defense of ‘academic freedom’

Eisgruber’s empty defense of ‘academic freedom’

Zach Gardner

Allowing faculty to write and research freely, although admirable on its face, ignores a deeper problem. If Princeton wants to regain the trust of the American people, it should start by ditching ideology and pursuing truth. Only then can true academic freedom flourish in its halls.

Allowing faculty to write and research freely, although admirable on its face, ignores a deeper problem. If Princeton wants to regain the trust of the American people, it should start by ditching ideology and pursuing truth. Only then can true academic freedom flourish in its halls.

OPINION | April 7

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Letter to the Editor: Don’t forget Whit

Letter to the Editor: Don’t forget Whit

Nolan Musslewhite

The Class of 1963 Library in Wendell Hall, colloquially known as Whitman Library, is a well-furnished, round-the-clock study space, complete with personal desks and lamps, outlets, elegant lighting, tasteful upholstery, printers, a nifty wrought-iron timepiece, and, critically, proximity to Wawa. So, from the many of us who call the Whitman Library home during reading period: Don’t forget Whit!

The Class of 1963 Library in Wendell Hall, colloquially known as Whitman Library, is a well-furnished, round-the-clock study space, complete with personal desks and lamps, outlets, elegant lighting, tasteful upholstery, printers, a nifty wrought-iron timepiece, and, critically, proximity to Wawa. So, from the many of us who call the Whitman Library home during reading period: Don’t forget Whit!

OPINION | April 6

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Monday, Naftali Bennett will speak at Princeton. He doesn’t speak for us.

Monday, Naftali Bennett will speak at Princeton. He doesn’t speak for us.

Elena Eiss and Charlie Yale

On Monday, the Center for Jewish Life (CJL) is hosting ex-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for a conversation on his political career. While it is the CJL’s right to host Bennett, we, as Jewish students, disavow and spurn the rhetoric that he has spread across college campuses in the United States, and call on others to join us. 

On Monday, the Center for Jewish Life (CJL) is hosting ex-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for a conversation on his political career. While it is the CJL’s right to host Bennett, we, as Jewish students, disavow and spurn the rhetoric that he has spread across college campuses in the United States, and call on others to join us. 

OPINION | April 4

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The CJL’s hyperbolic rhetoric has enabled Trump’s cuts

The CJL’s hyperbolic rhetoric has enabled Trump’s cuts

Emanuelle Sippy

This weaponization of antisemitism is cut from the same cloth as Steinlauf’s repeated rhetoric against legitimate academic events that are critical of Israel. The CJL’s hyperbolic rhetoric over recent years has thus helped pave the way for the Marschall complaint, and accordingly, the Trump funding freeze. 

This weaponization of antisemitism is cut from the same cloth as Steinlauf’s repeated rhetoric against legitimate academic events that are critical of Israel. The CJL’s hyperbolic rhetoric over recent years has thus helped pave the way for the Marschall complaint, and accordingly, the Trump funding freeze. 

OPINION | April 4

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The library closes, but the work does not

The library closes, but the work does not

Sid Singh

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

OPINION | April 4

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Rabbi Steinlauf’s disturbing attack on academic freedom

Rabbi Steinlauf’s disturbing attack on academic freedom

Joan Scott

The mission of a university education is to expose students to ideas they haven’t encountered, and to engage in evidence-based critical conversation. It is not intellectual comfort and safety that is the mark of a quality education, but rather the hard and often uncomfortable work of learning how to think critically and reason carefully. 

The mission of a university education is to expose students to ideas they haven’t encountered, and to engage in evidence-based critical conversation. It is not intellectual comfort and safety that is the mark of a quality education, but rather the hard and often uncomfortable work of learning how to think critically and reason carefully. 

OPINION | April 3

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Writing Seminars must prioritize substance over structure

Writing Seminars must prioritize substance over structure

Ziyi Yan

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

OPINION | April 3

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Face it, Eisgruber is the man for the moment

Face it, Eisgruber is the man for the moment

Preston Ferraiuolo and Jerry Zhu

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

OPINION | April 2

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Princeton, it’s time to reflect, not to blame

Princeton, it’s time to reflect, not to blame

Thomas Tao

Many American voters consider much of our priorities and agendas irrelevant, or even actively harmful, to them or society in general. Treating the issues of. climate change, diversity and inclusion, and global citizenry like closed debates helps no one and only enforces echo chambers on both sides.

Many American voters consider much of our priorities and agendas irrelevant, or even actively harmful, to them or society in general. Treating the issues of. climate change, diversity and inclusion, and global citizenry like closed debates helps no one and only enforces echo chambers on both sides.

OPINION | March 31

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Princeton can find the cash to weather the storm

Princeton can find the cash to weather the storm

Wynne Conger

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

OPINION | March 31

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Public intellectuals owe their institutions courage. Do not obey in advance.

Public intellectuals owe their institutions courage. Do not obey in advance.

Frances Brogan

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

OPINION | March 27

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Your Ivy League experience would not send anyone into a coma

Your Ivy League experience would not send anyone into a coma

Shane McCauley

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

OPINION | March 27

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Is Princeton men’s basketball at an inflection point?

Is Princeton men’s basketball at an inflection point?

Steve Silverman

The real issue is whether Princeton and every other Ivy program can continue to compete in a Division I landscape increasingly divided among the haves and have nots.

The real issue is whether Princeton and every other Ivy program can continue to compete in a Division I landscape increasingly divided among the haves and have nots.

OPINION | March 27

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Attacks on trans women affect us all

Attacks on trans women affect us all

Ava Johnson

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

OPINION | March 26

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Trump is bringing authoritarianism to Columbia. Princeton must democratize in response.

Trump is bringing authoritarianism to Columbia. Princeton must democratize in response.

Isaac Barsoum

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

OPINION | March 26

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There’s an existential threat to the eating clubs that you need to know about

There’s an existential threat to the eating clubs that you need to know about

Vincent Jiang

Requiring upperclassman students to hold a meal plan would be harmful to the undergraduate experience and poses an existential threat to the eating clubs. If implemented, the report’s recommendation would sever past and present generations of Princetonians from these unique and tight-knit communities.

Requiring upperclassman students to hold a meal plan would be harmful to the undergraduate experience and poses an existential threat to the eating clubs. If implemented, the report’s recommendation would sever past and present generations of Princetonians from these unique and tight-knit communities.

OPINION | March 25

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The humanities benefit from FGLI voices. Let’s reach out to these students.

The humanities benefit from FGLI voices. Let’s reach out to these students.

Raf Basas

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

OPINION | March 25

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You’ve heard history holds power. This project shows us how.

You’ve heard history holds power. This project shows us how.

Lily Halbert-Alexander

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

OPINION | March 24

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To stop intimidation, Eisgruber needs your help

To stop intimidation, Eisgruber needs your help

Guest Contributors

When targeting one institution is a bald attempt to divide and conquer, as is the case with Columbia, it is essential for a coalition or group of institutions and individuals to stand up together. 

When targeting one institution is a bald attempt to divide and conquer, as is the case with Columbia, it is essential for a coalition or group of institutions and individuals to stand up together. 

OPINION | March 23

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Princeton must protect the sanctity of scientific research

Princeton must protect the sanctity of scientific research

Davis Hobley

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

OPINION | March 20

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