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Opinion

A pale yellow building with a large, windowed door is in the center of the photograph. The words “Center for Jewish Life” are above the door.

Princeton Jews: Trump isn’t interested in our safety

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

OPINION | March 20

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Universities are scared of Trump. Princeton spoke out — and others should join us.

But as Princeton stands up first, it can invite others to stand with it. Through coordinated action and litigation, universities can show that they will never again fight the Trump administration’s attacks alone.

But as Princeton stands up first, it can invite others to stand with it. Through coordinated action and litigation, universities can show that they will never again fight the Trump administration’s attacks alone.

OPINION | March 19

Brown brick building covered in green ivy in the snow, with clocktower and American flag on top.

For an FGLI student, there is truly no better place to be than Princeton

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

OPINION | March 18

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Why the Art Museum deserves a second look

The architecture of a museum matters as much as the works inside it, influencing how we approach and engage with art. Rather than viewing the museum in strictly binary terms — good or bad, successful or a failure — we should allow space for complexity and evolving perspectives.

The architecture of a museum matters as much as the works inside it, influencing how we approach and engage with art. Rather than viewing the museum in strictly binary terms — good or bad, successful or a failure — we should allow space for complexity and evolving perspectives.

OPINION | March 18

Standing behind a protestor wearing a green work vest, a keffiyeh, and holding a Palestinian flag, a man wraps himself in an Israeli flag on the steps in front of Nassau Hall.

On Israel-Palestine, campus is still getting discourse wrong

Dialogue isn’t as flashy or newsworthy as protest, but it is a powerful tool for students committed to justice and a necessary step in creating change.

Dialogue isn’t as flashy or newsworthy as protest, but it is a powerful tool for students committed to justice and a necessary step in creating change.

OPINION | March 17

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Women’s basketball deserves an at-large bid to March Madness

So that means the big three Ivy teams are likely competing against each other in a game of musical chairs. And when the music stops, if it comes down to Princeton versus Harvard, the Tigers should be the choice.

So that means the big three Ivy teams are likely competing against each other in a game of musical chairs. And when the music stops, if it comes down to Princeton versus Harvard, the Tigers should be the choice.

OPINION | March 9

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Keep Princeton in Estonia

We strongly disagree with Veronika Kitsul’s recent Opinion piece, in which she argues that the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must end its Russian language program in Estonia and refrain from sponsoring programs in any post-Soviet states. In attempting to cancel Princeton in Estonia, we damage access to Baltic culture, Russian language study, and ultimately, the world’s chances for peace in the region.

We strongly disagree with Veronika Kitsul’s recent Opinion piece, in which she argues that the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must end its Russian language program in Estonia and refrain from sponsoring programs in any post-Soviet states. In attempting to cancel Princeton in Estonia, we damage access to Baltic culture, Russian language study, and ultimately, the world’s chances for peace in the region.

OPINION | March 7

A picture taken from the inside of a building with a mix of old and modern looks.

Princeton’s role in combating the drug crisis must start on campus

To maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.

To maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.

OPINION | March 6

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Why the Resources Committee is not recommending dissociation from Israel

I want to use this opportunity to explain how the Resources Committee arrived at its decision to not recommend dissociation from Israel, and to anticipate and answer some questions members of our community may have.

I want to use this opportunity to explain how the Resources Committee arrived at its decision to not recommend dissociation from Israel, and to anticipate and answer some questions members of our community may have.

OPINION | March 5

Inner courtyard of a brown building on a snowy day.

Princeton’s Russian program doesn’t belong in Estonia

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

OPINION | March 4

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Bezos ’86 silenced his opinion section. We’re committed to protecting ours.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

OPINION | February 28

Students walking outdoors in front of two large white buildings.

Books are meant to be read

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

OPINION | February 26

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The dining hall’s architecture keeps workers out of sight. That’s a problem

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

OPINION | February 26

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Reactions: Which alum would you nominate for the Woodrow Wilson award?

We asked our writers to reflect on which alumni are best upholding the informal motto “Princeton in the nation’s service,” and make a case for who deserves to win the Woodrow Wilson Award next year.

We asked our writers to reflect on which alumni are best upholding the informal motto “Princeton in the nation’s service,” and make a case for who deserves to win the Woodrow Wilson Award next year.

OPINION | February 26

A pedestrian sign in front of trees in front of a tall, square building.

The fight for academia

As academics, it’s imperative that we better communicate to the public not only the direct impacts of our research, but also long term positive consequences like job growth in the economy. 

As academics, it’s imperative that we better communicate to the public not only the direct impacts of our research, but also long term positive consequences like job growth in the economy. 

OPINION | February 25

A white building with blacked-out windows and white columns in between. There is a yellow tree to the right.

Princeton, swap social media for real news

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other. 

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other. 

OPINION | February 24

Group of students with sign standing outside a large stone Chapel.

Don’t give in to cynicism: Collective action on climate works

“Arguments about how student organizing is not sufficient miss the point, and only serve to entrench this dangerous apathy that will make our futures more unstable. Our optimism for a better future will not be dissuaded by those who don’t think it’s possible.”

“Arguments about how student organizing is not sufficient miss the point, and only serve to entrench this dangerous apathy that will make our futures more unstable. Our optimism for a better future will not be dissuaded by those who don’t think it’s possible.”

OPINION | February 23

Oxidized bronze statue of a man on a stone pedestal in front of a neo-Gothic building.

Flood the Princeton canon

“The University must commit to truth, representing its history more honestly. And until it does so, we need to flood the Princeton canon with more monuments to Princeton’s unsung heroes.”

“The University must commit to truth, representing its history more honestly. And until it does so, we need to flood the Princeton canon with more monuments to Princeton’s unsung heroes.”

OPINION | February 21

The archway of a building.

You (yes, you) are part of the classics conversation

Whether or not we believe that this literature has a place in the curriculum and however we believe the classics should be taught, we have to understand that a conversation about classics is a conversation about us.

Whether or not we believe that this literature has a place in the curriculum and however we believe the classics should be taught, we have to understand that a conversation about classics is a conversation about us.

OPINION | February 19