Opinion

All points West

I can say, without hesitation, that both were among the best intellectual experiences I’ve had in my three years as an undergraduate. And while I’m not at all qualified to comment on Professor West’s academic production or his political activities, I do want to explain, based on personal experience, how his departure will be an extraordinary loss to the academic and public life of Princeton.

Editorial: Peer tutoring for finals

The University prohibits tutoring during finals week because “tutors need to study, too.” We believe that this limitation is misguided and that tutoring services should be offered even during finals week.

Editorial: Free access for all

When faculty members write articles, they are usually published in scholarly journals to which most people have limited access. In fact, subscriptions to some journals may cost thousands of dollars a year. If the faculty member does not reserve the right to republish the article elsewhere then only those with access to the journal can read it. This, of course, seems contradictory to the University’s goal of generating and disseminating knowledge. If our faculty’s insights are available only to the small group of people who can afford journal subscription, the value of those insights is surely limited. Knowledge in a vacuum is not valuable. Only when there is widespread access can an insight be said to have any significance to the community. For these reasons, we are glad that the University is taking steps to expand access to articles that were previously only available in journals.

Peer pressuring fitness

Start a conversation comparing Princeton with other universities, particularly state schools, and quickly someone will mention general attractiveness and athleticism. It’s true: with exception to varsity athletes, we’re generally pretty unfit. For my freshman, sophomore and junior years, I would sporadically go to the gym, while steadily eating unhealthily and putting on the pounds. I thought I’d be healthier if only I was forced, if only Princeton had a physical education requirement like MIT. This summer, when I started regularly going to the gym with a friend, I realized that being surrounded by positive examples was more effective than any University regulation could be.

World AIDS Day

We need to expand our thinking about HIV-positive individuals beyond the context of resource-poor nations, beyond the context of an intervention case. Debates about sex education, access to testing, coping mechanisms and funding are just as relevant in our communities as they are globally.

Cartoon: NBA: Where a season happens

Building intrinsic academic motivation

There is more than one way to encourage creativity and innovation. Even if the administration does not consider changes to the grading policy, it is possible to change the way we approach education.

Cartoon: Simile

Sorting out our priorities

What we learn in a class isn’t just a function of how many problem sets and how much reading the professor assigns. It’s also a function of our devotion to that class relative to other commitments.

The dead language requirement

Do we learn languages to celebrate Mass with people from different cultures or to understand the theological implications of saying “consubstantial” instead of “one in being with?” If it’s the former, require spoken modern languages. If it’s the latter, require language instruction. If it’s both, which I suspect it might be, require both. No matter what, the language requirement must be restructured if it is to be consistent with its own goals.

Editorial: How to build college spirit

When taken together, all these practices are geared toward the same goal — making residential colleges an appealing source of fun and camaraderie for undergraduates.

Contributing to the Internet

The more we interact with the information on the Internet, the more we change it and contribute to it and check it for accountability, the more robust and accurate it will inevitably become.

Letter to the Editor: November 30, 2011

We appreciate Sarah Schwartz’ constructive feedback in her Nov. 17 opinion column, “Editing the Writing Center.” It’s rewarding to hear that the Center is receiving such positive buzz from so many different sources on campus, and that Ms. Schwartz herself has benefited from working with our Fellows. We regret, however, that Ms. Schwartz did not contact us to discuss her concerns before the article went to press. ‘Prince’ readers may benefit from our perspective on what Writing Center Fellows can do and from information regarding the broader range of options we offer.

Cartoon: Finding inspiration: The dream arena

Married to the job?

For those of us who do see the good in marriage — a majority of college students, based on the most recent statistics — it’s time to stop listening to the frivolous ethical accusations against Justice Clarence Thomas and Ginni Thomas or Dr. George Will GS ’68 and Mari Maseng Will just because they share a last name and a line of work.

Cartoon: Mind Over Matter

Like a rolling stone

“Remember that happy summer feeling I told you about?” she says. “It’s gone now.” We’re struggling to become Bob Dylan’s “pretty people,” and our failures are only amplified by the enormous success and possibilities for it that we see around us. Are we allowed to strive without succeeding? Is there room for a rolling stone at Princeton University? I hope so; I think so.

A zone divided

There are several fundamental issues with some zoning on campus, particularly in Whitman, Wilson and Rockefeller colleges. Addressing these issues could drastically improve residential college community.

A traditional Thanksgiving

So in order to round out my patented three step approach to American assimilation, I set out to experience the quintessential American holiday. However, the slight obstacle of 9,558 miles separating New Jersey and Singapore prevented me from doing the requisite amount of feasting with family this Thanksgiving.

Editorial: Bridge Year for all

In 2009, Princeton University introduced the Bridge Year Program, allowing incoming freshmen to spend a year abroad volunteering prior to starting their academic careers. This experience adds depth to their scholarship and surely markedly increases the maturity and international awareness of Princeton students. Unfortunately, the current Bridge Year Program is limited to incoming freshmen.