Opinion

For a safe semester, N95 masks must be free, accessible, and required indoors

Guest Contributor Christopher Lugo argues that the University must mandate N95 masks and make them free and accessible to combat the rising prevalence of the infectious omicron variant.

Guest Contributor Christopher Lugo argues that the University must mandate N95 masks and make them free and accessible to combat the rising prevalence of the infectious omicron variant.

Princeton Disability Collective: Online learning and teaching options must be available to all

Guest contributors representing the Princeton Disability Collective and Princeton Graduate Student United Coordinating Committee demand remote options for teaching and learning when classes resume, arguing that the desire for a “normal semester” shouldn’t outweigh the health risks of in-person classes.

Guest contributors representing the Princeton Disability Collective and Princeton Graduate Student United Coordinating Committee demand remote options for teaching and learning when classes resume, arguing that the desire for a “normal semester” shouldn’t outweigh the health risks of in-person classes.

Princeton's personal travel restrictions don't make sense

Guest Contributor Aidan Hintermaier argues that restrictions on personal travel needlessly impact students’ mental health while doing nothing to maintain a protective COVID bubble.

Guest Contributor Aidan Hintermaier argues that restrictions on personal travel needlessly impact students’ mental health while doing nothing to maintain a protective COVID bubble.

Letter to the Editor: Why is the ‘Prince’ so negative?

Alumnus Jorge Aguilar critiques the tone of The Daily Princetonian Opinion section as excessively critical of the University and suggests there are other topics that should capture the interest of Princeton students.

Alumnus Jorge Aguilar critiques the tone of The Daily Princetonian Opinion section as excessively critical of the University and suggests there are other topics that should capture the interest of Princeton students.

We're triple-vaxxed and masked. It's time to end asymptomatic testing.

“We are stuck in a mind-numbing cycle of restrictions any time there are a few dozen of mostly asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on campus and will likely remain so for a long time, unless the administrators seriously reorient their approach to the virus and our wellbeing.”

“We are stuck in a mind-numbing cycle of restrictions any time there are a few dozen of mostly asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on campus and will likely remain so for a long time, unless the administrators seriously reorient their approach to the virus and our wellbeing.”

When Princeton imposes a mandate, it should show its work

Engineering graduate student Evan Underhill argues that the University’s failure to cite their sources when announcing new restrictions and mandates represents a failure to educate and engage the community in COVID-related decisions 

Guest Contributor Evan Underhill argues that the University’s failure to cite their sources when announcing new restrictions and mandates undermines confidence, representing a failure to promote educated health decisions.

If low acceptance rates discourage applicants, hiding the data only makes it worse

“Sweeping admissions data into a black box only serves to raise applicant anxieties and close off avenues of accountability.”

“Sweeping admissions data into a black box only serves to raise applicant anxieties and close off avenues of accountability.”

The Editorial Board misses the point: We don’t need admissions statistics to know Princeton doesn’t serve marginalized communities

“The Editorial Board’s response to the announcement focused on the potential discouraging effect that the actions of the Office of Admission can have on applicants. But if our primary concerns are discouraging prospective students, the Board is missing the point. We don’t need admissions statistics to know Princeton doesn’t serve marginalized communities.”

“The Editorial Board’s response to the announcement focused on the potential discouraging effect that the actions of the Office of Admission can have on applicants. But if our primary concerns are discouraging prospective students, the Board is missing the point. We don’t need admissions statistics to know Princeton doesn’t serve marginalized communities.”

The time is now: Princeton, make African Studies a concentration

“Many students, including myself, want to further educate ourselves on the continent of Africa’s history, cultures, politics, and languages. The University urgently needs to expand African Studies into a department to not only benefit students of African descent but Princeton students as a collective.”

“Many students, including myself, want to further educate ourselves on the continent of Africa’s history, cultures, politics, and languages. The University urgently needs to expand African Studies into a department to not only benefit students of African descent but Princeton students as a collective.” 

Princeton’s anomalous level of enrollment: Unpacking this statistic

“I believe that Princeton’s relatively steady enrollment this past year is closely tied to the immense privilege of receiving a Princeton education. That students can decide in tough times that the exorbitant cost of a Princeton education is still worth it, or perhaps that students do not even have to ask themselves this question, illustrates how precious our education really is.”  

“I believe that Princeton’s relatively steady enrollment this past year is closely tied to the immense privilege of receiving a Princeton education. That students can decide in tough times that the exorbitant cost of a Princeton education is still worth it, or perhaps that students do not even have to ask themselves this question, illustrates how precious our education really is.”  

How we can learn from the Michigan shooting to age responsibly

“We must age responsibly and not let the apathy of adulthood pervade our commitment to protecting the next generation of Americans; this is a commitment that may take form in attending more gun control rallies, engaging with local politicians in support of gun reform, or simply maintaining our rage at the continuity of gun violence in our country and empathy for its young victims.”

“We must age responsibly and not let the apathy of adulthood pervade our commitment to protecting the next generation of Americans; this is a commitment that may take form in attending more gun control rallies, engaging with local politicians in support of gun reform, or simply maintaining our rage at the continuity of gun violence in our country and empathy for its young victims.”

On loss, grief, and not being okay: The toxic ‘constant productivity’ mindset at Princeton

“When we tell others that ‘it’s okay to not be okay,‘ we must take care to understand that grief has no deadlines, no time limits, and no regard for productivity. We must challenge the toxic Princeton culture of ‘powering through’ pain, and instead learn to give ourselves a chance to heal from the pain which left us not okay in the first place.”

“When we tell others that ‘it’s okay to not be okay,‘ we must take care to understand that grief has no deadlines, no time limits, and no regard for productivity. We must challenge the toxic Princeton culture of ‘powering through’ pain, and instead learn to give ourselves a chance to heal from the pain which left us not okay in the first place.”

Princeton should stay test optional, for now

“There are valid arguments both for and against standardized tests, but given longstanding claims about promoting diversity and inclusion, continuing this test-optional experiment for another year will shed light on the best practices for the future.”

“There are valid arguments both for and against standardized tests, but given longstanding claims about promoting diversity and inclusion, continuing this test-optional experiment for another year will shed light on the best practices for the future.”

Someone doesn’t think you have time to read this

“The combination of institutional and peer pressure to view academic productivity as paramount harms us all, and has only intensified during the pandemic. But the reality is that we are more than our roles as students. We need time away from academics.”

“The combination of institutional and peer pressure to view academic productivity as paramount harms us all, and has only intensified during the pandemic. But the reality is that we are more than our roles as students. We need time away from academics.”

Against unnecessary applications

“As Princeton students, our instinct is to be active members of the community and participate in many activities ... Yet the number of applications, coupled with our rigorous schedules, dissuades us from participating (or exploring) as much as we want to.”

“As Princeton students, our instinct is to be active members of the community and participate in many activities ... Yet the number of applications, coupled with our rigorous schedules, dissuades us from participating (or exploring) as much as we want to.”  

Been here, now where: Making sense of November 2021

“My hope is that as we think about where to go from here, we take some of these important lessons from November with us — that way we can heal, prioritize our community well being, and radically create spaces where Black lives do, in fact, matter.”

“My hope is that as we think about where to go from here, we take some of these important lessons from November with us — that way we can heal, prioritize our community well being, and radically create spaces where Black lives do, in fact, matter.”

Let’s stop giving grades

“As one of the most prestigious universities in the country, we have an opportunity to revolutionize the way we assess learning, and demonstrate that Princeton students are highly capable simply by virtue of attending this school because they are, regardless of anything that grades could say about them.”

“As one of the most prestigious universities in the country, we have an opportunity to revolutionize the way we assess learning, and demonstrate that Princeton students are highly capable simply by virtue of attending this school because they are, regardless of anything that grades could say about them.”

Letter to the Editor: A response to the Abigail Shrier event

“We should harbor no delusions about what Shrier and her ilk are actually doing. They are capitalizing on the present stigma against transgender people in order to profit financially and politically.”

“We should harbor no delusions about what Shrier and her ilk are actually doing. They are capitalizing on the present stigma against transgender people in order to profit financially and politically.”

Defending rigorous and truthful reporting

“Whether or not the POCC and Tory reverse their decision, we will — as we do with all of our reporting — take measures to ensure the story is as comprehensively and truthfully covered as possible and upholds high journalistic standards.”

“Whether or not the POCC and Tory reverse their decision, we will — as we do with all of our reporting — take measures to ensure the story is as comprehensively and truthfully covered as possible and upholds high journalistic standards.”

The cost of COVID-19 isolation

“The new normal may not look like it looked in 2019, but it cannot include the perpetual isolation of the infected.”