Opinion

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.”

Letter to the Editor: Pyne Prize nominations

“I write to solicit nominations for the Pyne Prize, the highest general distinction the University confers upon an undergraduate.”

“I write to solicit nominations for the Pyne Prize, the highest general distinction the University confers upon an undergraduate.”

Vote for Takeuchi, yes on midterm grading referendum

“The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board endorses Mayu Takeuchi ’23 for USG president and supports the one referendum on the ballot.”

“The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board endorses Mayu Takeuchi ’23 for USG president and supports the one referendum on the ballot.”

Moving up without losing your winter break: International students’ fight for home

“In the spirit of inclusiveness and understanding, the least we are owed by the administration is compassion and an active effort to provide more reasonable options.”

Princeton must implement further restrictions to mitigate COVID-19 spread

“To mitigate the spread of the virus, Princeton must take further action, including transitioning to entirely grab-and-go dining, making all finals take-home, and mandating the booster shot.” 

“To mitigate the spread of the virus, Princeton must take further action, including transitioning to entirely grab-and-go dining, making all finals take-home, and mandating the booster shot.” 

Student apathy towards USG has real consequences

“The senate [has] the power to make the University a better place in some ways. But in order to have the greatest impact, students must understand what USG can actually do and elect candidates who have a history of making progress on those issues.”

“The senate [has] the power to make the University a better place in some ways. But in order to have the greatest impact, students must understand what USG can actually do and elect candidates who have a history of making progress on those issues.” 

COVID-19 is here forever: Princeton’s administration needs to start acting like it

“Short of living like hermits, many epidemiologists agree that most of us will likely get some variant or another of COVID-19 at least once in our lifetimes. As such, there is no cogent reason for the University to continue imposing heavy-handed ‘emergency measures.’”

“Short of living like hermits, many epidemiologists agree that most of us will likely get some variant or another of COVID-19 at least once in our lifetimes. As such, there is no cogent reason for the University to continue imposing heavy-handed ‘emergency measures.’”

Gaslight, gatekeep: Creative writing at Princeton

“The Program in Creative Writing still requires applications for all of its classes, including introductory ones, and most of the literary publications on campus require applications as well. There is also this stark white reality, both figuratively and often demographically: creative writing at Princeton is pretentious and centered on ways of writing that descend from Western ‘high art’ traditions construed as objectively superior to all other forms.” 

“The Program in Creative Writing still requires applications for all of its classes, including introductory ones, and most of the literary publications on campus require applications as well. There is also this stark white reality, both figuratively and often demographically: creative writing at Princeton is pretentious and centered on ways of writing that descend from Western ‘high art’ traditions construed as objectively superior to all other forms.”  

Princeton’s COVID-19 communications are dangerously ambiguous

“For the sake of public health, the University must be precise in its communications, and [the recent communications on updated COVID-19 policies are] only the latest example of its failure on that front — a failure which ultimately harms students.”

“For the sake of public health, the University must be precise in its communications, and [the recent communications on updated COVID-19 policies are] only the latest example of its failure on that front — a failure which ultimately harms students.”

Letter to the editor: lessons from the bonfire

“There are lots of things to be cynical about in the world right now. There are all kinds of work to be done here on campus, in Princeton, and everywhere else where humanity comes with no promise of perfection. We could divide up as athletes and non-athletes, as occurs on many college campuses. But we have the opportunity here to do it differently — to respect and learn from every member of this community, their stories, and their experiences.”  

“There are lots of things to be cynical about in the world right now. There are all kinds of work to be done here on campus, in Princeton, and everywhere else where humanity comes with no promise of perfection. We could divide up as athletes and non-athletes, as occurs on many college campuses. But we have the opportunity here to do it differently — to respect and learn from every member of this community, their stories, and their experiences.”  

Sorry, Witherspoon, you need to go

“Although statues preserve memory, they inherently glorify it as well. Memories can be preserved in so many ways; if shady statues of historical figures must exist for the sake of reflection, then they should be in museums rather than on an open campus.”

“Although statues preserve memory, they inherently glorify it as well. Memories can be preserved in so many ways; if shady statues of historical figures must exist for the sake of reflection, then they should be in museums rather than on an open campus.”

There is no asterisk, Tigers

“I’m here to tell you that Princeton’s 18–16 win over Harvard was completely legit, that the officials’ call was correct and appropriate under the NCAA’s rules, and that the bonfire on Cannon Green — and Princeton’s Ivy League Championship — was totally deserved.”

“I’m here to tell you that Princeton’s 18–16 win over Harvard was completely legit, that the officials’ call was correct and appropriate under the NCAA’s rules, and that the bonfire on Cannon Green — and Princeton’s Ivy League Championship — was totally deserved.”