Opinion

Princeton failed its students

“The University’s response to the pandemic has been defined by an incessant prodding of students to perform, a lack of transparency, and a purely reactive attempt at response.”

“The University’s response to the pandemic has been defined by an incessant prodding of students to perform, a lack of transparency, and a purely reactive attempt at response.”

Princeton owes the families of the MOVE bombing victims answers

“It is simply not enough to assert, as has a University spokesperson, that nothing ‘improper is currently taking place at Princeton.’ The victims of the MOVE bombing, their families, and those of us at Princeton invested in Black history and communities deserve more.”

“It is simply not enough to assert, as has a University spokesperson, that nothing ‘improper is currently taking place at Princeton.’ The victims of the MOVE bombing, their families, and those of us at Princeton invested in Black history and communities deserve more.”

Let us be the generation that ends exclusionary zoning

Ditching exclusionary zoning is an obvious step to take in solving America’s housing crisis. Our communities can truly be inclusive and ensure opportunity for all people, particularly people of color who have borne the brunt of exclusionary zoning for far too long. Embracing this vision may even help us finally get serious about solving our most intractable political problems.   

Major League Baseball was right to condemn Georgia’s voting law. It shouldn’t have left the state.

“If MLB truly wanted to stop the attack on voting rights it should not have relocated — it should have just stayed in Georgia.”

“If MLB truly wanted to stop the attack on voting rights it should not have relocated — it should have just stayed in Georgia.”

Thus Spoke The Undergrads: On being a filthy cheater

“As a friend of the girlfriend’s, you should share what you know. Yet your role as a confidant means you agreed to keep your friend’s secret quiet. If they thought you would share it with their girlfriend, they probably would not have told you that they were cheating. In this situation, obligation gives us no decisive answer about what you should do.”  

“As a friend of the girlfriend’s, you should share what you know. Yet your role as a confidant means you agreed to keep your friend’s secret quiet. If they thought you would share it with their girlfriend, they probably would not have told you that they were cheating. In this situation, obligation gives us no decisive answer about what you should do.”  

Stop nominating the class president for the 1903 Prize

“I think for once, we should recognize our everyday heroes for what they do, especially in a year where we have seen the power of people coming together in the face of adversity: the people who mentor us, commit to service, treat others compassionately, or lead by example virtuously. When I think of who fulfills these qualities, I don’t immediately think of the student government officers.”

“I think for once, we should recognize our everyday heroes for what they do, especially in a year where we have seen the power of people coming together in the face of adversity: the people who mentor us, commit to service, treat others compassionately, or lead by example virtuously. When I think of who fulfills these qualities, I don’t immediately think of the student government officers.”

Princeton, give us a break

“I am calling for the University to cancel classes — in order to give students time to recover from what is among the most difficult semesters in our Princeton careers — and to impose a University-wide extension for academic assignments for this semester. We can already see the signs of extreme fatigue due to the unrealistic expectations of this term. The University must do something about it.”

“I am calling for the University to cancel classes — in order to give students time to recover from what is among the most difficult semesters in our Princeton careers — and to impose a University-wide extension for academic assignments for this semester. We can already see the signs of extreme fatigue due to the unrealistic expectations of this term. The University must do something about it.”

Why the full, careful review of divestment proposal matters

“I know that some in the University community are eager for the consideration of this proposal to move more quickly or to conclude by a symbolic date, such as Earth Day. However, this process is designed to ensure divestment and disassociation proposals receive a full, careful review, with input from stakeholders across the University community. This careful consideration is what defines the process and what any divestment/dissociation discussion deserves. “

“I know that some in the University community are eager for the consideration of this proposal to move more quickly or to conclude by a symbolic date, such as Earth Day. However, this process is designed to ensure divestment and disassociation proposals receive a full, careful review, with input from stakeholders across the University community. This careful consideration is what defines the process and what any divestment/dissociation discussion deserves.”

This Earth Day, lend your voice to the animals

“Let’s dedicate this Earth Day to the animals who have always had it much harder than humans, especially in this past year. ”

“Let’s dedicate this Earth Day to the animals who have always had it much harder than humans, especially in this past year.”

Blue-green algae in the Finger Lakes: A problem the ‘Orange Bubble’ should care about

“The impacts of climate change are not isolated, one-off events. They are not limited to hurricanes in the Gulf, or wildfires in the West, or melting ice caps in the Arctic. Climate change is not some distant, imminent issue that our grandchildren will have to live with. Climate change is an issue that requires urgent, immediate action.”

“The impacts of climate change are not isolated, one-off events. They are not limited to hurricanes in the Gulf, or wildfires in the West, or melting ice caps in the Arctic. Climate change is not some distant, imminent issue that our grandchildren will have to live with. Climate change is an issue that requires urgent, immediate action.”

Professor Whittington, Hear Students Speak Freely

“This University to which we all belong serves as an ideal place for a rich and complex debate about the future of the Supreme Court.”

“This University to which we all belong serves as an ideal place for a rich and complex debate about the future of the Supreme Court.”

Ask for the damn extension

“If an opportunity to make these next few weeks less miserable for you arises, take it. And don’t you dare apologize for it.”

“If an opportunity to make these next few weeks less miserable for you arises, take it. And don’t you dare apologize for it.”

The reality of imposter syndrome in the COVID-19 era

“At a time when students, including myself, find themselves questioning their validity, high-achieving universities should emphasize the importance of rest instead of adding to students’ stress.” 

“At a time when students, including myself, find themselves questioning their validity, high-achieving universities should emphasize the importance of rest instead of adding to students’ stress.”  

Princeton needs to explain its COVID-19 policies

If the University wants students to buy into its COVID-19 mitigation protocols, it must ensure they are realistic and well-reasoned, as well as properly and proactively explained.  

Why Princeton students should support #ANewDeal4HigherEd

“Sky-rocketing tuition costs and the student debt crisis are the most obvious and talked-about effects of slashed investment in public higher education, but these are far from the only impacts on students’ collegiate experience. Cuts to state funding for higher education have also generated a total overhaul of university fiscal management policies. Gone are the days when university departments were funded simply on the premise that education itself was a public good.”

“Sky-rocketing tuition costs and the student debt crisis are the most obvious and talked-about effects of slashed investment in public higher education, but these are far from the only impacts on students’ collegiate experience. Cuts to state funding for higher education have also generated a total overhaul of university fiscal management policies. Gone are the days when university departments were funded simply on the premise that education itself was a public good.” 

There’s no crying (cancel culture) in baseball

“The question isn’t whether leagues like MLB should involve themselves in politics, but how they should leverage the role they already play. Every institution has a responsibility to act to protect voting rights as they come under increasing threat nationwide.” 

“The question isn’t whether leagues like MLB should involve themselves in politics, but how they should leverage the role they already play. Every institution has a responsibility to act to protect voting rights as they come under increasing threat nationwide.” 

Re-engineering Princeton’s language requirement

“Perhaps one day colleges will reform their curricula to reflect the universal importance of non-English language acquisition in such a way that does not unduly burden B.S.E. students. But until that day, introductory level language courses should count towards B.S.E. humanities and social sciences requirements at Princeton.”

“Perhaps one day colleges will reform their curricula to reflect the universal importance of non-English language acquisition in such a way that does not unduly burden B.S.E. students. But until that day, introductory level language courses should count towards B.S.E. humanities and social sciences requirements at Princeton.”

How much is Princeton’s contract with Exxon worth? Why does it matter?

“We must be aware of potential conflicts of interest at the University not only so that Princeton can produce good research, but so it can make conflict-free decisions about its own investments. For Princeton, it is much easier to quietly accept money than to deal with public scrutiny over its choice of research partners.”  

“We must be aware of potential conflicts of interest at the University not only so that Princeton can produce good research, but so it can make conflict-free decisions about its own investments. For Princeton, it is much easier to quietly accept money than to deal with public scrutiny over its choice of research partners.”  

When you silence Asian pain, you light us all on fire

“Today, I'm still wearing my KF94 mask to protect others, but I’ve shed my other mask — the one I wore to convince myself and others that the flames weren’t real. They are real, and the world is on fire — both literally, but also within the millions of minds that white supremacy and racial capitalism set ablaze centuries ago.”

“Today, I'm still wearing my KF94 mask to protect others, but I’ve shed my other mask — the one I wore to convince myself and others that the flames weren’t real. They are real, and the world is on fire — both literally, but also within the millions of minds that white supremacy and racial capitalism set ablaze centuries ago.”

Confronting Gerrymandering: The Power of Just Data

“It is not enough to take data points as unequivocal truths without questioning the structures that create them. The progress of marginalized communities, from criminal justice reform to electoral reform, rests on being able to achieve this level of contextualization.”

“It is not enough to take data points as unequivocal truths without questioning the structures that create them. The progress of marginalized communities, from criminal justice reform to electoral reform, rests on being able to achieve this level of contextualization.”