Opinion

What is a Princeton degree really for?

So what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.

So what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.

If there’s one survey you fill out this year, make it the Year End Assessment

The University cares about collecting good data — but it needs to centralize its efforts.

The University cares about collecting good data — but it needs to centralize its efforts.

In defense of ChatGPT

Complete avoidance of AI is not a solution to the issue Johnson rightfully points out. Avoidance merely leaves us ignorant, standing still in a moving world. On the contrary, Princeton students should discuss the use of AI tools in education with honesty and open-mindedness and consider it a novel tool as opposed to a morally objectionable scourge.

Complete avoidance of AI is not a solution to the issue Johnson rightfully points out. Avoidance merely leaves us ignorant, standing still in a moving world. On the contrary, Princeton students should discuss the use of AI tools in education with honesty and open-mindedness and consider it a novel tool as opposed to a morally objectionable scourge.

Who’s self-censoring at college now?

Conservatives today must choose their cause: free speech or authoritarianism? Throughout history, the only leaders who cheered the downfall of universities and intellectualism were authoritarians interested in suppressing political dissent.

Conservatives today must choose their cause: free speech or authoritarianism? Throughout history, the only leaders who cheered the downfall of universities and intellectualism were authoritarians interested in suppressing political dissent.

In an age of anti-intellectualism, embrace the humanities

Expanding the humanities is imperative because they train students to recognize the value of knowledge regardless of where and whether it is applied — something sorely needed given the state of American culture.

Expanding the humanities is imperative because they train students to recognize the value of knowledge regardless of where and whether it is applied — something sorely needed given the state of American culture.

Amplify the student voice in the Faculty-Student Committee on Discipline

Having a student-centered disciplinary process that understands root issues will allow for a more empathetic, fair adjudication of an inherently difficult process.

Having a student-centered disciplinary process that understands root issues will allow for a more empathetic, fair adjudication of an inherently difficult process.

Workers will suffer under Trump. Let’s implement a living wage.

Our service workers are real people with the same fundamental needs as our student population. If we can afford to give our students hundreds of millions in aid, we can surely afford to pay our staff members — who are equally crucial to the Princeton community — a decent and fair wage.

Our service workers are real people with the same fundamental needs as our student population. If we can afford to give our students hundreds of millions in aid, we can surely afford to pay our staff members — who are equally crucial to the Princeton community — a decent and fair wage.

Singing a new song for Westminster Choir College

In the face of rising housing insecurity and the court-mandated construction quota, the municipality must take advantage of the recent availability of Westminster campus with affordable housing in mind.

Princeton needs to take academic breaks seriously

If the University is serious about fixing the mental health crisis on-campus, they must develop preventative and proactive solutions alongside reactive ones. That means taking student well-being and rest seriously. Academic breaks where students have time to recoup from weeks of stress must be as restful as possible.

If the University is serious about fixing the mental health crisis on-campus, they must develop preventative and proactive solutions alongside reactive ones. That means taking student well-being and rest seriously. Academic breaks where students have time to recoup from weeks of stress must be as restful as possible

5Terra Advisory must distance itself from human rights abuses

It’s clear that 5Terra is making the wrong choice by failing to fully investigate their own plans and attempting to build a talent pipeline between students and PIF companies, putting Princeton’s values of service and ethical leadership at risk by wading into possible involvement in human rights abuses.

It’s clear that 5Terra is making the wrong choice by failing to fully investigate their own plans and attempting to build a talent pipeline between students and PIF companies, putting Princeton’s values of service and ethical leadership at risk by wading into possible involvement in human rights abuses.

Didn’t draw into your residential college? This rule says you probably can’t next year, either.

Rising seniors who apply to their college’s draw receive an additional 0.1 points to their draw weight for every year they’ve lived in their college, ensuring that those who successfully drew in in their junior year get priority. The University must abolish this unreasonable rule to restore fairness to the room draw process.

Rising seniors who apply to their college’s draw receive an additional 0.1 points to their draw weight for every year they’ve lived in their college, ensuring that those who successfully drew in in their junior year get priority. The University must abolish this unreasonable rule to restore fairness to the room draw process.

Princeton, stop using ChatGPT

When chatbot tools like ChatGPT are consistently used in place of basic critical thinking and simple mental tasks, we lose our ability to complete these tasks ourselves.

When chatbot tools like ChatGPT are consistently used in place of basic critical thinking and simple mental tasks, we lose our ability to complete these tasks ourselves.

Princeton students must be open-minded judges

Judges, like Justice Sotomayor, are obligated by the constraints of their roles to be impartial. Princeton students have no such obligation — we are not detached interpreters of the Constitution but rather active political agents. While our backgrounds and values rightfully shape our political views, we shouldn’t let that inhibit our ability to listen to other perspectives.

Judges, like Justice Sotomayor, are obligated by the constraints of their roles to be impartial. Princeton students have no such obligation — we are not detached interpreters of the Constitution but rather active political agents. While our backgrounds and values rightfully shape our political views, we shouldn’t let that inhibit our ability to listen to other perspectives.

Academic receivership is a university process, not a government decision

The federal government is attempting to take control of private academic institutions. In principle, this feels much more akin to nationalization, or condemnation –– terms that refer to government repossession of private enterprise.

The federal government is attempting to take control of private academic institutions. In principle, this feels much more akin to nationalization, or condemnation –– terms that refer to government repossession of private enterprise.

Princeton must equitably compensate student orientation leaders

Orientation student leaders do vital work that shapes the earliest moments of the Princeton undergraduate experience. They build community, support new students, and ease the transition into college. If we value that labor, then the institution must reflect that value tangibly.

The real outside agitators

It is not Marschall who bothers me most, although he certainly bothers me quite a bit. It’s the conditions that allow for Marschall to cause great harm and strain to the University — including the Trump administration and the right-wing media machine — even though he is not affiliated with it.

It is not Marschall who bothers me most, although he certainly bothers me quite a bit. It’s the conditions that allow for Marschall to cause great harm and strain to the University — including the Trump administration and the right-wing media machine — even though he is not affiliated with it.

Admitted activists, come to Princeton

Class of 2029, I ask you to come to campus with the conviction that activism can work and a willingness to participate. Those of us who are already here will have the plan.

Class of 2029, I ask you to come to campus with the conviction that activism can work and a willingness to participate. Those of us who are already here will have the plan.

Academic freedom is not mutually exclusive from supporting students

The work of fostering a pluralistic academic environment is not just about allowing speech — it’s about listening and responding to its impact with care and integrity.

The work of fostering a pluralistic academic environment is not just about allowing speech — it’s about listening and responding to its impact with care and integrity.

Reactions: What advice do you have for the Class of 2029?

Our Opinion writers reflect on their own Princeton experience, considering what they would have done differently and offering advice for incoming Princetonians. 

Our Opinion writers reflect on their own Princeton experience, considering what they would have done differently and offering advice for incoming Princetonians. 

Princeton needs liquidity now more than ever

I believe preservation of capital and significant liquidity should be Princeton’s guiding principle. Most importantly, there should be greater light shone on the endowment and how it is invested.

I believe preservation of capital and significant liquidity should be Princeton’s guiding principle. Most importantly, there should be greater light shone on the endowment and how it is invested.