Opinion

On institutional neutrality and double-standards

blue sky in front of a wide area with stone floors and steps and a fountain with water coming out of it. There are also buildings at the back.

On institutional neutrality and double-standards

Matthew Wilson

For universities that have publicly strayed from the bounds of nonsectarian impartiality in favor of ideological bias and moralizing partisanship in the past, feigned neutrality or a selective reluctance to speak out now is totally unacceptable and reeks of an underlying moral and ethical rot.

OPINION | 11/21/2023

The University needs more transparency in how it funds religious life

Pumpkins line a stone path to a brown stone building. There are trees and bushes framing the building.

The University needs more transparency in how it funds religious life

Christie Davis

“Transparency about alumni donations to student-run religious organizations at Princeton University is essential for promoting fairness, inclusivity, accountability, and ethical compliance.”

OPINION | 11/19/2023

Reactions: What should we learn from the New Jersey elections?

Blue sign advertising political candidates stands against a white marble building.

Reactions: What should we learn from the New Jersey elections?

Vincent Jiang, Preston Ferraiuolo, Brian Hegarty, Thomas Buckley, and Wynne Conger

“Civic engagement is a key component of Princeton life — we decided to ask our politically inclined columnists to reflect on the recent elections and chronicle a race, ballot, or result that they found particularly impactful.”

"To mark these recent elections, we asked our politically inclined columnists to reflect on the most recent NJ Elections and chronicle a race, ballot, or result that they found particularly impactful."

OPINION | 11/17/2023

Lengthen time between classes

Lengthen time between classes

Aidan Gouley

Given Princeton's focus on both the sciences and interdisciplinary education — and to foster a campus environment adapted to the campus's expansion and construction challenges — the University should lengthen passing time to 20 minutes. With extra time, students can realize the full potential of a Princeton education.

With greater focus on both the sciences and interdisciplinary education and fostering a campus environment well-suited to the modern University, lengthening passing time to 20 minutes enables the realization of the full potential of a Princeton education.

OPINION | 11/16/2023

Pride Alliance: Trans Princetonians aren’t going anywhere

Pride Alliance: Trans Princetonians aren’t going anywhere

Guest Contributors

"We are your classmates, friends, preceptors, teachers, and colleagues. We have always been here and are committed to trans futures at Princeton. Come stand with us."

OPINION | 11/14/2023

Why is everyone here ‘middle class’?

A mansion can be seen behind the garden.

Why is everyone here ‘middle class’?

Siyeon Lee

While there are certainly many ways to be middle-class, including both social and economic factors, it clearly doesn’t apply to those in the top five percent of America’s income earners, as half of this year’s Frosh Survey respondents whose families earn over $500k annually suggested.

While there are certainly many ways to be middle-class, including both social and economic factors, it clearly doesn't apply to those in the top 5% of America’s income earners, as half of this year's Frosh Survey respondents whose families earn over 500k annually suggested.

OPINION | 11/13/2023

Recognize women’s athletic achievements with a bonfire too

Morrison hall covered in flags of years that Princeton has had a bonfire.

Recognize women’s athletic achievements with a bonfire too

Abigail Rabieh

“Celebrating only the football team sends the message that football is Princeton’s most important sport; that their successes, and only their successes, are worth the entire school’s attention, and that they take priority over both other men’s teams and all women’s teams.”

OPINION | 11/12/2023

Princeton should give a day off for Veterans Day

Man in camouflage uniform at a podium, speaking to an audience sitting in a wood-paneled room.

Princeton should give a day off for Veterans Day

Prince Takano

“A day off for Veterans Day is more than just a moment of rest; it is a collective acknowledgment of the immeasurable contributions and sacrifices of our veterans.”

"A day off for Veterans Day is more than just a moment of rest; it is a collective acknowledgment of the immeasurable contributions and sacrifices of our veterans."

OPINION | 11/09/2023

Letter to the Editor: How we remember campus activism matters

Beige building with ivy covering it. Trees with yellow leaves surround the building.

Letter to the Editor: How we remember campus activism matters

David Chmielewski

“Ignoring these vital histories, and discussing the legacy of campus politics through the myopic lens of the present obsession with abstract debates over free speech exposes just how limited political imagination has become since past activism.”

"Focusing solely on free speech prevents us from truly reflecting on Princeton’s political and activist history."

OPINION | 11/09/2023

Letter to the Editor: Setting the record straight on disturbing incidents at the recent pro-Palestine protest

A crowd of people stands on the sidewalk and in the street, holding up posters and Palestinian flags.

Letter to the Editor: Setting the record straight on disturbing incidents at the recent pro-Palestine protest

Eden Bendory and Estelle Botton

“Princeton’s campus should serve as a safe haven for Jewish students, not an institution that turns a blind eye to antisemitic slurs and chants occurring right on its doorstep.”

"Princeton’s campus should serve as a safe haven for Jewish students, not an institution that turns a blind eye to antisemitic slurs and chants occurring right on its doorstep."

OPINION | 11/09/2023

African American studies is meant for everyone

Students walk through an archway during the day.

African American studies is meant for everyone

Siyeon Lee

“Instead of conceiving of AAS as a department only for Black students to learn about their history, we should recognize that studying African American history and culture enables Princeton students to learn to engage with their own and others’ humanity.”

"Instead of conceiving of AAS as a department only for Black students to learn about their history, we should recognize that studying African American history and culture enables Princeton students to learn to engage with their own and others’ humanity."

OPINION | 11/08/2023

Princeton’s luxury discourages public service

A festival is held under white tents in between the structures of Yeh College and New College West with many students walking around.

Princeton’s luxury discourages public service

Frances Brogan

"By being conscious of the opulence that surrounds us, we can avoid internalizing a belief that our degrees and academic achievement make us more deserving of a high quality of life."

OPINION | 11/07/2023

Reactions: Which professors should I follow?

Light filters through green leaves and falls on an old arch.

Reactions: Which professors should I follow?

Vincent Jiang, Christopher Lidard, Sophia Zuo, Eleanor Clemans-Cope, Prince Takano, and Wynne Conger

Considering the correlation of professors’ fame with their teaching and their work, we asked our columnists which professors’ work students should follow.

OPINION | 11/06/2023

Princeton has a construction problem. Now it’s affecting the student experience.

Construction on Hobson college is seen with a rainbow in the corner.

Princeton has a construction problem. Now it’s affecting the student experience.

Chloe Cresswell

"Along with inefficient routes and longer walk times, the campus’ sheer size post-expansion is resulting in an increasingly disjointed community. The larger campus becomes, the more disconnected down-campus students are from their up-campus counterparts."

OPINION | 11/05/2023

Princeton’s mail services should be more transparent

People sit on benches underneath trees that are turning orange and yellow in the Fall.

Princeton’s mail services should be more transparent

Davis Hobley

“The Princeton mail system is currently confusing, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Most of the issues with the system seem to be easy fixes, especially notifying students when they receive paper mail.”

"The Princeton mail system is currently confusing, but it doesn't need to be that way. Most of the issues with the system seem to be easy fixes, especially notifying students when they receive paper mail."

OPINION | 11/03/2023

Since I aired my criticisms, my plans to contribute to the Princeton community have gone awry

An imposing stone building lit from within at night.

Since I aired my criticisms, my plans to contribute to the Princeton community have gone awry

Leonard Milberg

“Eisgruber has denied events and donations that would be incredibly beneficial to Jewish as well as other Princeton students — and in doing so, has limited my own freedom of expression. These actions only hurt the Princeton community.”

OPINION | 11/03/2023

Bicker is not beyond saving

A photo of Tiger Inn, an eating club at Princeton built in the Tudor Revival architectural style.

Bicker is not beyond saving

David Smith

The time has come for Bicker to evolve, and the appropriate adjustments have the potential to transform it into a positive force in Princeton’s social milieu.

OPINION | 11/02/2023

Economic suffocation in the Orange Bubble

A street, lined with shops, cars, and evenly spaced trees, on a cloudy day.

Economic suffocation in the Orange Bubble

Wynne Conger

Princeton’s current endowment trumps the GDP of many countries, yet if its property continues to expand, the orange bubble may be fundamentally unable to sustain itself. Princeton University needs to accordingly reevaluate the degree to which it influences the surrounding municipality, decrease its accelerated construction, and fundamentally restructure its contributions to the local neighborhoods.

Princeton’s current endowment trumps the GDP of most countries, yet if its property continues to expand, the orange bubble may be fundamentally unable to sustain itself. Princeton University needs to accordingly reevaluate the degree to which it influences the surrounding municipality, decrease its accelerated construction, and fundamentally restructure its contributions to the surrounding infrastructure.

OPINION | 11/01/2023

For more socioeconomic diversity at Princeton, going test-optional is the wrong place to start

Jackson Baldrate

"Removing the SAT and ACT requirement is not the answer to increase socioeconomic diversity at Princeton. Standardized testing scores are the one objective admissions metric that is least biased towards wealthy students and is most helpful in identifying students who did not have the opportunity to take advanced coursework, participate in expensive activities, or enhance their application through attendance at prestigious high schools."

An image of Nassau Hall, Princeton's administrative center.

OPINION | 11/01/2023

Why mandated majors at Princeton don't work

A student faces two people sitting at a table underneath an orange tent. On the lawn, there are concentration banners including Music and Physics.

Why mandated majors at Princeton don't work

Rishi Khanna

“Concentrations are far from necessary for a comprehensive academic experience at the University. From personal experience, despite enjoying many department courses as a Politics major, the majority of my most formative academic experiences came from classes in multiple other departments: Sociology, African American Studies, Computer Science, Journalism, and more.”

OPINION | 10/31/2023

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