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Opinion

Stone library building with green trees and black lamppost in the foreground on a sunny, blue-skied spring day.

Princeton’s mindless pursuit of academic rigor undermines student flourishing

“We must embrace a paradigm shift in how we think about rigor at Princeton: how can we eliminate all hard things that provide low value for students so that they can instead push themselves in areas — academic or extracurricular — that matter most?”

“We must embrace a paradigm shift in how we think about rigor at Princeton: how can we eliminate all hard things that provide low value for students so that they can instead push themselves in areas — academic or extracurricular — that matter most?”

OPINION | 10/30/2023

A photo of a lecture hall, with balcony seating and large gothic windows.

Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies should be a mandatory class

“GSS 201 not only taught me a lot about how to interact with people from different backgrounds and communities, but it also taught me how to reflect on newfound knowledge at the end of a course, which I have since translated into all of my courses at Princeton.”

“GSS 201 not only taught me a lot about how to interact with people from different backgrounds and communities, but it also taught me how to reflect on newfound knowledge at the end of a course, which I have since translated into all of my courses at Princeton.”

OPINION | 10/29/2023

White building with modernist spires with corner profile on clear blue day next to a red brick building.

Israel and international law: Correcting the record

Thanks to Hamas, many of Gaza’s innocent will perish. This is a tragedy of the highest possible order. But the blame rests with Hamas — both as a matter of common sense and as a matter of “international law.”

Thanks to Hamas, many of Gaza’s innocent will perish. This is a tragedy of the highest possible order. But the blame rests with Hamas — both as a matter of common sense and as a matter of “international law.”

OPINION | 10/27/2023

Standing behind a protestor wearing a green work vest, a keffiyeh, and holding a Palestinian flag, a man wraps himself in an Israeli flag on the steps in front of Nassau Hall.

Letter to the Editor: I am the man who stood wrapped in an Israeli flag, and this is why

“This is the nature of the freedom of speech — the ability to talk, to protest — even if it is uncomfortable to some people. This is a sacred right, and for this reason it should have limits.”

"This is the nature of the freedom of speech, the ability to talk, to protest, even if it is uncomfortable to some people. This is a sacred right, and for this reason it should have limits."

OPINION | 10/27/2023

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A person wearing a scarf and white shirt stands with their back to the camera holding the flag of Israel. In the background a group of students walk by.

Jewish students at Princeton: your life is resistance

Throughout Princeton’s history, Jewish students and their allies have encountered and will continue to face challenges similar to those of this week. It is essential to remain steadfast in your beliefs and well-deserved presence in the world, just as I and so many others have before you.

Throughout Princeton’s history, Jewish students and their allies have encountered and will continue to face challenges similar to those of this week. It is essential to remain steadfast in your beliefs and well-deserved presence in the world, just as I and so many others have before you.

OPINION | 10/26/2023

The side perspective of the front facade of a white marble building, its columns, and its steps. A crane is seen in the background.

The class council candidates are anonymous. Make them debate.

"Despite numerous posters around campus and various social media posts promoting the candidates, a randomly selected first-year would be unlikely to know the candidates’ names."

Despite numerous posters around campus and various social media posts promoting the candidates, a randomly selected first-year would be unlikely to know the candidates’ names.

OPINION | 10/25/2023

Nassau Hall dimly lit with warm lighting at dusk.

Princeton’s statement on Hamas stands in stark contrast with Ivy League peers’

Princeton’s proactive, morally unambiguous response focused on compassion and education in the service of humanity, a stark contrast to those of peer institutions. 

Princeton’s proactive, morally unambiguous response, focused on compassion and education in the service of humanity, constituted a stark contrast to those of peer institutions. 

OPINION | 10/25/2023

A metal art piece casting a shadow on a clear day.

Applying early to Princeton shouldn’t be a risk. Ditch restrictive early action.

Applying to Princeton early has become a privileged pathway, rewarding those with enough resources to take an application risk and shutting out those who want or need the security that Princeton’s ultra-competitive process can’t offer.

Applying to Princeton early has become a privileged pathway, rewarding those with enough resources to take an application risk and shutting out those who want or need the security that Princeton’s ultra-competitive process can’t offer.

OPINION | 10/25/2023

Building with large class windows and large wooden doors. Stone bench in front.

PGSU: ORFE students’ experiences demonstrate need for a union

“We do not need to wait for a change of heart from our departments or the Graduate School to create better research conditions for graduate students. We and many other graduate students are seeking legal protection and representation by forming a union.”

"We do not need to wait for a change of heart from our departments or the Graduate School to create better research conditions for graduate students. We and many other graduate students are seeking legal protection and representation by forming a union."

OPINION | 10/24/2023

City with buildings and rubble, with smoke rising.

Princeton and the massacre in Palestine: the danger of selective empathy

“I urge the wider campus community to acknowledge the Israeli government’s extermination of Palestinians as a reprehensible violation of human rights and hold the administration accountable for failing to do so.”

"I urge the wider campus community to acknowledge the Israeli government’s extermination of Palestinians as a reprehensible violation of human rights and hold the administration accountable for failing to do so."

OPINION | 10/24/2023

The tower of Nassau Hall is shown on the left and trees are shown on the right.

Beauty in bureaucracy: the argument for an expanded administration

“There are more people to hear our complaints and suggestions, and a greater number of pathways for student voices to travel all the way up to the desks of the people who can address our concerns”

"There are more people to hear our complaints and suggestions, and a greater number of pathways for student voices to travel all the way up to the desks of the people who can address our concerns"

OPINION | 10/24/2023

A white building with columns stands on a grassy hill in front of a brick building.

Statement of support for Dean Amaney Jamal from SPIA students and alumni

As current and former students from SPIA, we will not entertain the baseless and Islamophobic accusations leveled against Dean Amaney Jamal which deliberately ignore her clear, expressed stance on this issue. Dean Jamal has our full support as a professor and administrator, and her humanity is not up for debate. 

As current and former students from SPIA, we will not entertain the baseless and Islamophobic accusations leveled against Dean Amaney Jamal which deliberately ignore her clear, expressed stance on this issue. Dean Jamal has our full support as a professor and administrator, and her humanity is not up for debate. 

OPINION | 10/24/2023

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Letter to the Editor: Equality of ends is not a worthy goal

But even the project of trying to make Princeton students more “humble” insinuates an agenda of equal ends, which under the most charitable reading, is an outlandish impossibility. At worst, it is poisonous.

But even the project of trying to make Princeton students more “humble” insinuates an agenda of equal ends, which under the most charitable reading, is an outlandish impossibility. At worst, it is poisonous.

OPINION | 10/24/2023

Fountain in front of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

The law limits Israel’s response to Hamas

"There may be no situation anywhere that elicits more discord and debate on the Princeton campus than the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Finding a political solution has proven extraordinarily difficult. But we should all be able to agree on the importance of both sides respecting IHL."

There may be no situation anywhere that elicits more discord and debate on the Princeton campus than the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Finding a political solution has proven extraordinarily difficult. But we should all be able to agree on the importance of both sides respecting IHL.

OPINION | 10/24/2023

A red and white sign that says "service" is hung on a window into an interior room in Frist.

Princeton’s civic engagement issue is deeper than what a ‘service requirement’ can fix

When faced with a Princeton-related issue like students overwhelmingly going into industries that don’t “serve humanity,” it is natural to first look to the University for potential causes and solutions. But given that the problem is rooted in projected-earnings, a service requirement would not fix the problem. 

When faced with a Princeton-related issue like students overwhelmingly going into industries that don't "serve humanity," it is natural to first look to the University for potential causes and solutions. But given that the problem is rooted in projected-earnings, a service requirement would not fix the problem. 

OPINION | 10/23/2023

A stone sign engraved with "The Princeton Cemetery of Nassau Presbyterian Church" in front of a background of green grass and leafy green trees. Two American flags stand before the sign.

Letter to the Editor: A cemetery is not an attraction

"But Princeton Cemetery is like a church to me and others, a place where I often go to talk to and pray for my dearly departed son. No matter whom the USG will hire to stage the tour, there is something unseemly about a potential commercial tour for 25 University students amusing themselves in the dark by searching for “ghosts” with flashlights in a hallowed local place."

"But Princeton Cemetery is like a church to me and others, a place where I often go to talk to and pray for my dearly departed son. No matter whom the USG will hire to stage the tour, there is something unseemly about a potential commercial tour for 25 University students amusing themselves in the dark by searching for “ghosts” with flashlights in a hallowed local place."

OPINION | 10/22/2023