Opinion

Harnessing collective power to strengthen resolve: the purpose of marching

"Because the march so visibly demonstrated the sheer scale of people who are equally determined to work towards a safer future, the whole experience made clear that none of us are alone in wanting to do something about climate change, and that the fight isn’t over yet."

"Because the march so visibly demonstrated the sheer scale of people who are equally determined to work towards a safer future, the whole experience made clear that none of us are alone in wanting to do something about climate change, and that the fight isn’t over yet."

President Eisgruber, step up or step aside

The decision-makers who govern our Princeton lives – both Eisgruber and the Board of Trustees – are disconnected from the student body and don’t show a real interest in our most pressing problems, making it difficult to solve them. 

The decision-makers who govern our Princeton lives – both Eisgruber and the Board of Trustees – are disconnected from the student body and don’t show a real interest in our most pressing problems, making it difficult to solve them. 

Princeton must remain steadfast and transparent in its divestment commitments

"The Princeton community was encouraged by the promises made a year ago, but those words need to be followed up with bold action and true leadership."

"The Princeton community was encouraged by the promises made a year ago, but those words need to be followed up with bold action and true leadership."

Students won’t take COVID-19 tests unless University accommodations improve

“The University’s failure to provide resources for roommates can provoke resentment between friends and roommates, and detrimentally impact students’ living situations. Students are disincentivized from testing when the University neglects the most rudimentary needs of those in isolation.”

"The University’s failure to provide resources for roommates can provoke resentment between friends and roommates, and detrimentally impact students’ living situations. Students are disincentivized from testing when the University neglects the most rudimentary needs of those in isolation."

Worker safety under an orange sky

We have a new, unpredictable climate, which requires us to act. While we work to slash carbon emissions, we must also protect our campus communities from the heating that has already occurred — especially the people who make the University run but who we so often overlook. Stronger environmental safety measures represent a first step in that direction.

We have a new, unpredictable climate, which requires us to act. While we work to slash carbon emissions, we must also protect our campus communities from the heating that has already occurred – especially the people who make the University run, but who we so often overlook. Stronger environmental safety measures represent a strong first step in that direction.

College clubs need gatekeeping. That doesn’t mean they have to be cruel.

"As decision-makers, club leadership teams have a duty to make sure that our treasuries don’t run dry and that our businesses can keep operating. But we also have a duty to the prospective students hovering outside the door and peering inside."

Slow down to swim rather than sink into overflowing inboxes

Our University, steeped in tradition and knowledge, plays an active role in students’ lives — it is not merely a place where we learn; it is an environment in which we are permanently molded. The University’s vibrant community and myriad opportunities also make it a partner in our exploration. So could we, perhaps, imagine a Princeton that not just throws opportunities our way, but also helps us navigate them?

Our University, steeped in tradition and knowledge, plays an active role in students’ lives — it is not merely a place where we learn; it is an environment in which we are permanently molded. The University’s vibrant community and myriad opportunities also make it a partner in our exploration. So could we, perhaps, imagine a Princeton that not just throws opportunities our way, but also helps us navigate them?

No more taking pride in college rankings

There is a lot to be proud of at Princeton. But let’s not indulge in national college rankings that reward colleges for merely serving as refuge for the rich and a jumping-off platform for the less privileged.

There is a lot to be proud of at Princeton. But let us not indulge in national college rankings that reward colleges for merely serving as refuge for the rich and a jumping off platform for the less privileged.

Letter to the Editor: Tired tropes add nothing new to campus free speech discourse

“This campus climate — where students’ political leanings largely determine whether they feel comfortable expressing themselves — is what is truly ‘toxic and polarizing.’”

"This campus climate — where students’ political leanings largely determine whether they feel comfortable expressing themselves — is what is truly “toxic and polarizing.”"

Princeton must create an equitable experience for hijabis using communal bathrooms

“The experience of hijabi students in Princeton’s communal bathrooms points to the broader issue of unequal housing conditions on campus.”

"The experience of hijabi students in Princeton’s communal bathrooms points to the broader issue of unequal housing conditions on campus."

As Princeton expands, mental health care contracts

“Without a more-than-proportional increase in the counseling staff employed at CPS, students’ mental health care needs will continue to be unaddressed at Princeton.”

"Without a more-than-proportional increase in the counseling staff employed at CPS, students’ mental health care needs will continue to be unaddressed at Princeton."

Instead of banning scooters, improve TigerTransit

“Princeton must expand the TigerTransit system where undergrads need it the most: between residential colleges and academic buildings with a central Elm Drive shuttle, as well as between more class locations and athletic practice facilities.”

Princetonians must invest in the marketplace of ideas

"If students start by situating free expression in a liberal context, individual engagement would restore and enliven the marketplace of ideas on campus, enabling a fuller appreciation for the dynamic, invigorating, and fundamentally democratic nature of campus discourse."

"If students start by situating free expression in a liberal context, individual engagement would restore and enliven the marketplace of ideas on campus, enabling a fuller appreciation for the dynamic, invigorating, and fundamentally democratic nature of campus discourse."

It’s careerism all the way down

“Through this issue, Princetonians explore their futures beyond FitzRandolph Gate, balancing their aspiration to serve with the reality of careerism on campus today. It’s a reality we can criticize, but one we can’t ignore.”

"Through this issue, readers examine reality and aspiration, careers and public service, on campus today. It’s a reality we can criticize, but one we can’t ignore."

Affirmative action’s shortcomings

“Different experiences may lead to different perspectives; even similar experiences may lead to different perspectives. The lives and perspectives of underrepresented minorities vary greatly, and it’s essential not to make assumptions about them.”

"Different experiences may lead to different perspectives; even similar experiences may lead to different perspectives. The lives and perspectives of underrepresented minorities vary greatly, and it's essential not to make assumptions about them."

As Princeton remakes itself, incorporate native plants

“By creating and explaining its vision for an interconnected landscape of gardens filled with food for pollinators and habitat for insects, the University can inspire students, faculty, staff or anyone visiting campus to consider what they can do to create a better habitat for their local fauna.”

“By creating and explaining its vision for an interconnected landscape of gardens filled with food for pollinators and habitat for insects, the University can inspire students, faculty, staff or anyone visiting campus to consider what they can do to create a better habitat for their local fauna.”

Reactions: What should a Princeton education prepare us to do?

We asked our columnists, young and idealistic, still within the comforts of campus, how they hope to contribute to the world post-graduation, and what they think a Princeton education should prepare them to do.

We must think more critically about public service

“We need to endeavor to explore more deeply what public service actually means, and how we can be truly effective with the tools our Princeton education gives us.”

"We need to endeavor to explore more deeply what public service actually means, and how we can be truly effective with the tools our Princeton education gives us."

Humanities courses can solve Princeton's civic service problem

"When students do not take courses in the humanities, they miss out on studying works which ask how to determine what it means to be good, and why you should pursue the good. In a climate in which students don’t have the basic ability of interrogating these questions, how could a university expect its students to go forth and creatively serve their nation and humanity at large? Service cannot be reduced to post-graduation careers, but it can be predicted from the quality and type of an education itself."

"When students do not take courses in the humanities, they miss out on studying works which ask how to determine what it means to be good, and why you should pursue the good. In a climate in which students don’t have the basic ability of interrogating these questions, how could a university expect its students to go forth and creatively serve their nation and humanity at large? Service cannot be reduced to post-graduation careers, but it can be predicted from the quality and type of an education itself."

Hazing is shrouded in secrecy. Now is the time to start the conversation.

"A combination of haphazard adherence, lack of awareness, and perverse incentives for university administrators means that hazing remains shrouded in secrecy on Princeton’s campus and beyond—and students suffer the consequences."