Opinion

Reactions: What's your Princeton pre-read?

Opinion columnists share their recommendations for Princeton’s next pre-read. 

Opinion columnists share their recommendations for Princeton’s next pre-read. 

Room draw is unclear and its punishments too harsh

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

Let them eat crepes: stop abusing Pay with Points

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

Rejection is common at Princeton – and that’s a good thing

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

SPEAR: We should advocate for campus safety beyond surveillance and policing

While cameras are apparently neutral pieces of technology, they often demonstrate systematic biases. We also know that policing and police systems disproportionately impact people of color. Princeton is not immune to these challenges either.

While cameras are apparently neutral pieces of technology, they often demonstrate systematic biases. We also know that policing and police systems disproportionately impact people of color. Princeton is not immune to these challenges either. 

Athletic scholarships are not the solution. An activity stipend is.

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

Vote Masheke for Young Alumni Trustee

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

Class of ’27: choose scholarship, not dogmatism

“After all, ‘social justice activism’ can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

“After all, “social justice activism” can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

Dear Princeton, you must do more on Title IX

“Princeton has repeatedly failed survivors of sexual violence. As alumni of the Princeton Class of 2022, we call upon Princeton University to take action to protect survivors and to implement measures that ensure safe, accessible, and just processes to keep our campus safe.”

“Princeton has repeatedly failed survivors of sexual violence. As alumni of the Princeton Class of 2022, we call upon Princeton University to take action to protect survivors and to implement measures that ensure safe, accessible, and just processes to keep our campus safe.”

To alleviate student stress, Princeton must expand the pass/D/fail option

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

Princeton should support student-led clubs as essential to building community

The post-COVID-19 treatment of club sports highlights gaps in the University’s approach to student life — the administration should shift from a top-down approach to one that seeks to support student groups and utilize student feedback to organically foster community.

The post-COVID-19 treatment of club sports highlights gaps in the University’s approach to student life — the administration should shift from a top-down approach to one that seeks to support student groups and utilize student feedback to organically foster community.

Celebrating and centering disability

“I hope that this issue will not require explanation. In my view, the stories within it speak for themselves. Disability is pertinent, worthy of coverage in News, Data, Features, Opinion, Prospect, Sports, Podcast, and every other section of our publication.”

“I hope that this issue will not require explanation. In my view, the stories within it speak for themselves. Disability is pertinent, worthy of coverage in News, Data, Features, Opinion, Prospect, Sports, Podcast, and every other section of our publication.”

Class of ’27, it’s time to cause trouble

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

Princeton needs to up our composting effort

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Let’s recognize autistic people with love and support

“To support autistic Princetonians, the wider Princeton community should develop the same understanding and acceptance as the AccessAbility Center so that I and other autistic people can feel seen on Princeton campus, and so we can hear the word “love” instead of ‘weird.’”

“To support autistic Princetonians, the wider Princeton community should develop the same understanding and acceptance as the AccessAbility Center so that I and other autistic people can feel seen on Princeton campus, and so we can hear the word “love” instead of ‘weird.’”

For climate, we need construction everywhere, all at once

The mindset we take on towards renewable infrastructure construction at Princeton will define the extent to which we are prepared for the wave of critical construction in the decades ahead.

Reactions: Princeton’s run to the Sweet 16

Opinion columnists share their thoughts on the University’s recent basketball success and what it might mean for the campus moving forward. 

Opinion columnists share their thoughts on the University’s recent basketball successes and what it might mean for the campus moving forward. 

The Office of Disability Services has made significant progress in making campus more accessible

“Disabilities affect students’ ability to navigate academics, traverse campus, and participate in extracurricular activities, while also requiring many to engage in treatment and care for their disability. It is therefore essential that we create an environment where they can thrive. ODS has had a profound impact on Princeton—and we hope to continue this progress in the future.”

“Disabilities affect students’ ability to navigate academics, traverse campus, and participate in extracurricular activities, while also requiring many to engage in treatment and care for their disability. It is therefore essential that we create an environment where they can thrive. ODS has had a profound impact on Princeton—and we hope to continue this progress in the future.”

Letter to the Editor: Calling all candidates, USG wants you!

“USG is open to any and all students — it is not only for SPIA or politics majors. USG aims to represent the entire undergraduate student body; it needs your unique, diverse perspectives.”

“USG is open to any and all students — it is not only for SPIA or politics majors. USG aims to represent the entire undergraduate student body; it needs your unique, diverse perspectives.”

When you think about COVID-19 risk, consider immunocompromised people

“I hope that my words here serve as a chance to learn about the experience of a disabled person navigating what often feels like a minefield, but also a call to action for Princeton students to make our community more accessible for people like me. I am not comfortable with any of our community members being lost, forgotten, or excluded. You shouldn’t be either.”

 “I hope that my words here serve as a chance to learn about the experience of a disabled person navigating what often feels like a minefield, but also a call to action for Princeton students to make our community more accessible for people like me. I am not comfortable with any of our community members being lost, forgotten, or excluded. You shouldn’t be either.”