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E-Prince
Created by Zachary Ruchman
The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board. First row from left: Brittany Sanders '13, Josh Abbuhl '10, Will Pickering '11, Chelsea Ayers '12, Mary Marshall '10, Zayn Siddique '11, David Christie '10, Dan Rauch '10. Back row from left: Matthew Butler '12, Christine Emba '10, Justin Cahill '11, Jess Lanney '10 (Chair), Oliver Palmer '11, Jonathan Sarnoff '12. Not pictured: Shivani Radhakrishnan '11
Editorials
Editorial: More food co-ops needed to satisfy growing demand
Last fall marked the opening of the newest of the three dining co-ops, the International Food Co-op (IFC). Even with this addition, however, all three co-ops have already filled to capacity for the upcoming academic year, with dozens of students stranded on the co-ops’ waiting lists. In response to this increased demand, the University should promote the establishment of more co-ops.
Editorial: Bringing back the Greeks
By recognizing the Greek organizations and subjecting them to University regulations, the University can ensure transparency and accountability in Princeton’s Greek life.
Editorial: Pornography and USG funds
The proposed event is a legitimate use of USG money.
Dissent: Pornography and USG funds
Screening of pornography excludes some from the discussion.
Editorial: In support of the University's retirement plan
In light of economic and academic benefits, senior faculty members should seriously consider the University's new retirement plan and take up the University’s offer. Given the positive impact this program can have on the University, it is equally important that administrators firmly commit to it.
Editorial: Keeping the DREAM alive
Under the current system, deserving students like Dan-el Padilla are routinely denied opportunities because of their parents’ actions.
Editorial: Should the Wilson School certificate program be selective?
Students who are qualified for admission to Princeton should not be denied access to one of the University’s departments unless the University has insufficient resources to meet student demand. Demand for Wilson School certificates does not appear to have surpassed this threshold. Accordingly, the Wilson School should make the application process for the certificate non-competitive.
Dissent: Should the Wilson School certificate program be selective?
It is unfair to allow certificate students to use the school’s resources based on the criterion of "self-selection" alone while concentrators are required to undergo a competitive process and be evaluated on more factors.
Editorial: Increasing flexibility in laboratory requirements
The University should consider modifying its current requirements so that students can take more science classes without lab while still fulfilling their science and technology (ST) distribution requirement.
Editorial: Increasing eating club aid
If the University’s goal is truly to provide all undergraduate students with equality of opportunity when choosing dining options, the financial-aid policy must accurately reflect this goal.
Editorial: The case for YAT campaigning
The editorial board’s criticism of the Young Alumni Trustee (YAT) elections process has become an annual tradition, and this year is no different.
Editorial: Switching to direct loans
When loans are provided to students by private lenders through the FFELP, economic troubles can worsen the rates on loans available to students and reduce the ability of these loans to make college affordable. Because the Direct Loan program lends money straight from the government, it would be able to continue providing low-interest rates on loans even in an economic recession.
Editorial: Standards for preceptors
While each department should tailor its training to its preceptors, adopting the model of some of the humanities departments and requiring semester-long training are appropriate measures to help regulate teaching and ensure more consistency among the precepts.
Editorial: Lessons from Alabama
The incident in Alabama is cause for our community to reflect on what more we can do to prevent such a tragedy here.
Editorial: Making the Money Count
The Editorial Board believes that reinstating the fall Lawnparties concert is a positive move and that future USG social budget funds should continue to be used for student social activities.
Editorial: Reforming meal exchange
One aspect of membership that is critical in unifying the eating clubs and the residential colleges is the meal exchange program. Unfortunately, an arcane system of paper slips and perforated cards often results in the program being underutilized and students being charged excessive fines at the end of each month for open exchanges.
Editorial: Book shopping should not be a scavenger hunt
The University should require all professors — not just those who order from Labyrinth — to submit a book list to the registrar no later than the deadline for professors to submit the same list to Labyrinth.
Editorial: Keeping a worthy tradition
Despite criticisms of pickups, the Editorial Board finds them to be a valuable Princeton tradition that ought to be continued.
Editorial: A chance to speak out
The core mission of the board is to inspire discussion and action. But this is impossible without a constant influx of students with unique perspectives — independent thinkers who are eager to debate and willing to engage with issues important to Princeton.
Editorial: Ending application fees
Though the fee requirement of these organizations is understandable, it is not desirable and serves as a financial barrier for low-income students and graduates.
Editorial: A successful USG presidency
Connor Diemand-Yauman will leave behind a legacy that stands head and shoulders above those of his most recent predecessors.
Editorial: Open up FSI
We are concerned that the limited number of spaces in FSI may not be allocated in the best way and that a justification for the high rate of participation of athletes has not been offered.
Editorial: Saving the sign-ins
The sign-in clubs are an invaluable part of the Street, providing an option for students who are averse to Bicker and a more accessible party environment for many underclassmen. With declining membership, they could face financial troubles in the future.
Editorial: Finding fellowships
Last Thursday, The Daily Princetonian reported that the employment of Associate Dean of the College Frank Ordiway ’81, whose responsibilities include oversight of postgraduate fellowship advising, will be terminated this June. We see no reason, based on performance and a thorough knowledge of the system, that Ordiway should have been fired.
Editorial: In support of the APA
The American Philosophical Association (APA) took a small but important step last week toward promoting non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in higher education when it announced it would censure universities that use sexual orientation as a basis for hiring decisions.
Editorial: Fairer course registration
Last week, many juniors and seniors arose before 7:30 a.m. to make the perennial mad rush to sign up for classes. It is understandable that the online system opens so early to give students an equal opportunity to enroll in courses when there are no other activities or classes scheduled and to reward those students who are committed enough to their courses to rise early. But for high-demand, competitive classes, the “early bird gets the worm” mantra does not apply.
Editorial: Yaroshefsky for USG president
After interviewing each candidate and weighing their skills, this board believes the best choice for USG president is Yaroshefsky.
Editorial: Fairer FRS applications
More than 1,200 applications were submitted for 75 freshman seminars in the fall and spring terms. But since the number of freshman seminars cannot meet the high demand for them, it is important to ensure that the seminar application process gives students ample opportunity to compete for the seminar they want.
Editorial: Safety talk
On Wednesday, the University announced that Paul Ominsky will serve as its next director of Public Safety. We hope that Ominksy’s appointment will make Public Safety more responsive to student concerns.
Editorial: On grade deflation
The Editorial Board offers a majority and dissent on grade deflation.
Dissent: On grade deflation
The Editorial Board offers a majority and dissent on grade deflation.
Editorial: Publicizing aid options
It is clear that despite the commendable efforts of the Office of Financial Aid, socioeconomic status continues to affect both the cohesion of the student body and choices made by individual students.
Editorial: Hiring for the future
With so many universities cutting back, there are many excellent academics searching for limited, open faculty positions at top universities. The institutions that capitalize on this market will assure themselves a better future.
Editorial: Postponing the P/D/F
The P/D/F option often does not serve as a safety net for students who seek to challenge themselves by taking an unusual course but do not want to waste one of their P/D/F options.
Editorial and dissent: Gender-neutral housing
Earlier this month, the administration announced a gender-neutral housing (GNH) pilot program to explore the possibility of allowing students to live with roommates of the opposite sex. This board has advocated for GNH several times, and we are glad this initiative is finally being adopted. We believe this is an ...
Editorial: Firestone access for friends
Allowing Princeton students to register guests who are staying with them at the access office would be a simple compromise to make.
Editorial: Going beyond Google Books
Princeton’s involvement with Google — though a positive and useful partnership — could pose problems in the future.
Editorial: Holding out a lifeline
Though it is reasonable to ask that those who call the authorities remain cooperative, the only questions they should be obliged to answer are those directly related to medically treating the intoxicated person. The fear of required disclosure or interrogation could continue to deter underage drinkers from calling for help.
Editorial: A new era at the Wilson School
On the whole, the Board believes Dean Paxson brings a sound approach and fresh ideas to her position that will help her to meet the challenges the school faces.
Editorial: Not time for a chastity center
In providing condoms and counseling, Princeton acts not to endorse any viewpoint but rather to respond to vital and inevitable health concerns. In this regard, claiming that the provision of such services endorses a sexual ethos is akin to claiming that the provision of antibiotics endorses getting sick.
Editorial: The Campus canvas
While Campus Club is finding a place during the academic week, its role in the nighttime recreational culture of the University has not yet become clear.
Editorial: Setting school standards
Many schools are unable to meet national standards because of insufficient resources, crowded classes and teachers with poor credentials. It is hardly progress if the nation’s poorest schools are held up to a new set of standards but still find it impossible to meet them.
Editorial: Escaping McCosh 50
Seminars usually demand a greater depth of understanding and require more hours of work from students than do lecture courses. As a result, they are often among the most rewarding classes undergraduates take at Princeton and environments in which the highest-quality learning occurs.
Editorial: Leaving the Third World behind
Its new building is a chance for the Carl A. Fields Center to move into a more visible place in campus life - and to remedy the fact that few students know what the Center does and fewer still have been there.
Editorial: The flu and you
For Princeton to be successful in preventing or containing a serious outbreak of H1N1, students must recognize and act on the fact that personal responsibility is the most important factor in protecting themselves and others.
Editorial: Stunted dialogue
As it is currently envisioned, the task force is likely to fail to capture the diversity of student experiences with the eating clubs.
The ‘Prince’ Principles
With the academic year now underway and a new class of students reading Daily Princetonian editorials, the Editorial Board would like to briefly introduce itself and explain its goals.
Editorial: Having our cake
For the most part, Princeton has shown that the modern University may well be able to have its cake and eat it, too.
Editorial: Restore the Honor Committee
All academic infractions should be handled by the same disciplinary body.
Editorial: Build community for less
The University should convert a few rooms in each upperclass dorm into common areas.
Editorial: Binary ethics
A new referendum on USG ethics is well-intentioned, but flawed.
Editorial: Holding firm on financial aid
As the recession continues, we hope and expect that the Princeton community will maintain need-blind admission as a fundamental principle.
Editorial: Printing costs should cost us
The University should attach a significant cost to printing in order to curb wasteful habits.
Editorial: Backing up Baccalaureate
Some students have raised objections to the selection of General David Petraeus GS '85 as this year's Baccalaureate speaker. But Petraeus's personal qualifications offer a unique opportunity for Princeton to be addressed by one of its best, and the Board fully supports the choice.
Editorial: Go trayless and pay less
Princeton should continuously strive to make its operations more environmentally and economically efficient. Implementing common-sense strategies, like trayless dining, can be an important part of this effort.
Editorial: Equality in major declaration
The School of Engineering and Applied Science requires all B.S.E. concentrators to declare their departments during the freshman spring, a full year before their A.B. peers. The Editorial Board does not support this imbalanced policy.
Editorial: On putting safety first
The University should take new suggestions into account when designing emergency response procedures.
Editorial: Saving student newspapers
Independent, student-run newspapers are critical to the discourse on college campuses, and attempts to take away control from students at those papers should be resisted.
Editorial: Investing in and with ethics
The University's policy on ethical review of investments is unsatisfactory.
Editorial: Getting in line
The room improvement system isn't fair to those at the bottom of the draw, and should therefore be changed.
Editorial: Honoring alcohol
Both versions of the ACC's proposed social honor code are a bad idea.
A campaign we can believe in
The YAT election is and will be a sham until some measure of actual campaigning is allowed.
Vivifying late meal
The University should explore extending late meal credits to Cafe Viv.
Cooking up community
Kitchens in dorms could become ground zero for exactly the sort of social interactions that the University would love to foster.
Course evals done right
The Registrar's new online course evaluation system is a clear step in the right direction, but more must be done to improve the functionality and usability of the collected data.
Leave the laptop out of this
The University community should reconsider the use of laptops during class.
Labyrinthine walls
Labyrinth Books has done much to respond to student input. There's just one more wall that needs to fall.
Write this editorial
What the Editorial Board does and how to join.
Cruising to Cuba
Professor Stanley Katz’ proposed task force in Cuba would provide an important opportunity for students to broaden their horizons.
Scoring for the wrong team
The College Board's new Score Choice policy is bad for high school students and bad for Princeton.
Weinstein revisited
Josh Weinstein’s tenure as USG President will be remembered both for important successes and troubling stumbles.
A revote of confidence
Here we go again. Due to concerns over the integrity of the first round of voting, the USG has decided that a revote for vice president is necessary. This is the latest chapter in the bitterly disappointing December USG election that has bordered on political satire. The ability to conduct ...
Feeling good the morning after
Dean's date is tomorrow, and many students will be holed up through the night in libraries and in their rooms to complete their final written assignments. In the past, the burden of a 9 a.m. exam scheduled for the day after Dean's Date made Dean's Date even more stressful for ...
New Year's resolutions
For many students, returning home for winter break is the time to re-engage with the world outside Princeton. We see our friends and family at home, and we see what has changed in our towns since we left for school. This winter break may have been a jolt for students. ...
Don't rush elections
Unfortunately, this year's USG election season has been more notable for controversy and mishaps than for the qualifications of the candidates. This is disheartening, but not wholly unexpected: The campaign period of less than a week exacerbates all the worst aspects of USG elections. Instead of debating campus issues and ...
'No' on both USG referenda
When students vote in the USG election this weekend, they will encounter two opposing referenda. The first, initiated by Jacob Candelaria '09, would require the USG to ask the Board of Trustees to file an amicus brief opposing California's Proposition 8, which took away the right of same-sex couples to ...
Better input, better outcome
Whenever it must make decisions that are unpopular with the student body, the University administration justifies itself by saying that its actions were informed by student input. Students who serve on committees that shape the University's decision making, however, are often handpicked by the administration. While the selection process differs ...
Where the heartlessness is
Princeton's eating clubs have a wide base of support and draw goodwill from many students and alumni. In the past, the editorial board has argued that eating clubs usually serve as spaces that foster an organic, undergraduate-focused atmosphere, initiated and run by students. The clubs frequently hold events that actively ...
What's in a name?
Princeton's Center for African American Studies (CAAS) has done much to carry out President Tilghman's charge that it research "the nature of racial identity and social justice." When CAAS was established in fall 2006, aspirations for the center's future also included offering an undergraduate major within five years, at which ...