Opinion

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."

Princeton must install air conditioning as temperatures rise

“Princeton must begin proactively updating its older residential colleges and buildings before worsening climate conditions make the change absolutely necessary.”

“Princeton must begin proactively updating its older residential colleges and buildings before worsening climate conditions make the change absolutely necessary.”

Letter to the Editor: Why did Princeton hire Robert Malley?

“Malley’s hiring while under investigation should concern members of the Princeton community, especially those pursuing careers ‘in the nation’s service.’”

“Malley’s hiring while under investigation should concern members of the Princeton community, especially those pursuing careers ‘in the nation’s service.’”

How the Class of 2027 pre-read falls flat

"Even when Ressa’s activism is unsuccessful, it is still framed as powerful. This stance clouds activism’s meaning and dilutes its significance."

The disgraceful legacy of legacy admissions

“While not explicitly affiliated with identity, legacy admissions, since their inception, have been successfully crafted to exclude minorities — first on the basis of religion, then on the basis of race — and should thus be abolished in our nation’s universities.”

“While not explicitly affiliated with identity, legacy admissions, since their inception, have been successfully crafted to exclude minorities — first on the basis of religion, then on the basis of race — and should thus be abolished in our nation’s universities.”

Princeton alumni seek status, not service

“It is troubling to see little to no action by the University to push for alumni outcomes favoring service, not individualistic financial gain. The administration should develop a comprehensive system that strongly encourages alumni to seek careers that are beneficial to humanity.”

"It is troubling to see little to no action by the University to push for alumni outcomes favoring service, not individualistic financial gain. The administration should develop a comprehensive system that strongly encourages alumni to seek careers that are beneficial to humanity."

Princeton’s scooter restrictions pose a harm to all students, especially disabled ones

“In addition to punishing responsible riders, the University is placing disabled riders, like myself, in a very uncomfortable position.”

"In addition to punishing responsible riders, the University is placing disabled riders, like myself, in a very uncomfortable position."

We need academic freedom for the pursuit of truth

“Larson’s course and its opponents can function symbiotically to promote open debate in pursuit of truth on Princeton’s campus.”

"Larson’s course and its opponents can function symbiotically to promote open debate in pursuit of truth on Princeton’s campus."