Opinion

The library closes, but the work does not

The library closes, but the work does not

Sid Singh

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

It’s clear that Princeton needs a 24/7 formal study space. As students push through long nights — especially during midterms and finals — the current options do not meet the demand.

OPINION | 04/04/2025

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Rabbi Steinlauf’s disturbing attack on academic freedom

Rabbi Steinlauf’s disturbing attack on academic freedom

Joan Scott

The mission of a university education is to expose students to ideas they haven’t encountered, and to engage in evidence-based critical conversation. It is not intellectual comfort and safety that is the mark of a quality education, but rather the hard and often uncomfortable work of learning how to think critically and reason carefully. 

The mission of a university education is to expose students to ideas they haven’t encountered, and to engage in evidence-based critical conversation. It is not intellectual comfort and safety that is the mark of a quality education, but rather the hard and often uncomfortable work of learning how to think critically and reason carefully. 

OPINION | 04/03/2025

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Writing Seminars must prioritize substance over structure

Writing Seminars must prioritize substance over structure

Ziyi Yan

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

Princeton is full of creative, intelligent students who love to learn. When even students who might otherwise enjoy writing regard Writing Seminars with dread, it is time to stop insisting on an approach that doesn’t work. 

OPINION | 04/03/2025

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Face it, Eisgruber is the man for the moment

Face it, Eisgruber is the man for the moment

Preston Ferraiuolo and Jerry Zhu

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

In a time when Princeton and higher education are under fire, we ought to be uniting against the threats and supporting the academic freedom principles that Eisgruber has championed.

OPINION | 04/02/2025

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Princeton, it’s time to reflect, not to blame

Princeton, it’s time to reflect, not to blame

Thomas Tao

Many American voters consider much of our priorities and agendas irrelevant, or even actively harmful, to them or society in general. Treating the issues of. climate change, diversity and inclusion, and global citizenry like closed debates helps no one and only enforces echo chambers on both sides.

Many American voters consider much of our priorities and agendas irrelevant, or even actively harmful, to them or society in general. Treating the issues of. climate change, diversity and inclusion, and global citizenry like closed debates helps no one and only enforces echo chambers on both sides.

OPINION | 03/31/2025

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Princeton can find the cash to weather the storm

Princeton can find the cash to weather the storm

Wynne Conger

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

To be complacent in silence, or even worse compliant in action, is a disservice to the guiding mission of education that underpins us all. It is essential that we take steps to ensure that federal funding does not constrain the ability of institutions to stand in defense of education across the nation. 

OPINION | 03/31/2025

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Public intellectuals owe their institutions courage. Do not obey in advance.

Public intellectuals owe their institutions courage. Do not obey in advance.

Frances Brogan

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

If professors like Timothy Snyder won’t choose courage in the face of authoritarian attacks on their scholarship and independence, who will?

OPINION | 03/27/2025

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Your Ivy League experience would not send anyone into a coma

Your Ivy League experience would not send anyone into a coma

Shane McCauley

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

When this content markets the prestige and exclusivity of attending an elite university as central to the student experience, it risks misconstruing the true value of our education as a status symbol and not an intellectual experience. This reinforces the cultural gulf between the academic elite and America at large. 

OPINION | 03/27/2025

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Is Princeton men’s basketball at an inflection point?

Is Princeton men’s basketball at an inflection point?

Steve Silverman

The real issue is whether Princeton and every other Ivy program can continue to compete in a Division I landscape increasingly divided among the haves and have nots.

The real issue is whether Princeton and every other Ivy program can continue to compete in a Division I landscape increasingly divided among the haves and have nots.

OPINION | 03/27/2025

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Attacks on trans women affect us all

Attacks on trans women affect us all

Ava Johnson

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

The rhetoric and policy proposals attacking transgender women affect us similarly. They explicitly seek to define womanhood, and their widespread acceptance gives legitimacy and legislative force to the practice of telling women who they are and what they can do.

OPINION | 03/26/2025

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Trump is bringing authoritarianism to Columbia. Princeton must democratize in response.

Trump is bringing authoritarianism to Columbia. Princeton must democratize in response.

Isaac Barsoum

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

As they have in the past, universities must be the first to resist authoritarianism. By moving in the opposite direction of the Trump administration, we can stand up for our community even as an autocrat attempts to impose his will on our peer institutions.

OPINION | 03/26/2025

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There’s an existential threat to the eating clubs that you need to know about

There’s an existential threat to the eating clubs that you need to know about

Vincent Jiang

Requiring upperclassman students to hold a meal plan would be harmful to the undergraduate experience and poses an existential threat to the eating clubs. If implemented, the report’s recommendation would sever past and present generations of Princetonians from these unique and tight-knit communities.

Requiring upperclassman students to hold a meal plan would be harmful to the undergraduate experience and poses an existential threat to the eating clubs. If implemented, the report’s recommendation would sever past and present generations of Princetonians from these unique and tight-knit communities.

OPINION | 03/25/2025

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The humanities benefit from FGLI voices. Let’s reach out to these students.

The humanities benefit from FGLI voices. Let’s reach out to these students.

Raf Basas

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

"Humanities students come to Princeton with vastly different levels of course offerings and experiences. Because of this, the humanities must expand their outreach to FGLI students, for the sake of both these students and the departments as a whole."

OPINION | 03/25/2025

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You’ve heard history holds power. This project shows us how.

You’ve heard history holds power. This project shows us how.

Lily Halbert-Alexander

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

Turning back to our history, examining the elections and previous presidencies — not to point fingers, but to better confront the causes of Trump’s ascension — is the first step to demystifying his power and deconstructing his pedestal. 

OPINION | 03/24/2025

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To stop intimidation, Eisgruber needs your help

To stop intimidation, Eisgruber needs your help

Guest Contributors

When targeting one institution is a bald attempt to divide and conquer, as is the case with Columbia, it is essential for a coalition or group of institutions and individuals to stand up together. 

When targeting one institution is a bald attempt to divide and conquer, as is the case with Columbia, it is essential for a coalition or group of institutions and individuals to stand up together. 

OPINION | 03/23/2025

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Princeton must protect the sanctity of scientific research

Princeton must protect the sanctity of scientific research

Davis Hobley

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

As a new cost-cutting administration takes the stage, we members of the on-campus community, students, administration, and faculty, must firmly stand in support of federal funding for academic research, which is diametrically opposed to the alleged inefficiency that the administration is targeting, and is a necessity for the development of the country.

OPINION | 03/20/2025

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Princeton Jews: Trump isn’t interested in our safety

Princeton Jews: Trump isn’t interested in our safety

Charlie Yale

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

Jewish students on campus are not a singular, ideologically-uniform community, and we hold a wide range of opinions on the crisis in Gaza. It’s disingenuous for Trump to claim that arresting Khalil protects Jewish students when many protested alongside him during the Gaza solidarity encampment on Columbia’s campus last spring.

OPINION | 03/20/2025

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Universities are scared of Trump. Princeton spoke out — and others should join us.

Universities are scared of Trump. Princeton spoke out — and others should join us.

Daily Princetonian Editorial Board

But as Princeton stands up first, it can invite others to stand with it. Through coordinated action and litigation, universities can show that they will never again fight the Trump administration’s attacks alone.

But as Princeton stands up first, it can invite others to stand with it. Through coordinated action and litigation, universities can show that they will never again fight the Trump administration’s attacks alone.

OPINION | 03/19/2025

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For an FGLI student, there is truly no better place to be than Princeton

For an FGLI student, there is truly no better place to be than Princeton

Jorge Reyes

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

Princeton’s pre-college programs and FGLI academic programming make it the best choice for a smoother transition into college with all the support you need during your time here and beyond.

OPINION | 03/18/2025

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Why the Art Museum deserves a second look

Why the Art Museum deserves a second look

Kayleen Gowers

The architecture of a museum matters as much as the works inside it, influencing how we approach and engage with art. Rather than viewing the museum in strictly binary terms — good or bad, successful or a failure — we should allow space for complexity and evolving perspectives.

The architecture of a museum matters as much as the works inside it, influencing how we approach and engage with art. Rather than viewing the museum in strictly binary terms — good or bad, successful or a failure — we should allow space for complexity and evolving perspectives.

OPINION | 03/18/2025

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