Columns

COVID-19 shouldn’t take away your chance at being a Princetonian

COVID-19 shouldn’t take away your chance at being a Princetonian

Rohit Narayanan

“While no future student will be able to brush aside the impacts of this torturous year, strict school closures have hurt the students who love school the most — students that would be great fits here at Princeton in future years. We must be sure not to leave them behind.”

“While no future student will be able to brush aside the impacts of this torturous year, strict school closures have hurt the students who love school the most — students that would be great fits here at Princeton in future years. We must be sure not to leave them behind.”

OPINION | 03/11/2021

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The case for SugarEdu at Princeton

The case for SugarEdu at Princeton

Kelsey Ji

“By allowing so much access to sugar on campus and failing to educate students about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption, the University is unwittingly contributing to sugar-induced anxiety on campus.”

“By allowing so much access to sugar on campus and failing to educate students about the dangers of excessive sugar consumption, the University is unwittingly contributing to sugar-induced anxiety on campus.” 

OPINION | 03/09/2021

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Is there true democracy to be restored in Myanmar?

Is there true democracy to be restored in Myanmar?

Andi Grene

“As evidenced by the Rohingya Crisis, human rights do not inherently follow the establishment of democracy. We must resist the comfort offered by superficial nomenclature and work to address discrepancies between government theory and practice, both at home and globally.”

“As evidenced by the Rohingya Crisis, human rights do not inherently follow the establishment of democracy. We must resist the comfort offered by superficial nomenclature and work to address discrepancies between government theory and practice, both at home and globally.”

OPINION | 03/07/2021

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Half a million Americans did not ‘die of’ COVID-19 — most of them were killed

Half a million Americans did not ‘die of’ COVID-19 — most of them were killed

Mark Lee

“When we fail to name the actors and policies that cause harm, we risk repeating the same mistakes and suffering.”

“When we fail to name the actors and policies that cause harm, we risk repeating the same mistakes and suffering.”

OPINION | 03/04/2021

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Do yourself a favor and shamelessly PDF your classes

Do yourself a favor and shamelessly PDF your classes

Brigitte Harbers

“My recommendation is to pass/D/fail at least one class this semester: regardless of the grade at the end of the term, take the time to engage with what is actually being taught. Emerge in May being able to actively reflect on what you learned, and think about whether it changed your perspective, or even your desire, to pursue a subject even more or just abandon it.”

“My recommendation is to pass/D/fail at least one class this semester: regardless of the grade at the end of the term, take the time to engage with what is actually being taught. Emerge in May being able to actively reflect on what you learned, and think about whether it changed your perspective, or even your desire, to pursue a subject even more or just abandon it.” 

OPINION | 03/04/2021

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Houston, we have a problem: What Princeton should learn from Texas’s winter weather crisis

Houston, we have a problem: What Princeton should learn from Texas’s winter weather crisis

Maisie McPherson

“Princeton should look at the incident in Texas, as well as testaments from students who call Texas home, and realize that the climate crisis is real and evolving — it will not stop unless we do.” 

“Princeton should look at the incident in Texas, as well as the testaments from the students who call Texas home, and realize that the climate crisis is real and evolving — it will not stop unless we do.”

OPINION | 03/04/2021

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In virtual semester, community building requires a new approach

In virtual semester, community building requires a new approach

Allen Liu

“On a campus that can feel so isolating, it’s worth remembering that many of us are mere minutes away from each other. We can create a campus community if we make the effort, and we owe it to each other to do so.”

“On a campus that can feel so isolating, it’s worth remembering that many of us are mere minutes away from each other. We can create a campus community if we make the effort, and we owe it to each other to do so.” 

OPINION | 03/03/2021

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Princeton academics needs a stronger core

Princeton academics needs a stronger core

Rohit Narayanan

“The U.S. News & World Report measures how well students learn; it doesn’t measure whether students are learning the right things. Princeton has no doubt expended significant resources to earn its place on the U.S. News & World Report, but if we actually want to be the ‘best university,‘ it’s important to make sure our curriculum is as good as our academic environment.”

“The U.S. News & World Report measures how well students learn; it doesn’t measure whether students are learning the right things. Princeton has no doubt expended significant resources to earn its place on the U.S. News & World Report, but if we actually want to be the ‘best university,‘ it’s important to make sure our curriculum is as good as our academic environment.”

OPINION | 03/03/2021

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Pixar’s “Soul” cannot make up for what it lacks

Pixar’s “Soul” cannot make up for what it lacks

Brittani Telfair

“It is still immensely disheartening that the second biggest media company in the world has yet to release a full-length animated film where the Black protagonist remains a person for the entire time. Instead, it continues to trade deep portrayals of Black life for bland relatability, failing to recognize that such portrayals would not render characters any less human or likable.”

“It is still immensely disheartening that the second biggest media company in the world has yet to release a full-length animated film where the Black protagonist remains a person for the entire time. Instead, it continues to trade deep portrayals of Black life for bland relatability, failing to recognize that such portrayals would not render characters any less human or likable.”

OPINION | 03/02/2021

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Education inequality in public schools: It’s time to do more

Education inequality in public schools: It’s time to do more

Sally Jane Ruybàlid

“Dropping standardized test requirements does very little to help us; it’s only a tiny pixel in a massive, bleak image of the American public school system and its toxic inequalities.”

“Dropping standardized test requirements does very little to help us; it’s only a tiny pixel in a massive, bleak image of the American public school system and its toxic inequalities.”

OPINION | 03/01/2021

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Improving National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at Princeton

Improving National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at Princeton

Ava Milberg

“The University could improve its approach to NEDA week both by hosting more events and by publicizing these events in a more engaging and impactful manner.” 

“The University could improve its approach to NEDA week both by hosting more events and by publicizing these events in a more engaging and impactful manner.” 

OPINION | 03/01/2021

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This March 8, celebrate women

This March 8, celebrate women

Genrietta Churbanova

“By failing to actively embrace International Women’s Day, the United States is inadvertently excluding itself from a vital celebration of international feminism. Many of the rights American women enjoy today were only extended to women in the United States because of the work of feminists globally.” 

“By failing to actively embrace International Women’s Day, the United States is inadvertently excluding itself from a vital celebration of international feminism. Many of the rights American women enjoy today were only extended to women in the United States because of the work of feminists globally.” 

OPINION | 02/28/2021

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On being biracial: My lessons and reflections

On being biracial: My lessons and reflections

Collin Riggins

“If we ever hope to bridge the chasms that colorism has etched, we all need to openly and intently address its murky past. Only then will we be able to truly reimagine a social landscape free of racist thinking, and thus free from the fetters of light-skin privilege.”

“If we ever hope to bridge the chasms that colorism has etched, we all need to openly and intently address its murky past. Only then will we be able to truly reimagine a social landscape free of racist thinking, and thus free from the fetters of light-skin privilege.”

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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“We are our history”: Confronting the past and imagining the future of Whig-Clio

“We are our history”: Confronting the past and imagining the future of Whig-Clio

Julia Chaffers

“We must broaden our imaginations and think beyond our status quo to achieve a more just reality. Debate and discourse allows us to do so. Our goal is not to tell people what to think, but to provide a space to think, together, about how to advance towards a more just society.”

“We must broaden our imaginations and think beyond our status quo to achieve a more just reality. Debate and discourse allows us to do so. Our goal is not to tell people what to think, but to provide a space to think, together, about how to advance towards a more just society.”

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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In a just world, Princeton as we know it does not exist

In a just world, Princeton as we know it does not exist

Braden Flax

“No matter how many people go through sensitivity training, no matter how diverse the pool of incoming academics, and no matter how much people are permitted to theorize about the impact of racism on society, Princeton will not become an anti-racist force until it is no longer recognizable as Princeton by those who currently know it.”

“No matter how many people go through sensitivity training, no matter how diverse the pool of incoming academics, and no matter how much people are permitted to theorize about the impact of racism on society, Princeton will not become an anti-racist force until it is no longer recognizable as Princeton by those who currently know it.”

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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Divestment is a matter of racial justice

Divestment is a matter of racial justice

Hannah Reynolds and John Huyler

“Though much has changed since Princeton’s early years, the University remains complicit in the systemic racial injustices faced by communities of color so long as it continues to invest in the fossil fuel industry.”

“Though much has changed since Princeton’s early years, the University remains complicit in the systemic racial injustices faced by communities of color so long as it continues to invest in the fossil fuel industry.”

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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The road to racial justice in Princeton must include housing justice

The road to racial justice in Princeton must include housing justice

Matt Mleczko

“No matter how you slice it, Princeton is highly unaffordable and out of reach for many households, but given the country’s history of racial inequality, this particularly excludes and prices out Black and Latinx households.”

“No matter how you slice it, Princeton is highly unaffordable and out of reach for many households, but given the country’s history of racial inequality, this particularly excludes and prices out Black and Latinx households.”

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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To learn from Black voices and teach comprehensively, the Western HUM Sequence needs to radically change

To learn from Black voices and teach comprehensively, the Western HUM Sequence needs to radically change

Mollika Jai Singh

“With the expansion of student spaces and the acknowledgment that these texts have glorified harmful ideas throughout time, this course can be an essential tool to understanding race, among other complicated issues, the kind of course I desperately need it to be.”

“With the expansion of student spaces and the acknowledgment that these texts have glorified harmful ideas throughout time, this course can be an essential tool to understanding race, among other complicated issues, the kind of course I desperately need it to be.” 

OPINION | 02/25/2021

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Princeton’s continued silence on Katz is indicative of lack of care for students

Princeton’s continued silence on Katz is indicative of lack of care for students

Aisha Tahir and Amna Amin

“It is important to note that the situation with Professor Katz is not an isolated incident. The University has a history of failing to protect students when it comes to issues of sexual misconduct.”

“It is important to note that the situation with Professor Katz is not an isolated incident. The University has a history of failing to protect students when it comes to issues of sexual misconduct.”

OPINION | 02/24/2021

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Deforestation: Who is the true culprit?

Deforestation: Who is the true culprit?

Maria Luisa Vieira Parada

“We must be aware that while identifying political leaders as the main perpetrators of climate change is understandable, it is also simplistic and a way of shifting responsibility from ourselves.”

“We must be aware that while identifying political leaders as the main perpetrators of climate change is understandable, it is also simplistic and a way of shifting responsibility from ourselves.” 

OPINION | 02/24/2021

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