Columns

The myth of meritocracy and what we can do about it

“There is myriad evidence that in many countries, meritocracy is a myth and social reproduction is the norm. In order to allow all citizens to reach their full potential regardless of the circumstances they were born in, we must work to break the cycle of social reproduction. As Princeton students, we are some of the most privileged people in the world. While that doesn’t mean all of us come from privileged backgrounds, it does mean we have a part to play in promoting social mobility.”  

“There is myriad evidence that in many countries, meritocracy is a myth and social reproduction is the norm. In order to allow all citizens to reach their full potential regardless of the circumstances they were born in, we must work to break the cycle of social reproduction. As Princeton students, we are some of the most privileged people in the world. While that doesn’t mean all of us come from privileged backgrounds, it does mean we have a part to play in promoting social mobility.”  

Thus Spoke the Undergrads: On indoor gatherings

“Should the University start expelling students for serious contract violations? In our view, no.”

“Should the University start expelling students for serious contract violations? In our view, no.”

Mutual aid campaigns make a difference: My family is proof

“When you come across a mutual aid request or asking campaign, please do all that you can. If you can only share it, share it. If you know you can spare money to give, give. And if you’re wealthy, give more.”

“When you come across a mutual aid request or asking campaign, please do all that you can. If you can only share it, share it. If you know you can spare money to give, give. And if you’re wealthy, give more.”

This Women's History Month, remember the violence of gender inequality

“The women at the highest risk are in our Zoom meetings, live next door to us in dorms, edit this newspaper, play our intercollegiate and intramural sports, and pursue their degrees or work.”

“The women at the highest risk are in our Zoom meetings, live next door to us in dorms, edit this newspaper, play our intercollegiate and intramural sports, and pursue their degrees or work.”

One year after evacuating: Continuing the causes we started

“Given this moment of tentative stability, it becomes worthwhile to recommit ourselves to the same political and social justice causes that we made at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The Royal Family doesn’t deserve a pity party

“While the entire situation Harry and Meghan face is truly tragic, what is even more tragic is the relentlessness of the institution of the British Monarchy in upholding fundamentally unjust systems and values, as well as Meghan’s initial willingness to belong to such an institution.”

“While the entire situation Harry and Meghan face is truly tragic, what is even more tragic is the relentlessness of the institution of the British Monarchy in upholding fundamentally unjust systems and values, as well as Meghan’s initial willingness to belong to such an institution.”

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

“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.”

The case for SugarEdu at Princeton

“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.” 

Is there true democracy to be restored in Myanmar?

“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.”

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

“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.”

Do yourself a favor and shamelessly PDF your classes

“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.” 

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

“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.”

In virtual semester, community building requires a new approach

“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.” 

Princeton academics needs a stronger core

“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.”

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

“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.”

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

“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.”

Improving National Eating Disorder Awareness Week at Princeton

“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.” 

This March 8, celebrate women

“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.” 

On being biracial: My lessons and reflections

“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.”

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

“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.”