Columns

Add a climate course to Princeton’s distribution requirements

“An eleventh general education requirement — the Anthropocene and Planetary Future (APF) — should be implemented to require that a student take a class that deals in some meaningful way with the climate crisis.”

“An eleventh general education requirement — the Anthropocene and Planetary Future (APF) — should be implemented to require that a student take a class that deals in some meaningful way with the climate crisis.”

Acknowledgement is not enough: Princeton must tangibly support the enslaved communities that built it

“Princeton has clearly expressed its goal to serve the nation, but in order to do so, it must attempt to correct its participating role in the history of American injustice. Creating a program that promotes the enrollment of students who belong to communities previously oppressed by the University is a tangible way to right these past wrongs.”

"Princeton has clearly expressed its goal to serve the nation, but in order to do so, it must attempt to correct its participating role in the history of American injustice. Creating a program that promotes the enrollment of students who belong to communities previously oppressed by the University is a tangible way to right these past wrongs."

Affordable housing development should proceed despite resistance

“Given the dire state of affordability in Princeton and the lack of any suggestions for how to accomplish both goals, it is time for Princeton to approve the development of affordable housing projects over the objections of community residents.”

Princeton’s ECO 100 teaches market mythology over economic reality

These assumptions construct a worldview that isn’t even a general representation of reality, which the class doesn’t adequately grapple with, and inherently lean towards a free-market capitalist ideology, which has dramatic implications for public policy.  

These assumptions construct a worldview that isn’t even a general representation of reality, which the class doesn’t adequately grapple with, and inherently lean towards a free-market capitalist ideology, which has dramatic implications for public policy.  

Learning to burst the Orange Bubble

“There is a great deal to enjoy about our experience on campus, but that doesn’t mean we should seclude ourselves either. There’s a wide world outside the campus we live in — a world to explore, contribute to, and leave our mark on. We can start with the one right outside the gates.”

"There is a great deal to enjoy about our experience on campus, but that doesn’t mean we should seclude ourselves either. There’s a wide world outside the campus we live on, to explore and contribute to and leave our mark on; we can start with the one right outside the gates."

Donations should not be conditional on student speech

“Princeton would better serve itself, its students, and its donors by remaining neutral on controversial social issues and letting students think and speak for themselves.”

“Princeton would better serve itself, its students, and its donors by remaining neutral on controversial social issues and letting students think and speak for themselves.”

Princeton’s mental health problem needs a bigger solution than Community Care Day

To start substantively addressing the problem of student mental health, the University must focus on doing everything in its power to aid in addressing the mental health problems prevalent on campus.

To start substantively addressing the problem of student mental health, the University must focus on doing everything in its power to aid in addressing the mental health problems prevalent on campus.

On institutional neutrality and double-standards

For universities that have publicly strayed from the bounds of nonsectarian impartiality in favor of ideological bias and moralizing partisanship in the past, feigned neutrality or a selective reluctance to speak out now is totally unacceptable and reeks of an underlying moral and ethical rot.

For universities that have publicly strayed from the bounds of nonsectarian impartiality in favor of ideological bias and moralizing partisanship in the past, feigned neutrality or a selective reluctance to speak out now is totally unacceptable and reeks of an underlying moral and ethical rot.

The University needs more transparency in how it funds religious life

“Transparency about alumni donations to student-run religious organizations at Princeton University is essential for promoting fairness, inclusivity, accountability, and ethical compliance.”

“Transparency about alumni donations to student-run religious organizations at Princeton University is essential for promoting fairness, inclusivity, accountability, and ethical compliance.”

Lengthen time between classes

Given Princeton's focus on both the sciences and interdisciplinary education — and to foster a campus environment adapted to the campus's expansion and construction challenges — the University should lengthen passing time to 20 minutes. With extra time, students can realize the full potential of a Princeton education. 

With greater focus on both the sciences and interdisciplinary education and fostering a campus environment well-suited to the modern University, lengthening passing time to 20 minutes enables the realization of the full potential of a Princeton education. 

Why is everyone here ‘middle class’?

While there are certainly many ways to be middle-class, including both social and economic factors, it clearly doesn’t apply to those in the top five percent of America’s income earners, as half of this year’s Frosh Survey respondents whose families earn over $500k annually suggested.

While there are certainly many ways to be middle-class, including both social and economic factors, it clearly doesn't apply to those in the top 5% of America’s income earners, as half of this year's Frosh Survey respondents whose families earn over 500k annually suggested.

Recognize women’s athletic achievements with a bonfire too

“Celebrating only the football team sends the message that football is Princeton’s most important sport; that their successes, and only their successes, are worth the entire school’s attention, and that they take priority over both other men’s teams and all women’s teams.”

“Celebrating only the football team sends the message that football is Princeton’s most important sport; that their successes, and only their successes, are worth the entire school’s attention, and that they take priority over both other men’s teams and all women’s teams.”

Princeton should give a day off for Veterans Day

“A day off for Veterans Day is more than just a moment of rest; it is a collective acknowledgment of the immeasurable contributions and sacrifices of our veterans.”

"A day off for Veterans Day is more than just a moment of rest; it is a collective acknowledgment of the immeasurable contributions and sacrifices of our veterans."

African American studies is meant for everyone

“Instead of conceiving of AAS as a department only for Black students to learn about their history, we should recognize that studying African American history and culture enables Princeton students to learn to engage with their own and others’ humanity.”

"Instead of conceiving of AAS as a department only for Black students to learn about their history, we should recognize that studying African American history and culture enables Princeton students to learn to engage with their own and others’ humanity."

Princeton’s luxury discourages public service

"By being conscious of the opulence that surrounds us, we can avoid internalizing a belief that our degrees and academic achievement make us more deserving of a high quality of life."

"By being conscious of the opulence that surrounds us, we can avoid internalizing a belief that our degrees and academic achievement make us more deserving of a high quality of life."

Princeton has a construction problem. Now it’s affecting the student experience.

"Along with inefficient routes and longer walk times, the campus’ sheer size post-expansion is resulting in an increasingly disjointed community. The larger campus becomes, the more disconnected down-campus students are from their up-campus counterparts."

"Along with inefficient routes and longer walk times, the campus’ sheer size post-expansion is resulting in an increasingly disjointed community. The larger campus becomes, the more disconnected down-campus students are from their up-campus counterparts."

Princeton’s mail services should be more transparent

“The Princeton mail system is currently confusing, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Most of the issues with the system seem to be easy fixes, especially notifying students when they receive paper mail.”

"The Princeton mail system is currently confusing, but it doesn't need to be that way. Most of the issues with the system seem to be easy fixes, especially notifying students when they receive paper mail."

Economic suffocation in the Orange Bubble

Princeton’s current endowment trumps the GDP of many countries, yet if its property continues to expand, the orange bubble may be fundamentally unable to sustain itself. Princeton University needs to accordingly reevaluate the degree to which it influences the surrounding municipality, decrease its accelerated construction, and fundamentally restructure its contributions to the local neighborhoods.

Princeton’s current endowment trumps the GDP of most countries, yet if its property continues to expand, the orange bubble may be fundamentally unable to sustain itself. Princeton University needs to accordingly reevaluate the degree to which it influences the surrounding municipality, decrease its accelerated construction, and fundamentally restructure its contributions to the surrounding infrastructure.

For more socioeconomic diversity at Princeton, going test-optional is the wrong place to start

"Removing the SAT and ACT requirement is not the answer to increase socioeconomic diversity at Princeton. Standardized testing scores are the one objective admissions metric that is least biased towards wealthy students and is most helpful in identifying students who did not have the opportunity to take advanced coursework, participate in expensive activities, or enhance their application through attendance at prestigious high schools."

An image of Nassau Hall, Princeton's administrative center.

Why mandated majors at Princeton don't work

“Concentrations are far from necessary for a comprehensive academic experience at the University. From personal experience, despite enjoying many department courses as a Politics major, the majority of my most formative academic experiences came from classes in multiple other departments: Sociology, African American Studies, Computer Science, Journalism, and more.”

“Concentrations are far from necessary for a comprehensive academic experience at the University. From personal experience, despite enjoying many department courses as a Politics major, the majority of my most formative academic experiences came from classes in multiple other departments: Sociology, African American Studies, Computer Science, Journalism, and more.”