Columns

Mental health care must be proactive

Mental health care must be proactive

Allen Liu

“Rather than taking a reactive approach to mental health, the University can ensure that well-being is a central part of its decision-making and student experiences at Princeton. Mental health care can be proactive, and on a healthy campus, it must be.”

“Rather than taking a reactive approach to mental health, the University can ensure that well-being is a central part of its decision-making and student experiences at Princeton. Mental health care can be proactive, and on a healthy campus, it must be.”

OPINION | March 21

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Criminalization and the literary canon

Criminalization and the literary canon

Brittani Telfair

“The canon should not be regarded as static. Arguing that an author should still be read just because they were influential at some point in time does not make sense.”

“The canon should not be regarded as static. Arguing that an author should still be read just because they were influential at some point in time does not make sense.” 

OPINION | March 20

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The obligation to act: how Princeton University can promote housing justice

The obligation to act: how Princeton University can promote housing justice

Matt Mleczko

In the first installment of a multi-part series on how Princeton University can promote affordable housing in a reparative framework and provide a model for other similar institutions to follow, Graduate Student Columnist Matt Mleczko provides background on the Butler Tract and the Universityu2019ss historic and ongoing role in housing dynamics in Princeton.

In the first installment of a multi-part series on how Princeton University can promote affordable housing in a reparative framework and provide a model for other similar institutions to follow, Graduate Student Columnist Matt Mleczko provides background on the Butler Tract and the University’s historic and ongoing role in housing dynamics in Princeton.

PROJECTS | March 17

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Shedding a spotlight on Princeton faculty diversity

Shedding a spotlight on Princeton faculty diversity

Ndeye Thioubou

“Without a sufficiently diverse faculty, Princeton students are being deprived of opportunities to learn from those with unique and invaluable experiences and perspectives.”

“Without a sufficiently diverse faculty, Princeton students are being deprived of opportunities to learn from those with unique and invaluable experiences and perspectives.” 

OPINION | March 16

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Affirmative action is unequal. That’s the point.

Affirmative action is unequal. That’s the point.

Ashley Olenkiewicz

“Achieving equity for all Americans necessitates the purposeful consideration of minorities’ unequal status in American society.”

“Achieving equity for all Americans necessitates the purposeful consideration of minorities’ unequal status in American society.”

OPINION | March 15

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Princeton should pay for all course books

Princeton should pay for all course books

Ava Milberg

“It seems rather intuitive that books are a necessary part of a college student’s experience, so making them more affordable would only promote the goals and expectations of college students that have already been established.”

“It seems rather intuitive that books are a necessary part of a college student’s experience, so making them more affordable would only promote the goals and expectations of college students that have already been established.”

OPINION | March 13

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CPS needs to stop putting students into boxes

CPS needs to stop putting students into boxes

Audrey Chau

“Now more than ever, we need to treat one another with kindness and respect. All I am asking for is a more human-centered approach to counseling on campus.”

“Now more than ever, we need to treat one another with kindness and respect. All I am asking for is a more human-centered approach to counseling on campus.” 

OPINION | March 3

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Princeton cares more about your midterms than you

Princeton cares more about your midterms than you

Brittani Telfair

“I feel deeply disappointed and disillusioned by the University’s actions and rhetoric. Our collective well-being — by which I mean the mental and physical well-being of each and every one of us — shouldn’t be sacrificed for the sake of propping up an appearance of “normalcy” and sustaining a crushingly toxic culture of productivity.”

“I feel deeply disappointed and disillusioned by the University’s actions and rhetoric. Our collective well-being — by which I mean the mental and physical well-being of each and every one of us — shouldn’t be sacrificed for the sake of propping up an appearance of “normalcy” and sustaining a crushingly toxic culture of productivity.”

OPINION | March 3

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Reactions: Princeton to ditch the mask mandate and asymptomatic testing

Reactions: Princeton to ditch the mask mandate and asymptomatic testing

Brittani Telfair, Christofer Robles, Abigail Rabieh, Ndeye Thioubou, David Piegaro, and Prince Takano

For the Reactions series, columnists opine on the recent loosening of the University’s COVID-19 protocol — some lauding the changes and others nervous about the risks of COVID-19 spread with fewer mitigation measures.

For the Reactions series, columnists opine on the recent loosening of the University’s COVID-19 protocol — some lauding the changes and others nervous about the risks of COVID-19 spread with fewer mitigation measures.

OPINION | March 3

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The need for the mask mandate and an improved outlook on COVID-19

The need for the mask mandate and an improved outlook on COVID-19

Gisele Bisch

“So, for the sake of our community, we must remember that the pandemic hasn’t reached the point where those who contract COVID-19 will face minimal disruptions in their day-to-day life. And with this outlook in mind, we must consider more preventative measures and safety accommodations.”

“So, for the sake of our community, we must remember that the pandemic hasn’t reached the point where those who contract COVID-19 will face minimal disruptions in their day-to-day life. And with this outlook in mind, we must consider more preventative measures and safety accommodations.”

OPINION | March 1

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What will Princeton be like after the pandemic?

What will Princeton be like after the pandemic?

Allen Liu

“The pandemic has contributed to the shrinking of our social circles: those of us who were here before the pandemic lost touch with people beyond our close friends and now interact with a more limited set of people. Those of us who started Princeton during the pandemic began with a more limited set of relationships and missed many of the social events that helped students with different interests and identities meet each other.”

“The pandemic has stratified campus and diminished its “magic”. However, with an improving pandemic and effort on our parts, I hope that we can revive it.”

OPINION | February 27

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Let’s face it: The 2022 Beijing Olympics should have been boycotted

Let’s face it: The 2022 Beijing Olympics should have been boycotted

Prince Takano

“As Princeton students, we are taught to act ‘in the service of the nation and in the service of humanity.’ Complacency toward the evils of China’s regime is a disservice to humanity.”

“As Princeton students, we are taught to act ‘in the service of the nation and in the service of humanity.’ Complacency toward the evils of China’s regime is a disservice to humanity.”

OPINION | February 24

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A century after Einstein, is STEM education really breaking barriers?

A century after Einstein, is STEM education really breaking barriers?

Laya Reddy

“Co-creation environments in which everybody is a stakeholder and active participant in their education make people feel more included. Reworking the collaborative structure of precept as an opportunity to solve real-world problems and create new ideas could be a great jumping-off point for the STEM curriculum.”

“Co-creation environments in which everybody is a stakeholder and active participant in their education make people feel more included. Reworking the collaborative structure of precept as an opportunity to solve real-world problems and create new ideas could be a great jumping-off point for the STEM curriculum.”

OPINION | February 24

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Free speech rules cannot be written without marginalized voices at the table

Free speech rules cannot be written without marginalized voices at the table

Mohan Setty-Charity

When we elevate more people from marginalized communities to positions where they can contribute to the conversation on what constitutes a real threat and harassment, we may have a more full and nuanced understanding of what speech should and should not be protected.

When we elevate more people from marginalized communities to positions where they can contribute to the conversation on what constitutes a real threat and harassment, we may have a more full and nuanced understanding of what speech should and should not be protected.

OPINION | February 23

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Take down the prerequisites guarding Einstein’s work

Take down the prerequisites guarding Einstein’s work

Rohit Narayanan

“As we celebrate the life of Albert Einstein, we should make an effort to make his scientific contributions accessible to all. As the humanities departments educate Princeton’s entire campus, the STEM departments shouldn’t be turning people away.”

“As we celebrate the life of Albert Einstein, we should make an effort to make his scientific contributions accessible to all. As the humanities departments educate Princeton’s entire campus, the STEM departments shouldn’t be turning people away.”

OPINION | February 21

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Pursuit of self-affirmation at Princeton: The Bicker process

Pursuit of self-affirmation at Princeton: The Bicker process

Andi Grene

“At Princeton, sources of validation are scarce, laying the groundwork for Bicker’s appeal. Bicker represents one of the few opportunities on campus to once again be told that you are special.”

“At Princeton, sources of validation are scarce, laying the groundwork for Bicker’s appeal. Bicker represents one of the few opportunities on campus to once again be told that you are special.”

OPINION | February 17

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Why Divest Princeton filed a legal complaint against the University

Why Divest Princeton filed a legal complaint against the University

Hannah Reynolds

“Today, we take our future into our own hands, with the hope that our advocacy will finally result in visible, tangible change toward mitigating the existential climate crisis at hand. We will not rest until Princeton divests.”

“Today, we take our future into our own hands, with the hope that our advocacy will finally result in visible, tangible change toward mitigating the existential climate crisis at hand. We will not rest until Princeton divests.”

OPINION | February 16

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Students who vote in Princeton should help defeat the Special Improvement District (SID) ordinance

Students who vote in Princeton should help defeat the Special Improvement District (SID) ordinance

John Kuhn Bleimaier

“Princeton student voters should encourage their elected representatives to vote against the Special Improvement District (SID) ordinance which will be introduced before the town council on Feb. 28.”

“Princeton student voters should encourage their elected representatives to vote against the Special Improvement District (SID) ordinance which will be introduced before the town council on Feb. 28.”

OPINION | February 16

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Spotify spreads COVID-19 misinformation: We must hold the platform accountable

Spotify spreads COVID-19 misinformation: We must hold the platform accountable

Gisele Bisch

“As daily consumers of content from distribution platforms like Spotify, Princeton students must recognize the importance of holding such platforms and their creators accountable.” 

“As daily consumers of content from distribution platforms like Spotify, Princeton students must recognize the importance of holding such platforms and their creators accountable.”  

OPINION | February 10

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The sham of meritocracy in Princeton admissions

The sham of meritocracy in Princeton admissions

Rohit Narayanan

“Princeton assigns residential colleges randomly for a reason. If only it could apply that same wisdom to the much more destructive system of college admissions that it helps perpetuate.”

“Princeton assigns residential colleges randomly for a reason. If only it could apply that same wisdom to the much more destructive system of college admissions that it helps perpetuate.”

OPINION | February 10

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