Columns

Princeton’s divestment plan: Saying plenty, doing little

Princeton’s divestment plan: Saying plenty, doing little

Lucia Wetherill

“As those who stand to inherit a rapidly heating Earth, we cannot allow Princeton to favor promises and committees over decisive action like divestment, especially when our own divestment could push other universities or even states to do the same.”

“As those who stand to inherit a rapidly heating Earth, we cannot allow Princeton to favor promises and committees over decisive action like divestment, especially when our own divestment could push other universities or even states to do the same.”

OPINION | October 26

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Addressing the plague within the pandemic

Addressing the plague within the pandemic

Ana Blanco

“We should not be risking our own well being and that of our peers because of decentralized policies that fail to acknowledge the toll of non-COVID illnesses on our academic presence and productivity.”

“We should not be risking our own well being and that of our peers because of decentralized policies that fail to acknowledge the toll of non-COVID illnesses on our academic presence and productivity.”

OPINION | October 26

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Princeton Athletics needs to make every game a Hometown Heroes game

Princeton Athletics needs to make every game a Hometown Heroes game

Sally Jane Ruybàlid

“These essential workers, emergency responders, ‘hometown heroes,’ – they are colleagues, friends, and neighbors who have gone above and beyond in the most critical of times to care for and help us. They deserve to not have to sacrifice half a day’s wages to take their family to a game. ”

“These essential workers, emergency responders, ‘hometown heroes,’ – they are colleagues, friends, and neighbors who have gone above and beyond in the most critical of times to care for and help us. They deserve to not have to sacrifice half a day’s wages to take their family to a game.” 

OPINION | October 25

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We must maintain Princeton’s values in Venture Forward

We must maintain Princeton’s values in Venture Forward

Mohan Setty-Charity

“ Princeton needs to make sure that any contributions that come in actually are to advance the University’s values. But beyond that, it is important that the fundamental values continue to evolve, and that we continue to support our ever-changing student body; now, and in the future.”

“ Princeton needs to make sure that any contributions that come in actually are to advance the University’s values. But beyond that, it is important that the fundamental values continue to evolve, and that we continue to support our ever-changing student body; now, and in the future.”

OPINION | October 25

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Caught the Princeton Plague? Good luck.

Caught the Princeton Plague? Good luck.

Brittani Telfair

“The way McCosh is functioning is inexcusable: it’s doing the bare minimum.”

“The way McCosh is functioning is inexcusable: it’s doing the bare minimum.”

OPINION | October 24

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Popping the Orange Bubble: How stories encourage people to take an active stance in favor of divestment

Popping the Orange Bubble: How stories encourage people to take an active stance in favor of divestment

Isabella Checa

“What is the best way to actually inspire others to act for divestment? By doing exactly what students at the sit-in did: sharing why climate action is important to you.”

“What is the best way to actually inspire others to act for divestment? By doing exactly what students at the sit-in did: sharing why climate action is important to you.”

OPINION | October 14

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Why we should un-theme Lawnparties

Why we should un-theme Lawnparties

Andi Grene

“This preppy Lawnparties groupthink resulted in a homogeneity that limited students’ embrace of authenticity on the day. In order to counteract the effects of the restrictive environment Lawnparties creates, we must reject the theming of all future Lawnparties.”  

“This preppy Lawnparties groupthink resulted in a homogeneity that limited students’ embrace of authenticity on the day. In order to counteract the effects of the restrictive environment Lawnparties creates, we must reject the theming of all future Lawnparties.”   

OPINION | October 14

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Princeton must change its midterm system

Princeton must change its midterm system

Won-Jae Chang

“Ultimately, having midterms during regular class times has an immense toll on our mental, social, and even physical health (especially given the ongoing illnesses).”

“Ultimately, having midterms during regular class times has an immense toll on our mental, social, and even physical health (especially given the ongoing illnesses).”

OPINION | October 12

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Abolition washing and the origins of Princeton’s divestment delay tactics

Abolition washing and the origins of Princeton’s divestment delay tactics

Lynne Archibald

“As Bill McKibben says, ‘the plural of ‘privilege’ is ‘establishment,” and this is how change is always blocked — from 1792 right through to today.”

“As Bill McKibben says, ‘the plural of ‘privilege’ is ‘establishment,” and this is how change is always blocked — from 1792 right through to today.”

OPINION | October 10

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Competitive clubs: how Princeton’s selective extracurriculars favor the wealthy

Competitive clubs: how Princeton’s selective extracurriculars favor the wealthy

Genrietta Churbanova

“There is an element of the club application process that requires our attention: much like the college admissions process itself, the club application process at Princeton favors high-income individuals.”

“There is an element of the club application process that requires our attention: much like the college admissions process itself, the club application process at Princeton favors high-income individuals.”

OPINION | October 10

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BSE courses need to match the tech revolution

BSE courses need to match the tech revolution

Rohit Narayanan

“While our first-year curriculum covers a lot of important content, it seems to lack the fundamental ethos of engineering, spurning core engineering skills like modularity, teamwork, love for failure, creativity, concision and adaptability.”

“While our first-year curriculum covers a lot of important content, it seems to lack the fundamental ethos of engineering, spurning core engineering skills like modularity, teamwork, love for failure, creativity, concision and adaptability.”

OPINION | October 10

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When in doubt — McCosh!

When in doubt — McCosh!

Ashley Olenkiewicz

“Despite residential college directors making it clear to first-years that McCosh is a confidential, free, and safe resource, many first-years I’ve interacted with appear to be hesitant in McCoshing their friends (sending a student to McCosh for alcohol-related reasons), or being McCoshed themselves. Yet the reasons often cited for such hesitation, including fears of social stigmatization or punitive disciplinary measures, are based on misconceptions that needlessly deter students from receiving necessary medical care.”

“Despite residential college directors making it clear to first-years that McCosh is a confidential, free, and safe resource, many first-years I’ve interacted with appear to be hesitant in McCoshing their friends (sending a student to McCosh for alcohol-related reasons), or being McCoshed themselves. Yet the reasons often cited for such hesitation, including fears of social stigmatization or punitive disciplinary measures, are based on misconceptions that needlessly deter students from receiving necessary medical care.” 

OPINION | October 7

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Course Instructors should consider a hybrid office hours model, if they haven't already

Course Instructors should consider a hybrid office hours model, if they haven't already

Kelsey Ji

“Since the technology already exists, course instructors ought to rethink the office hours options and utilize them to the fullest extent so that it makes everyone’s lives easier and provide better support for students’ success.”

“Since the technology already exists, course instructors ought to rethink the office hours options and utilize them to the fullest extent so that it makes everyone’s lives easier and provide better support for students’ success.”

OPINION | October 6

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Orange Key tours must start telling the true Princeton narrative

Orange Key tours must start telling the true Princeton narrative

Audrey Chau

“The Orange Key program has failed to fulfill its core mission of letting prospective applicants “get a feel of the exciting community that will be your home.” I’m sure no Princeton student can truly call this place “home” without experiencing, at some point in their Princeton career, the whole spectrum of the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

“The Orange Key program has failed to fulfill its core mission of letting prospective applicants “get a feel of the exciting community that will be your home.” I’m sure no Princeton student can truly call this place “home” without experiencing, at some point in their Princeton career, the whole spectrum of the good, the bad, and the ugly.”

OPINION | October 3

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What the last two Lawnparties show us about the need for USG reform

What the last two Lawnparties show us about the need for USG reform

Brittani Telfair

“It is undeniable that USG representatives are hard-working, and that should be recognized. The controversy regarding the past two Lawnparties raises concern, however. Because much of USG’s work is hidden from the student body, they are largely unaccountable to us.”

“It is undeniable that USG representatives are hard-working, and that should be recognized. The controversy regarding the past two Lawnparties raises concern, however. Because much of USG’s work is hidden from the student body, they are largely unaccountable to us.”

OPINION | October 3

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Native Hawaiians deserve to be seen, too

Native Hawaiians deserve to be seen, too

Gisele Bisch

Native Hawaiians should not have to carry the weight of advocating for ourselves and our history alone. With Hawai‘i being one of the fifty states, our past should be common knowledge. 

Native Hawaiians should not have to carry the weight of advocating for ourselves and our history alone. With Hawai‘i being one of the fifty states, our past should be common knowledge.  

OPINION | September 30

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Texas abortion law proves that, once again, bodily autonomy is fragile

Texas abortion law proves that, once again, bodily autonomy is fragile

Claudia Frykberg

“The enforcement of such a law, as well as its failure to be challenged thus far on a legal basis, shows the ongoing necessity of vigilant advocacy for reproductive rights, and acts as a harrowing reminder of the fragility of liberties that were so arduously won.”

“The enforcement of such a law, as well as its failure to be challenged thus far on a legal basis, shows the ongoing necessity of vigilant advocacy for reproductive rights, and acts as a harrowing reminder of the fragility of liberties that were so arduously won.”

OPINION | September 29

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What ‘party culture’ reveals about our mental health

What ‘party culture’ reveals about our mental health

Allen Liu

“The intensity of life at Princeton and relative isolation of campus can be stifling, and it may feel that the only escape is a pregame or a night out. However, if students and the University do more to prioritize well-being, it doesn’t have to be that way.”

“The intensity of life at Princeton and relative isolation of campus can be stifling, and it may feel that the only escape is a pregame or a night out. However, if students and the University do more to prioritize well-being, it doesn’t have to be that way.”

OPINION | September 28

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Add/drop needs to change in order to truly serve students

Add/drop needs to change in order to truly serve students

Ava Milberg

“By reconfiguring the add/drop period in a way that reduces the disadvantages of actually adding and dropping different classes, students would hopefully feel encouraged to try out different classes and find ones that truly are the best fit.”

“By reconfiguring the add/drop period in a way that reduces the disadvantages of actually adding and dropping different classes, students would hopefully feel encouraged to try out different classes and find ones that truly are the best fit.”

OPINION | September 27

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Princeton’s queer community is often biphobic and transphobic. Where do we go from here?

Princeton’s queer community is often biphobic and transphobic. Where do we go from here?

Hannah Reynolds

“In spaces that are markedly progressive and accepting, gatekeeping of queerness is unacceptable. As Princeton students — whether queer or allies — we must foster a safe and accepting community for people of all identities, rather than contributing to the self-doubt and isolation one already often experiences as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“In spaces that are markedly progressive and accepting, gatekeeping of queerness is unacceptable. As Princeton students — whether queer or allies — we must foster a safe and accepting community for people of all identities, rather than contributing to the self-doubt and isolation one already often experiences as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”

OPINION | September 26

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