Guest Contributions

Statement from AASA condemning recent attacks on Asian Americans

We, the Princeton University Asian American Students Association Executive Board, condemn the recent immoral, repulsive, and devastating attacks on Asian Americans, and we urge our fellow Princetonians to carefully consider how our words and actions impact not just APIDA but all marginalized communities, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  

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

“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.”

The question nobody asks: Where does our trash go?

Reflecting on the amount of waste produced on campus since the start of the semester, Guest Contributor Chioma Ugwonali '24 recommends changes in the University's trash disposable and recycling efforts and calls on students to be conscious consumers.

Reflecting on the amount of waste produced on campus since the start of the semester, Guest Contributor Chioma Ugwonali '24 recommends changes in the University's trash disposable and recycling efforts and calls on students to be conscious consumers.

It’s time to get better masks for Princeton students, staff, and community members

Over the past year, the University has proven that it has the resources and logistical skills to operate like a small country during the pandemic. It’s time for campus officials to once again follow the lead of other successful nations and procure better masks for our community.

Over the past year, the University has proven that it has the resources and logistical skills to operate like a small country during the pandemic. It’s time for campus officials to once again follow the lead of other successful nations and procure better masks for our community.

PART III | Power and Money at Princeton: Princeton’s Donors Fund Climate Denial

Princeton’s climate history is one of cognitive dissonance. The University has simultaneously affiliated itself with climate action and climate denial.

Princeton’s climate history is one of cognitive dissonance. The University has simultaneously affiliated itself with climate action and climate denial.

Political culture has become foreign to American democratic traditions

The problem now is a political culture that seems, more than ever, foreign to American democratic traditions. 

 The problem now is a political culture that seems, more than ever, foreign to American democratic traditions.  

PART II | Power and Money at Princeton: What do you get for a donation to Princeton?

As we strive to understand systems of power at Princeton and beyond, it is crucial to know how the University is funded and the power of big donors at Princeton — whether explicitly stated or implicitly understood. As they pour millions into the University, we should encourage greater scrutiny of what they may get in return — better reputations, greater consideration in important university decisions, seats on the Board. 

As we strive to understand systems of power at Princeton and beyond, it is crucial to know how the University is funded and the power of big donors at Princeton — whether explicitly stated or implicitly understood. As they pour millions into the University, we should encourage greater scrutiny of what they may get in return — better reputations, greater consideration in important university decisions, seats on the Board. 

PART I | Power and Money At Princeton: Where is our ‘Princeton Forward’?

The opaqueness of the Trustee nomination process and absence of a petition option highlight the undemocratic and nontransparent nature of Princeton’s Board of Trustees.

The opaqueness of the Trustee nomination process and absence of a petition option highlight the undemocratic and nontransparent nature of Princeton’s Board of Trustees.

Cannon alum: Cancel Bicker

An alum and former Cannon member recounts their experience in Bicker discussions, citing data and notes from those discussions to demonstrate their view that Bicker is an unjust process in need of substantial reform. 

An alum and former Cannon member recounts their experience in Bicker discussions, citing data and notes from those discussions to demonstrate their view that Bicker is an unjust process in need of substantial reform. 

We should have a voice in the University’s COVID response

“Let us be clear. We do not oppose the return of the students. What we want is an end to the unilateral manner in which the University makes decisions on matters concerning the entire community,” guest contributor Marc Schorin writes on behalf of the Princeton Anti-Austerity Coalition.

“Let us be clear. We do not oppose the return of the students. What we want is an end to the unilateral manner in which the University makes decisions on matters concerning the entire community,” guest contributor Marc Schorin writes on behalf of the Princeton Anti-Austerity Coalition.

Why Whig-Clio should strip Ted Cruz ’92 of the James Madison Award

As we have seen, verbal condemnation alone has lost practically all effectiveness in keeping politicians accountable. We must back our words with actions, otherwise we give a free pass to those in power. While I applaud Whig-Clio for condemning the protests and Cruz’s actions, this is insufficient. I assert that Whig-Clio must withdraw the James Madison Award as well.

As we have seen, verbal condemnation alone has lost practically all effectiveness in keeping politicians accountable. We must back our words with actions, otherwise we give a free pass to those in power. While I applaud Whig-Clio for condemning the protests and Cruz’s actions, this is insufficient. I assert that Whig-Clio must withdraw the James Madison Award as well.

America’s political future depends on non-political stakeholders

College campuses are prime locations for political discussions no matter what your major is. But we need to consider how to bring that mindset beyond the theoretical fireside debates of Princeton’s dining halls and into our future occupations.

College campuses are prime locations for political discussions no matter what your major is. But we need to consider how to bring that mindset beyond the theoretical fireside debates of Princeton’s dining halls and into our future occupations.

The case for defunding the police after the Jan. 6 coup attempt

The tepid police response to the attempted coup, juxtaposed with their vicious response to other anti-racist protests, shows that the harms police cause to communities of color persist. But, they are harms we are ready to live without. 

The tepid police response to the attempted coup, juxtaposed with their vicious response to other anti-racist protests, shows that the harms police cause to communities of color persist. But, they are harms we are ready to live without. 

Don't let Princeton cut spring break

Simply put, the University would rather implement a preemptive group punishment in order to deter students from traveling, even if it means jeopardizing the student academic experience and mental health. This upcoming semester already promises to be unusually difficult for students, given the pandemic and campus restrictions. These factors should warrant more breaks during what is collectively seen as the harder of the two semesters, not fewer.

Simply put, the University would rather implement a preemptive group punishment in order to deter students from traveling, even if it means jeopardizing the student academic experience and mental health. This upcoming semester already promises to be unusually difficult for students, given the pandemic and campus restrictions. These factors should warrant more breaks during what is collectively seen as the harder of the two semesters, not fewer.

The truth matters: A response to a former officer’s attempt to disgrace Whig Clio

Terrell Seabrooks, the former Vice President of Whig Clio, responds to a National Review article which alleged censorship of conservative voices. This past year, Whig Clio, the nation’s oldest collegiate political, literary, and debate society, continued to support our founding principles to facilitate healthy debate and encourage open and inclusive discussion.

Terrell Seabrooks ’21, the former Vice President of Whig Clio, responds to a National Review article which alleged censorship of conservative voices. “This past year, Whig Clio, the nation’s oldest collegiate political, literary, and debate society, continued to support our founding principles to facilitate healthy debate and encourage open and inclusive discussion.”

COVID-19 vaccines are here. Now, we must fight to ensure minority populations have equal access.

Now, more than ever, our collective action as students is essential to ensuring the widespread and equitable access of the vaccine. While voting is an integral first step into getting involved in processes of legislation, taking our advocacy one step further is essential in ensuring a sustained and significant change on the federal and legislative levels.

Now, more than ever, our collective action as students is essential to ensure the widespread and equitable access of the vaccine. While voting is an integral first step into getting involved in processes of legislation, taking our advocacy one step further is essential in ensuring a sustained and significant change on the federal and legislative levels.

Housing must revise and clarify its disability accommodations process for on-campus spring

Allowing disabled students control over their roommates and implementing a reasonable, transparent, and well-advertised appeals process are absolutely non-negotiable for the University to truly attend to the needs of its disabled student community. This is especially true because the Housing Accommodations process has been historically unreliable, and in particular, explicitly discriminatory against students with mental and invisible disabilities.

What Princeton can learn from the #EndSARS movement and Nigeria’s brave youth

Just as Princetonians stood up to rewrite history, youth in Nigeria have also taken to the streets to peacefully protest against injustice in their local communities. 

As the people of Artsakh face grave threats, we must act now

Knowing the steep cost of silence in these times, we believe it to be our responsibility to spread awareness about this conflict, and we urge others to raise their voices as well. 

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck ’81: Divestment from fossil fuels is a foolish endeavor

Rather than focusing on divesting from fossil fuels, student activists could help usher in the next era of clean energy derived from fossil fuels, with an emphasis on even greater improvements in natural gas production.