Opinion

Fetty Wap’s past crimes don’t define him, but they still matter

Perhaps I am an old soul, but I think that drug trafficking is objectively wrong, and the University and USG should be playing a role in shaping the great minds of our generation to agree. Inviting Fetty Wap sends the opposite message; USG, through its silence, signals its indifference to his criminal background.

Perhaps I am an old soul, but I think that drug trafficking is objectively wrong, and the University and USG should be playing a role in shaping the great minds of our generation to agree. Inviting Fetty Wap sends the opposite message; USG, through its silence, signals its indifference to his criminal background.

In New Jersey’s service, pass the Climate Superfund Act

On Wednesday, May 6, climate organizations from across the state will rally at Princeton for the Climate Superfund Act. This is the perfect moment for Princeton students to both stand in solidarity with and take pride in their New Jersey community.

On Wednesday, May 6, climate organizations from across the state will rally at Princeton for the Climate Superfund Act. This is the perfect moment for Princeton students to both stand in solidarity with and take pride in their New Jersey community.

A major rethink: pushing back B.S.E. declaration

Princeton engineering students are capable of navigating degree requirements — they do not need a relatively binding label at the end of their freshman year to do so.

Princeton engineering students are capable of navigating degree requirements — they do not need a relatively binding label at the end of their freshman year to do so.

Applications won’t solve the undervaluation of creative writing courses

Writing and translating are not only about what you create but how you create it. The notion that this work is “easy” is the notion that it’s no big deal to be a thinking, feeling human individual. 

Writing and translating are not only about what you create but how you create it. The notion that this work is “easy” is the notion that it’s no big deal to be a thinking, feeling human individual. 

Encourage engineers to learn a new language from scratch

Engineering students at Princeton would benefit significantly from developing proficiency in foreign languages, and they should have the option to do so without setting them back in their degree progress.

Engineering students at Princeton would benefit significantly from developing proficiency in foreign languages, and they should have the option to do so without setting them back in their degree progress.

The humanities don’t need to be afraid of AI

In suggesting that AI will not undermine the intellectual integrity of the humanities, I’m not saying that the humanities won’t evolve. But evolving is not the same as vanishing.

In suggesting that AI will not undermine the intellectual integrity of the humanities, I’m not saying that the humanities won’t evolve. But evolving is not the same as vanishing.

Reactions: The e-bike ban

On April 13, the University announced a forthcoming ban on e-bikes. Our Opinion staff reacts to this policy change.

Vote ‘yes’ on Referendum No. 1 to strengthen student disciplinary protections

With AI use on the rise amidst monumental shifts in academic culture, it is imperative that Princeton’s disciplinary system modernizes accordingly. By raising the simple majority threshold to a three-fourths supermajority, requiring COD investigators to clarify the academic course in question and the role of student as a witness or subject of investigation, and proactively affirming the right to representation, we aim to protect student rights and affirm the legitimacy and importance of the COD.

With AI use on the rise amidst monumental shifts in academic culture, it is imperative that Princeton’s disciplinary system modernizes accordingly. By raising the simple majority threshold to a three-fourths supermajority, requiring COD investigators to clarify the academic course in question and the role of student as a witness or subject of investigation, and proactively affirming the right to representation, we aim to protect student rights and affirm the legitimacy and importance of the COD.

Sam Wang wasn’t silencing students — he was standing for democracy

Wang isn’t trying to silence students. Challenging potentially invalid signatures is not an attack on students’ — or anyone’s — voices, but rather a good-faith attempt to defend democracy against potentially fraudulent practices.

Wang isn’t trying to silence students. Challenging potentially invalid signatures is not an attack on students’ — or anyone’s — voices, but rather a good-faith attempt to defend democracy against potentially fraudulent practices.

Princeton students, take your advocacy directly to the administration

Students have to be deliberate and engaged in their efforts to work with the administration on the changes they want to see instituted.

Students have to be deliberate and engaged in their efforts to work with the administration on the changes they want to see instituted.

End the conversation

For decades, if not centuries, well-known academics have traveled the country, giving lectures at universities and having spontaneous intellectual dialogues with students, faculty, and community members in attendance. This process allows them to develop their ideas, while simultaneously giving the audience a chance to engage with them critically.

For decades, if not centuries, well-known academics have traveled the country, giving lectures at universities and having spontaneous intellectual dialogues with students, faculty, and community members in attendance. This process allows them to develop their ideas, while simultaneously giving the audience a chance to engage with them critically.

Sam Wang tried to silence us. We’re not going anywhere.

Wang’s attempt to invalidate our participation reveals his willingness to sacrifice democratic principles for political gain. 

Wang’s attempt to invalidate our participation reveals his willingness to sacrifice democratic principles for political gain. 

For proctors to work, students need a say

The Editorial Board is united in arguing that undergraduate students must be involved in any changes to our honor system. Moving forward, the University has the opportunity to right its wrongs — it is not too late to seriously solicit the perspectives of students prior to enacting a proctor system.

The Board is united in the belief that undergraduate students must be involved in any changes to our honor system. Moving forward, the University has the opportunity to right its wrongs — it is not too late to seriously solicit the perspectives of students prior to enacting a proctor system.

Why don’t we have retroactive pass/D/fail?

In short, the choice to PDF a class comes down to students’ ability to speculate about their performance thus far and anticipate their potential to succeed in the coming three weeks, forcing students to gamify their own and their classmates’ ability in a way that is entirely unnecessary and that detracts from their ability to simply enjoy the material and challenge of a class. 

In short, the choice to PDF a class comes down to students’ ability to speculate about their performance thus far and anticipate their potential to succeed in the coming three weeks, forcing students to gamify their own and their classmates’ ability in a way that is entirely unnecessary and that detracts from their ability to simply enjoy the material and challenge of a class.

A case for the Honor Committee

Concerns over academic integrity and the wish to call out offenders among the student body continue to be prevalent, voiced without guilt in an informal setting. Fundamentally, we are still committed to academic integrity, even if the ostensibly punitive nature of the Honor Code seems to get in the way of our predominant moral commitments. 

Concerns over academic integrity and the wish to call out offenders among the student body continue to be prevalent, voiced without guilt in an informal setting. Fundamentally, we are still committed to academic integrity, even if the ostensibly punitive nature of the Honor Code seems to get in the way of our predominant moral commitments. 

Unity yes, Sliwa no

As important as the sentiment of unity is, we must be cautious of achieving the seemingly noble end of bipartisan acceptance through the tactics and advocacy advanced by Curtis Sliwa. Two flaws accompany an embrace of unity through Sliwa’s messaging, characterized by the nature of Sliwa’s Republicanism and the dangers of populism.

Humanistic study at Princeton is doing just fine

Despite the formidable hygienic challenges posed by several events on campus, Princeton faces a far greater threat from recent political polemics against the University’s humanities education. Still, despite allegations of problems with education at the University, there is much reason to believe that the humanities at Princeton are alive and well. 

Despite the formidable hygienic challenges posed by several events on campus, Princeton faces a far greater threat from recent political polemics against the University’s humanities education. Still, despite allegations of problems with education at the University, there is much reason to believe that the humanities at Princeton are alive and well. 

The problem with the ADL’s ‘report card’

The ADL is not — nor should it be — the sole arbiter of what qualifies as antisemitism. In fact, the ADL’s definition of antisemitism creates problems for Jews in a broader sense: While the organization explains that criticism of Israel’s government is not antisemitic, they also state that language that demonizes or delegitimizes the state does count as antisemitism. 

The ADL is not — nor should it be — the sole arbiter of what qualifies as antisemitism. In fact, the ADL’s definition of antisemitism creates problems for Jews in a broader sense: While the organization explains that criticism of Israel’s government is not antisemitic, they also state that language that demonizes or delegitimizes the state does count as antisemitism. 

Princeton’s cultural festivals deserve a place in lecture halls

Cultural festivals provide food and entertainment, but each performance and meal offers only a brief snapshot and glimpse into a potential culture. And if a performance does generate interest, there’s no place for that interest to go.

Cultural festivals provide food and entertainment, but each performance and meal offers only a brief snapshot and glimpse into a potential culture. And if a performance does generate interest, there’s no place for that interest to go.

Abolish Ivy Day

When a student is receiving up to eight high-stakes decisions in the same day, they may not be able to separate and process each decision. The University should strive to release decisions earlier to be fair to its applicants.

When a student is receiving up to eight high-stakes decisions in the same day, they may not be able to separate and process each decision. The University should strive to release decisions earlier to be fair to its applicants.