Opinion

Some final thoughts

After three years as a columnist for this paper, writing a final column is surprisingly hard to do. I’ve spoken my piece on most of the things about this place that have caught my attention. What’s more, I’ve experienced so much, owed so much and grown so much that I cannot possibly summarize it in 900 words.  In fact, that is the essence of Princeton: There is more to do here than can possibly be accomplished in four years. Happiness requires choosing the important parts and pursuing them without reservation.

Letter to the Editor: May 11th, 2012

The ‘Prince’s’ Editorial Board makes a factual error in its call for “Improving Precept.” Princeton’s teaching requirement for graduate students is just about the slightest among its “peers,” defined either narrowly as the Ivies or more broadly as American research universities.

Cartoon: Productivity

In defense of common sense

In an article about Princeton University’s overseas financial investments published in this newspaper on April 27, Pakistan was singled out as one of the countries in which the University had held an investment. In fact, Pakistan was mentioned in the title of the article and was the only country out of 29 in which the University holds investments to be discussed in the article. The article suggested, both with references to previously controversial overseas investments as well as the crises that have rocked the U.S.-Pakistan relationship over the last year, that investing in Pakistan was a suspicious and possibly condemnable activity. This is an irresponsible and inaccurate depiction of reality.

Depression, year off

Sometimes it’s easy to judge an individual who has taken a leave of absence as someone who just could not handle the Princeton atmosphere. But these individuals should encourage us all to dig deeper as to why they have decided to leave in the first place. With all the opportunities that are presented to us daily, it is easy to think that there is nothing to be unhappy about at the University.

The end of the world as we know it

But despite the terrible dullness of the town of Princeton and of this University, opinion writing at the ‘Prince’ remains a worthwhile goal — if only to make immediate the problems waiting just beyond FitzRandolph Gate. Their immediacy is perhaps best summed up by Douglas Adams, author of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” who observed in 1998 that “We all know that at some point in the future the universe will come to an end and, at some other point, considerably in advance from that but still not immediately pressing, the sun will explode. We feel there’s plenty of time to worry about that,” he continued, “but on the other hand that’s a very dangerous thing to say.”

Summer "school"

As classes give way to reading period, we find ourselves knocking on summer’s door. I find May to be an extraordinary time of year: the eve of our next great adventure.

Editorial: Student loans

Given high costs of maintaining a low loan rate, the Editorial Board believes that Washington should explore other options to counteract the rising cost of higher education.

Not your grandmother's nostalgia

This April, Adam Gopnik wrote a New Yorker article called “The 40-Year Itch” in which he suggests that nostalgia occurs in 40-year waves. At Princeton, however, nostalgia doesn’t play by any of these rules.

Cartoon: How to listen to music

Editorial: Improving precept

Precepts are supposed to encourage in-depth exploration and discussion of previously taught materials to ensure that students have a fuller understanding of the course material.  However, there are many flaws with the current system, particularly with respect to how graduate students are assigned to precepts and how they are trained and prepared to teach them. 

Giant problems

In fact, I daresay this problem is the toughest I’ve yet to face in my 19 years

Cartoon: Too tired tigers

Belonging continued

An essential aspect of belonging is having that intimate atmosphere, where you feel like you know people, people know you and you have something valuable to contribute. 

Prose on prose: thesis musings

First, I share what I’ve learned about the thesis so far and how I gained that knowledge. Then, I make recommendations to rising juniors and seniors regarding the thesis process.

Sexual slur?

It might make sense to think that the dance floor between two battling crews is a gender-neutral space. At the very least, every dancer is compelled into a uniformly masculine identity in this male-dominated form of dance. However, that hasn’t been my experience.

Cartoon: Freedom

Another look at WikiLeaks (Or not?)

While it is important to respect the Princeton community’s diverse views on the larger issues surrounding WikiLeaks, it is equally important that students are aware of how using WikiLeaks may prevent them from obtaining governmental security clearances.

The meaning of somnolence

What follows is perhaps best understood as the tragic tale of a proper Greek hero, a once proud and good student who was undone by his own hubris and is now warning the world to not pick classes that are good but rather to pick classes that are good for you.

On healthcare

Breaking your nose on a rugby pitch in the United States begins a process.