Opinion

Condoms and Consent

If two individuals, both of whom are capable of informed consent, engage in sex, it seems to be understood by consensualists that the act cannot be justly called impermissible. And so we see that while other moral characteristics help frame the discussion, to the consensualist, the presence or absence of consent is ultimately what determines whether a sexual act is permissible.

Confronting religion

The policy of minimizing religious differences adopts the political correctness of indifference to skin color, nationality or sexual orientation and applies it to religion. You’re an Orthodox Jew? We won’t tell. And yet — would a French student appreciate being told that nobody will notice her accent? Why promise a gay teenager that nobody in his peer group knows of his orientation if he is open about his sexuality? These assurances imply that there is something embarrassing about the student’s identity. Moreover, religion, unlike the aforementioned categories, is a choice. If anything, the assumption upon encountering people with unusual religious practices should be that they are proud of their faith.

Cartoon: Princeton spending report revealed

Improving conversation

We have a two-fold problem: a competitive rather than collaborative approach to class discussion and an emphasis and value, real or perceived, placed on quantity of remarks over quality. This attitude is unfortunate and misguided, as further developing someone else’s point demonstrates the ability to make connections and think more deeply — traits which are just as indicative of intelligence and effort as bringing up a new idea.

Editorial: Off-campus trips

Given that the disadvantages above are perfectly justified, indeed, college-based budgets used to purchase group tickets are limited, and recognizing that political activism, performances and exhibitions can be important to many Princeton students, the Editorial Board recommends that the University look into alternative ways to sponsor trip opportunities for a wider student pool.

Misplaced pride

Princeton’s attempts to make me a crazed devotee of Butler are off-putting and confusing in their intensity and irrationality. In doing so, Princeton is asking me to bypass one of the most important parts of college: the discovery of who I am and what I believe in.

The neglected South Asian program

So while Princeton prides itself in its commitment to providing students a transnational perspective (recall “in the service of all nations”) it must be wondered how merited the self-congratulation is considering the dearth of South Asian offerings.

Cartoon: Princeton: Where no one feels unique

It can't be taught

Steve Jobs was more than a skilled professional. Though he was indeed a great CEO, we remember him today not as a tech executive but as a culture-shaper.

Occupying Wall Street

I decided to attend Occupy Wall Street, the social justice campout that began in the financial district over three weeks ago, mostly out of curiosity. I first read about OWS in August when the Facebook event was sent around. The cynic in me didn’t take it seriously, this overly self-aware attempt to ride the wave of a more genuine Arab revolutionary spirit.

Editorial: Add a new co-op

Co-ops offer benefits that are unmatched by other aspects of the University community. They offer students a middle ground between eating club and residential college meal plans, and going independent. Co-ops can offer the social community, events and the common amenities of an eating club for students who simply prefer to avoid the social atmosphere of the Street.

Cartoon: Consumer Preference Theory

Here's to the crazy ones

From everything I’ve seen here in my two years and some odd months at Princeton, our greatest unconscious collective longing is to be the next Steve Jobs. It’s this little secret voice inside all of us that influences us to push harder and do more in every aspect of our lives.

Cartoon: Rainbow coffee

Extra(neous)-curriculars

Extracurricular refers to the things that are “outside of the curriculum,” not things intended to be a curriculum of their own. They support and add valuable content and experience to our academic pursuits, but academics remains the necessary center of education.

Recalling the deep memories

Shen Yun’s performance began with the creation of the world by a divine being, deeply moving my heart and reminding me of the precious memories and values that should be treasured.

Don't call me Shirley

Bitterness about a loss in a tiff on social matters should not cloud out a reasonable appreciation of what Tilghman has contributed to the undergraduate experience.

Drilling it in

Regulation might never be able to remove the risk from the dangerous enterprise of offshore drilling. The only path to true energy independence and greater national security is to decrease American energy consumption and to invest in homegrown renewable energy.

Editorial: Improve study abroad

It is implausible that, at least in the short term, the quantity of Princeton-run study abroad programs during the semester will substantially increase. In the meantime, though, OIP and, in particular, the University’s academic departments ought to do a better job of integrating study-abroad opportunities into their curricula.

PDF Bums?

The books are still for sale, listed in their thousands and their 10 thousands on the big book sites on the Internet, where shopping is perfectly efficient and as free from pleasure as it is free of odor. But they’re too expensive to collect casually, as a student could in the old days. Sadder still, the shops where late we used to roam and hunt have disappeared.