Opinion

It's not 'giving back' it's taking away

Far from supporting a scheme the likes of which countries such as Germany are glad to abandon, the University should take a strong stance against well-meaning intents to institutionalize what in effect amounts to “taking away” — not “giving back.”

Cartoon: Unfunny

TigerLeaks

We can’t try to anticipate and block the growing network of paths through which a person can obtain our information, because our efforts will be in vain.

The trouble with math

Instead of the one-size fits all model that we currently have, we could have introductory math courses such as MAT/CHM 103-104: Mathematics for Chemists or MAT/SOC 105-106: Mathematics for Sociologists.

Cartoon: The Adjustment Bureau

Challenge to the finance following

Consider it a challenge — or a devil’s advocate stance — for those going to work in finance to break the mold that has brought you to this point and to be that painful-but-necessary thorn in the side of your future firm from day one.

The persistence of memory

The University should have all graduating seniors fill out a survey: a one-page, 500-words-or-fewer anonymous transition memo that would become part of an online institutional memory bank accessible to all undergraduates with a netID.

Editorial: Translating grades

If the grade deflation policy will be retained, this particular concern should be addressed by adopting a system of grade translation. Instead of using the standard 4.0 scale for calculating GPA, the University should calculate it based upon some other number, for instance five or 10.

Light-rail is the right rail

Princeton’s new Arts and Transit Neighborhood would garner widespread and respected coverage. With an integrated light-rail system, it would be recognized for setting a new standard for safety in shared-space transit everywhere. It would be an inspiring example of a major, powerful institution and its surrounding community working together to achieve a win-win outcome.

Cartoon: Total meltdown

Schadenfreude U.

Schadenfreude is a uniting force, one that perpetuates the distinction between being in and being excluded from a group. While pickups and the eating club system are perhaps the most institutionalized form of schadenfreude at Princeton, schadenfreude also exists outside of the realm of social life.

Discovering religion in the classroom

There are eight students in the class, some Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Sikh and Hindu. On the table in front of us are our three, 500-page Pequod packets, compilations of the major Sufi teachings and their contemporary commentators. The name of this course is NES 324: Introduction to Later Sufism, the second in a two-semester series on mystical Islam.

Cartoon: Inner nerd

The proclivity to give back

If community service is considered great and those who “give back” are admired, why should we not institutionalize incentives to perform further community service?

Have chalk, will travel

Among the many things the American educational system needs are stronger intellectual ties across the unnaturally large institutional divide between 12th grade (and what comes before) and freshman year in college (and what comes after).

Editorial: Reforming the marijuana policy

The University should cease its current policy of imposing disciplinary consequences on students found in possession of marijuana in excess of those regulations required by law.

Cartoon: Sometimes things go right

Don't abandon pick-ups

The Daily Princetonian's editorial board overestimates the negative aspects of pick-ups and misunderstands pick-ups’ significance. Pick-ups should not be abandoned.

I love that dungeon

Nathan Mathabane cannot understand why one of the largest and wealthiest research libraries in the world should inspire sentiments of “sadness, oppression and darkness.” Why would Firestone frighten anyone who hasn’t yet been assigned a junior paper topic?

Editorial: Sustaining Pell Grants

Although less effective in reducing the overall budget, President Obama’s recent blueprint proposal for the 2012 budget seems to strike a balance between the importance of post-secondary education and the need to cut overall federal spending.