Opinion

COLLEGE?

The envy of the world, the argument goes, our colleges and universities will preserve American primacy for decades to come, as they churn out top-notch research, technological innovations and graduates well prepared for the global marketplace. 2011 has been a bad year for that cohort.

Letters to the Editor: March 9, 2011

Russ Nieli GS '79 calls for Public Safety to be armed.

Quizzical pursuit

Want to be a centrist, but still hold strong opinions? Be against social welfare, but for corporate welfare. Oppose a social safety net, but make up for it with high protectionist tariffs. Support both gun control and gun ownership. PoliticalQuiz.net thus provided me with crucial insight: Centrists must either be apathetic or completely schizophrenic.

Editorial: More places to eat lunch

Dining Services should begin to provide some means by which students can use meal plans to purchase lunch closer to where many classes are held.

Editorial: Funding for the summer

Adopting rolling deadlines would enable students to better take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for summer funding that Princeton provides.

Admission madness

Does anyone really know how to sift these masses of talented, intelligent 18-year-olds for the ones who will flourish at a particular school?

Cartoon: The media is too violent

Exercise as a requirement

There should be some form of University-mandated physical activity.

Editorial: On arming public safety

There exists a compromise position that takes what is best from each side: Public Safety officers should be given limited access to firearms by allowing them to keep firearms in safe lockboxes installed inside Public Safety patrol cars.

Wine a little more

In the context of room parties, we ought to encourage “classier” drinking. Not just fine wines, but also good beers and cocktails. Not only are such drinks more fitting with the snobby, elitist image Princeton already has (as exemplified by the Princeton version of the light bulb), but this style of drinking also enables people to drink for reasons other than to get smashed.

The legal defense of federal statutes

On Feb. 23, 2011, the Department of Justice announced that it would no longer defend in court the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. The Obama administration’s conduct in this matter has been subject to criticism both from those who seek to prevent the legal recognition of same-sex marriage and those who are eager to confer such recognition. It seems to me that the administration has at last reached a sensible solution to the problem.

Cartoon: Some things never change

Letters to the Editor: March 4, 2011

Hannah Ross corrects misperceptions of last Tuesday's Borough Council meeting.

Cartoon: Phases of a relationship

Educated despots

It is incumbent upon us to build a culture on this campus both as students and alumni that emphasizes the importance of using the gift of education toward ends which are either good or at least amoral.

Allow laptops in lecture

The bottom-up approach to conducting lectures — banning all distractions — is contrary to the spirit of interest and enterprise that most departments strive to foster.

Can you buy your way into college?

How much money your parents can pay for college should never be a factor in a student’s admission to college — applicants should be solely judged on their qualifications.

Editorial: A more rational break meal plan

All students who have a meal plan should be able to use the extra meals for which they have already paid during breaks.

The Internets

Now, we’ve come full circle by arguing that technology itself — in particular, the Internet — is the revolution. But this argument seems to be more a myth than a fact.

Condemn campus queues

Long lines are not necessarily the best means of rationing scarce items for which demand exceeds supply.