Opinion

We must shift the way we test understanding

We must shift the way we test understanding

Mohan Setty-Charity

“When possible, professors of exam-based courses should change their classes to focus on assessing critical thinking, as was the result of exams administered virtually.”

“When possible, professors of exam-based courses should change their classes to focus on assessing critical thinking, as was the result of exams administered virtually.”

OPINION | 11/21/2021

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Pushkin not Putin: Depoliticizing the Russian language

Pushkin not Putin: Depoliticizing the Russian language

Genrietta Churbanova

“As a Russian heritage speaker I firmly believe that the Russian language has value outside of its strategic positioning as the language of the enemy. Russian — just like every other language — is a language of love and dreams, thought and discovery, culture and art, family and friends. It is a language of living, not of fighting.”

“As a Russian heritage speaker I firmly believe that the Russian language has value outside of its strategic positioning as the language of the enemy. Russian — just like every other language — is a language of love and dreams, thought and discovery, culture and art, family and friends. It is a language of living, not of fighting.”

OPINION | 11/21/2021

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The Trustees’s failure to divest hurts Princeton, too

The Trustees’s failure to divest hurts Princeton, too

Daily Princetonian Editorial Board

“Between the examples of peer institutions, the energy of student activists, and the expertise assembled on the faculty panel, the University is more than able to establish suitable and stringent criteria for dissociation in line with its values. It’s high time for the Trustees to act.”

“Between the examples of peer institutions, the energy of student activists, and the expertise assembled on the faculty panel, the University is more than able to establish suitable and stringent criteria for dissociation in line with its values. It’s high time for the Trustees to act.”

OPINION | 11/18/2021

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We must condemn Israel’s designation of Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations

We must condemn Israel’s designation of Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations

Eric Periman

“Each of us in the Princeton community has an obligation to condemn this authoritarian action taken by the Israeli government and recommit ourselves to advocating for the protection of Palestinian human rights.”

“Each of us in the Princeton community has an obligation to condemn this authoritarian action taken by the Israeli government and recommit ourselves to advocating for the protection of Palestinian human rights.”

OPINION | 11/18/2021

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The danger of blanket statements

The danger of blanket statements

Ashley Olenkiewicz

“It can be argued that the short and catchy nature of slogan-like short phrases is a necessary attribute, crucial to achieving the objectives of garnering attention, spreading awareness, and recruiting support for said movement. Yet, it is exactly because these movements and sentiments are reduced to short terms and phrases that they result in polarized debate and ultimately hinder the accruing of support.”

“It can be argued that the short and catchy nature of slogan-like short phrases is a necessary attribute, crucial to achieving the objectives of garnering attention, spreading awareness, and recruiting support for said movement. Yet, it is exactly because these movements and sentiments are reduced to short terms and phrases that they result in polarized debate and ultimately hinder the accruing of support.”

OPINION | 11/17/2021

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Instead of empathy, try compassion

Instead of empathy, try compassion

Claudia Frykberg

“Thus, as each of us endeavor to support and comfort our friends as the semester comes to an end, I suggest a way to help them without hurting ourselves. Instead of empathy, try compassion.”

“Thus, as each of us endeavor to support and comfort our friends as the semester comes to an end, I suggest a way to help them without hurting ourselves. Instead of empathy, try compassion.”

OPINION | 11/15/2021

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Pursue truth or fight cancel culture? The University of Austin must choose.

Pursue truth or fight cancel culture? The University of Austin must choose.

Rohit Narayanan

“UATX’s core task is going to be to prove that it’s more than a right-wing grievance machine.”

“UATX’s core task is going to be to prove that it’s more than a right-wing grievance machine.”

OPINION | 11/15/2021

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Reactions: Princeton may loosen the mask mandate ... after classes end

Reactions: Princeton may loosen the mask mandate ... after classes end

Allen Liu, Rohit Narayanan , and Audrey Chau

For the Reactions series, columnists respond to the University’s announcement that the mask mandate will be reconsidered and potentially relaxed ten days after Thanksgiving Break ends. 

For the Reactions series, columnists respond to the University’s announcement that the mask mandate will be reconsidered and potentially relaxed ten days after Thanksgiving Break ends. 

OPINION | 11/14/2021

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An end to legacy admissions? Princeton should follow Amherst College’s lead

An end to legacy admissions? Princeton should follow Amherst College’s lead

Julia Chaffers

“Ending legacy preferences is a significant commitment to expanding access and equity, and Princeton and other schools should follow suit.”

“Ending legacy preferences is a significant commitment to expanding access and equity, and Princeton and other schools should follow suit.”

OPINION | 11/14/2021

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The ‘Princeton Plague’ goes national

The ‘Princeton Plague’ goes national

Braden Flax

“At Princeton, we often wonder if our physical and mental struggles, along with how we choose to cope with and manage them, are ‘normal’ or ‘legitimate.’ Consequently, we continue to attend classes even when we shouldn’t from a medical or self-care perspective, endangering ourselves and those around us. As arduous as the academic environment may be, we do not make such choices out of necessity alone.” 

“At Princeton, we often wonder if our physical and mental struggles, along with how we choose to cope with and manage them, are ‘normal’ or ‘legitimate.’ Consequently, we continue to attend classes even when we shouldn’t from a medical or self-care perspective, endangering ourselves and those around us. As arduous as the academic environment may be, we do not make such choices out of necessity alone.” 

OPINION | 11/11/2021

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Life after COVID-19

Life after COVID-19

Melissa Reynolds

“If the period following the Black Death is any indication of what is possible after COVID, then we can probably bet that our ideas will take some time to come to fruition. But, likewise, if the Lollards and the peasants who stormed London in 1381 have anything to teach us, it’s that ideas, once loosed, are hard to contain again — that is, so long as we don’t accept a return to anything like normal.”

“If the period following the Black Death is any indication of what is possible after COVID, then we can probably bet that our ideas will take some time to come to fruition. But, likewise, if the Lollards and the peasants who stormed London in 1381 have anything to teach us, it’s that ideas, once loosed, are hard to contain again — that is, so long as we don’t accept a return to anything like normal.”

OPINION | 11/10/2021

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The Orange Bubble is not a suburban phenomenon

The Orange Bubble is not a suburban phenomenon

Genrietta Churbanova

“Off-campus recreation is not equivalent to genuine community engagement for students at suburban and urban universities alike.”

“Off-campus recreation is not equivalent to genuine community engagement for students at suburban and urban universities alike.”

OPINION | 11/09/2021

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Statues play a role in preserving our collective memory

Statues play a role in preserving our collective memory

Abigail Rabieh

“Both around our campus and the nation, we must stop selectively honoring people for certain goods and ignoring the bad and instead remember them for everything they did — who they helped and who they hurt.”

“Both around our campus and the nation, we must stop selectively honoring people for certain goods and ignoring the bad and instead remember them for everything they did — who they helped and who they hurt.”

OPINION | 11/09/2021

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An issue bigger than the ‘Princeton plague’: Getting sick at Princeton means a lack of support for its students

An issue bigger than the ‘Princeton plague’: Getting sick at Princeton means a lack of support for its students

Gisele Bisch

“Furthermore, students who are sick — especially those who find themselves sick in circumstances that seemingly do not leave room for accommodation — are not asking for anything unreasonable, or even for a ‘free pass’ or ‘an easy way out.’ They are asking for the well-deserved time to recover, so they are able to return to class in proper health.”

“Furthermore, students who are sick — especially those who find themselves sick in circumstances that seemingly do not leave room for accommodation — are not asking for anything unreasonable, or even for a ‘free pass’ or ‘an easy way out.’ They are asking for the well-deserved time to recover, so they are able to return to class in proper health.” 

OPINION | 11/08/2021

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Why classes should be canceled on Election Day

Why classes should be canceled on Election Day

Andi Grene

“‘Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of humanity’ is our University’s informal motto. If Princeton students are actively disincentivized to participate in US political affairs in fear of missing class and falling behind on work, how can the University claim that it is committed to servicing the nation?”

“‘Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of humanity’ is our University’s informal motto. If Princeton students are actively disincentivized to participate in US political affairs in fear of missing class and falling behind on work, how can the University claim that it is committed to servicing the nation?” 

OPINION | 11/08/2021

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Why Princeton must include Divest Princeton members in fossil fuel divestment deliberations

Why Princeton must include Divest Princeton members in fossil fuel divestment deliberations

Hannah Reynolds

“There are no students participating in the deliberations on divestment happening within the Administrative Committee and the Faculty Panel on Dissociation. The young people whose lives are at stake — and whose lives are actively being harmed by Princeton’s continued delay of necessary climate action — do not have a seat at the table.”

“There are no students participating in the deliberations on divestment happening within the Administrative Committee and the Faculty Panel on Dissociation. The young people whose lives are at stake — and whose lives are actively being harmed by Princeton’s continued delay of necessary climate action — do not have a seat at the table.”

OPINION | 11/07/2021

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‘Should Princeton exist?’ is the wrong question

‘Should Princeton exist?’ is the wrong question

Ava Milberg

“Rather than asking whether Princeton should exist, I think the more appropriate question to ask would be: how can Princeton exist in a just and equitable way?”

“Rather than asking whether Princeton should exist, I think the more appropriate question to ask would be: how can Princeton exist in a just and equitable way?”

OPINION | 11/07/2021

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Reform FYRE panels

Reform FYRE panels

Stephenie Chen

Princeton is grossly mistaken if it believes that its “First Year Residential Experience” panels with University affiliates lecturing at first-year students will instantly translate into character growth.  

Princeton is grossly mistaken if it believes that its “First Year Residential Experience” panels with University affiliates lecturing at first-year students will instantly translate into character growth. 

OPINION | 11/04/2021

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The ‘Princeton Plague’ and its harmful effects on first-years

The ‘Princeton Plague’ and its harmful effects on first-years

Laya Reddy and Tara Shukla

“The University should normalize providing open and unrestricted access to alternative learning channels to students of all abilities. Needing access to remote learning is nothing to be ashamed of.” 

“The University should normalize providing open and unrestricted access to alternative learning channels to students of all abilities. Needing access to remote learning is nothing to be ashamed of.” 

OPINION | 11/04/2021

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Tough introductory courses discourage academic exploration

Tough introductory courses discourage academic exploration

Allen Liu

“Rigorous classes enrich academic life at Princeton. However, having seen how the difficulty of classes impacts students’ choices about what classes to take, what to major in, and the post-graduation plans they pursue, I believe we should prioritize exploration as much as we prioritize rigor. Let’s make academic risk-taking less risky.”

“Rigorous classes enrich academic life at Princeton. However, having seen how the difficulty of classes impacts students’ choices about what classes to take, what to major in, and the post-graduation plans they pursue, I believe we should prioritize exploration as much as we prioritize rigor. Let’s make academic risk-taking less risky.”

OPINION | 11/03/2021

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