Opinion

The case for defunding the police after the Jan. 6 coup attempt

The tepid police response to the attempted coup, juxtaposed with their vicious response to other anti-racist protests, shows that the harms police cause to communities of color persist. But, they are harms we are ready to live without. 

The tepid police response to the attempted coup, juxtaposed with their vicious response to other anti-racist protests, shows that the harms police cause to communities of color persist. But, they are harms we are ready to live without. 

Princeton alumni condemn Sen. Ted Cruz ’92

Senator Ted Cruz ’92 has shown the utmost disservice to our Nation and has brought shame to our University and all we hold dear. As alumni, we are saddened and ashamed that he willfully aided and abetted an insurrection against our country, promoted lies and conspiracy theories to overturn an election, and violated his oath of office to protect a person rather than our Constitution. In so doing, he has brought shame to himself and the University community. 

Senator Ted Cruz ’92 has shown the utmost disservice to our Nation and has brought shame to our University and all we hold dear. As alumni, we are saddened and ashamed that he willfully aided and abetted an insurrection against our country, promoted lies and conspiracy theories to overturn an election, and violated his oath of office to protect a person rather than our Constitution. In so doing, he has brought shame to himself and the University community. 

Not scars, but bleeding wounds: A response to Rebekah Adams ’21 of The Princeton Tory

The last thing Black Americans need is one more successful individual to assume a paternalistic role, pointing fingers at the Black community’s faults without addressing why they exist. Being cognizant of discrimination has nothing to do with a “victimhood mentality” as Adams maintains. It has everything to do with breaking free from delusion.

The last thing Black Americans need is one more successful individual to assume a paternalistic role, pointing fingers at the Black community’s faults without addressing why they exist. Being cognizant of discrimination has nothing to do with a “victimhood mentality” as Adams maintains. It has everything to do with breaking free from delusion.

Don't let Princeton cut spring break

Simply put, the University would rather implement a preemptive group punishment in order to deter students from traveling, even if it means jeopardizing the student academic experience and mental health. This upcoming semester already promises to be unusually difficult for students, given the pandemic and campus restrictions. These factors should warrant more breaks during what is collectively seen as the harder of the two semesters, not fewer.

Simply put, the University would rather implement a preemptive group punishment in order to deter students from traveling, even if it means jeopardizing the student academic experience and mental health. This upcoming semester already promises to be unusually difficult for students, given the pandemic and campus restrictions. These factors should warrant more breaks during what is collectively seen as the harder of the two semesters, not fewer.

Republicans play with fire. America's institutions pay the price.

From my time in Venezuela, I have witnessed a fair share of congressional assaults, and I can attest that Wednesday’s deplorable event is not just an isolated incident, but the gravest symptom of a shattered institutional framework — and the Republicans have held the hammer in plain sight all along.

Journalism reveals political fractures. It also has the power to heal them.

“Storytelling is not just the job of a journalist; it is the job of a human being. No matter our profession, it is imperative that we commit ourselves to listening to and engaging with the stories of those around us.”

“Storytelling is not just the job of a journalist; it is the job of a human being. No matter our profession, it is imperative that we commit ourselves to listening to and engaging with the stories of those around us.”

The truth matters: A response to a former officer’s attempt to disgrace Whig Clio

Terrell Seabrooks, the former Vice President of Whig Clio, responds to a National Review article which alleged censorship of conservative voices. This past year, Whig Clio, the nation’s oldest collegiate political, literary, and debate society, continued to support our founding principles to facilitate healthy debate and encourage open and inclusive discussion.

Terrell Seabrooks ’21, the former Vice President of Whig Clio, responds to a National Review article which alleged censorship of conservative voices. “This past year, Whig Clio, the nation’s oldest collegiate political, literary, and debate society, continued to support our founding principles to facilitate healthy debate and encourage open and inclusive discussion.”

COVID-19 vaccines are here. Now, we must fight to ensure minority populations have equal access.

Now, more than ever, our collective action as students is essential to ensuring the widespread and equitable access of the vaccine. While voting is an integral first step into getting involved in processes of legislation, taking our advocacy one step further is essential in ensuring a sustained and significant change on the federal and legislative levels.

Now, more than ever, our collective action as students is essential to ensure the widespread and equitable access of the vaccine. While voting is an integral first step into getting involved in processes of legislation, taking our advocacy one step further is essential in ensuring a sustained and significant change on the federal and legislative levels.

COVID could have shuttered the ‘Prince.’ Instead, we found our purpose.

Above all else, we have sought to tell the truth. That commitment requires more of us than just reporting the facts. To render Princeton as all students, especially those of marginalized identities, live and experience it, the ‘Prince’ must be inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist.

Above all else, we have sought to tell the truth. That commitment requires more of us than just reporting the facts. To render Princeton as all students, especially those of marginalized identities, live and experience it, the ‘Prince’ must be inclusive, equitable, and anti-racist.

Macron’s secular advocacy threatens French Muslims’ religious freedom

In emphasizing the principle of laïcité (French secularism), Macron assumes a hands-off approach to his treatment of all religions except for Islam. This is exactly the discrimination that a secular state was created to avoid. 

Just leave us alone, Robby George

Robbie George is not interested in understanding; he merely intends to tyrannize.

After students experienced racism abroad, Bridge Year failed to act. Performative efforts today are too little, too late.

My conversations with Bridge Year alumni reveal the harsh reality that the well-being of students of color has not been a priority for the Bridge Year administration. And now, it appears the administration is only taking action because student concerns have become too loud to ignore.  

What Princeton students can learn from selective storytelling in ‘The Crown’

I cannot help but wonder if this is the story Netflix should be telling. Why seek to humanize the leaders of a violent, oppressive empire, while depicting the lives of the Black and brown people they harmed as mere backdrops? I understand that this is perhaps the way those people existed within the lives of royals, but why are we giving these royals the privilege of remaining relevant in our lives? 

In praise of his folly: Newman’s empty crusade against elitism

The elitism identified by Newman is all too prevalent. But he is not the antidote; he is its logical extension. The only way to differentiate oneself from Princeton’s elitism is to actually help the world and topple people like Newman from their thrones of self-styled cultural supremacy.  And it is this consciousness, rather than the subpar model of a Gatsby, that should animate any practice that seeks not only to overcome the standard Princeton elitism, but the self-humiliating pretensions of Newman himself.

The elitism identified by Newman is all too prevalent. But he is not the antidote; he is its logical extension. The only way to differentiate oneself from Princeton’s elitism is to actually help the world and topple people like Newman from their thrones of self-styled cultural supremacy.  And it is this consciousness, rather than the subpar model of a Gatsby, that should animate any practice that seeks not only to overcome the standard Princeton elitism, but the self-humiliating pretensions of Newman himself.

What we can learn from the Scott Newman controversy

Read in one light, Newman’s account paints a fairly innocuous picture of a naïve young person whose short-term ambitions have repeatedly gotten in the way of his long-term goals. But there is a critical omission in Newman’s public telling of this story: his own agency in navigating a system he condemns as corrupting and beyond repair. 

Read in one light, Newman’s account paints a fairly innocuous picture of a naïve young person whose short-term ambitions have repeatedly gotten in the way of his long-term goals. But there is a critical omission in Newman’s public telling of this story: his own agency in navigating a system he condemns as corrupting and beyond repair. 

A game of broken telephone: Combatting misinformation and building trust

We should work to expose misinformation. Princeton students have already done this by tracing COVID-19 misinformation. The next step is to build up a community that allows for citizens to work together to stymie spews of suspicious stories.

The perils — and potential — of the Twitter professoriate

When our professors are able to lean into their pedagogical missions more intentionally on platforms like Twitter, it does us all better — and reminds us that the democratizing power of scholarship and critical thought, even squeezed into 280 characters, is not to be underestimated.

2020: An ugly but necessary memory

With two vaccines for COVID-19 entering new phases of testing, a semester on campus, and a new year fast approaching, some people are justifiably itching to move on. These developments should undoubtedly be celebrated, as should the prospect of a fresh start. But, just like my friend, we cannot forget everything we have been through: Instead, should find creative and healthy ways to catalogue all that has happened in 2020.

But who’s gonna support Black women?

At the end of the day, no matter how much we express gratitude for Black women, if we fail to acknowledge the ways oppressive forces mold our society against them, we are complicit in their oppression. 

Who are these ‘manly men’?

The phrase “bring back manly men” sets our society back years. Men, no matter their assigned sex, should be able to dress how they want. But this is an issue that is bigger than wardrobe. Society perpetuates the idea that men have to be strong or “manly” all the time. The term “manly” already confines men into a box, but this idea actually creates more harm for men themselves.