Opinion

Don’t trust your campus paper? Here’s the case.

Don’t trust your campus paper? Here’s the case.

Miriam Waldvogel

In a moment of crisis, a trusted student newspaper transforms from an everyday service to a lifeline. Even when national outlets swoop in to cover a tragedy or an encampment, student reporters can provide deep sourcing and unique insight into the happenings on the ground.

In a moment of crisis, a trusted student newspaper transforms from an everyday service to a lifeline. Even when national outlets swoop in to cover a tragedy or an encampment, student reporters can provide deep sourcing and unique insight into the happenings on the ground.

OPINION | 11 hours ago

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Nominate your lecturers for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching

Nominate your lecturers for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching

Jerry Zhu

Nominations for the award are due to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty (padt[at]princeton.edu) by Feb. 6, 2026. I will be sending in my nominations for my favorite lecturers and other faculty, and I hope you will too.

Nominations for the award are due to the Office of the Dean of the Faculty (padt[at]princeton.edu) by Feb. 6, 2026. I will be sending in my nominations for my favorite lecturers and other faculty, and I hope you will too.

OPINION | December 19

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I don’t want to get run over by an e-bike

I don’t want to get run over by an e-bike

Charlie Yale

At its next meeting, Princeton’s Environmental Safety and Risk Management (ESRM) committee will consider a change to the University’s current e-bike policy. Due to the risk they pose to pedestrians and riders on campus, the ESRM committee must ban e-bikes once and for all when we get back from winter break.

At its next meeting, Princeton’s Environmental Safety and Risk Management (ESRM) committee will consider a change to the University’s current e-bike policy. Due to the risk they pose to pedestrians and riders on campus, the ESRM committee must ban e-bikes once and for all when we get back from winter break.

OPINION | December 18

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$10 train tickets are on the right track, but they’re not enough

$10 train tickets are on the right track, but they’re not enough

Emily Y. Zhang

The enthusiasm around USG’s ticket giveaway proves that students want change. The challenge now is to move from demands to policies. The University should implement systematic ticket stipends for students.

The enthusiasm around USG’s ticket giveaway proves that students want change. The challenge now is to move from demands to policies. The University should implement systematic ticket stipends for students.

OPINION | December 16

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Eisgruber and the AAU should advocate for gun reform

Eisgruber and the AAU should advocate for gun reform

Raf Basas

After Brown, this moment calls for Princeton to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Brown shooting by pushing for significant reform to fight violence.

After Brown, this moment calls for Princeton to stand in solidarity with the victims of the Brown shooting by pushing for significant reform to fight violence.

OPINION | December 16

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Seniors deserve to know if their class jacket is AI-generated

Seniors deserve to know if their class jacket is AI-generated

Jacqueline Zhou

By being willing to respond to reasonable demands for evidence, the 2026 Class Jacket Committee can set a standard of transparency and accountability, combating how irresponsible uses of AI undermines those values.

By being willing to respond to reasonable demands for evidence, the 2026 Class Jacket Committee can set a standard of transparency and accountability, combating how irresponsible uses of AI undermines those values.

OPINION | December 11

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What this year’s dismal turnout says about civic life at Princeton

What this year’s dismal turnout says about civic life at Princeton

Luqmaan Bamba

Both USG candidates and the University community as a whole must make an active effort to advertise, support, and center the student government voting process.

Both USG candidates and the University community as a whole must make an active effort to advertise, support, and center the student government voting process.

OPINION | December 8

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On cybersecurity, online modules don’t cut it

On cybersecurity, online modules don’t cut it

Ian Rosenzweig

Ignored online training modules aren’t going to cut it in an environment that relies on technology for more and more aspects of our academic and personal lives. 

Ignored online training modules aren’t going to cut it in an environment that relies on technology for more and more aspects of our academic and personal lives. 

OPINION | December 4

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Your professors aren’t out to get you

Your professors aren’t out to get you

Charlie Yale

When students assume that grading is ideologically motivated and in bad faith — and when they choose to take these concerns straight to reactionary publications that have it out for higher education instead of engaging in productive dialogue with the members of the University community — our ability to have academically fulfilling conversations begins to slip away.

When students assume that grading is ideologically motivated and in bad faith — and when they choose to take these concerns straight to reactionary publications that have it out for higher education instead of engaging in productive dialogue with the members of the University community — our ability to have academically fulfilling conversations begins to slip away.

OPINION | December 4

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If I wanted to steal that book, I would just throw it out the window

If I wanted to steal that book, I would just throw it out the window

Josh Stiefel

Given that some books in Firestone’s stacks are worth over $1,000, and that not all library visitors are members of the University community, it is understandable that the University takes some security measures. But the bag check as practiced isn’t a serious attempt to find contraband. Getting rid of the checks would emphasize a new level of trust between library administration and visitors. 

Given that some books in Firestone’s stacks are worth over $1,000, and that not all library visitors are members of the University community, it is understandable that the University takes some security measures. But the bag check as practiced isn’t a serious attempt to find contraband. Getting rid of the checks would emphasize a new level of trust between library administration and visitors. 

OPINION | December 1

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Terms of Respect defends student speech — but doesn’t respect it

Terms of Respect defends student speech — but doesn’t respect it

Ava Johnson

Eisgruber characterizes student speech as practice, not real engagement. His one-dimensional view of students fails to account for our simultaneous existence within and outside of the Orange Bubble. But our speech, like us, is not confined to the Princeton community, and attempting to shield or protect students from the real world can underrate our participation in it.

Eisgruber characterizes student speech as practice, not real engagement. His one-dimensional view of students fails to account for our simultaneous existence within and outside of the Orange Bubble. But our speech, like us, is not confined to the Princeton community, and attempting to shield or protect students from the real world can underrate our participation in it.

OPINION | December 1

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Don’t swipe left just because you disagree on politics

Don’t swipe left just because you disagree on politics

Roberto Lachner

We should strive for more than just “common courtesy” for everyone to “feel safe” in the discussion. We should hold space for the possibility that the human being sitting across from us may be one of good values and would bring immense joy and growth into our lives as a close friend or partner.

We should strive for more than just “common courtesy” for everyone to “feel safe” in the discussion. We should hold space for the possibility that the human being sitting across from us may be one of good values and would bring immense joy and growth into our lives as a close friend or partner.

OPINION | December 1

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Vote Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president: your guide to the winter 2025 USG ballot

Vote Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president: your guide to the winter 2025 USG ballot

Daily Princetonian Editorial Board

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board weighs in on the USG candidates up and down the ballot, including endorsing Quentin Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president. In his platform and responses to our questions, Colón Roosevelt focused on relevant issues and pathways through which USG can exercise power — both in ways that address inefficiencies and leverage existing structures and in ways that expand the current role of undergraduate student representation.

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board weighs in on the USG candidates up and down the ballot, including endorsing Quentin Colón Roosevelt ’27 for president. In his platform and responses to our questions, Colón Roosevelt focused on relevant issues and pathways through which USG can exercise power — both in ways that address inefficiencies and leverage existing structures and in ways that expand the current role of undergraduate student representation.

OPINION | November 24

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The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board should not endorse USG candidates

The Daily Princetonian Editorial Board should not endorse USG candidates

Jia Cheng Shen

While the idea of endorsing candidates has merit, the nature of the endorsement process is flawed, opaque, lacks external accountability, and projects the confidence of an institutional voice while having unclear standards.

While the idea of endorsing candidates has merit, the nature of the endorsement process is flawed, opaque, lacks external accountability, and projects the confidence of an institutional voice while having unclear standards.

OPINION | November 24

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Vote ‘yes’ on Referendum No. 1: Princeton should not own a fossil fuel company

Vote ‘yes’ on Referendum No. 1: Princeton should not own a fossil fuel company

Charlie Yale and Isaac Barsoum

A vote for Referendum No. 1 is a vote for sustainability, in every sense of the word. And cutting ties with PetroTiger is a win-win-win for climate action, students, and the University.

A vote for Referendum No. 1 is a vote for sustainability, in every sense of the word. And cutting ties with PetroTiger is a win-win-win for climate action, students, and the University.

OPINION | November 24

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The University wants a compliant USG. Recently, it’s gotten what it wants.

The University wants a compliant USG. Recently, it’s gotten what it wants.

Daily Princetonian Editorial Board

It is not acceptable for our representatives to simply give up, even — and especially — when obstacles to student interests feel formidable.

It is not acceptable for our representatives to simply give up, even — and especially — when obstacles to student interests feel formidable.

OPINION | November 21

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Searching for a partner? Swipe left on intolerance

Searching for a partner? Swipe left on intolerance

Vitalia Spatola

Your partner’s political choices say something about their values, and their values say something about your values as the person who chose them. Opting for non-confrontation to preserve a relationship that doesn’t align with your values is dismissing the increasingly salient political future ahead of us.

Your partner’s political choices say something about their values, and their values say something about your values as the person who chose them. Opting for non-confrontation to preserve a relationship that doesn’t align with your values is dismissing the increasingly salient political future ahead of us.

OPINION | November 20

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Elected CPUC members must answer for their egregious dereliction of duty

Elected CPUC members must answer for their egregious dereliction of duty

Jerry Zhu

While many University members have a legitimate interest in a policy like this one, it is a dereliction of duty to allow administrators to propose an excessively vague and general policy, and then give them extremely wide latitude to interpret it.

While many University members have a legitimate interest in a policy like this one, it is a dereliction of duty to allow administrators to propose an excessively vague and general policy, and then give them extremely wide latitude to interpret it.

OPINION | November 19

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Princeton needs a first-year engineering design course

Princeton needs a first-year engineering design course

Emily Y. Zhang

The University should give students the chance to make informed academic choices. If Princeton values interdisciplinarity and genuine exploration, then its commitment shouldn’t end when the study of engineering begins.

The University should give students the chance to make informed academic choices. If Princeton values interdisciplinarity and genuine exploration, then its commitment shouldn’t end when the study of engineering begins.

OPINION | November 19

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‘Princeton Rise Up’ showed Princeton students aren’t apathetic, just busy

‘Princeton Rise Up’ showed Princeton students aren’t apathetic, just busy

Isaac Barsoum

Becoming more involved in campus activism has forced me to reckon with a simple fact: I’m not as busy as I thought I was. I had time to give. And because I find the job fulfilling, it doesn’t feel like a burden to devote that time to activism.

Becoming more involved in campus activism has forced me to reckon with a simple fact: I’m not as busy as I thought I was. I had time to give. And because I find the job fulfilling, it doesn’t feel like a burden to devote that time to activism.

OPINION | November 18

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