Opinion

Humanistic study at Princeton is doing just fine

Despite the formidable hygienic challenges posed by several events on campus, Princeton faces a far greater threat from recent political polemics against the University’s humanities education. Still, despite allegations of problems with education at the University, there is much reason to believe that the humanities at Princeton are alive and well. 

Despite the formidable hygienic challenges posed by several events on campus, Princeton faces a far greater threat from recent political polemics against the University’s humanities education. Still, despite allegations of problems with education at the University, there is much reason to believe that the humanities at Princeton are alive and well. 

The problem with the ADL’s ‘report card’

The ADL is not — nor should it be — the sole arbiter of what qualifies as antisemitism. In fact, the ADL’s definition of antisemitism creates problems for Jews in a broader sense: While the organization explains that criticism of Israel’s government is not antisemitic, they also state that language that demonizes or delegitimizes the state does count as antisemitism. 

The ADL is not — nor should it be — the sole arbiter of what qualifies as antisemitism. In fact, the ADL’s definition of antisemitism creates problems for Jews in a broader sense: While the organization explains that criticism of Israel’s government is not antisemitic, they also state that language that demonizes or delegitimizes the state does count as antisemitism. 

Princeton’s cultural festivals deserve a place in lecture halls

Cultural festivals provide food and entertainment, but each performance and meal offers only a brief snapshot and glimpse into a potential culture. And if a performance does generate interest, there’s no place for that interest to go.

Cultural festivals provide food and entertainment, but each performance and meal offers only a brief snapshot and glimpse into a potential culture. And if a performance does generate interest, there’s no place for that interest to go.

Abolish Ivy Day

When a student is receiving up to eight high-stakes decisions in the same day, they may not be able to separate and process each decision. The University should strive to release decisions earlier to be fair to its applicants.

When a student is receiving up to eight high-stakes decisions in the same day, they may not be able to separate and process each decision. The University should strive to release decisions earlier to be fair to its applicants.

Continue funding access and opportunity

Reducing funding for EBCAO, especially alongside layoffs and program restructuring elsewhere, would disproportionately affect students — both Princeton and transfer — who already face systemic barriers.

Reducing funding for EBCAO, especially alongside layoffs and program restructuring elsewhere, would disproportionately affect students — both Princeton and transfer — who already face systemic barriers.

Gender dynamics inform our intellectual experience, whether we know it or not

We must directly address and explore gender’s impact on the classroom rather than leave it to fester, visibly or invisibly, in an effort to deny its existence in the first place. 

We must directly address and explore gender’s impact on the classroom rather than leave it to fester, visibly or invisibly, in an effort to deny its existence in the first place. 

The N.J.-12 congressional race isn’t worth our precious time

A crowded race where any one voter’s preferred candidate is extremely unlikely to win isn’t the best outlet for our limited political energies; the attention on this primary doesn’t mean it deserves a monopoly over our political consciousness. Instead, we should focus on being effective constituents of the polities to which we belong: Princeton’s campus and our home districts. 

I was the Honor Committee chair. It’s time for proctors.

For years, the Committee has had conversations about introducing proctors into exam rooms, to serve as another potential witness and reporter — and the time has finally come to take this step.

For years, the Committee has had conversations about introducing proctors into exam rooms, to serve as another potential witness and reporter — and the time has finally come to take this step.

Don’t ban e-bikes

There is a path to keeping e-bikes while still ensuring pedestrian safety. A set of regulatory policies and enforcements can allow students to ride e-bikes while keeping pedestrians safe.

There is a path to keeping e-bikes while still ensuring pedestrian safety. A set of regulatory policies and enforcements can allow students to ride e-bikes while keeping pedestrians safe.

Stop avoiding a liberal arts education

The motivation behind general education requirements should be to ensure that students gain foundational knowledge across a wide range of fields and methodologies rather than float through surface-level exploration for the purposes of fulfilling requirements. 

The motivation behind general education requirements should be to ensure that students gain foundational knowledge across a wide range of fields and methodologies rather than float through surface-level exploration for the purposes of fulfilling requirements. 

Princeton needs a campus pub now more than ever

Now that students aren’t being placed in eating clubs, there is a larger need for third spaces on campus, making the present as ripe a time as ever for Princeton to re-establish a bar in the basement of Chancellor Green.

Now that students aren’t being placed in eating clubs, there is a larger need for third spaces on campus, making the present as ripe a time as ever for Princeton to re-establish a bar in the basement of Chancellor Green.

Princeton, no more half-measures

Half-measures are never a satisfactory response to any issue, but they are especially dangerous for the University in our present times. The University must do better to live up to its responsibilities to its students and community. 

Half-measures are never a satisfactory response to any issue, but they are especially dangerous for the University in our present times. The University must do better to live up to its responsibilities to its students and community. 

Midterms shouldn’t be scarier than finals: cut back on exam content

Including students in the process of reevaluating midterms isn’t an invitation for students to complain about exams being too hard. Instead, it’s an opportunity for students to express whether the questions, length, and format of the exam allowed them to perform to the best of their abilities and prove what they have learned.

Including students in the process of reevaluating midterms isn’t an invitation for students to complain about exams being too hard. Instead, it’s an opportunity for students to express whether the questions, length, and format of the exam allowed them to perform to the best of their abilities and prove what they have learned.

Why does it take a blizzard for us to be whimsical?

It’s crucial to have fun that is spontaneous and surprising, fun that is not built into your schedule but derails it, fun that makes you forget, if only for a moment, that problem set, that essay, that quiz.

It’s crucial to have fun that is spontaneous and surprising, fun that is not built into your schedule but derails it, fun that makes you forget, if only for a moment, that problem set, that essay, that quiz.

Reactions: Grade inflation at Princeton

On Dec. 2, Princeton released its report on undergraduate grade inflation. Our Opinion writers share their takes on grade inflation at Princeton.

On Dec. 2, Princeton released its report on undergraduate grade inflation. Our opinion writers share their takes on grade inflation at Princeton.

Letter to the Editor: For America’s 250th, we’re opening the Faculty Room

We encourage students to take advantage of these unique opportunities, and others planned in Princeton and the surrounding region, to celebrate the founding of our nation and to learn more about the role that New Jersey, the town of Princeton, and the University played during those pivotal times.

We encourage students to take advantage of these unique opportunities, and others planned in Princeton and the surrounding region, to celebrate the founding of our nation and to learn more about the role that New Jersey, the town of Princeton, and the University played during those pivotal times.

Carpetbagging is flourishing in New Jersey. Should voters care?

New Jersey’s small size and population density ensure that its congressional districts are more geographically compact than those of most other states. Because of this, New Jersey’s federal candidates often enjoy name recognition across district lines. In turn, this makes it easier for them to switch districts. But it also makes it harder to stop voters from asking why the candidate has chosen to do so in the first place.

New Jersey’s small size and population density ensure that its congressional districts are more geographically compact than those of most other states. Because of this, New Jersey’s federal candidates often enjoy name recognition across district lines. In turn, this makes it easier for them to switch districts. But it also makes it harder to stop voters from asking why the candidate has chosen to do so in the first place.

Princeton must take action to ensure what Epstein did at Harvard can’t happen here

Princeton’s guidelines for sponsored research impose no restrictions on funding sources besides requiring that its sources and purpose be disclosed, which fails to prevent the influence of donors like Epstein and thus to protect the integrity of its researchers. 

Princeton’s guidelines for sponsored research impose no restrictions on funding sources besides requiring that its sources and purpose be disclosed, which fails to prevent the influence of donors like Epstein and thus to protect the integrity of its researchers. 

Introducing the 150th Editorial Board

As this piece marks the beginning of a new Editorial Board, we hope to answer any questions about who we are, what we aim to do, and what values we hold as a collective. 

As this piece marks the beginning of a new Editorial Board, we hope to answer any questions about who we are, what we aim to do, and what values we hold as a collective. 

For America’s 250th anniversary, open Nassau Hall

Even if technically open — however limitedly — Nassau Hall still suffers from a lack of openness. Students should not feel that they need a special reason to enter Nassau Hall.

Even if technically open — however limitedly — Nassau Hall still suffers from a lack of openness. Students should not feel that they need a special reason to enter Nassau Hall.