Opinion

Arabic is not an extension of Islam

Arabic is not an extension of Islam

Anais Mobarak

“It is undeniable that the vast majority of the Arab world — 93% — is Muslim. This, however, does not mean that Islam should dominate religious and cultural lessons in Arabic classes. Minorities matter, and they should not be forgotten, especially because many religious minorities are persecuted in the Arab world.”

“It is undeniable that the vast majority of the Arab world — 93% — is Muslim. This, however, does not mean that Islam should dominate religious and cultural lessons in Arabic classes. Minorities matter, and they should not be forgotten, especially because many religious minorities are persecuted in the Arab world.”

OPINION | 04/19/2023

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When we celebrate athletics, it will bring us together

When we celebrate athletics, it will bring us together

Julianna Lee

“Rooting for Princeton basketball is not just about liking basketball: It’s about celebrating Princeton. There is a reason why athletics are at the center of campus life at so many universities: They are a way for the entire school to come together around shared experiences.”

“Rooting for Princeton basketball is not just about liking basketball: It’s about celebrating Princeton. There is a reason why athletics are at the center of campus life at so many universities: They are a way for the entire school to come together around shared experiences.”

OPINION | 04/19/2023

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Make area studies cool again

Make area studies cool again

Vincent Jiang

“[Princeton] must now be proactive and lead the way in rebuilding area studies as a core discipline of social science. While it’s tempting to place the entirety of that burden on the administration, the best way to accomplish this would be for students and the University to meet halfway.”

“[Princeton] must now be proactive and lead the way in rebuilding area studies as a core discipline of social science. While it’s tempting to place the entirety of that burden on the administration, the best way to accomplish this would be for students and the University to meet halfway.”

OPINION | 04/18/2023

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As campus expands, we can’t leave the sense of community behind

As campus expands, we can’t leave the sense of community behind

Aly Rashid

With the campus expanding in size, cohesive spirit is fading. As Princeton increases class sizes and campus area, it runs the risk of weakening its liberal-arts-college-style community. While I agree that Princeton should increase class sizes and welcome more people into our undergraduate community, the acceleration of this process may leave school unity behind.  

With the campus expanding in size, cohesive spirit is fading. As Princeton increases class sizes and campus area, it runs the risk of weakening its liberal-arts-college-style community. While I agree that Princeton should increase class sizes and welcome more people into our undergraduate community, the acceleration of this process may leave school unity behind. 

OPINION | 04/17/2023

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NJ Gov. Murphy just signed a revolutionary campaign finance law. It’s bad news for Princeton students.

NJ Gov. Murphy just signed a revolutionary campaign finance law. It’s bad news for Princeton students.

Preston Ferraiuolo

The new law is detrimental because it permits politicians to act without accountability. As we work towards becoming a more equitable nation, campaign finance regulation ensures that political power is more evenly distributed rather than held by a few who can afford to sway those in government.

The new law is detrimental because it permits politicians to act without accountability. As we work towards becoming a more equitable nation, campaign finance regulation ensures that political power is more evenly distributed rather than held by a few who can afford to sway those in government.

OPINION | 04/16/2023

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Reactions: What's your Princeton pre-read?

Reactions: What's your Princeton pre-read?

Lucia Wetherill, Julianna Lee, Prince Takano, Emilly Santos, Vincent Jiang, Eleanor Clemans-Cope, Alex Norbrook, and Thomas Buckley

Opinion columnists share their recommendations for Princeton’s next pre-read. 

Opinion columnists share their recommendations for Princeton’s next pre-read. 

OPINION | 04/13/2023

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Room draw is unclear and its punishments too harsh

Room draw is unclear and its punishments too harsh

Anna Ferris

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

During room draw, Princeton must provide clearer resources and more frequent communication to demystify the process, and reconsider its overly unforgiving tactic of group punishment for late applications.

OPINION | 04/13/2023

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Let them eat crepes: stop abusing Pay with Points

Let them eat crepes: stop abusing Pay with Points

Abigail Rabieh

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

“Financial aid resources should not force students to choose which aspects of the Princeton community they are able to participate in, especially when the programs are directed to specific ends. The Pay with Points program was not brought about in order to allow students facing financial difficulties to have more access to social life — all those involved clearly created the initiative in order to increase town engagement.”

OPINION | 04/11/2023

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Rejection is common at Princeton – and that’s a good thing

Rejection is common at Princeton – and that’s a good thing

Kelsey Ji

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

“At Princeton, we don’t only in the classroom, we also learn life skills — like how to deal with rejection ... While there are resources like precepts, office hours, and the McGraw Center available to help students overcome the academic learning curve, there are few resources that are available to guide students through the learning curve of handling rejections, the feeling of not meeting others’ expectations, and the feeling of letting oneself down.”

OPINION | 04/10/2023

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SPEAR: We should advocate for campus safety beyond surveillance and policing

SPEAR: We should advocate for campus safety beyond surveillance and policing

Guest Contributors

While cameras are apparently neutral pieces of technology, they often demonstrate systematic biases. We also know that policing and police systems disproportionately impact people of color. Princeton is not immune to these challenges either.

While cameras are apparently neutral pieces of technology, they often demonstrate systematic biases. We also know that policing and police systems disproportionately impact people of color. Princeton is not immune to these challenges either. 

OPINION | 04/09/2023

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Athletic scholarships are not the solution. An activity stipend is.

Athletic scholarships are not the solution. An activity stipend is.

Christofer Robles

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

“This stipend, separate from the aid students receive through Princeton financial aid, would recognize and compensate for the time and effort needed to support student involvement in their non-academic activities.”

OPINION | 04/07/2023

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Vote Masheke for Young Alumni Trustee

Vote Masheke for Young Alumni Trustee

Daily Princetonian Editorial Board

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

“The YAT should not only communicate the majority desires of the current student body to the Board, but fight for specific change that has yet to be addressed at Princeton. The role has more to offer than being a mouthpiece for the students who have already had the loudest voices on campus.”

OPINION | 04/05/2023

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Class of ’27: choose scholarship, not dogmatism

Class of ’27: choose scholarship, not dogmatism

Matthew Wilson and Myles McKnight

“After all, ‘social justice activism’ can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

“After all, “social justice activism” can only be righteous if the causes championed and policies advanced are founded in moral and empirical truths about the human good. Faithfulness to truth and obedience to the habits of mind necessary for its discovery are the only things separating ideologues from people with a genuine yearning for human progress and development.”

OPINION | 04/04/2023

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Dear Princeton, you must do more on Title IX

Dear Princeton, you must do more on Title IX

Hannah Reynolds and Jessica Lambert

“Princeton has repeatedly failed survivors of sexual violence. As alumni of the Princeton Class of 2022, we call upon Princeton University to take action to protect survivors and to implement measures that ensure safe, accessible, and just processes to keep our campus safe.”

“Princeton has repeatedly failed survivors of sexual violence. As alumni of the Princeton Class of 2022, we call upon Princeton University to take action to protect survivors and to implement measures that ensure safe, accessible, and just processes to keep our campus safe.”

OPINION | 04/03/2023

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To alleviate student stress, Princeton must expand the pass/D/fail option

To alleviate student stress, Princeton must expand the pass/D/fail option

Kelsey Ji

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

“To make students less stressed about their grades and GPAs, and to improve their standing in the post-graduate market, we can make the PDF option more useful by allowing students to PDF a course at any time throughout the semester.”

OPINION | 04/03/2023

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Princeton should support student-led clubs as essential to building community

Princeton should support student-led clubs as essential to building community

Tim Frawley

The post-COVID-19 treatment of club sports highlights gaps in the University’s approach to student life — the administration should shift from a top-down approach to one that seeks to support student groups and utilize student feedback to organically foster community.

The post-COVID-19 treatment of club sports highlights gaps in the University’s approach to student life — the administration should shift from a top-down approach to one that seeks to support student groups and utilize student feedback to organically foster community.

OPINION | 04/02/2023

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Celebrating and centering disability

Celebrating and centering disability

Tess Weinreich

“I hope that this issue will not require explanation. In my view, the stories within it speak for themselves. Disability is pertinent, worthy of coverage in News, Data, Features, Opinion, Prospect, Sports, Podcast, and every other section of our publication.”

“I hope that this issue will not require explanation. In my view, the stories within it speak for themselves. Disability is pertinent, worthy of coverage in News, Data, Features, Opinion, Prospect, Sports, Podcast, and every other section of our publication.”

OPINION | 04/01/2023

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Class of ’27, it’s time to cause trouble

Class of ’27, it’s time to cause trouble

Eleanor Clemans-Cope

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

“Coming to Princeton, you’re stepping onto a moving train: There are urgent issues that demand student engagement on campus and there’s a responsibility for Princetonians to follow our informal motto and act ‘in the service of humanity’ in the broader world. Now is the perfect time to step off the hamster wheel and become an effective activist.”

OPINION | 03/30/2023

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Princeton needs to up our composting effort

Princeton needs to up our composting effort

Noah Eshaghpour-Silberman

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Whereas Princeton’s processing facility emphasizes creating compost, the Trenton Biogas facility focuses on the production of methane from compost and then selling the compost as a side business. The University is therefore using compost operations to counterintuitively harm the planet by potentially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

OPINION | 03/30/2023

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Let’s recognize autistic people with love and support

Let’s recognize autistic people with love and support

Harper Chambers

“To support autistic Princetonians, the wider Princeton community should develop the same understanding and acceptance as the AccessAbility Center so that I and other autistic people can feel seen on Princeton campus, and so we can hear the word “love” instead of ‘weird.’”

“To support autistic Princetonians, the wider Princeton community should develop the same understanding and acceptance as the AccessAbility Center so that I and other autistic people can feel seen on Princeton campus, and so we can hear the word “love” instead of ‘weird.’”

OPINION | 03/29/2023

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