Opinion

Princeton’s Russian program doesn’t belong in Estonia

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

By advertising Estonia as an alternative location to practice Russian, the University fails to treat Estonia as it is: a sovereign nation with its own cultural identity and historical trauma related to Russian domination. Princeton is not taking a stand against Russian imperialism — it’s simply finding a more palatable way to continue supporting it. 

Princeton should call itself a sanctuary city

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Princeton already effectively functions as a “sanctuary city.” So why does the town continue to distance itself from the title and opt for the distinction of “welcoming city” in its stead?

Bezos ’86 silenced his opinion section. We’re committed to protecting ours.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

Bezos is restricting the “personal liberties” he claims to care about. But we’re dedicated to protecting your personal liberties — to write and read Opinion pieces from a plethora of perspectives, about a variety of topics.

Books are meant to be read

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

“In order to balance heavy academic and extracurricular commitments, students are taught to skim texts and read with the sole purpose of churning out scholarly content in a time-efficient manner. As a result, we lose the ability to be changed by the language and ideas that we encounter.”

The dining hall’s architecture keeps workers out of sight. That’s a problem

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

Among the many inconveniences imposed by my chronic back pain is the difficulty I have in bending over to thank the dining hall workers who clean the plates I eat from daily. In this piece, I explore how the architectural design of Princeton’s dining halls shapes visibility and invisibility, the ways physical barriers reflect social hierarchies, and why rethinking these spaces matters for fostering a more inclusive campus community.

Reactions: Which alum would you nominate for the Woodrow Wilson award?

We asked our writers to reflect on which alumni are best upholding the informal motto “Princeton in the nation’s service,” and make a case for who deserves to win the Woodrow Wilson Award next year.

We asked our writers to reflect on which alumni are best upholding the informal motto “Princeton in the nation’s service,” and make a case for who deserves to win the Woodrow Wilson Award next year.

The fight for academia

As academics, it’s imperative that we better communicate to the public not only the direct impacts of our research, but also long term positive consequences like job growth in the economy. 

As academics, it’s imperative that we better communicate to the public not only the direct impacts of our research, but also long term positive consequences like job growth in the economy. 

Princeton, swap social media for real news

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other. 

The conversion of social media into the dominant medium for public discourse is an essential driver of our democratic crisis. We have strayed further from a shared foundation of facts, and further from each other. 

Don’t give in to cynicism: Collective action on climate works

“Arguments about how student organizing is not sufficient miss the point, and only serve to entrench this dangerous apathy that will make our futures more unstable. Our optimism for a better future will not be dissuaded by those who don’t think it’s possible.”

“Arguments about how student organizing is not sufficient miss the point, and only serve to entrench this dangerous apathy that will make our futures more unstable. Our optimism for a better future will not be dissuaded by those who don’t think it’s possible.”

Flood the Princeton canon

“The University must commit to truth, representing its history more honestly. And until it does so, we need to flood the Princeton canon with more monuments to Princeton’s unsung heroes.”

“The University must commit to truth, representing its history more honestly. And until it does so, we need to flood the Princeton canon with more monuments to Princeton’s unsung heroes.”

You (yes, you) are part of the classics conversation

Whether or not we believe that this literature has a place in the curriculum and however we believe the classics should be taught, we have to understand that a conversation about classics is a conversation about us.

Whether or not we believe that this literature has a place in the curriculum and however we believe the classics should be taught, we have to understand that a conversation about classics is a conversation about us.

Why is NJ Transit so damn expensive?

By the time I graduate — if price increases follow their current three percent trajectory — round-trip transportation from Princeton to New York will cost at least $44.21. But it could, very easily, cost nothing. It’s past time that Princeton moved to expand access to regional public transit for undergraduates.

By the time I graduate — if price increases follow their current three percent trajectory — round-trip transportation from Princeton to New York will cost at least $44.21. But it could, very easily, cost nothing. It’s past time that Princeton moved to expand access to regional public transit for undergraduates.

CAF funds important student affinity groups. The University should support it.

“To further improve students’ sense of belonging, the University should increase the funding available to cultural and affinity groups through CAF — which actually does the job well.”

“To further improve students’ sense of belonging, the University should increase the funding available to cultural and affinity groups through CAF — which actually does the job well.”

On the Street, demographic data is off the menu

It’s hard to challenge inequities without statistics. At the same time, a lack of information limits students’ freedom to make informed choices about which eating club to join. To solve these problems, eating clubs should report their demographics.

It’s hard to challenge inequities without statistics. At the same time, a lack of information limits students’ freedom to make informed choices about which eating club to join. To solve these problems, eating clubs should report their demographics.

Princeton is more than your academic performance

“In 25 years, at my 25th Reunion, I doubt I’ll be thinking about the C I got in Physics during sophomore fall. But I’ll certainly be remembering the weekly film screenings my friends and I went to at the Garden Theatre, the many times I sang with the Wildcats under Blair Arch, and talking about morality in a philosophy precept in 1879 Hall.”

“In 25 years, at my 25th Reunion, I doubt I’ll be thinking about the C I got in Physics during sophomore fall. But I’ll certainly be remembering the weekly film screenings my friends and I went to at the Garden Theatre, the many times I sang with the Wildcats under Blair Arch, and talking about morality in a philosophy precept in 1879 Hall.”

Leave microeconomics alone!

Though an introductory microeconomics course like the one SPIA requires cannot hope to address diverse topics like law, healthcare, agriculture, and the environment, what ECO 100 succeeds in is that it provides the foundations for in-depth analysis of these complex, important, and policy-relevant problems.

Though an introductory microeconomics course like the one SPIA requires cannot hope to address diverse topics like law, healthcare, agriculture, and the environment, what ECO 100 succeeds in is that it provides the foundations for in-depth analysis of these complex, important, and policy-relevant problems.

Incorporate computing ethics into Princeton’s intro COS sequence

No practice or discipline exists in a vacuum, and that’s important to recognize now more than ever. To meet the moment and its own principles, Princeton must expand the content of introductory COS programs to address the ethics of computing.

No practice or discipline exists in a vacuum, and that’s important to recognize now more than ever. To meet the moment and its own principles, Princeton must expand the content of introductory COS programs to address the ethics of computing.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

At Princeton, we don’t need a presentation on Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad or George Washington Carver and the peanut. But that doesn’t mean we don’t need Black History Month.

At Princeton, we don’t need a presentation on Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad or George Washington Carver and the peanut. But that doesn’t mean we don’t need Black History Month.

Reactions: Building a better Bicker?

This year, we asked our writers to share more nuanced reflections on what works and doesn’t work about Street Week 2025 – what should be preserved, and what should be reformed. 

Princeton, it’s time to offer a Filipino language program

Like other Ivy League universities, Princeton should implement Filipino language courses to satisfy student demand and reflect the cultural demographics of the United States.

Like other Ivy League universities, Princeton should implement Filipino language courses to satisfy student demand and reflect the cultural demographics of the United States.