Opinion

It’s time for a civic education requirement at Princeton

Ivy League graduates have lost the trust and confidence of the American people. Princeton should renew its commitment to democratic values through a new civic education requirement.

Ivy League graduates have lost the trust and confidence of the American people. Princeton should renew its commitment to democratic values through a new civic education requirement.

Princeton should make Opening Exercises secular

"Prayers and blessings are not relevant to a mandatory introductory event at a non-religious university. We should focus less on our Latin motto, “Under God’s Power She Flourishes,” and more on our unofficial motto, “In the Service of Humanity.”

"Prayers and blessings are not relevant to a mandatory introductory event at a non-religious university. We should focus less on our Latin motto, “Under God’s Power She Flourishes,” and more on our unofficial motto, “In the Service of Humanity.”

Announcing the ‘Prince’ Opinion section’s Spring 2025 columnists

This semester, we are proud to announce six columns, three from returning columnists and three from new ones. Each columnist will publish every other week or every three weeks.

This semester, we are proud to announce six columns, three from returning columnists and three from new ones. Each columnist will publish every other week or every three weeks.

Princeton must protect students from Trump’s proposed immigration policies

With the presidential inauguration less than two weeks away, time is running out. Princeton, act now and show undocumented and international students the “energetic and vigorous support” you pledge before it’s too late. 

With the presidential inauguration less than two weeks away, time is running out. Princeton, act now and show undocumented and international students the “energetic and vigorous support” you pledge before it’s too late. 

The U. doesn’t want you to know about the camera project. Pay attention.

When the administration isn’t forthcoming with us about a policy that affects the entire student body, we should be suspicious. Princeton’s lack of communication about the camera initiative suggests a desire to avoid accountability.

When the administration isn’t forthcoming with us about a policy that affects the entire student body, we should be suspicious. Princeton’s lack of communication about the camera initiative suggests a desire to avoid accountability.

Princeton should incorporate well-being days into the academic calendar

Princeton must commit to ending its mental health crisis by making long-term care accessible, appointing a zero-suicide czar –– and yes, incorporating well-being days into the academic calendar –– to make the Princeton experience happier, healthier, and safer.

Princeton, why don’t you care about the working class?

“Princeton is an engine that currently transforms a few thousand people per year, using incredible academic, career, and financial resources, into influential decision-makers. It should turn them into compassionate and public-minded ones, too. Princeton students can and should become allies of the working class.”

“Princeton is an engine that currently transforms a few thousand people per year, using incredible academic, career, and financial resources, into influential decision-makers. It should turn them into compassionate and public-minded ones, too. Princeton students can and should become allies of the working class.”

Princeton, break up with BP

“BP cannot be considered a credible climate partner for Princeton’s research, and its relationship cannot continue.”

“BP cannot be considered a credible climate partner for Princeton’s research, and its relationship cannot continue.”

Confessions of a campus moderate

“Obsessive interest in university life harms the learning that goes on within. When student opinions are given outsized attention, we start to believe that they have something meaningful to say and forget that they are, in fact, still very much in the process of learning how to think.”

“Obsessive interest in university life harms the learning that goes on within. When student opinions are given outsized attention, we start to believe that they have something meaningful to say and forget that they are, in fact, still very much in the process of learning how to think.”

As we expand space for mental health, increase the number of available appointments

“The construction of the Health Center should not be seen as a crowning achievement of the University unless it comes with a concrete promise to make mental health care more accessible for students at the University.”

“The construction of the Health Center should not be seen as a crowning achievement of the University unless it comes with a concrete promise to make mental health care more accessible for students at the University.”

Princetonians learned some lies about unions last semester, and it’s partly PGSU’s fault

“It is critically important that after this anti-UE campaign, Princeton students learn about one of the most important steps in a union’s collective bargaining, which comes before students start paying dues: the democratic process.”

“It is critically important that after this anti-UE campaign, Princeton students learn about one of the most important steps in a union’s collective bargaining, which comes before students start paying dues: the democratic process.”

Setting the record straight on our fight for Kamala Harris

“Our 10 canvassing trips, 5,244 doors knocked, and over ten thousand phone calls made exposed us to the complexities of the American electorate. These conversations were at times complicated, but overwhelmingly respectful.”

“Our 10 canvassing trips, 5,244 doors knocked, and over ten thousand phone calls made exposed us to the complexities of the American electorate. These conversations were at times complicated, but overwhelmingly respectful.”

Make Princeton a sanctuary for federal researchers

“When the incoming political administration begins to attack public research, institutions like Princeton can and must defend it.”

“When the incoming political administration begins to attack public research, institutions like Princeton can and must defend it.”

New Jersey is burning. Stop pretending Princeton won’t.

“In the wake of these dire warnings, it is time for the University to remember that the climate crisis will one day affect Princeton’s campus even more directly — and to redouble its commitments to leadership on climate, sustainability, and environmental justice.”

“In the wake of these dire warnings, it is time for the University to remember that the climate crisis will one day affect Princeton’s campus even more directly — and to redouble its commitments to leadership on climate, sustainability, and environmental justice.”

Now is not the time to abandon trans rights

“Not only is it politically useless to play into Republican talking points and cast queer issues as ‘elite’ concerns — it’s inaccurate and damaging.”

“Not only is it politically useless to play into Republican talking points and cast queer issues as ‘elite’ concerns — it’s inaccurate and damaging.”

Princeton’s sprawling statistics curriculum fails to meet student needs

“When so many students are required to take statistics prerequisites, Princeton must ensure these courses teach the material effectively. This could be done by evaluating the course feedback, in which many students have discussed what they felt helped or hindered their learning.”

“When so many students are required to take statistics prerequisites, Princeton must ensure these courses teach the material effectively. This could be done by evaluating the course feedback, in which many students have discussed what they felt helped or hindered their learning.”

Make intro macroeconomics the prerequisite for SPIA, not intro microeconomics

“The current curriculum fails to equip our future policy leaders with the economic knowledge most relevant for their roles. For SPIA majors, Princeton’s introductory macroeconomics course is arguably more useful than its introductory micro, and this should be reflected in the curriculum.”

“The current curriculum fails to equip our future policy leaders with the economic knowledge most relevant for their roles. For SPIA majors, Princeton’s introductory macroeconomics course is arguably more useful than its introductory micro, and this should be reflected in the curriculum.”

It’s time to change how we talk about abortion

“When we don’t question disengaged language like this at Princeton, we excuse anti-abortion advocates from being present in the facts. We excuse them from talking about Amber Nicole Thurman, Josseli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain, Candi Miller, and countless other women who have lost their lives as a direct result of abortion bans and restrictions.”

“When we don’t question disengaged language like this at Princeton, we excuse anti-abortion advocates from being present in the facts. We excuse them from talking about Amber Nicole Thurman, Josseli Barnica, Nevaeh Crain, Candi Miller, and countless other women who have lost their lives as a direct result of abortion bans and restrictions.”

Princeton’s non-teaching staff are essential to building community

Community extends outside the classroom: Non-teaching employees play a huge part in establishing community and spaces of belonging at the institution.

Community extends outside the classroom: non-teaching employees play a huge part in establishing community and spaces of belonging at the institution.

Re-evaluate your mindset: Put the ‘four essentials’ first

“We are better at our other obligations when we take care of our four essentials first.”

“We are better at our other obligations when we take care of our four essentials first.”