Opinion Columns
Spencer Gibbs | Yes, you can leave the lights on
Columnist Spencer Gibbs reflects on carbon emissions, climate action, and what living sustainably means as a Penn student.
Taja Mazaj | Fraud, the Ivy League’s best friend
Columnist Taja Mazaj argues that fraud is at the center of the modern corporatized university, and Penn's 4% increase in tuition is indicative of this.
Alex Baxter | Style versus substance: Finding identity at Penn and beyond
Columnist Alex Baxter explores the intersection between individuality and style at Penn and in Europe.
C.H. Henry | The Dos and Don’ts of Advertising on Locust
Columnist C.H. Henry lays out how to best publicize club events and shows on Locust Walk.
Allison Santa-Cruz | Digital schoolwork is ruining our work-life balance
Columnist Allison Santa-Cruz contends that because of the lack of separation between work and personal life, we have little freedom to pursue leisure for the sake of leisure, a necessary component of a happy life.
Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford | Being social without socials
Columnist Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford argues for creating an environment at Penn where being on social media platforms is truly optional.
Julu Nwaezeapu | The dark underbelly of Philadelphia’s prison system
Columnist Julu Nwaezeapu encourages students to educate themselves on the carceral system in Philadelphia and to support prison reform groups.
Riane Lumer | Is Penn the New Happy Valley?
Columnist Riane Lumer responds to the Resume.io study that Liz Magill reposted about university happiness rankings.
Sangitha Aiyer | Penn must become need-blind for international applicants
Columnist Sangitha Aiyer argues that Penn must begin financially investing in its international students.
Aksa Choudhry | From pennies to PILOTs: Investing in Philadelphia’s education system
Columnist Aksa Choudhry critiques Penn’s refusal to pay PILOT’s and highlights the need for financial contributions to Philadelphia’s schools.
Lexi Boccuzzi | Abandoning the dean’s list is a move towards devaluing merit at Penn
Columnist Lexi Boccuzzi concludes that Penn’s removal of the dean’s list is indicative of a larger problem in our culture of devaluing merit and not recognizing achievement.
Anni Paradise | Death to the GPA
Columnist Anni Paradise argues that the American GPA system hinders students’ ability to develop genuine passion for their work and hobbies during college, through this intense and not necessarily useful way of measuring academic progress.
Fiona Miller | Congratulations, but you might hate it here
Columnist Fiona Miller reminds students, new and old, of the importance of gratitude in aligning Penn expectations with reality.
Liala Sofi | Penn Dining workers deserve better
Columnist Liala Sofi argues for Penn to conduct worker satisfaction surveys that guarantee anonymity to effectively tackle issues surrounding its relationship with dissatisfied workers
Keshav Ramesh | Pay attention to the Philly mayoral election
Columnist Keshav Ramesh asserts that Penn students should pay attention to this year’s Philadelphia mayoral race prior to the primary in May.
Riane Lumer | Teaching and research are not mutually exclusive
Columnist Riane Lumer critiques the prioritization of research over teaching among Penn’s faculty.
C.H. Henry | Goodbye green space
Columnist C.H. Henry critiques the current flurry of construction which prioritizes erecting new buildings over enhancing the old ones.
Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford | In Praise of Quechua Minors and Chichewa Certificates
Columnist Benjamin McAvoy-Bickford argues that Penn should expand its minors and language certificates to cover more languages.
Isabella Glassman | Pass/fail it, unless you’re in the College
Columnist Isabella Glassman compares the unequal general education and pass/fail policies across schools which leave students in the College less freedom to pass/fail and more classes to take.