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Opinion Columns

02/16/11 6:44am

The Half of It | Post-midnight McDollar manipulation

Penn students have fallen victim to a savvy staff with a scheming knowledge of their irresistible inventory. Surely McDonald’s must be taking advantage here.
02/15/11 6:05am

Tattle-Taylor | Diversity is only skin deep

Like oil and water, the many races and cultures that comprise Penn’s population seem to just naturally separate.
02/15/11 5:35am

The Gray Area | Take CPAC-tion against debt

College students have an opportunity to become politically active in the conservative movement via a very pressing issue — our national debt.
02/14/11 6:33am

Combat Ray-tions | Chocolate, candy and a wedding ring

I’m thinking of doing something a little bigger for Valentine's Day this year. I’m thinking of getting married.
02/14/11 5:21am

The Gold Standard | Focus on merit, not diversity

Overzealous initiatives to increase faculty diversity have overshadowed a more necessary bedrock of the Penn experience — a superb education.
02/11/11 5:57am

Duly Noted | SEPTA finally gets smart

Now that SEPTA is eliminating its outdated token system, Philadelphia has the chance to be the leader in modern transit fare technology.
02/11/11 5:26am

Last Call | A creative community

Students should take advantage of the creative writing courses, which can complement every major and teach skills that transcend the subject itself.
02/10/11 4:49am

Scientifically Blonde | Well-prepared? You still might choke

To prevent students from choking before exams, use different ways to test them. Give them various options — take a test, give a presentation or write a paper.
02/10/11 4:35am

Smart Alec | Abolish University Council

In the place of the University Council (which is currently no more than a mothballed roundtable), create a “University Forum” where anyone can speak.
02/09/11 6:13am

A Likely Story | Just for the sake of learning

Students eagerly embrace preceptorials because they represent what is best in Penn students. These seminars are built on the belief in students’ willingness to learn.
02/08/11 6:17am

The Gray Area | My personal AlcoholEdu

Last Thursday, I turned 21 and, for the first time ever, I had an alcoholic beverage.
02/08/11 5:54am

Peace Not Politics | Appreciate the power of local politics

Penn students should be more aware of what Philadelphia's local government is doing. They should also maybe even vote once or twice.
02/07/11 2:57am

Bank on It | Cyberchondria: the dangers of self-diagnosis

Almost two-thirds of all Penn students have used WebMD for health information, but self-diagnosis may lead to the wrong conclusion.
02/07/11 2:34am

The Gold Standard | The two-year plan

Penn should offer special programs for students who wish to study for two years and then head off to join the workforce.
02/04/11 6:16am

Hassall-Free Fridays | Political apathy’s dishonest roots

With so many Penn students looking for jobs in the finance, is it any surprise that reining that industry in generates little political excitement?
02/04/11 5:59am

Last Call | NSO: New Student Obstacles

Although Penn offers undergraduates many resources for dealing with their academic, social and emotional issues, it could do more to help freshmen.
02/03/11 6:23am

Truth Be Told | Covering Giffords through rose-colored lenses

The media is turning Giffords' tragedy into a narrative of triumph, but being too optimistic about a grave and uncertain brain injury might be bad.
02/03/11 6:16am

Smart Alec | U.K. no longer A-OK

By ransacking its higher education to pay down its budget deficit and cutting immigration, the U.K. stands to lose great American students — including those from Penn.
02/02/11 6:22am

The Half of It | Account me in: finding warmth in Wharton

Wharton does not only cater to manic number crunchers and Wall Street wannabes. Let business take its place alongside arts and humanities.
02/02/11 6:02am

A Likely Story | Shrinking Penn

Finding a version of Penn that is somehow your own can be challenging, but it is the only way in which anyone can have a meaningful Penn experience.

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