This ideology holds that if minorities would simply “respect themselves” by adopting the social and cultural standards of the dominant class, then and only then would they be privy to the full benefits and “respect” of all American society. This fallacy is not only wrong in that it puts the onus of racism on those stripped of power, but it is also elitist in its belief that pulled-up pants and collegiate degrees will somehow protect one from legalized suspicion and police violence.

The problem with random hook-ups is that they achieve, in one leap, a physical intimacy that we afterwards realize was based on a hormone rush or too much alcohol — not a real relationship.

I don’t want to accept that Penn’s losing its sparkle. I want to re-believe in the glossy admissions brochure images I taped to my wall back home, and to not feel gypped when every day isn’t an adventure.

Texts and emails that replace mundane small talk and logistical planning aren’t depriving us of deep conversation. Who among us hasn’t complained about the shallowness of brief introductions and perfunctory pleasantries?

If you aspire to improve student life from a policy perspective, if you want to work toward understanding and meeting the needs of dozens of student groups, if you’re interested in managing funds that impact the entire undergraduate student body and if you hope to consult the administration on issues that are central to every Quaker’s experience, run to be a part of the Undergraduate Assembly.

Overall, though, the student body does not fear missing out on athletic contests because the University refuses to treat sports as anything out of the ordinary. We all know athletes and wish them well, in the same way that we hope for the successes of our friends who are a cappella singers and dancers.

We can’t go around pointing fingers and echoing vague yet provocative ideologies just because our fellow activists espouse those views. We must ask ourselves at each juncture, “Am I really informed enough to make these assertions?”

A student should have the creative thinking and communication skills required of a liberal arts major, as well as the critical thinking and technical knowledge of a STEM major.

This legacy of true queer activism has quickly been subjugated to the point where violence against trans women of color still runs rampant, but large, wealthy LGBT marriage equality organizations can afford to spend thousands of dollars on networking galas to “build community.”

We believe this volume of diverse voices will begin a much-needed conversation with the DP’s far-reaching audience around the country, and this column can be a space from which readers engage, incite deeper understanding of our communities, learn and perhaps, above all, will want to change the conditions of our nation.

I keenly felt the dissonance between the media hubbub last year about underfunding in Philadelphia public schools and the actual issue at hand. The school needed discipline, not tax dollars.

Let us introduce ourselves: we are the Penn Democrats, the most active political group on campus.

As fun as it is to call people out for being jerks online, it’s time to put an end to this — not just ridiculing the Facebook group, but relying on it at all. Just like everyone knows that one girl who looks nothing like her profile picture, it’s difficult to gauge someone’s true personality online. We told each other stories, we made each other laugh and cry, but the Facebook message you sent that guy three months ago is not a proper introduction.

The outstandingly creative are frustrated with the ordinary; that’s what drives them to do extraordinary things.

I’m not saying that the dawn of gender equality in Russia will be defined by risqué church-wear and male model stewards, but rather when society holds women and men to the same expectations.

It is time we stopped the verbal battery of others because we disagree with their opinions, and instead tackle the ideas with which we take issue.

Our job is not just to consider all sides of an issue, but to be skeptical and challenge modern practices instead of taking things as given.