Opinion Columns
Sam Zou | College rankings are a sham
Columnist Sam Zou argues that college rankings rarely hold cheating institutions accountable and consider factors irrelevant to educational quality.
Mia Vesely | How diversity is valued (or not) in Class of 2026 admissions
Columnist Mia Vesely examines why the class of 2026 is considered the most 'diverse' and what that claim really means.
Emily Chang | Virtual classes are still needed in a post-COVID-19 world
Columnist Emily Chang emphasizes the importance of learning from the past and reviving COVID-19 policies to improve current life.
Annie Bingle | How making your bed will change your life
Columnist Annie Bingle explores the unique benefits to making your bed each morning, and encourages you to do the same.
Vinay Khosla and Taja Mazaj | The futility of civic engagement at Penn
Columnists Vinay Khosla and Taja Mazaj argue Penn’s conception of civic engagement is intentionally disingenuous, and students must respond in kind with disruptive activism.
Lexi Boccuzzi | Protesting with a purpose: Analyzing the UC Townhomes movement
Columnist Lexi Boccuzzi examines the consequences for first years and the overall effectiveness of the Coalition to Save the UC Townhomes protest at the Class of 2026 Convocation.
Keshav Ramesh | From a progressive: Race-based affirmative action isn’t progressive
Columnist Keshav Ramesh argues that race-based affirmative action needs to be replaced with a system that instead takes socioeconomic status into account to truly guarantee racial and ethnic diversity.
Caroline Magdolen | Why I handwrite my notes on paper
Columnist Caroline Magdolen contemplates what is lost when students spend class time on electronic devices.
Sam Zou | Walled-off campus, integrated institution
Columnist Sam Zou argues that colleges create sealed-off campuses in an effort to preserve safety, student academic performance, and inequality in educational resources.
Lexi Boccuzzi | Wear your politics proudly at Penn
Columnist Lexi Boccuzzi argues that choosing not to engage in politics on campus because of the echo-chamber misconception will only stifle your experience and make those fears a reality.
Caroline Magdolen | Fighting for fair financial aid packages
Columnist Caroline Magdolen highlights the struggles that aided Penn students endure to fund their education, and what University administration can do in response.
Sam Zou | When institutions cheat, they get a pass
Columnist Sam Zou argues that higher educational institutions lie or bend the rules on reporting data to college rankings to increase their place, and they must be held accountable legally.
Alex Keswani | The Heart Stopping Impact of Heartstopper
Guest Columnist Alex Keswani discusses the cultural and political implications of Heartstopper’s global popularity.
Keshav Ramesh | No, more police in schools is not the answer
Columnist Keshav Ramesh argues that increased policing in schools has done little to nothing to stop mass shootings, and that the police are doing more harm than good when it comes to school safety.
Eve Rosenblum | Let It Get Awkward: The Case for Putting Down Our Phones
Columnist Eve Rosenblum discusses how phones are damaging conversation, preventing vulnerability, and increasing our isolation and anxiety in turn.
Sarah Ming | The Illusion of Choice
Columnist Sarah Ming discusses the necessity of consumer awareness in the marketplace.
Ace Dahyeon Choi | We need to talk about tuition
Columnist Ace Dahyeon Choi addresses the changes in tuition costs and other fees in college education, which often exceed the average American’s ability to pay for one.
Sangeet Anand | Environmental education should be a requirement, not an option
Columnist Sangeet Anand argues for the addition of an environmental course requirement to Penn’s current curriculum to amplify student engagement and awareness in sustainability and environmental issues.
Daniel Gurevitch | “I want to go home. I want my brother.”
Columnist Daniel Gurevitch shares his personal experience with the Fourth of July shooting in Philadelphia and argues for approaching gun control with a different focus.