Opinion Columns
Wesley Vaughn | A ‘good part of town,’ but for whom?
This August, along with reminding me to ignore the liberals and to enjoy Penn State, my family members and neighbors advised me to avoid the “bad parts of town.”
Yessenia Gutierrez | Wanted: Upperclassmen
During the beginning of each school year, we are all involved in making sure freshmen know what’s what on campus. We want them to know about our club, our major, our leadership opportunities. Yet most of us don’t know half of what occurs at Penn.
Ernest Owens | Equal when separate
While the media and politicians attempt to convince us that we live in a post-racial society, the truth is, self-segregation persists and is a natural instinct.
Aya Saed | A silent victory in the face of violence
I have more in common with a moderate Christian than any Muslim radical who proposes violence.
Kurt Mitman | What they don’t teach you in Econ 1
Many people believe that the playing field is leveled once students get to college, but in reality, inequality persists.
Lauren Agresti | Just put your pants on for now
Trying to get on top of your schoolwork? Take your books out. You don’t have to read them. Just open them up. Trying to catch up on email? Respond to one. See what happens.
Adam Silver | The democratic infomercial
Although the formalities of the old still echo the halls of the convention — there are voice votes, motions and even a gavel — it is no longer a place for a party to pick a nominee.
Sindhuri Nandhakumar | Conceding to ‘The Help’
We rationalize away uncomfortable facts by thinking that if a lot of people think something is okay, then it must be okay.
JY Lee | Welcome to Wild West Philadelphia
Even with Dr. Franklin’s heart and Mr. Huntsman’s wallet, Penn should remember that it cannot not save West Philadelphia on its own.
Ernest Owens | Freshmen, please screw up
Don’t just be a passerby on Locust Walk, that will only increase your chances of suffering a mid-college-life crisis.
Robert Hsu | Here to burst your bubble
Living in Philadelphia has pushed me further outside of my comfort zone than most of my classes at Penn have.
Emily Orrson | Convention celebrates celebrity
I don’t want to know how much Romney’s horse cost. I don’t care to read Obama’s Occidental transcripts. I don’t have a particular interest in Michelle Obama’s shoe size.
Lauren Agresti | Licensed to wave
The amount of almost-waving, half- smiling and awkward eye-contacting I see around campus every day is absurd.
Adam Silver | From Cairo to Charlotte
If there ever was a part of American democracy that a newly enfranchised democrat should see, this is it.Adam Silver | Saying sorry to my subletters
Subletters, I know I told you that pets were not allowed in HamCo, but that is simply because it already comes with pets.Divya Ramesh | An illness with no prescription
Now that I have moved in and Convocation is around the corner, I realize that the vaccines on my chart have failed to prevent one thing: homesickness.Editorial | Guns on campus
The Aurora, Colo., massacre gives a renewed sense of urgency over the role of firearms in American culture. Being situated near a hotbed for violent crimes, Penn students in particular have a big stake in the debate over gun control.Will Marble | Disconnected from distraction
Our generation lives on the internet. We wake up to new iMessages, “friending” people is an almost necessary social exercise, we are expected to respond to emails instantly and many of us run our own blogs. And suddenly I could not access any of that.