Opinion Columns
Zachary Bell | Facing the fear of missing out
FOMO, or the fear of missing out, refers to the social anxiety students may feel from missing an event, falling behind or tumbling into social bankruptcy.
Aya Saed | Why wear a hoodie for Trayvon Martin
Trayvon Martin is not dead — his memory is giving life to a powerful movement. And in his spirit, I’m asking this community to join the Million Hoodie March today at 5 p.m. in front of Du Bois College House as we march toward Love Park in protest.
Rachel del Valle | Still mad for ‘Mad Men’
One could argue that Mad Men’s boost between seasons was owed as much to investment as it was to buzz.Arielle Pardes | In defense of Dan Savage
When I sat down to chat with Dan Savage on Monday, he readily admitted that he can be quite inflammatory — but said that his strategy doesn’t obscure the bigger picture of fighting for LGBT equality.
Joseph An | What happened to ‘Stop at Nothing’ ?
The easiest thing to do when a campaign like KONY 2012 is brought to our attention is to pick apart everything that’s wrong with it. KONY isn’t perfect and its creator, Jason Russell certainly isn’t either — but neither is a world in which every day, children are kidnapped, sexually assaulted and forced to murder their parents.
Charles Gray | How TV taught me about failure
At first, it was impossible not to be disappointed with what happened. Everyone I talked to told me that I would learn from this experience.
Samantha Sharf | The gritty reality behind creativity
The study of creativity is relatively new. As students, we have the advantage of entering the workforce with more information about our creative tools than any generation before.
Hayley Brooks & Ali Kokot | Indulging the one-hit wonder
This spring break anthem, ever-present at St. Patrick’s Day-day parties, is the spurt of spring sunshine that has brought Penn out of hibernation.
Rachel del Valle | Knowledge can no longer be leather-bound
Before yesterday, I’d never had personal contact with an Encyclopaedia Britannica. I was a little sheepish when I went to see them in the reserved section of Van Pelt. I didn’t want to have to be the one to break the news. You guys are obsolete. I’m really sorry. You can all go home now.
Brian Goldman | Can I see your photo ID?
Everyone knows that if you want to get into Smokey Joe’s on a Friday night, you’ll need to show an ID. Last week, Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett signed a bill that would extend this same principle to the ballot box.
Alice Lee | 30 days of coffee and conversation
Some people might find the idea of grabbing coffee with a stranger a rather weird and awkward activity. If someone I didn’t know had approached me a year ago, I would have been weirded out.Dawn Androphy | The missing half at campus events
While I’m thankful for all the events that the Social Planning and Events Committee, in particular, organizes for students, I still feel like they’re really letting Penn students down.
Sally Engelhart | Is 2015 doomsday for the pre-med?
If it sounds like the MCAT is about to get a whole lot longer, more comprehensive and difficult — that’s because it is.
Sara Brenes-Akerman | I want you to want me
I don’t feel like being compressed to quick sound bites anymore. It’s time to bounce back and say the things that don’t fit in a tweet.
Robert Hsu | Not so Gleeful after all
Glee’s success to date gives it the potential to reverse ignorant views of gays and lesbians that plague society.
Samantha Sharf | Battling brand management bullies
Louis Vuitton has a right to protect their brand from those who manufacture and sell knockoff goods, but it should not treat every organization that uses their image as their enemy.
Hayley Brooks & Ali Kokot | Protesting the picture perfect
Stop being so concerned with how others perceive your vacation and focus on how you see it. Satisfaction ultimately comes from making the most of your own experiences, not having over a hundred photos of yourself mid-jump on a beach.
Kyle Henson | How to beat the curve
For those who are unfamiliar, the curve means two things: stress and a lower GPA. Most classes with curves have exam averages that float somewhere between the high 50s and the low 60s.
Brian Goldman | No child left behind
Tutoring, baby sitting, the University’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program all subscribe to the idea that children’s lives can be enhanced through interactions with young adults or college students.