Opinion Columns
Liala Sofi | What Penn doesn’t teach us
Columnist Liala Sofi argues that Penn’s curriculum overlooks one essential lesson, what it means to serve others.
Mia Vesely | Is free speech on college campuses a thing of the past?
Senior columnist Mia Vesely discusses First Amendment rights on college campuses amid student detentions and deportations.
Arshiya Pant | If academic freedom is dying, we can’t go down without a fight
Columnist and Deputy Opinion Editor Arshiya Pant argues that with everything at stake due to federal funding cuts, every exercise of intellectual freedom counts.
Sose Hovannisian | Silence kills: Exposing Azerbaijan’s persecution of Armenians
Columnist Sose Hovannisian calls on Penn students and the international community to stand against Azerbaijan’s genocidal policies and war crimes.
Tiyya Geiger and Piper Slinka-Petka | Has Penn corporatized our relationships?
Senior columnists Piper Slinka-Petka and Tiyya Geiger analyze how Penn’s hyper-individualist and preprofessional culture corporatizes dating and relationships.
Alyma Karbownik | The ambiguity of being FGLI
Columnist Alyma Karbownik examines inequities that arise from having an unclear definition of FGLI status.
Niheer Patel | Hands off
Columnist Niheer Patel argues that the University must reevaluate its place in society in the midst of student deportations.
Jason Zhao | This isn’t about the swim team
Columnist Jason Zhao argues that Penn’s funding cut was a political distraction from more serious failures in the Trump administration.
Ashti Tiwari | The art of critical thinking
Columnist Ashti Tiwari argues that relying on shortcuts undermines critical thinking, a vital skill that college should cultivate.
Francesco Salamone | No, you are not in the trenches
Columnist Francesco Salamone urges us to be mindful of the metaphors we live by and the role language plays in shaping our world.
Mritika Senthil | Penn tried to stop St. Paddy’s — and made everything worse
Senior Columnist Mritika Senthil explains how Penn’s restrictive event registration guidelines drive students into riskier, unregulated spaces.
Diya Choksey | To the Class of 2029: Why I chose (and will always choose) Penn
Senior columnist Diya Choksey shares why she chose Penn and offers an insider's sneak peek for the admitted class.
Jesse Van Doren | Accept more students
Columnist Jesse Van Doren argues that exclusivity doesn't equal excellence in college education.
Mariana Martinez | American academia: A matter of national security
Senior columnist Mariana Martinez argues that research is a crucial part of American society and funding cuts should be evaluated very carefully.
Marie Dillard | Two Geese and a Goyard
Columnist Marie Dillard challenges the notion that financial wealth has to define belonging at Penn, urging students to embrace authenticity, gratitude, and personal growth rather than comparison.
Eden Liu | Is Penn actually Conservative?
Columnist Eden Liu considers if Penn’s progressivism is a mistaken label.
Brian Barth | You want school spirit … Now is the time.
Columnist Brian Barth dives into Penn’s extraordinary opportunity amidst the search for a new head mens basketball coach.
Zakhir Bentham | Bring back social distancing
Columnist Zakhir Bentham breaks down the difference between loneliness and solitude while advocating for more people to take time for themselves.
Harman Chahal | Penn Museum’s reckoning
Columnist Harman Chahal critiques the Penn Museum’s handling of the human remains they examined after the 1985 MOVE bombing.