Opinion Columns
Urooba Abid | Ramadan holds new meaning in quarantine
Quarantine has left time for many of us to do what our overstimulated society so rarely leaves time for — reflection. Coincidentally, this is the main goal of Ramadan.
Agatha Advincula | Don’t squander the right to vote
No one is morally impure for accepting Biden as the clearest way forward.
Emilia Onuonga | Betsy DeVos’s new Title IX regulations do not support survivors
Although Betsy DeVos does not require it of Penn to support survivors, Penn must require it of itself.
Varun Saraswathula | After COVID-19, we need to consider universal health coverage in the United States
Every human life has equal value, and it’s time for our healthcare system to recognize that.
Senior Column by Annabelle Williams | It’s a process, not a plan
I’m not a sports person, but I hear their advice is to “trust the process.”
Senior Column by Elias Rappaport | Make it a habit of saying yes
Understand that saying “yes” is praxis. The truth is that not every “yes” is a good decision; not every door opened has treasure on the other side. But more often than you think, a good day at Penn starts by opening one unremarkable door and ends with a dozen more doors unlocked.
Senior Column by Theodoros Papazekos | I’ve written 100 versions of this column in my head
The problem with writing columns in the shower is that the water gets cold before you can end them.
Jessica Gooding | All students forced to leave campus should receive a housing credit
In light of Penn’s recent announcement that it would not accept 9.9 million dollars in CARE Act funds, it makes sense to wonder how those funds could have been allocated to help secure stability for vulnerable students.
Emilia Onuonga | Amy Gutmann made the right decision. Congress did not.
Yes, Americans ought to put pressure on well-established institutions and businesses to reject these funds. However, people should direct criticism to Congress and the Trump administration during this national crisis.
Agatha Advincula | Preparing for uncertainty in uncertain times
It’s okay to be scared and still make contingency plans. It’s okay to be frustrated with the ways in which Penn has often left us in the dark and it’s okay to be worried about the future.
Sophia DuRose | Penn’s campus is my new home
Even though there are massive problems in the world right now, small ones still hurt. And if anything good could come out of any of this, it should be a greater sense of urgency to be empathetic and kind.
Bridget Yu | Let’s talk about rape culture
In light of the fact that 25.9% of undergraduate women at Penn reported having experienced non-consensual sexual contact sometime in college, it is crucial that we address the many misconceptions surrounding sexual assault on college campuses.
Varun Saraswathula | The Existential Crisis of Your College Decision
Choosing where you want to spend the next four years of your life is really stressful, namely because of how consequential that decision is. Your decision to come to Penn represents the first of many to limit the number of potential paths you can follow in life.
Alfredo Praticò | I Chose Penn, That Doesn’t Mean You Have To
As a first-year student at Penn, I hope to give you a bit of insight on how I made my decision to come here, and what I would have changed in that decision-making process if I could redo it.
Jessica Gooding | The opt-in Pass/Fail deadline needs to be extended until after finals
We need to revamp the current opt-in pass/fail grading system to reflect our ever-evolving reality and to ensure the best possible outcomes are accessible to everyone.
Lark Yan | In the midst of pandemic, America has much to learn
Rather than disparaging Asian nations, President Trump should instead start to learn from their responses to the disease.
Varun Saraswathula | The only way out is through, and the only way through is together.
I truly believe that taking time for ourselves, pursuing our passions, and prioritizing the relationships we have in our physical and virtual spaces will guide us as we make our way through, and eventually out, of this era.
Isabella Glassman | Decision day shouldn’t be May 1st
In a time when Penn has been forced to make numerous difficult decisions, here is a chance to make the right one. Push back the May 1st deadline and give the high school seniors the time they deserve.
Ton Nguyen | Lessons Learned from COVID-19 for Penn and Beyond
In this time of distress, let’s find solace in knowing that there are still good people out there and remember that there is more work to be done in the future. Until then, rest for better days to come.