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Opinion Columns

10/08/10 2:26am

Hassall-Free Fridays | The admissions process culture gap

The organization of U.S. high schools means anyone can rack up leadership roles and be taught to write a good application essay. Those abilities shouldn’t have anything to do with Penn.
10/07/10 2:27am

Truth Be Told | More than just statistics and symptoms

It’s important for the medical community to remember that the whole of the patient is greater than the sum of his or her symptoms.
10/07/10 2:20am

Smart Alec | Elections gone overBoard

Class Board elections have little intrinsic value as exercises in democracy and deter each Class Board from fulfilling its mission to bring the class together.
10/06/10 4:15am

Ad-Libs | A website you can bet is problematic

The idea of ultrinsic.com is noble, but there may be serious problems with prompting students to perform better academically with money.
10/06/10 4:11am

Say Anything | Don't go for broke

Unpaid internships are inherently elitist. They prevent individuals from having equal access to the opportunities that will make them desirable hires in the future.
10/05/10 3:45am

Southern Comfort | Give me that old time religion

As a proselytizing faith, it can be difficult for evangelical Christianity to find its place in the framework of tolerance. And in doing so, it can compromise those very elements which set it apart in the first place.
10/05/10 3:37am

Berry Nice | From SAS to SNL

Along with Wall Street, the entertainment industry is chalk full of former Quakers. If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, my advice: go for it.
10/04/10 2:10am

Wiki-Pedia | Benefits to academic bonding

While professors may complain about increasing student neediness, outreach makes a huge impact on student engagement.
10/04/10 2:06am

The Sooner, The Better | The great escape outdoors

Camping with friends engenders a sense of camaraderie and adventure that our generation has forgotten — particularly in a competitive environment like Penn.
10/01/10 4:34am

Sir Lance-a-Lot | Punishment can be reefer madness

Penn's marijuana policy seems to attempt to help rather than punish students. Still, Penn’s policy isn’t as lenient as it could be.
10/01/10 4:19am

Penn Name | Think before drinking water

Philadelphia’s drinking water may not be as clean as people think, and stricter regulations should be put into effect.
09/30/10 3:34am

Scientifically Blonde | Reality television is going mental

Initially, I was super critical of reality shows about mental illness. But I realized that these shows are actually helping address a serious problem in our society: the “taboo” of mental illness.
09/30/10 3:31am

Smart Alec | A queer application question

Despite Penn’s recent success in LGBT recruiting, the University should not go the next step and include a sexual-orientation question on its Common App supplement.
09/29/10 4:23am

Ad-Libs | The hidden pros of 9 a.m. classes

Students should try taking more classes out of their personal time zones — it may end up being better than expected.
09/29/10 4:17am

Amanda Please | The credit students deserve

Taking AP and IB courses should not only be a stepping stone for students to get into Penn, but also a stepping stone for them to take a more advanced course load.
09/28/10 2:45am

Berry Nice | Weary of the McYoga Special

Yoga has transformed from a spiritual practice to a kickboxing alternative in order to cater to eager Americans. I worry that the trend could lead to bad karma for yoga in its purest form.
09/28/10 2:41am

Ryu's Clues | 'Interdisciplinary' is just a word

Despite the various ways Penn advertises interdisciplinary education through structured programs, courses of study don’t need to be labeled as such to provide multiple perspectives on a certain theme.
09/27/10 2:51am

The Sooner, The Better | Penn should be political

Well, whether the University likes it or not, it is inherently political. Despite distaste for appearing partisan, Penn’s administration does not — and should not — excuse itself from the political process.
09/27/10 2:48am

Cosmopoli-Tanvi | Stop short-changing Indonesia

The whole world has been taking notice of Indonesia lately. Some rapid hiring could easily position Penn as the American hub for a region of greater and greater global importance.
09/24/10 2:57am

Hassall-Free Fridays | Need for a more ferocious Quaker

I object to Penn's mascot because he embodies pacifism and silliness and fails to represent any kind of fighting spirit.

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