Opinion Columns
Pearl Liu | Don't rush through your college experience
Finding our place at Penn doesn’t have to involve forcing ourselves to prioritize external accomplishments over internal fulfillment.
Sophia DuRose | Summer flings are overrated
Fumbling through a summer fling, where I am the first to admit that I had no idea what I was doing, proved to me that relying on someone else to explain my actions led me no closer to self-realization than my (unsuccessful) attempts at Penn.
Jennifer Lee | Why tourists deserve respect
In some of the places I visited, I felt marginalized as a tourist. People unapologetically walked into my photos, some locals stared when I dined in restaurants, and I was the victim of angry glares when I accidentally bumped into people. And while I considered myself an American tourist, I felt I was lumped into the unspoken “international Asian tourist” group — at one point, I was handed an unsolicited Chinese flyer when neither my family nor I know a word of Mandarin.
Alex Silberzweig | The pain of oblivion at Penn
We can make the choice to remain politically unaware. At the end of the day, that only serves to emphasize our privilege. People think they can afford to be incognizant of worldly matters if those matters don’t pertain to them directly, but to do that is the ultimate act of selfishness.
Sophia DuRose | Think about what your resume means, not how it sounds
I shouldn’t have to come up with creative ways to word “camp counselor” in order to sound more accomplished on my resume — a resume that proudly boasts working with kids at a job that is demanding and satisfying should be enough. This philosophy applies to many situations, and I think we as students need to stop focusing so narrowly on creating resumes hopped up on steroids.
Alex Silberzweig | The brutal phenomenon of burnout at Penn
Even though my bout with burnout only lasted around two and a half weeks, it was definitely one of the more unpleasant aspects of my college experience thus far.
Rebecca Alifimoff | How Penn can better manage student-professor relationships
Because the professor/student relationship can be so easily taken advantage of, universities have a responsibility to their students to take allegations of misconduct seriously, and when appropriate, respond to such allegations in a way that places the needs of the student body first.
Jennifer Lee | Why do soccer players cry so much?
The international popularity and historical significance of soccer might be hints that US should join the soccer craze soon. Although the US was not a part of this World Cup, Americans should still support the international teams of their heritage or choice on television.
Pearl Liu | Major in something that you’re willing to get good at
Deciding to study what we enjoy can be intellectually freeing, but enjoyment doesn't always help us decide what to study. We may enjoy a lot of subjects, we won’t enjoy every moment of any subject, and often our enjoyment of a subject grows with an investment of time and effort.
Alex Silberzweig | School spirit at Penn is severely lacking
The Ivy League was formed as an East Coast football association. Nothing more, nothing less. That would make you think that the pride we take in our sports teams would be off the charts. That’s not the case at all.
Sophia DuRose | Don't idolize celebrities that stay silent on social issues
I would give anything in the world to have 110 million people follow me on any one of my social media accounts, because it would give me a ridiculously easy way to be heard. To me, it is wrong to have a listening audience, but nothing to say, especially in today’s tumultuous political environment.
Sophia DuRose | How Penn allowed me to reconnect with Judaism
Because I grew up yearning for a social sphere synonymous to religious identification, I was awestruck and surprised by the amount of Jewish involvement on Penn’s campus.
Rebecca Alifimoff | Why chill is overrated
Instead of freeing me from anxiety or awkwardness like I thought, Chill became a straightjacket that only served to make me more aware of how much I wanted and how much I cared.
Sophia DuRose | Why Pottruck should have an all-female level
Walking on a treadmill shouldn’t elicit a derisive remark from a fellow gym-goer, yet more than once a man has approached me and said something akin to, “You call that running?” No matter how hard I try to convince myself that embarrassment shouldn’t be the go-to reaction, I walk away from the gym trying to hide my reddening cheeks.
Jennifer Lee | The Eagles’ disinvitation from the White House isn’t a big deal
Trump’s disinvitation of the Eagles is likely one of the firsts in many cancellations to come. As more players join the national anthem protest, we should definitely expect to see more NFL teams turned away by the White House. But luckily for us, Trump does not have much say in football.
Jennifer Lee | My experience with Penn's flawed testing policies
Entering exams with full health will prevent uncomfortable exam conditions for other students and also give rise to much better test results. Otherwise, any student who falls ill at semester’s end should expect to take final exam makeups in the next semester, as this policy will likely be in effect for the foreseeable future at Penn.
Alex Silberzweig | How Penn can better care for its student-athletes
With a balancing act like no other, it becomes exceedingly difficult for student-athletes at Penn to perform well without forgoing their physical and mental health.
Pearl Liu | We shouldn’t accept a culture of sleep deprivation
The notion that being in college and living a healthy lifestyle are mutually exclusive is concerning. Treating sleep deprivation as a given and sleep as a luxury feeds an unhealthy culture of impossible standards
Pearl Liu | Don't ignore your impact on the environment
While navigating everyday life, we often neglect our responsibility to the environment. Our actions have consequences for the environment, and we should care.