Opinion-Columns
Alec Ward | Laws without morals
In the question of how it should regard unaffiliated single-sex social clubs, Penn seems poised to “do a Harvard.” It shouldn’t. As anyone who has been following higher-education news for the past six months probably knows, the years-long conflict between Harvard College and the handful of independent single-sex social clubs to which many of its students belong reached a denouement last spring.
Emily Hoeven| An ordinary mind on an ordinary day
This past week has objectively been full of intense emotional and mental turmoil. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my newsfeed so consistently full of such long statuses written by so many people.
Aaron Cooper | Activism in Trump's America
Trump’s election represented a great blow to the forces of progress in America, as the American electorate chose a politics of short-sighted, reactionary hatred. But it also represents a great opportunity.
Alessandro van den Brink | Food for thought
It’s easy to take food for granted. Most Penn students either have a dining plan or can afford to purchase food from one of the numerous restaurants or grocery stores around campus.
Cameron Dichter | What love means
What love means “We can not be free until they are free” There is no simple explanation — and therefore no simple solution — for the tragedy that is a Donald Trump presidency.
James Lee | The darkened city upon a hill
America, I am sick to my stomach. I am distraught. I am heartbroken. I am worried. Let’s step back, as an emotional reaction is not always a useful indicator of things.
Alec Ward | Welcome to Time Zero
Now, we fight. Or at least, we prepare to. All decent people will hope and pray that Trump’s campaign promises to destroy the constitutional order, to violate the civil liberties of millions of Americans, to commit war crimes and retaliate against his political opponents were the kind of empty bluster we know he is capable of.
Ashley Stinnett | Who won the election?
It is 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 as I write this. I am in my month of silence for the monk class, and as such, I cannot talk to people, consume any media or read anything outside of what is required for my coursework.
Guest column by Maya Arthur | How to search for your body (even when in flames)
My body is burning. Flames sidle up and down my skin. The fire ignites and dies down. It’s a cyclical burn, charring my already black skin.
Alessandro van den Brink | The next step
America is not doomed. But man, should we be embarrassed. Donald Trump has run a campaign fueled by hatred, bluster, ignorance and a complete lack of morality.
Toe the Line: Penn Democrats | Elect Hillary Clinton and Katie McGinty
Voting in a swing state like Pennsylvania carries with it an obligation to the rest of the country to carefully consider our options in each race.
GROUP THINK | Free speech at Penn
GROUP THINK is the DP’s round table section, where we throw a question at the columnists and see what answers stick.
Harrison Glicklich | Sore losers
I remember playing poker with a friend who had a particularly heavy emotional investment in the game.
Ashley Stinnett | How to stop masturbating
The Monk class is deep into the month of silence now.
Jeremiah Keenan | Not born this way
“The idea that people are born gay — or lesbian or bisexual — is appealing for lots of reasons,” noted John D’Emilio, former Director of the Policy Institute at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
Joe Tharakan | The conservative crisis
You don’t have to be a Republican to know that The Donald is not the best candidate Republicans have to offer.
Alec Ward | Knowing and reckless falsehoods
It’s got every element of the perfect 21st-century pop morality fable: a sympathetic band of marginalized heros; a sinister coalition of law enforcement and Big Oil colluding to oppress them; elements of racial and environmental activism topped off with a secret code that you — yes, you!
Amy Chan | It starts with the self
Last week, I caught the most unrelenting illness known to man: the common cold. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, sanitize your beds and cover your mouths, because the respiratory syncytial virus is back in town and he’s not sparing anyone. As I lay in bed cancelling meetings and asking for extensions in classes, I felt a heavy sense of guilt and fear.
Emily Hoeven | Lessons from the Bard
I got a C- on my last Shakespeare test. For the past week or so, I tried to think of ways to write this article without mentioning my grade.