Opinion
Nadine Zylberberg | When less is more
Last week, in an effort to suggest where this viewing trend could be heading, film distributor Oscilloscope Laboratories uploaded the entirety of its 88-minute film “It’s a Disaster” onto Vine before its theatrical release … six seconds at a time.Eric Banecker | The Pope's courageous goodbye
By resigning, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed to the world that his office and the mission it serves are greater than the person of Joseph Ratzinger. In this, he has shown profound humility and spiritual freedom.Mariana Folco | The immigration “problem”: lost voices in political reform
We often hear talk of immigration reform, immigration policy, immigration crisis — but what ever happened to immigrants themselves?Zurtoons Caption Contest
Winner of the caption contest will get their caption published and win a $10 gift card to Insomnia Cookies.
Morgan Jones | @UPenn, where is the #love?
What does the fact that we cannot enjoy such a show but rather must criticize it ruthlessly and endlessly say about our culture? #NothingGood.
Hayley Brooks & Ali Kokot | Searching for serendipity
Graph Search has taken the “making” out of friend-making, and this instant gratification can’t compete with the rewards of taking the time to really get to know someone. Will there come a day when we can no longer enjoy the process of unearthing our quirky common interests — like quinoa — because Facebook will have already detected them for us?
Rachel del Valle | A class for class' sake
Maybe we should just be more open. The fall 2013 courses are up on Penn In Touch, and as I scan over the hundreds of listings, I’m trying to temper my graduation requirements with my intellectual curiosity.
Xavier Flory | Secularism: A western conceit
Secularism as understood today, although a great idea in the West, isn’t always exportable. The problem is that secularism is not a neutral concept but has positive associations with modernity and democracy.Nominations and Elections Committee | Taking charge
With advertisements implying we, the United States’ constituents, possess the power to elect “leaders of the free world,” many were pulled in by the allure of such a glamorous opportunity. When it comes to student government on Penn’s campus, however, that same fervor is not shared by the masses, both in regard to applicant pool and voter turnout. But why?
Divya Ramesh | Playing with fire
Stepping away from our compulsive need for action to adopt a version of the NRK’s digitized natural world might be a healthy choice. After all, with Norway recently ranked first on Forbes’ list of the happiest world nations, the country might have something to show beyond its magnificent fjords.Editorial | Small steps
It is unequivocal that Penn’s administration should be more diverse. However, less than two years ago, Penn launched its Faculty Diversity Action Plan, geared at increasing the diversity of Penn’s faculty.
Jeff Nadel | Neighborly government
It is absurd to suggest that we consent, by virtue of our participation in a professedly democratic society, to whatever abuse the government may dole out.
Kurt Mitman | Spend away
There is little evidence that disparity in spending has a big impact on outcomes. Research into the effect has found a modest positive link between disparity in spending and vote outcome. However, one of the confounding problems is that popular and well-organized candidates are probably more likely to win.
Adam Silver | Size doesn't matter
But what sounds good in a political ad doesn’t necessarily make good policy sense. If we allow ourselves to continue to pursue big vs. little, we might forget the more important fight: smarter vs. dumber.
Morgan Jones | Don't keep walking
To many students, Locust Walk is just a means to get from one class to another. This, unfortunately, reflects an attitude found beyond the cobbled blocks of Locust: to many students, Penn is just a stepping stone between high school and the “real world.”Alla Abramov | Teaching finance is a good investment
Just as vocational school is more practical than a four-year undergraduate degree for many high schoolers, so is personal finance a more useful class than something less applicable to the real world.Kira Silk | Where are your priorities?
If those arguing for their right to bear arms claim that it is within their constitutional right to hunt and own a gun for self-defense, the statistics surely demonstrate that this is rarely what guns are being used for.Your Voice | Pedagogical potential
It is important to appreciate the potential of professor Ghrist’s course to revolutionize the teaching of calculus during the internet age.