Opinion
Editorial | NCAA was fair in its punishment
While detractors have criticized the unprecedented nature of the penalty against Penn State, the response was justified by the unprecedented nature of an atrocity enabled by a culture of football worship.Spencer Small | A call to (un)arms
In the wake of the Aurora, Colo., shooting, the issue of gun control has resurfaced in a big way. But it looks like nothing is going to change. Since 1968, the number of Americans that have been killed by guns in the United States exceeds the number of U.S.Arielle Pardes | Poly what?
“Infinite possibilities” describes polyamory at its core. Those who practice poly range from the lovestruck triad in Oliver Stone’s recent film “Savages” to full-on group marriage within an entire community of people.Mohammed Alyahya | An open letter to Bashar al-Assad
I’ve been doing some research on potential retirement destinations for unsung despots. After an extensive process of elimination, I’ve isolated two that would not abhor your presence: North Korea and Mars. For logistical reasons, I highly recommend you sacrifice human habitability and opt for North Korea.
Ernest Owens | Confessions of an Ivy League snob
In many ways, acceptance to Penn is a blessing and a responsibility. It is a fortunate chance to launch a better life and an even greater task to maintain it. If you don’t feel a level of high spirits for such a worthy burden, then you’re just lying to yourself.Editorial | Sexual violence and fair decisions
On Tuesday, Penn announced a rewriting of the sexual violence policy. We commend Penn on the revision, in particular the updates to its definitions — which include a more detailed definition of consent — and the inclusion of a list of support resources for victims of sexual violence.Editorial | Student debt solutions
With a student debt crisis mounting — Americans owe more student loan debt than credit card debt — and college tuition continuing to rise, the bleeding must be stopped.Nina Wolpow | Why I want to be a writer
Writing is in my DNA. I’m stuck with it, and though most likely it won’t make me much money, it is my fittest gene.
Aya Saed | Local actors supplement failing governments
The issues facing Sudanese citizens and those facing students of Philadelphia are not one in the same. They do, however, represent similar injustices.Steven Jaffe | Carving a legacy
When Chief Justice John Roberts arrived at the tax question, he chose to uphold “ObamaCare” — a decision that may ultimately define the Roberts court.Editorial | Health care now and ahead
As the election season heats up, the Supreme Court has left it to the voters to decide whether the Affordable Care Act is good policy — or whether it unjustly punishes people for inactivity. While there are short-term benefits for students, the long-term consequences are yet to be seen.
Zachary Bell | Notes from Montreal
According to the Associated Press, 53.6 percent of Americans under 26 with a bachelors degree — 1.5 million — are jobless or underemployed. That could fill a lot of streets. So why are they empty?Editorial | Defining diversity
Penn has made significant strides in closing the achievement gap. Despite progress that has been reported, however, the University must not become complacent. There is still work to be done, and the University must constantly revise its programs to attract the best and brightest, regardless of background.Nina Wolpow | Saving summer
Summer in adult land is a season not unlike the other three. Sure, there are beaches and frozen cocktails in this universe. But gone are the unnumbered days: the Saturdays that feel like Wednesdays and the weekends you never knew had arrived.
Hayley Brooks & Ali Kokot | Girls, on GIRLS
Last Sunday night, we watched the first season of Dunham’s HBO darling come to a circuitous end: we started with Hannah eating, and we finish with Hannah eating.Editorial | Soda ban not too sweet
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on big sugary drinks would fail to have any significant impact. Reforms beyond the limited scope of this proposal are necessary to combat the ever-expanding waistlines of America’s cities.
Ernest Owens | Never O’Clock: using the N-word
Our societal mindset has shifted to thinking that racial slurs do not have the same impact as they did in the past. Many scholars and critics, arguing for the idea of a “post-racial society,” claim people see beyond race and more into individuality.Arielle Pardes | A week you won't forget
I realize this might be awkward, but we can make it easy for you. In fact, you won’t even have to do the talking. Let’s just bring in a few sex educators, maybe a porn star or two and spend a week celebrating and learning about sex. We’ll call it Sex Week.Your Voice | Summer storm
I’ve been repeatedly welcomed to the “neighborhood” by people from other schools and departments, even taken to lunch.