Op Eds

Singh ’24: Nikki Haley's attempt to transcend race is a major setback for Indian Americans in politics

By Salonee Singh | March 23

In her op-ed, Salonee Singh ’24 argues that Nikki Haley’s attempt to transcend race in her bid for the presidency may ultimately set back Indian Americans’ standing in politics.

Munshi ’23: In pursuit of knowledge and God at Brown

By Sameerah Munshi | March 16

In the Islamic tradition, we have a famous saying from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: “Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers.”

Sung ’23: What to remember from last year’s UCS election

By Irene Sung | March 13

In her op-ed, Irene Sung ’23 argues that Brown students must be especially vigilant in defending their democracy after last spring’s election.

Juarez ’23, Schlenker ’23: Brown must guarantee free laundry immediately and permanently

By Alberto Juarez and Ruth Schlenker | March 6

In January, University administrators announced that laundry services will remain free for the rest of the semester, as well as the upcoming academic year. This came after widespread student support for free laundry, including a petition circulated by the Brown-RISD Young Democratic Socialists of America, ...

Collins ’23.5: In limbo: Participating in Commencement as a 0.5er and cancer survivor

By Elon Collins | February 23

As a result of commencement policies that need to be revised, I have been barred from fully participating in what should be one of the happiest ...

Wooten ’24: What ‘Abbott Elementary’ taught me about AP African American Studies, Black educational equity

By Jada Wooten | February 16

In her op-ed, Jada Wooten ’24 explains why she does not engage with articles regarding Florida’s AP African American Studies controversy, but still cares deeply about Black educational equity.

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Opinions

Rahman ’26: Universities have a responsibility to safeguard academic freedom

By Tasawwar Rahman | February 2

The United States is home to many of the world’s leading universities due, in large part, to its culture of free inquiry. Increasingly, this culture has been eroded as universities neglect their unwritten obligation to safeguard academic freedom. We ought to do more to protect the diversity of views ...

Opinions

Sacks ’22: Institutional neutrality comes before viewpoint diversity

By David Sacks | November 30

Last month, my friend and former peer Thomas Bickel ’22 advocated for greater intellectual diversity at Brown. While I too consider viewpoint diversity vital for the academic health of the University, a different approach would produce better results. Bickel glosses over the most important aspect ...

Opinions

Lin '23: Brown is no place for hate

By John Lin | November 16

As a bright-eyed first-year, I was tripped and pushed on Thayer Street by a man calling me an anti-Asian slur. I was harassed and threatened by six teenagers on a bus who shouted that I had caused COVID-19. Hate crime figures have risen dramatically nationwide, increasing 13.4% in 2020 according ...

Opinions

Bickel ’22: Brown must take concrete steps to foster intellectual diversity

By Thomas Bickel | November 14

Brown’s chronic lack of countervailing viewpoints both within the student body and among faculty is unbecoming of an institution supposedly committed to diversity and inclusion. Put differently, it is difficult to understand how students could possibly receive a well-rounded education ...

Opinions

Spilker ’24: Brown’s response to the antisemitic Hillel note fails to center the Jewish community

By Eiden Spilker | November 7

In a Nov. 1 email from Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity Sylvia Carey-Butler and Vice President for Campus Life Eric Estes to the Brown community, the hateful and violent note left at Brown RISD Hillel last week did not even get its own sentence before Carey-Butler and Estes moved ...

Opinions

Brandt ’24: Brown requires a culture change around civic engagement

By Adam Brandt | November 1

Brown students pride themselves on being politically minded. As a school, we’ve had a long history of protest over the decades, continuing to the present day. However, those feelings don’t necessarily translate into voter turnout. In 2018, a measly 45.1% of eligible Brown students voted in the ...

Opinions

Siddiqui ’24: I went on a social media detox. Here’s what I learned.

By Taha Siddiqui | October 18

Social media, without a doubt, has been my vice. For many of us, social media is integral to our lives. We check it daily, use it to communicate with our loved ones and share details of our lives. I’ve always seen social media as essential to maintaining contact with my friends and family ...

Opinions

Smith ’23: It’s past time Brown stopped abusing pigs to teach medicine

By Benny Smith | October 16

For years, the Warren Alpert Medical School has been criticized by physicians, legislators and even one of the country’s largest newspapers for its continued abuse of live pigs in the emergency medicine residency program. Even as nearly every other medical center in the country has moved toward ...

Opinions

Schiller ’25: When are overheard words stolen?

By Eva Schiller | October 4

“Then they set the corpses on fire. … My sister was still alive after being shot seven times. As for me, a bullet went through my left cheek. I can’t smile. My face won’t let me.” If you found this quote disturbing, good — that was its intent. It is taken from “DMZ Colony'' by ...

Opinions

Sender ’25: Our highway system has failed. We shouldn’t wait to try something new

By Gabriel Sender | September 19

In 1991, the Federal Highway Administration revealed that the total cost of the Interstate Highway System was a whopping $128.9 billion, or about half a trillion dollars in 2016’s money. In 2019, state and local governments spent $203 billion to maintain existing highways and roads, only 37% of ...

Opinions

Fang ’26: The dangers of eco-fads

By Juliet Fang | September 12

On move-in day at Brown and college campuses across the world, millions of students race through superstores looking for dorm supplies. The items they purchase reflect the latest environmental trends. “Climate neutral certified,” one shirt promises. “Powered by plants,” a laundry detergent ...

Opinions

Serrano: Brown’s grading system and advising culture are suppressing student achievement

By Roberto Serrano | September 12

Over 30 years teaching at Brown, I have had the privilege of working with many talented students who have thrived through difficult academic challenges and gone on to wonderful careers in academia and the professional world. But, for a few years now, I have been noticing a deterioration in the quality ...

Opinions

Rios-Galindo ’25: The Housing Lottery is in shambles. It demonstrates deeper problems within ResLife

By Angelina Rios-Galindo | April 27

Each spring, just after midterms, many Brown students enter perhaps the most stressful season of the year: housing selection. What should be a time of excitement in anticipation of the academic year to come is annually soiled by an inequitable cache of options, problematic power and resource dynamics ...

Opinions

Artis ’22: The fight for a Green New Deal — people vs. fossil fuels

By Zanagee Artis | April 26

In July 2017, I co-founded Zero Hour, a global, youth-led climate justice organization mobilizing for a livable planet while working to dismantle the systems of oppression at the root of the climate crisis: colonialism, capitalism, racism and patriarchy. In the summer before my first semester at ...