Op-Eds

Don’t forget Syria

I know that we are only human and that we are programmed to get used to events as they recur. But we should always remind ourselves of what is beyond numbers, any numbers — people. Behind each number is the destruction of the hopes and dreams of thousands of people. Read More

A dissent against Senate’s decision on Equestrian

Senators, readers, and anyone else who gives a damn about extracurricular activities at this school: All the team is asking you for is one more yes vote. It’s asking you to let it increase its own dues to pay for a sport that its members love. It’s asking you to give it the time to implement a sustainable funding solution. It’s asking you to let it keep existing. It’s asking you to give it a chance. Read More

YellowJackets’ service trip strikes a dissonant chord

The Yellowjackets trip is voluntourism at its very worst. It is a group of well-educated, primarily white men, traveling to a developing country so that they can take an Instagram picture with poor children, brandishing the hashtag #musicsaveslives. I'm sure the kids they “saved” will love the post. Read More

American pastures: reflecting on factions in U.S. society

Plato’s “Republic” is set in a seaside courtyard down at the port of Piraeus. There, in the shade of an olive tree and against the lapping of an Athenian breeze, are sat Plato’s dramatis personae. Presiding at this conversation, aside from the famed philosopher and such Mediterranean amenities as the shade, sea, and sun, which […]

Dear undergraduates interested in graduate studies

It’s a symbiotic relationship, where you’re just starting your career and they’re trying to maintain theirs. They’ve made it, and you have everything to gain under their appropriate guidance. Read More
1 Comment

In defense of being mestizo

If there is something that is certain for most of us who are mestizos, it is that when we think deeply about ourselves, we find it hard to define ourselves. Still, I think it’s worth trying. We sometimes try to make up for this by calling ourselves Hispanic or Latinos. But, these terms don’t really […]

You were wrong about Ted Pawlicki

“It takes a special kind of student to thrive at Rochester,” read my acceptance letter. Thus, I expected a special kind of student body when I arrived here this August — one that included problem-solvers that excelled in an open curriculum, entrepreneurs who were made for the streets, free-thinkers making their own decisions. And for […]

Reclaiming gender from the grip of flimsy science

The other day, I was reading the Google manifesto that former employee James Something-or-Other (his name is not worth repeating) wrote arguing that Google is creating a discriminatory environment against men by practicing gender inclusivity. Essentially, his main argument is that the reason there are disparities in leadership is because men are strong and women […]

The 5th anniversary of the 5k challenge

Imagine if you had the power to change one thing about the University, without going through the legislative process of the Students’ Association Government. Would you enhance dining options? Would you add something fun and creative to campus life? Would you address a persistent social issue on campus? What if you could accomplish one of […]

An appeal to experts: How to explain hard things easily

What makes a good teacher? At a pre-college level, we’ll often find teachers who don’t like what they teach, who don’t like children, who don’t like teaching, or some combination of the three. On the other hand, at a collegiate level, we can be fairly sure that teachers like what they teach — simply because […]