TODDINGS | Views from Sky

CLIFFORD | Some Like It Hot — Gen Z Likes It Incarcerated

Opinion Columnist Elise Clifford ’29 impeaches Gen Z’s infatuation with “criminal chic,” arguing that it mirrors not only aesthetic values but a deeper veneration of victimhood — a moral currency now weaponized in American populist politics. She links viral mugshots to Christian notions of virtue, all the while wondering what might have been had she met Luigi Mangione before his alleged crime.

FOSTER | "Any Person, Any Study" — If You Can Keep It

In our guest room, Professor of Computer Science Nate Foster reflects on Cornell’s recent settlement with the Trump administration — a deal he argues trades principle for expedience.

GUEST ROOM | From Bikes to Buses: How to Sustainably Navigate Campus this Fall

Assistant Director of Transportation Reed Huegerich offers several options for commuting sustainably around campus.

VINK ⎸ One Day Longer

Opinion Columnist Adriana Vink introduces her column One Day Longer, sharing her experiences in political organizing in New York City and at Cornell and arguing for us all to take inspiration from the legacies of labor and student movements.

TOBIN | TikTok Democracy: How Influencers Are Shaping Cornell’s First-Time Voters

Opinion Columnist Lali Tobin MPA ‘27 argues that social media personas are playing an important role in communicating political messages to first-time student voters. They simplify complex topics into relatable content, however this brings the risk of spreading oversimplified views and misinformation. Her article looks at how this trend is influencing civic engagement within Cornell University.

Committee on the Future of the American University | Join Us in Imagining the Future of Higher Education

The Committee on the Future of the American University invites the Cornell community to imagine how higher education should evolve amid rapid technological change and shifting public trust.

TODDINGS | From Lore to Lust: How BookTok’s Obsession with Smut is Killing Fantasy

In her new column Views from Sky, Skylar Toddings tackles the surge of "smut fantasy" in online discourse.

BELMONTE | Martyr of Liberty or Hate?

Opinion Columnist Adrian Belmonte assesses the extent to which defenders of Charlie Kirk's harmful rhetoric can appeal to free speech rights.

STEINGARD | Liking a Post Could Lose Your Internship

Opinion Columnist Mihir Steingard ’28 argues that JD Vance's unequal weaponization of digital footprints creates a world where now more than ever, Cornell students need to support what they post. 

DAVIS | On Thin ICE

Opinion Columnist Nina Davis ‘26 argues that Cornell should not promote ICE on career advancement platforms.

The Sun Sits with Venezuelan Opposition Leader David Smolansky

GUEST ROOM | Native American Heritage Month Means Nothing Without Solidarity With Palestine

Undergrad Maria Lima Valdez compares the University's messaging on Indigenous issues with its actual politics. She urges solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle against colonization.

PETROVA | Disclose, Divest, Fix Moral and Financial Stress

Columnist Mina Petrova relates the Israel-Palestine divestment referendum with divestment movements of the past.

PHAM | The Company Who Cried Green

 Opinion Columnist Ella Pham ‘29 critiques the culture behind environmental sustainability programs that are treated more like marketing strategies than attainable initiatives. 

BADAWI | More Mamdani for Me

Opinion Columnist Leah Badawi ‘27 responds to Opinion Columnist Leo Glasgow ‘26’s recent piece No Mamdani For Me. She argues that New Yorkers have the power to make history by electing the candidate Zohran Mamdani and scrutinizes Glasgow’s dissenting opinions. 

ZHOU | Populism Shouldn’t Be So Popular

Opinion Columnist Rayen Zhou ’29 writes in his latest piece about the electoral and individual dangers of the prevalence of doomerism and populism. He proposes a potential solution inspired by everybody’s favorite transcendentalist: Henry David Thoreau.