Columns

CORNELL VOTES | Every Person, Every Voice

By Cornell Votes · Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Cornell Votes introduces their new organizational column.

HARNEY | Is This My First Forever War?

By Liam Harney · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

TOBIN | The Hidden Cost of Full Need

By Lali Tobin · Tuesday, March 24, 2026

COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | The Only Land-Grant Ivy

By Committee on the Future of the American University · Monday, March 23, 2026

BADAWI | A Love Letter to Lebanon

By Leah Badawi · Monday, March 23, 2026

Opinion Columnist Leah Badawi '27 pens a love letter to her homeland, Lebanon, amidst the ongoing bombardment by Israeli forces.

JASO | The Return of History and the Oblivious Man

By Francis X. Jaso · Saturday, March 21, 2026

Opinion Columnist Francis Jaso '28 critiques Francis Fukuyama's "end of history" theory, arguing that the anticipated global triumph of liberal democracy has failed and as authoritarian regimes persist, the world is still littered with unresolved conflicts and challenges to democratic peace.

BURZLAFF | What Classrooms Do to People

By Jan Burzlaff · Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Opinion Columnist Prof. Jan Burzlaff reflects on a specific moment from his undergraduate years in Paris and how it played a pivotal role in how he runs his own seminars now.

PETROVA | ‘Abolish ICE’ Means Little Without ‘Free Palestine’

By Mina Petrova · Monday, March 16, 2026

Opinion Columnist Mina Petrova '29 highlights the deep entanglements between ICE and the IDF regarding direct training programs, collaborative military strategy and shared surveillance technology.

CLIFFORD | A Yes Man Never Really Says Yes

By Elise Clifford · Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Opinion Columnist Elise Clifford '29 reflects on the natural inclination to say "yes" to things even when not fully wanting to.

TODDINGS | Overnight Sensations: The ‘Heated Rivalry’ Stars and the Perils of Superstardom

By Skylar Toddings · Monday, March 9, 2026

Opinion Columnist Skylar Toddings '29 examines how the stars from Heated Rivalry have handled their shift into the spotlight and how fame impacts the mental health of young, upcoming stars.

BADAWI | Cornellians, the Time to Act Is Now!

By Leah Badawi · Friday, March 6, 2026

Opinion Columnist Leah Badawi '27 urges Cornellians to take action to protect their own threatened liberties by peacefully resisting Cornell's compliance with the Trump administration.

WALTER | When Values Actually Matter in Close Relationships

By Kira Walter · Friday, March 6, 2026

Opinion Columnist Kira Walter '26 reflects on a friendship breakup that speaks to a larger issue of morality hypocrisy that looms in the background of all relationships until it reaches a catastrophic tipping point.

COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | Universities Need to Take a Human-Centered Approach

By Committee on the Future of the American University · Thursday, March 5, 2026

Professor Rick Geddes, a member of the Committee on the Future of the American University, argues that universities must focus on revitalizing their humanities and civics curriculums while adopting a more traditional role in society.

CORNELL DINING STUDENT WORKERS | While Cornell Collaborates with Trump’s Austerity, Student Workers Pay the Price

By Cornell Dining Student Workers · Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Cornell Dining Student Workers argues that Cornell's austerity policy is simply a front for voluntary budget cuts that hurt the University's most vulnerable students.

BELMONTE | Making Trump Sound Normal

By Adrian Belmonte · Monday, March 2, 2026

Opinion Columnist Adrian Belmonte ’28 explains the extremist rhetoric of MAGA through a lens of economic pricing, in which exacerbations of speech have led to civilizing the Trump administration’s messaging.

Mihir Steingard Common Matters Column Graphic

STEINGARD | America Is Only Doomed on Your Phone

By Mihir Steingard · Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Opinion Columnist Mihir Steingard '28 argues that college students surrendering to doomerism kills hope and prevents change.

CORNELL DINING STUDENT WORKERS | Student Dining Workers Have Had Enough

By Cornell Dining Student Workers · Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Cornell Dining Student Workers introduces itself, who its members are, why the organization exists and what it hopes to accomplish. We lay out our mission to document the real, lived experiences of student dining workers whose stories have long been curated out of the University’s official narrative.

BUTLER | Academia Wants Impact? Black History Already Wrote the Manual

By Natalia Butler · Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026

Opinion Columnist Natalia Butler M.S./Ph.D. contends that if academia seeks to have real impact, it needs to take inspiration from the long history of Black activism that has not shied away from breaking institutional barriers and stepping into the unknown.

GLASGOW | Your Only MAGA Voice

By Leo Glasgow · Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026

Opinion Columnist Leo Glasgow '27 defends President Trump’s policies, asserting that his administration has been consistent and focused on common-sense solutions, particularly regarding immigration, tariffs and national security. He critiques the left's response to Trump's presidency, arguing that their rejection of his policies often overlooks key successes.

SELL | Fix the Elevator

By Wyatt Sell · Monday, Feb. 23, 2026

Opinion Columnist Wyatt Sell '27 discusses his frustration with Cornell's negligence over campus facilities. He argues that this lack of attention to small, everyday issues shows a lack of respect for students and fosters a sense of cynicism, highlighting the importance of maintaining institutional standards, even in the most mundane areas.