COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | Why Cornell’s Land Grant Mission Must Define Its Future

CLIFFORD | A Legal Overview of Birthright Citizenship

Opinion Columnist Elise Clifford '29 lays out the legal framework surrounding birthright citizenship in the United States and argues that it ought to be preserved.

BURZLAFF | A Final Is Never Final

Opinion Columnist Prof. Jan Burzlaff comments on the stress of finals season, his own experience as an undergraduate and some important advice to students from the perspective of a professor who no longer assigns finals to his students.

YUCESIR | In Transit

Opinion Columnist Defne Yucesir introduces her column, In Transit.

VILLAFUERTE | La Vie en Frenzy

Opinion Columnist and Ph.D. student Vie Villafuerte explores empathy, identity and environmental care through her lived experiences as a Peruvian environmental engineering Ph.D. student in the U.S. Blending personal reflection, cultural references and social critique, she asks readers to become more aware of injustice, bias and disconnection while still holding onto kindness, connection and love for both people and nature.

SCHWARZ | How to Resist When Universities Are Under Siege

Professor Daniel R. Schwarz, English, offers his perspective on what a university should stand for and proposes 11 steps that Cornell students, faculty and administration should adopt to preserve the ideals and values of the University.

TOBIN | From Iran to Ithaca: Brooks Student Takes on the Ongoing War

Opinion Columnist Lali Tobin MPA '27 looks at the growing tensions between Iran and the United States by focusing on both policy issues and the personal stories of Iranian students at Cornell University. Through an analysis of public policy, she dives into the tricky balance between national sovereignty and human rights, while also examining how U.S. actions really affect people's lives. She argues that that to truly understand Iran, we need to go beyond just theories and consider the human impacts of global policy choices.

PETROVA | It's Fascism, Here's What

Opinion Columnist Mina Petrova ’29 argues that we are currently living under a fascist government and suggests ways in which we can respond.

CROUSE | The Ethics of Engineering

Opinion Columnist Trevor Crouse ’28 argues that all engineers should abide by the Order of the Engineer's vow of ethics to ensure that safety, quality and ethicality are always every engineer's top priorities.

BELMONTE | Greek Life Is Coming Out of the Closet

Opinion Columnist Adrian Belmonte '28 reflects on how his sexuality intersects with his role as a brother in a fraternity on campus, and discusses the broader increase in acceptance of homosexuality in Greek Life.

GUEST ROOM | In Defense of Defense

Bryan Kim ’27 argues in defense of defense contractors, citing their contributions to civilian technologies students use every day, funding of Cornell programs and the role they play in deterring wars from happening, among other reasons.

COMMITTEE ON THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | Seeking Feedback on Our Future

The Committee on the Future of the American University releases its initial frameworks and invites the Cornell community to provide much-valued feedback to better inform its final report.

AGRAWAL | Dedicated to My Readers

Opinion Columnist and Environmental Studies Professor Anurag Agrawal writes this column to reflect on his writing process and the ways we see the world. He discusses insecurity, fulfillment and success, and explores how we can learn from the natural world when interacting with each other.

MOON | Reports Won't Stop Rape

Melissa Moon '28 argues that Cornell’s response to sexual assault has been ineffective and overly bureaucratic, failing to match the seriousness and persistence of the problem on campus. She claims that real change will require stronger action, accountability and systemic reform, not just recommendations or symbolic educational measures. 

VINK | In Defense of Shared Governance

Opinion Columnist Adriana Vink '27 criticizes the Student Assembly's failure to address the real concerns of the student body and explains the platform she is running on for Student Workers' Representative.

TROIANO | Take a Seat

TODDINGS | Is Anxiety the Next Big Trend? The Evolution of the NeeDoh

Opinion Columnist Skylar Toddings '29 looks at the rise of NeeDoh stress toys and questions whether they are a helpful anxiety aid or simply another consumer-driven trend. She argues that while these toys may offer temporary comfort, their growing popularity risks minimizing mental health, encouraging overconsumption and creating distractions in classrooms and professional spaces.