Opinions - The Brown Daily Herald

Opinions

Pipatjarasgit ’21: Change final grade submission rules and deadlines: they’re unrealistic and confusing.

By Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit | October 22

Toward the end of each semester, Dear Blueno becomes filled with many variants of one type of question: When will final grades be submitted to Banner? Why hasn’t Professor so-and-so submitted grades yet? In theory, the answer to these questions should be simple. Part 3, Section 10, I.1 of the Faculty ...

Opinions

Hong '24: The challenges of engaging with digital communities

By Jaehyun Hong | October 21

In three days, 300 clubs, 300 Zoom links. A daunting Google Spreadsheet. Over the three-day Brown Student Activities Fair, I joined a scant nine of the 300 some student activities links. I ended up leaving nearly all Zoom calls thinking, “I’d love to join on campus, but I won’t join virtually.” My ...

Opinions

Shanmugam ’23: Free trade is under attack

By Arjun Shanmugam | October 20

Twenty years on, the 2000 Republican Party platform is surprisingly similar to its 2020 counterpart ― from its commitment to “rebuilding the American military,” to lamenting that the federal tax code “penalizes hard work.” Yet one section of the document stands out like a big, red elephant ...

Opinions

Apple '21: Trust the Polls

By Caleb Apple | October 19

On Nov. 9, 2016, as much of the world reacted with shock and dismay to Donald Trump’s victory, people across the spectrum began to repeat phrases that continue to dominate the narrative of today, saying things like “the polls were wrong” or “don’t trust the polls.” Even intellectual people ...

Opinions

Carroll ’21: Response to Sachar ’20: The Problems with CCB's Claim to Student Government Status and Why it Should Matter to Students

By Jason Carroll | October 18

Beginning last year, Brown’s Class Coordinating Board began rebranding itself as a student government. At first, these efforts seemed rather inconsequential or were otherwise unnoticed by members of the Undergraduate Council of Students and Undergraduate Finance Board, some of whom even met with and ...

Opinions

Adam Furman ’22: It’s time for campus to reopen for more in-person interactions

By Adam Furman | October 18

The University’s COVID-19 testing program has been a definitive success. With only a couple dozen positive cases, the University conducts hundreds, if not thousands, of tests each day. With such a well-designed and efficient program, Brown and its informed, cooperative and committed students have ...

Opinions

Bhaskar ’21: Brown should not remove statues of Roman emperors from campus. Here’s why.

By Nidhi Bhaskar | October 18

In late September, a group of Brown University students, faculty and administrators held a virtual town-hall to discuss the implications and future treatment of several monuments that currently occupy Brown’s campus. On Oct. 13, the Undergraduate Council of Students began to discuss and vote on possibly ...

Opinions

Han '23: HBO’s best shows are more raw than ever

By Bliss Han | October 15

This opinion contains spoilers from "Succession" and "I May Destroy You" and discusses sexual assault. Nearly a year and a half ago, the dominant story in pop culture was the conclusion of “Game of Thrones,” a television show that had transcended what we thought television could be. HBO brought ...

Opinions

De Padova '24: The unfair advantage of applying early decision

By Jordan De Padova | October 15

As we move further into fall, many people look forward to apple orchards, hayrides and Halloween. But for high school seniors around the world, it’s the day after Oct. 31 that they have circled on their calendars. On Nov. 1, scores of hopeful Brunonians will submit their Early Decision applications. ...

Opinions

Walsh '23: The promises and pitfalls of ranked-choice voting

By Matt Walsh | October 14

When Massachusetts Representative Joe Kennedy III, a fairly liberal member of Congress, made the puzzling decision to run against progressive stalwart Senator Ed Markey, the Massachusetts political media turned its attention to the race. But as this primary dominated the news, another primary, the one ...

Opinions

Ruzicka '21: Our future is Open Access

By Emilia Ruzicka | October 14

As we continue to weather the COVID-19 pandemic, Brown students remain scattered across the world. Both those that are in Providence and those operating remotely have felt the pains of not having the same access to academic resources as they do during a normal semester. The University has taken steps ...

Opinions

Groboski '24: Are Our Politicians Ready to Take Climate Change Seriously?

By Ethan Groboski | October 13

On Sept. 19, 2020, Americans watched in shock and horror as the Metronome Climate Clock was unveiled in New York City. The display, which displayed warnings like “The Earth has a deadline,” was programmed to highlight the existential threat that climate change poses to our species’ survival. That ...

Opinions

Reed '21: Katie Hill is No Hero

By Andrew Reed | October 12

Does Katie Hill think we all have amnesia? As you may recall (or may not if you’re in the amnesia crowd), former Congresswoman Hill of California was accused last October of having sexual relationships with several of her subordinates. Hill denied any inappropriate relationships with her congressional ...

Opinions

Pollard '21: It’s time to talk about student-faculty online interactions

By Beth Pollard | October 12

The University has implemented a myriad of new policies to address necessary changes for operating safely during the pandemic, but no adjustments have been made to address the issue of misconduct online, especially as it exists across professional power divides. Granted, social media existed long before ...

Opinions

Editorial: It’s time for better COVID-19 guidelines

By Editorial Page Board | October 8

As students have adjusted to a new normal of mask-wearing and social distancing on College Hill, the University has done well keeping student COVID-19 cases in check, boasting a remarkably low positivity rate. More students have been invited back to campus, and as we enter level two of campus activity, ...

Opinions

Editors' note: With a return to in-person classes, a return to limited print

By 130th Editorial Board | October 8

When we all abruptly left campus back in March, we packed up two homes: our dorms, and the office of The Herald at 195 Angell St. We did not know when we would see our friends again, or when we would be back on campus — and we certainly didn’t know when we would be able to print a paper again. In ...

Opinions

Hong '24: The Minneapolis I could not see

By Jaehyun Hong | October 8

In late August, I rode the train — the light rail — through Minneapolis. Collapsed buildings, piles of rubble and boarded-up stores blurred past my window. Minneapolis, which I had known for a decade, was a city that I had never seen before: It was ravaged. Growing up eight miles from Minneapolis, ...

Opinions

Apple '21: A vote for Biden, a vote for empathy

By Caleb Apple | October 8

In early February, at a CNN Town Hall, Episcopalian pastor Anthony Thompson, whose wife was killed in the Charleston Church shooting, asked Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden about his faith and about how he would use it in the Oval Office. In typical Biden fashion, as soon as Townsend stood ...

Opinions

Shanmugam '23: Why illegal immigration is good for America

By Arjun Shanmugam | October 6

How do you solve a problem that’s 340 million pages thick? Stephen Goss, chief actuary of the Social Security Administration, is currently trying to figure that out. Over the past few years, the Social Security Administration has accumulated an astronomical number of unclaimed tax forms, sent by ...

Opinions

García ’14: Three ways you can help protect our democracy

By Walter Garcia | October 5

The first presidential debate was difficult to watch, and it wasn’t because of Joe Biden. As a proud Democrat, Donald Trump’s lies, temper tantrums and interruptions drove me insane, but I’ll cut right to the chase: Now is not the time to lose hope nor to grow complacent. Marc Elias, arguably ...