Editorials

Photo of Sayles Hall on a clear, sunny day.

Editorial: Brown must not heed the Education Department’s call to action

By Editorial Page Board | October 28

In April, the editorial page board called on the University to task a committee with examining Brown’s relationship with the United States, inspired by Yale’s “Report of the Committee on Trust in Higher Education.” We commended Yale for its report and public commitment to strengthening trust ...

Editorial: We’re still waiting to hear about DIAP

By Editorial Page Board | October 22

Editors’ note: A previous version of this editorial incorrectly stated that the University had not provided an update on the status of the ad hoc committee developing a new action plan for the future of diversity and inclusion at Brown and reviewing past initiatives. The piece has been updated to ...

A photo of the Marcus Aurelius statue on Simmons Quad on a sunny winter day.

Editorial: UCS has caught our attention

By Editorial Page Board | October 13

The editorial page board has historically been critical of the Undergraduate Council of Students. In the board’s 17-year tenure, we have written on low turnout in UCS elections, convoluted referendums, chaotic elections and consistent apathy toward student government. We offered these critiques in ...

Photo of the Stephen Robert '62 Campus Center viewed from the Main Green, with students socializing on the grass.

Editorial: Title IX data is not enough — Brown needs an anonymous sexual assault survey

By Editorial Page Board | October 9

Content warning: The content of this article includes descriptions of sexual assault, rape and drugging.

Editorial: Brown shouldn’t be happy with a ‘D’ in free speech

By Editorial Page Board | September 23

This month, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which monitors the state of free speech on college campuses, gave Brown a “D” letter grade in the 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. This ranking places the University at 98th out of 261 schools in the foundation’s rankings. Believe ...

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Editorial: Bring back ‘The State of Brown’ address

By Editorial Page Board | September 17

Nine years ago, President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 delivered the last documented “State of Brown” Address. The event had been hosted regularly by the Undergraduate Council of Students since 2004.

Paxson looks just past the camera while leaning over a table in a blue shirt and black sweater.

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Opinions

Editorial: Brett Smiley for Providence Mayor

By Editorial Page Board | September 6

Editorials are written by The Herald’s editorial page board, and its views are separate from those of The Herald’s newsroom and the 136th Editorial Board, which leads the paper. A majority of the editorial page board voted in favor of this piece. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com ...

Mayor Brett Smiley speaking behind a wooden podium with microphones attached to it.

Opinions

Dissent: David Morales for Providence Mayor

By Evan Tao | September 6

Dissenting Opinions: When The Herald’s editorial page board disagrees, members have the opportunity to publish a dissent to explain why they voted against the editorial. Editorials — and dissents, if any — are written by members of The Herald’s editorial page board, which is separate from those ...

Opinions

Editorial: Brown must grapple with its relationship with the United States

By Editorial Page Board | April 24

Last week, Yale released a report arguing that universities share responsibility for the nation’s loss of trust in higher education. Trust in private universities — along with the reputation of the Ivy League — is especially depressed. Faith in higher education reached a historic low of 36% in ...

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Opinions

Editorial: Brown does not view Providence as a playground

By Editorial Page Board | April 16

Brown and Providence are fundamentally intertwined. The University’s successes benefit the city, and the city’s culture benefits Brown. Brown supports Providence with millions of dollars annually through direct community contributions, by employing locals and investing in the city’s workforce ...

Opinions

Editorial: The recent UCS referendum epitomizes the council’s pitfalls

By Editorial Page Board | April 8

On March 20, the Undergraduate Council of Students sent an email to all undergraduates asking them to vote in a referendum on proposed changes to the UCS constitution. The email stated that the referendum’s amendments included “the removal of gendered language, the adoption of required language ...

Opinions

Editorial: Brown needs to rethink its pre-orientation programs

By Editorial Page Board | March 31

This fall, incoming first-year students at universities across the country will have the opportunity to go backpacking, do community service or explore the arts as part of their campus’s pre-orientation programs. These programs offer an opportunity for students to forge friendships and explore new ...

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Opinions

Dissent: Let faculty run their own meetings

By Evan Tao | March 15

I once had a class where we read and discussed a book written by the professor. On the day of the discussion, he chose to leave the room because he knew that even though we all had good intentions, we wouldn’t feel comfortable criticizing his work to his face, largely because he was in a position ...

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Opinions

Editorial: Faculty representatives are to blame for faculty meeting grievances — not Paxson

By Editorial Page Board | March 15

Nearly two weeks ago, faculty members narrowly passed a motion to replace President Christina Paxson P’19 P’MD’20 as the presiding officer of the University’s monthly faculty meeting. The role will now be assumed by the chair of the Faculty Executive Committee, Brown’s central steering body ...

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Opinions

Editorial: Testing students shouldn’t test their schedules — hold midterms in class

By Editorial Page Board | March 6

Currently, Brown does not have a policy regulating when professors may schedule exams. Some of the largest STEM classes at Brown, such as CHEM 0350: “Organic Chemistry I,” PHYS 0030: “Basic Physics A” and MATH 0180: “Multivariable Calculus,” require students to sit for exams outside their ...

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Opinions

Editorial: What happened at Columbia reminds us the University has little recourse against ICE

By Editorial Page Board | February 27

At roughly 6:30 a.m. Thursday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Columbia senior Elmina Aghayeva in her university-owned apartment. The agents entered the building under false pretenses — allegedly impersonating police officers and claiming to be searching for a missing child. ...

Opinions

Editorial: Ditch Canvas — bring back the printed course reader

By Editorial Page Board | February 20

Digital devices have become an essential part of learning. We use laptops and tablets to do our readings, take notes and write code. But they can also distract from our learning: While one tab may hold a PDF, another might offer a temptation to text, scroll or shop. In 2015 and 2024, the editorial page ...

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Opinions

Dissent: Rent stabilization will not fix Providence’s housing crisis

By Avery Kaak , Beatriz Lindemann, Isabella Gardiner, Ethan Canfield and Tasawwar Rahman | February 13

The editorial page board has identified the obvious: Providence faces a cost-of-living crisis that is harming working and middle-class families. They have aptly noted that the state places last in new housing development, and have commended the City Council’s push for rent stabilization as a way out ...

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Opinions

Editorial: Providence’s housing crisis demands the immediate action proposed by the rent stabilization ordinance

By Editorial Page Board | February 13

Currently, Providence residents are struggling to afford their rent. When our city is faced with a problem as severe as unaffordable housing, political action which aims to protect citizens’ ability to stay in their homes ought to be encouraged. On Jan. 22, a majority of the Providence City Council ...

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Opinions

Editorial: Brown’s workforce development grants are an opportunity to invest in the future of R.I. education

By Editorial Page Board | February 6

Last week, Brown announced the distribution of the first $3 million of the $50 million in workforce development grants the University agreed to pay in its July agreement with the federal government. $1.5 million of the initial grants will go toward the Community College of Rhode Island to increase the ...