columns

Seen and Said: College is a time for discovery

By Desiree Desir, Columnist • April 29, 2026

Editor’s Note: This is a  staff column. The opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Many students believe that from the moment they step onto campus, they should already...

End User: Big Tech has a responsibility to users

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • April 16, 2026

This will be my final column, but the challenges users face are continual and will only become more complex as these technologies evolve. The purpose of End User has ultimately been to better inform users to navigate these challenges. The first step to solving the issue is to acknowledge its existence.

End User: Ethical journalism helps users avoid media fatigue

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • April 1, 2026

While journalistic organizations share a commitment to accuracy, in a capitalist economy, they often must act as a profit-driven business. They can be influenced by corporate advertisers and shareholders. Suddenly, not only does content need to be informative, but it needs to be popular.

End User: Users should be aware of censorship on social platforms

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • March 6, 2026

Censoring practices need to be abolished, or at the very least, made transparent to users so they are aware the information they receive may be filtered. Users should take it upon themselves to learn more about the existence of censoring practices to avoid unknowingly becoming shadow banned.

End User: Social media forms false norms and produces discontent

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • February 19, 2026

Extreme norms such as negativity, intergroup hostility, polarization, unrealistic beauty standards and outrageous benchmarks for success appear strikingly prevalent online. False norms are harmful and divisive because as users scroll through their feeds, and are exposed to them, they form inferences about the beliefs of members of specific groups, society, individuals and their own community.

End User: Filter bubbles erode democracy

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • February 4, 2026

Search engines and social networks seemingly provide resources that connect individuals through accessible information and debate. But invisibly, algorithmic editing of the web increasingly isolates users, trapping them in “filter bubbles” through hyper-personalized results. Online platforms should seek users’ permission to personalize online content and provide a clear and easy way to opt in or out. 

End User: The dangers of AI as therapy

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • January 22, 2026

Countless American teenagers confide in artificial intelligence chatbots, turning to them for conversation, emotional connection and even mental health support. But chatbots cannot replace trained human therapists. Mental health counseling requires a human touch. Chatbots are unfit to provide this support because they simulate care without responsibility, validate their users with sycophantic responses and encourage dangerous behavior.

End User: Virtual pop-ups inhibit attention

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • December 11, 2025

Digital technology complicates how people budget their attention which can render users susceptible to a ceaseless barrage of advertising, notifications and small daily interruptions that add up. While these attention-driven digital platforms have some value, it is important to keep in mind the forces that drive them are not prioritizing the best interests of users.

End User: AI is becoming too realistic

By Samuel Radcliffe, Columnist • November 19, 2025

First-year columnist Samuel Radcliffe discusses Sora 2 and similar AI-powered video generating tools released by Meta and Google, and how they significantly lessen the weight of video proof.

The invisible work of educational maintenance

By Gabe Hendershot, Columnist • September 11, 2024

Over the last couple of weeks, Cornell University experienced the longest employee strike in the institution’s history. The strike lasted 15 days, with Cornell workers picketing around Ithaca. Workers were striking because the school, despite its steady financial growth, has been paying its workers low wages with incredibly small raises each year. The cost of living has been on a relentless climb in the past few years and many Cornell employees, some of whom have worked at the institution for two or three decades, were struggling to survive.

How marketing trends shape back-to-school culture

By Gabe Hendershot, Columnist • August 28, 2024

With the back-to-school season in full swing, I got to thinking about why I love this part of the year so much. Maybe it is the new notebooks and pens, or the excitement of new classes and seeing friends...

Pencils Down: Academic validation can create excessive stress in students

By Gabe Hendershot • April 17, 2024

College is an advantageous time for many young adults because there are so many academic, social and career opportunities available to them. This is a sentiment echoed constantly by parents and, for the most part, it is true. It’s the messaging hidden behind statements like this that causes a problem.