Alex Gjaja

The truth behind Einstein ‘folklore’: Uncovering the origins of Jewish community on campus

Albert Einstein is widely believed to have played an integral role in the origins of Jewish student life at Princeton in the 1940s. However, a story of the failures of institutional knowledge — and of The Daily Princetonian itself — reveals a much older, more complex foundational history. Thanks to a Princeton senior thesis and the 107-year-old oldest living alum, the real beginnings of Jewish community on campus is coming to light and challenging the dominant narrative.

Albert Einstein is widely believed to have played an integral role in the origins of Jewish student life at Princeton in the 1940s. However, a story of the failures of institutional knowledge — and of The Daily Princetonian itself — reveals a much older, more complex foundational history. Thanks to a Princeton senior thesis and the 107-year-old oldest living alum, the real beginnings of Jewish community on campus is coming to light and challenging the dominant narrative.

‘The best four hours ever’: Princeton students compete in the 2021 New York City Marathon

Ellen Su ’23, Delaney Callaghan ’23,  Ella Feiner ’22, and Sebastian Quiroga ’22 shared their experience running in the marathon with The Daily Princetonian. While the four students had very different running backgrounds, gained entry to the marathon in different ways, and dealt with different training setbacks, one thing they share are those few hours racing — and the months of training that went into them. 

Ellen Su ’23, Delaney Callaghan ’23,  Ella Feiner ’22, and Sebastian Quiroga ’22 shared their experience running in the marathon with The Daily Princetonian. While the four students had very different running backgrounds, gained entry to the marathon in different ways, and dealt with different training setbacks, one thing they share are those few hours racing — and the months of training that went into them. 

‘I don’t understand who they’re protecting here’: Princeton’s COVID-19 policy frustrated reporting of sexual misconduct allegations, say students

This past semester, one student’s experience shows how the University’s Social Contract, a series of coronavirus-related restrictions, hindered reporting of an alleged incident of sexual misconduct. While some peer institutions offered amnesty to victims, University policy did not offer such protections, despite warnings as early as summer 2020 from campus resources. This story illustrates the unintended — but not unanticipated — effects the policy had on students. “I just feel like the University did everything wrong,” one student told the ‘Prince.’

‘Here’s Jilly!’: How Dean Dolan took control of Nassau Hall

Excluded from the Ivy League presidents’ group chat, Dean Jill Dolan decided to stage a coup. After a failed barricade and tumultuous battle, Dolan claimed victory, declaring herself President of the University. From life in the aftermath, The Daily Princetonian releases a month-long investigation charting Dolan’s rise to power.

‘Committee, committee, committee’: After five years, Princeton’s approach to institutional reform hasn’t changed

On Sept. 2, President Eisgruber laid out how his administration would “combat systemic racism” — announcing plans that resemble the University’s response to the Black Justice League in 2015. With insight from the students, alumni, and stakeholders who sat on the previous iteration of committees, The Daily Princetonian unravels a convoluted story of college governance, layers upon layers of committees, and the difficulties that impede institutional change.

Anti-Racist Reading Review: Between the World and Me

In the first installment of The Prospect's Anti-Racist Reading Reviews, Alex Gjaja reads Ta-Nehisi Coates’s profound work Between the World and Me in the context of 2020, reflecting on the visceral violence of racism and the lessons Coates's text offers to universities and university students.

How the eating clubs went coed

Thirty years since the NJ Supreme Court ruled against Princeton’s last all-male eating clubs, The Daily Princetonian takes a look back at the decade-long fight for equality on the Street.

Pandemic perspectives: Elizabeth Bogan and Alan Blinder ’67

In this series, The Daily Princetonian sits down with University professors who study the same discipline but whose views on coronavirus diverge. We began by speaking separately with senior economics lecturer Elizabeth Bogan and professor of economics and public affairs Alan Blinder.

‘The end of the world’: how students said goodbye to campus

To walk through campus two weekends ago meant coming face to face with the mark of college students forced out in a hurry — and determined to make the most of their last few days. 

On defense, handshakes, and bleeding orange: Carla Berube

New women’s basketball head coach Carla Berube has racked up a considerable — if clunky — list of accolades. She isn’t happy yet. “I think,” she said, “that I’m a work in progress.”