The University is making good on its old adage "Princeton in the nation's service" through its new program of curriculum-based community service. Thanks to the Bonner Foundation, a local service organization, the University is one of 14 schools nationwide to receive a grant providing $11,000 per year over a three-year period for the purpose of integrating volunteer work into collegiate academics. Thus far, the University has used these funds for courses such as FRS 130w – "Race and Democratic Discourse" – which includes pro bono work at a Trenton service organization, and CHM 112 – "From Ozone to Oil Spills" – which helps the community with environmental projects.
As the University works to link community and curriculum, it needs to ensure that students are fully aware of their options. Courses with a service component should be clearly marked in the course guide and more prominently displayed by individual departments. The academic service initiative should work with the Student Volunteers Council to reap the benefits of students' extracurricular outreach experience. While the Foundation's grant and SVC are separate entities, the service-based courses need not ignore the extensive contacts the SVC has already established.
Looking to the future, an expanded program of service-based courses would fit appropriately into the University's permanent curriculum. The University should continue to build on the current program of community-minded courses, effectively forming a constructive bond between students and society.
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Progressives failed a lesson in free speech
Anais Mobarak“The recent controversy surrounding Charter Club has demonstrated that progressive voices on campus have failed to recognize the value of free speech beyond its usefulness as a political instrument. Thus, as a community, we must work to foster an ideologically-free understanding of free speech.”
“The recent controversy surrounding Charter Club has demonstrated that progressive voices on campus have failed to recognize the value of free speech beyond its usefulness as a political instrument. Thus, as a community, we must work to foster an ideologically-free understanding of free speech.”
Campus through a lens: Announcing the ‘Prince’s inaugural columnists
Eleanor Clemans-CopeReading a series of columns by the same author is seeing things through the writer’s lens — it’s looking at campus through the ‘Christofer glasses’ or the ‘Eleanor specs.’ This is the thinking behind having named columns.
Reading a series of columns by the same author is seeing things through the writer’s lens — it’s looking at campus through the ‘Christofer glasses’ or the ‘Eleanor specs.’ This is the thinking behind having named columns.
Bring back the course packet
Abigail Rabieh“With the recent news that Labyrinth Books will no longer supply the coursebooks for Princeton classes, we are facing a new era in which all readings will only be accessible by some digital medium, whether that be via Course Reserves or online ordering from faraway publishers. While some may see this as a step in the right direction of modernity, the increasing digitalization of our scholarship hurts our learning.”
“With the recent news that Labyrinth Books will no longer supply the coursebooks for Princeton classes, we are facing a new era in which all readings will only be accessible by some digital medium, whether that be via Course Reserves or online ordering from faraway publishers. While some may see this as a step in the right direction of modernity, the increasing digitalization of our scholarship hurts our learning.”
