New campus group searches for innovation on the 'Street'

Those who have wished the 'Street' could be different, now have an opportunity to do something about it.

Prospects, a new student organization on campus, is sponsoring Prospects 2001: Redefining the Street for a 21st Century Princeton, an architectural design competition meant to address the future of Prospect Avenue.

Beginning Feb. 5 — the same week as sign-ins and Bicker — students and other members of the University will have the opportunity to examine the spaces on Prospect Avenue — the public, private and University-owned buildings — and to propose ways to create a more diverse and vibrant social life on campus.

Prospects co-head Steve Caputo '01 said his group is "dedicated to encouraging Princetonians to reflect on and help shape the spaces around them."

Caputo said in light of recent developments on campus — the opening of the Frist Campus Center, the University's decision to increase undergraduate enrollment and the anticipated sixth residential college — "now is a crucial time to address the social scene at the 'Street.' " He said the group hopes to better accommodate the diverse interests and growing number of University students.

"While these factors may lead the eating clubs to adapt on an individual basis, the Prospects competition seeks to engage the Princeton community in formulating a collective vision for the 'Street,' " Caputo said. Participants will be asked to examine all the land within 150 yards on either side of Prospect Avenue, running from Washington Road to Stevenson Hall.

Several members of the University's administration expressed enthusiasm about the project.

"Here is a possibility for something that could enhance students' opportunity to be engaged," Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson said.

"Most of all, I expect openness and creativity, a chance for students to think about how things could be improved," Dickerson said.

Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62 said, "I thought it was an incredibly interesting project. I thought this is the kind of project that bridges academic work."

Prospects has received financial support from the Wilson School, the School of Architecture, The President's Fund, Wilson College and the Princeton Art Museum. Many of the eating clubs have also made financial pledges.

Caputo said his organization's goal is to attract as many different supporters as possible to create a forum with a variety of interests.

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"Right now, it's remarkable that all the constituent groups are providing financial support to the students," said Brian McDonald '83, an active Ivy Club alumnus.

"Historically there has been this tension between the clubs and the University. The clubs want to preserve the system, but the University is always interested in rethinking the roles of the clubs," McDonald said. "No one has really asked how Princeton is evolving and how the clubs fit in."

"For the first time, students are really driving a thought process. It has potential for significant application to the community," he said. Though Prospects is presented as a design competition, Prospects member Harris Ford '02 hopes to dissuade people from thinking that the competition is focused only on architecture.

"We would like to dispel the myth that thinking about space comes only from an architectural, stylistic point of view," he said.

"The main thing I hope will come out of this is that questions I haven't thought about before, ones that are really original, could challenge the way we see the 'Street.' It could be really beneficial," Ford said.

First-round submissions are due in early March. An initial selection committee will choose approximately 15 semifinalists who will receive a stipend of $100 each and be asked to expand their ideas into a final proposal.

On April 21, a jury of students, faculty, alumni and University officials will meet publicly to discuss the entries and award $5,000 total to the finalists. An exhibition of the finalists' proposals will be held in May at the Frist Campus Center, and a catalog containing all entries and final projects will be produced and made available to the University community.