Communiversity draws Princeton together

Stationed outside FitzRandolph Gates, Bob Septia makes a wooden firefighter dance. The marionette's midair jig draws laughter from a wide-eyed 6-year-old boy from Trenton, as well as from his University "big sister" who did not know she could still enjoy such things.

It was Septia's first time at Communiversity — Princeton's annual town-gown celebration — and the paltry number of remaining puppets hanging from his display rack made of bicycle wheels reflects the community's welcoming response to his creations as well as the spirit of Communiversity as a whole.

"You all seem carefree . . . very warm, very decent and happy," Septia said. "Princeton's definitely a place I plan to come back to."

As BodyHype dancers shimmied on the Nassau Street stage and town residents were temporarily tattooed with butterflies on the Nassau Hall lawn, Communiversity — sponsored by the Princeton Arts Council and University students — allowed the community members of both Princetons to celebrate in each other's company Saturday.

"Communiversity is an indication of the coexistence that exists between the town and the University," Jonathan Chavkin '05 said. "The University doesn't overrun the town, and the town doesn't run the University. Both exist on their own, appreciating one another while working together."

Student representatives from residential colleges, eating clubs, student government and cultural groups inundated the lawn in front of Nassau Hall and Alexander Beach.

For local resident Tom White, Communiversity provided the chance to raise community awareness for the Princeton Ridge. Clad in white T-shirts bearing the logo of a woodpecker and the words "Friends of Princeton Ridge," White called for the need to protect and preserve the Princeton Ridge of wetlands and forest habitat that the Township plans to develop into senior housing.

With one hand he passed out informational flyers and with the other he held a pen for anyone interested in signing the petition. By the end of the day, the empty lines on his group's petition had been filled with names of local residents and members of the University.

At the end of Nassau Street, Carl Odhner reappeared for his fourth time at Communiversity as the master storyteller of Tales of Middle-Earth. Sponsored by the Costen Children's Library, each show allowed for children to interactively create their own fairy tale.

"Stories from the beginning of time have taught children wisdom, ideas that don't necessarily exist in today's TV shows," Odhner said. "My job for the last 25 years has been to tell these stories, and make children understand their meanings in ways that they've never been exposed to before."

More than 300 children transformed into princesses, trolls, knights and forest animals that day, with local parents and University students guiding them through their play.

Standing on the lawn behind Firestone Library, Diana Rosenblum '05 watched Odhner's fantasy unfold.

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"This is how the world should be," Rosenblum said, recalling all the time she has spent inside the library's walls.

"People have the capacity to stand around and celebrate," she added. "Seeing the community and the University come together like this has certainly been a breadth of fresh air after a long year."

With a funnel cake in hand, Rosenblum loitered down Nassau Street, passing by the international parade and tapping her foot to the beat of the African-Brazilian dance circle. She, like fellow Princetonians — both town residents and University students — was captured by the spirit of Communiversity.