University declines U-Council request

In a busy meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community yesterday afternoon, President Tilghman rejected a proposal for an ad hoc committee on intellectualism, Director of Physical Planning Jon Hlafter '61 projected that Whitman College would run $10 million over budget and Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel said the administration is studying suggestions for precept reform.

It was a bittersweet meeting for the undergraduate U-Council in Dodds Auditorium. Members saw success in the University's continued effort to reform the precept system but were disappointed by the administration's decision on intellectualism.

While Tilghman praised the U-Council for "raising an important debate," she cited a proliferation of campus committees and promised that the Undergraduate Student Life and Course of Study committees would jointly address the issue. U-Councilor Allison Arensman '04 immediately responded with disappointment, arguing that the issue warranted "higher priority." Others seemed more upset after the meeting.

"There's the possibility now that this issue may just get swept under the rug," U-Councilor Liz Biney-Amissah '04 said. "We'll just have to wait and see."

But U-Council Chair Josh Anderson '04, who spearheaded the effort, was cautiously more optimistic.

"After speaking with University Provost Amy Gutmann, I'm confident that the president has taken responsibility for the oversight of the dialogue," he said. "We're disappointed that our request was not met, but there are plenty of signs that the president is treating the issue with the seriousness it deserves. Without presidential oversight, the actual policies might never change."

Intellectualism wasn't the only issue broached.

Hlafter unveiled new drawings and models for Whitman College, additions to the Lawrence Apartments graduate student housing complex and the proposed science library.

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The futuristic brick, glass and titanium building designed by Frank Gehry will sit at the corner of Washington Road and Ivy Lane and will house a cafe, state-of-the-art technology research center and underground stacks.

Hlafter said Whitman College would be one of the largest enclosed buildings on campus in terms of square footage — on a similar scale as Firestone Library and Jadwin Gym.

The trustees' commitment to building a Gothic "flagship college," complete with Pennsylvania limestone and expert masonry, will probably place the project at $110 million — about $10 million over the official assessment.

In response to the U-Council's report on precepts, Malkiel spoke on three University initiatives to approach the issue.

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A "precept on precepts" meeting for graduate students, a student working group in Wilson College and faculty engagement have all been part of the University's efforts through the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning.

The goals are more training for preceptors, a publication filled with tips and advice and the final approval of University-wide mid-semester evaluations.

Anderson said he was excited about the response.

"The University's effort has been very encouraging — this is a major victory for students," he said. "The Course of Study Committee has devoted a whole year to this issue. We'll have to wait until next year to see for sure, but I think we're finally going to experience some real changes."

In addition, CPUC member and chemistry professor Michael Hecht recommended to much criticism that the admission office examine the "problem" of too many humanities students crowding into five majors, history, economics, English, politics and the Wilson School and work to admit more applicants considering diverse majors.