Regarding 'Dobkin tells 'Prince' to 'destroy' photos of vote' ( April 27):
The news that has come out of Old Nassau over the past week has been as depressing as it is appalling.
First, Dean Deignan is reported to have policed thought by confiscating hundreds of t-shirts based on their viewpoint and content.
Second, Dean Malkiel appeared to win this round in her near-decade-long endeavor to police academic freedom by limiting the faculty's discretion in grading.
Third, Dean Dobkin is reported to have attempted to police journalistic freedom in demanding that a pressman destroy photographs of faculty voting on Dean Malkiel's proposal.
Has Princeton become a police state? Jo Ern Chen '00
Deignan's dedication to Princeton is unparalleled
Regarding 'Deignan sets a bad real-world example for students' (Letter, April 28):
I refuse to allow one paraphrased quotation in the 'Prince' to tarnish the image of a person as valuable to Princeton as Dean Deignan.
I am of the firm belief that one of the greatest strengths of the University is its fanatically dedicated, student-focused administration and faculty. Nowhere else in higher education — and certainly not in the writer's "working world" — does there exist a more intelligent and hardworking group of people so committed to a singular purpose: namely, the health, education and wellbeing of about 4,500 young people.
There is no better example of this type of dedicated person than Kathleen Deignan.
I literally cannot count the number of evenings when in the course of my USG involvement I was surprised to find Dean Deignan still hard at work well into the night, even by student standards. I know from personal experience that on dozens of occassions she set aside family obligations in order to devote more time and energy to Princeton undergraduates, fairly and honestly enforcing University policy without prejudice and sometimes despite personal belief. There are many students — both current and former — who can repeat and enhance my claims.
The real "sad example to set" in this episode is to publicly criticize the work ethic of a person whose work you have not fully evaluated. Were the writer to do his homework, he would realize that letters such as his only serve to alienate one of the University's greatest resources. Joe Kochan '02
Would faculty shift grades if they were deflated?
Regarding 'Grade inflation plan passes' (April 27):
Imagine that the big debate was over grade deflation instead of grade inflation. What if students were increasingly receiving more and more B-'s and C's? How would that change the discussion?
I expect the University would encourage students to be more diligent and studious in order to raise their grades. Perhaps it would try to accept students with more academically rigorous resumes.
Flipping back to our current situation, perhaps it would have been more appropriate for the University to start encouraging students to party a little more, get off campus, and generally expand their horizons instead of passing a grading policy that will just wind them up even tighter and lead to even more hours in Firestone and secluded study carrels. Robin Williams '04
Princeton has sacrificed its students to improve its rep
Regarding 'Grade inflation plan passes' (April 27):
While I salute the good intentions of Dean Nancy Malkiel in establishing grade quotas for Princeton students, I cannot avoid thinking of Dante's words about good intentions.
In this case, it appears that the career and reputation of several graduating classes of Princeton students have been jeopardized on a quixotic quest to singlehandedly reform the U.S. college system. More specifically, as their grade-point average drops — a mandatory outcome of the quota system — many current Princeton students will be faced with the task of explaining this development to graduate schools and prospective employers.
I am sure that Dean Malkiel and the Princeton faculty had higher-level goals in mind and did not consider the future of their students a deterrent to this rush decision. Otherwise, they might have taken a more moderate approach, such as a transition period to allow other schools to buy into a similar quota system.
By going alone, Princeton has left its students to pay for the enhanced reputation of their faculty and administration. Sergio Kapusta P '05
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The CPUC must not gut its Judicial Committee
Bill HewittEnding the Judicial Committee’s jurisdiction over initial complaints would embolden abuses of power, allowing the administration to evade accountability for University rule violations without the pressure of student and faculty authority.
Ending the Judicial Committee’s jurisdiction over initial complaints would embolden abuses of power, allowing the administration to evade accountability for University rule violations without the pressure of student and faculty authority.
Princeton, let’s adopt a digital prox
Jorge ReyesTo prevent pointless replacement and lockout charges, maximize convenience, and create better access to meals and facilities, Princeton should follow the precedent set by some of its peers and adopt a digital prox system.
To prevent pointless replacement and lockout charges, maximize convenience, and create better access to meals and facilities, Princeton should follow the precedent set by some of its peers and adopt a digital prox system.
What is a Princeton degree really for?
Joel IbabaoSo what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.
So what, in the end, is a Princeton degree really for? I take a more moderate view: Students should prioritize earning potential — unless they feel irresistibly called to something else.