Regarding 'Contentious Hargadon deanship colors admissions' past and future' (April 5):
This lengthy article does not raise the question of the importance of Alumni School Committee nonacademic evaluation. Nonacademic evaluation is subjective, and completeness of the evaluation will always be a function of time as well as objectivity. With an application pool of 14,000 souls it is absurd to expect a genius dean of admissions to have the time, energy and talent to make every admit decision.
Arguably, this is not as compelling a risk for setting admission procedure as it was during the Hargadon administration. Again and arguably, Hargadon effectively destroyed the worth of Alumni School Committees as he sought to control admission procedure. Robert Jiranek '52
If one hiring preference is bad, so is another
Regarding 'Ideology check' (April 6):
Princeton decided that there were not enough female faculty members in the sciences and engineering; as a result, it has begun a campaign to decrease the gender gap in these fields. Does the 'Prince' mean to imply that Princeton has "seriously compromised its academic excellence" through a gender affirmative action plan? If not, then how would actively recruiting conservative professors somehow injure our academic quality? Is it not possible to correct a systematic bias in the hiring process without lowering the quality of those hired?
If not, then the 'Prince' has effectively labeled both the University's hiring and admissions processes as inherently flawed. Nitesh N. Paryani '05
Students can make their voices heard in tenure
Regarding 'Isenberg's wake' (April 6):
The USG has spoken with the dean of the faculty regarding how to make the tenure process more transparent to students and more conducive to their involvement. According to Dean Dobkin, students' opinions are especially meaningful when they write him an email letter describing their experience with a professor, whether positive or negative. These letters mean a good deal when it comes time for discussions of that professor's tenure potential. Matt Margolin '05 USG president
Course credit policy bad for would-be scientists
Regarding 'Math, natural sciences seek to bolster undergrad enrollment' (April 6):
The article fails to adequately discuss a pertinent and oft-lamented aspect of many science courses: lab work.
As an English major headed to medical school, I have experienced the full range of course work. Lab is a crucial tenet of a science education and shouldn't be written off as mere coursework. It not only requires students to go to the lab and conduct experiments but also has its own syllabus, assignments and exams. The lab portion of many science classes only loosely connects to the material taught in the class, and the work load for the lab approaches and exceeds that of non-science courses I have taken. In effect, the lab phase functions as a separate class.
Yet, the University refuses to weight grades.
Students taking everything from physics to physical chemistry are responsible for twice the work load that their peers in other departments face from a single class.
If you are looking for an effective deterrent, doubling a student's requisite workload without enhancing their incentives fits the bill. Josh Kaplan '04
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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.