Campus groups

Academic/Career Opportunity

College Bowl

For those whose goal in life is to qualify for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," College Bowl attracts trivia whizzes and provides an outlet for cerebral prowess. The club organizes open practices, hosts tournaments like Princeton University Buzzerfest and sends teams to compete in various regional competitions.

Engineering Council

The E-Council represents all engineers and organizes initiatives on their behalf, including a "Frosh Help!" orientation guide, the "Excellence in Teaching" awards banquet every semester, athletic tournaments between the engineering departments and much-needed sushi and Hoagie Haven study breaks in the Friend Center.

Paideia

If you are eager for intellectual discourse beyond the classroom, Paideia may be your best bet. A non-selective group of 60-some students from different academic backgrounds, Paideia hosts weekly dinner or coffee discussions, usually led by a professor or researcher.

Pre-Business, Pre-Law and Pre-Med societies

These groups present a flavor of the business, law and medical professions by bringing many guest speakers to campus every year. The societies also network with companies and organizations to help prepare aspiring students for summer internships and professional schools.

ROTC

About 40 students participate in the Army program and 20 in the Air Force unit every year. The program foots part of Princeton's costly tuition for its participants who are required to spend either four years on active duty or six months on active duty with eight years in the reserves upon completing the program.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

SWE provides support and professional opportunities for women who make the daily trek to the E-Quad. Hosting biweekly study breaks and a high school colloquium, the Princeton chapter intends to participate in regional and national conferences this year. They also have really cute pink t-shirts.

Special Interest

Juggling Club

The club welcomes anyone regardless of skill level—if you don't know how to juggle and want to learn, they'll teach you! The club puts on an annual show consisting of comical sketches and odd juggling routines and has performed with dance groups and at football games.

Organization of Women Leaders (OWL)

Members of OWL discuss topics ranging from "Sex and the City" to the future of feminism and listen to guest speakers like Patricia Ireland or Geraldine Laybourne. OWL also organizes a girls' empowerment service project and annual conference with support from distinguished female professors and administrators.

Pride Alliance

Representing the interests of the "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning members of the community," the Pride Alliance sponsors Awareness Week in the fall, Queer Articulations—their film festival in the winter, and Pride Week in the spring.

Princeton Water Watch

Are you enchanted by the grew-brown hue of Lake Carnegie's waters and proud to live in the state with the worst water quality in the country? A student group not satisfied with simply watching the water, Water Watch works to improve local water quality through river cleanups, local education and stream-monitoring projects and student activism.

Sustained Dialogue on Race

Striving to improve campus race relations, Sustained Dialogue is not "just talk" but rather "talk with a purpose." The group brings together concerned community members under the guidance of a moderator and allows them to share their views and learn from others in a casual setting.

Theater

Princeton University Players (PUP)

Although PUP does not have a home like Theater Intime, talented students produce both classic and contemporary musical theatre on a regular basis during the school year. Last year, PUP mounted productions of varied material such as Sex on Broadway, Guys and Dolls and Caberet.

Quipfire!

Founded in 1758, Quipfire! is Princeton's best and only improv comedy group. After former University president Jonathan Edwards gave an impromptu and side-splittingly hilarious rendition of Paul's epistle to the Philippians, students thought to themselves, "Hey, that looks like fun!" and soon banded together to bring improvised humor games to Princeton's audiences.

Stand-Up Comedy

Stand-Up is the University's only group dedicated to performing the fine art of stand-up. Members help interested students learn how to write and perform stand-up. In addition, Stand-Up connects its members to professional resources and occasional performances at clubs in the area and in New York City.

Triangle Club

The nation's oldest and Princeton's coed student-written musical comedy group, Triangle is famed for its traditional all-male kick line and former members F. Scott Fitzgerald '17, Jimmy Stewart '32 and Brooke Shields '87. Triangle is interested in actors, pit musicians, techies and writers for the coming year.

Theater Intime

Pronounced "On-team," Intime is Princeton's original student-produced theater group based in its own Hamilton Murray Theater. Students perform every aspect of the productions from directing and acting to designing and managing the theater itself. Recent productions include Aristophanes' Clouds, Sartre's No Exit and a freshman one-act festival.

Music

Princeton Symphonia

Students without the time to commit to orchestra often join Symphonia, a more intimate and less formal group. Symphonia still attracts accomplished musicians and meets for two to three hours a week.

Princeton University Band (PUB)

The PUB performs at all sorts of sporting events and ceremonies, exhibiting their loud, blaring music and unique sense of fashion wherever they go. Entirely student-run, the band traveled with the men's basketball team to the NCAA tournament last spring and is open to anyone who wants to join the fun.

PICTURE of Spring NCAA (courtesy of PUB):

http://franchise.princeton.edu/NCAA/NCAA60.jpg

Princeton University Orchestra (PUO)

25-year long conductor Michael Pratt has built the highly selective group from a small collection of musical hobbyists to one of the strongest college orchestras in the nation. PUO performs eight to ten concerts every year in Richardson Auditorium in addition to tour performances around the world.

Princeton University Wind Ensemble

Participation in the Wind Ensemble is open to anyone wishing to join. The Ensemble performed the Star Wars theme along with other challenging and wide-ranging pieces at their annual "Concert Under the Stars" last spring.

Shake your body

So you're interested in dancing! You've chosen the right school: Princeton has at least 15 active dance groups that are entirely student directed and choreographed.

The oldest dance company on campus is Expressions, specializing in almost everything from modern ballet and jazz to tap and ethnic dance. If you're attracted to hip-hop and modern dance and don't mind a flavor of other hot styles, you may want to try out for BodyHype or DiSiac. BodyHype, DiSiac and Expressions hold auditions each semester and showcase two major shows each year. Sympoh, a break dancing group, has grown to match the energy and memberships of these dance companies. Their performances blend acrobatics, gymnastics and martial arts with hip-hop.

Princeton also has popular dance groups that represent cultures spanning the globe and are open to students of all ethnicities. Kalaa (Sanskrit for "Art") is home to styles of classical Indian dance while Naacho (Hindi for "Let's Dance") explores Bollywood, bhangra, traditional Indian folk and modern fusion types. The Triple Eight Dance group highlights East Asian dance styles, incorporating pan-asian, fan and ribbon dances with contemporary hip-hop.

For those interested in Mexican folk dance, Ballet Folklorico' consists of seven talented dancers—none of whom had prior folklorico training. The Black Arts Company provides a platform for students of all backgrounds to express the African-American tradition through a mixture of dance, comedy and drama in two annual shows. And after humble beginnings from belly dance classes taught at Dillon Gym, Raks Odalisque has also emerged into an established performance group on campus.

If you're looking for more of the intricate footwork inherent in dancing, the step dance groups High Steppers or Tapcats may be right up your alley. Both groups are dedicated to teaching students how to create harmony through sound. So whether it's step dancing, hip-hop, belly dancing, or ethnic dance, Princeton has something for everyone.

Publications: The power of the pen

Publications at Princeton with good writing are plentiful. Editors are always desperate for new talent, and many writers will dabble with a few publications before honing in on one or even two.

American Foreign Policy (AFP)

If you like the idea of interviewing ambassadors, Cabinet secretaries, or leaders of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, AFP is for you.

Daily Princetonian

One of the oldest college dailies, the "Prince" is everyone's source of campus news. It remains the only campus publication where you can experience daily journalism, either as a writer, photographer, artist, or business manager. You will have a chance to meet some of the most interesting people at Princeton on staff and through stories.

Idealistic Nation

Princeton's only liberal/moderate political print publication.

Nassau Literary Review

Founded as a forum for creative artistic talent on campus, the "Nassau Lit" publishes short fiction, photography, poetry and art.

Nassau Weekly

Founded in 1979 by a group of writers including current "New Yorker" editor David Remnick, the "Nass" focuses on in-depth campus stories and the arts as well as off-campus issues. The "Nass" prides itself on its own brand of humor, which ranges from the "simple dirty" to the "truly profane."

Princeton Alumni Weekly (PAW)

Published 17 times a year and disseminated to over 60,000 alumni, PAW deals either directly or indirectly with campus issues and pays its writers. PAW features a column called "On the Campus," which is written every year by two students. Students also contribute sports articles, academic stories and profiles to the publication.

Princeton Tiger

The nation's second oldest college humor magazine, Tiger has housed many famous alumni from F. Scott Fitzgerald to the current Editor-in-Chief of "Maxim" magazine. The Tiger is funny, marginally literate, free and published six times per year.

Princeton Tory and Progressive Review

Princeton's conservative and fairly liberal publications, respectively.

University Press Club

Members of the Press club work as professional paid reporters for local newspapers and wire services in Philadelphia, New Jersey and the New York area, such as the "Associated Press", the "Trenton Times" and the "New York Times." The selection process lasts three months but the experience and alumni connections to the club can make it worth your time.

ETHNIC

International:

The International Students Association of Princeton fosters bonding among international students through International Pre-Orientation, biweekly cultural get-togethers featuring ethnic foods. ISAP also organizes yearly tax information sessions to go over tax return intricacies.

East Asians:

Princeton's Asian-American Students Association works closely with the Korean American Students Association, Chinese Students Association, Taiwanese American Students Association, Southeast Asian Students Association and Hong Kong Students Association to promote social, cultural and political awareness among Asian Americans. These organizations frequent conferences around the East Coast and hold study breaks and banquets.

South Asians:

The Princeton South Asian Students Association embraces the cultures of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, The Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, through various events, speakers and study breaks that highlight the similarities and differences that pervade these diverse cultures.

Caribbean:

Princeton Caribbean Connection promotes a better understanding and greater awareness within the University and surrounding community of the peoples, affairs and culture of the Caribbean. Through the promotion of cultural events, the PCC also hopes to foster a greater sense of community among students of Caribbean ancestry.

African:

It's not necessary to speak Twi, wear head wraps, or be African to join Akwaaba and engage in cultural affairs that promote increased understanding of African peoples. Akwaaba provides a forum for the discussion of issues pertaining to Africa and the African Diaspora.

POLITICAL

The College Republicans at Princeton are the official student group of the National Republican Party. They work to cultivate Republican ideas and foster political awareness and activity on campus by coordinating political speeches and debates. Additionally, members assist Republican candidates at several levels of government.

The Princeton Debate Panel is the nation's most successful parliamentary debate team, and achieves its status without tryouts or cuts. No experience is necessary, as long as you're interested in traveling to exotic countries, win cash prizes and argue with interesting people from schools all over the country.

The Princeton College Democrats is the representative of the Democratic Party on campus. Members work to support both Democratic ideals and candidates, pressing for liberalism and progress among students from the University level of government to the Federal level.

The International Relations Council has been a forum for campus discussion on international relations and global issues for over 30 years as a subsidiary of Whig-Clio. IRC also hosts Model United Nations conferences, which feature intellectual discussions and fun social gatherings.

The American Whig-Cliosophic Society is the nation's old political, literary and debating society. Founded in 1765, before the nation's founding, Whig-Clio also boasts highly successful subsidiaries: Mock Trial, the Debate Panel, the International Relations Council and Princeton Model Congress.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The Princeton Entrepreneurship Club fosters entrepreneurship on campus by organizing workshops, connecting students to alumni and coordinating business plan competitions. Through the eClub, students can learn about and experiment with entrepreneurship, and will become better prepared when making career choices.

The Minority Business Association seeks to help minority students better understand the world of business through networking, mentoring and a foundation of mutual support. MBA sponsors events and organizes informative panels and discussions to enhance the relationship between employers and students.

RELIGIOUS

Non-Denominational Christian:

Agape Christian Fellowship is the Princeton chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ, which has 650 other chapters nationwide. Agape holds weekly bible studies for undergraduates, as well as individual discipleship time. A weekly large group meeting, called Prime Time, unites students through worship, fellowship and sharing.

Athletes in Action is an interdenominational Christian fellowship for college athletes, offering specific opportunities for student athletes to learn how a faith can impact their lives amidst the unique demands of sports and college life. AIA is closely affiliated with Agape Christian Fellowship.

Manna Christian Fellowship is a group of student focused on building a supportive Christian community, on exploring the depths of the Christian faith, and on thoughtfully engaging the pluralistic university community with a coherent worldview grounded in the gospel. Questions of politics and family issues will be addressed in the next year.

Princeton Evangelical Fellowship was founded in 1931 by a Princeton alumnus, and all nine current staff members are Princeton alumni. PEF offers many opportunities for students to investigate the true claims of the historical Christian faith, and the difference that faith creates in one's life.

Jewish:

The Center for Jewish Life Student Board is the student governing board of the Center for Jewish Life. Members promote Jewish groups like Yavneh House, Jewish Freshmen Support and Princeton Israel Public Affairs Committee and their efforts in communicating with each other and the community at large.

Muslim:

The Muslim Students Association seeks to increase students' understanding of Islam by coming together as a community and sponsoring events for the enjoyment and knowledge of all interested in exploring the Islamic religion.

SERVICE

Princeton Rotaract Club works closely with the local Princeton Rotary Club to give back to the community and to the world at large. The club fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.

The Student Health Advisory Board strives to ensure that health-related services are administered at the highest level. As student representatives, SHAB members work closely with the student body and the staff of Princeton University Health Services to improve and maintain Princeton's college health environment.

The University Film Organization's goal is to make film accessible to the Princeton community on a consistent basis. Members manage a recent release "Big Screen" series at the Frist Campus Center, and also coordinate the showing of lesser-known films in the UFO+ series.

A CAPPELLA

Princeton a cappella groups give a new meaning to the phrase "Music of the Night."

On any given evening, one can hear melodious sounds emanating from either Blair Arch or 1879 Arch, thanks to Princeton's dozen or so a cappella groups. From all-female to all-Jewish groups, these a cappella organizations have been performing in "arch sings" since the early 1940s.

But with so many groups to keep track of, it's easy for an outsider to the world of a cappella to negligently classify all of them into one large exclusive student population (one that not only sings, but parties often, too). However, it takes little effort to recognize that each group has its own background and identity.

The all-male Nassoons started a tradition of a cappella in 1941 that involves arranging songs that range from 40s jazz pieces to contemporary pop. Each year at the Princeton-Yale football game, they perform with the Whiffenpoofs, the oldest a cappella group at Yale University. In addition, they go on four tours yearly, and appear on televised shows such as the Early Show with Bryant Gumbel.

The Footnotes and Tigertones were established soon after the Nassoons, and feature diverse repertoires as well. Both groups are all-male as well, and have toured places like the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas.

Women joined the a cappella scene in the 70s, with the Tigerlilies, the first all-female group. The "Lils," often clad in black and fuchsia, perform traditional classics and jazz standards, as well as pop songs.

Not long after the Lils were formed, the group now known as the Katzenjammers became the Ivy League's first coed group. As the years passed, eight more groups formed, including more all-female groups like the Tigressions, Culturally Yours and the Wildcats, coed groups like the Firehazards, Shere Khan and Roaring 20.

There are even coed groups that have religious identities, like Koleinu, which is all-Jewish, and Kindred Spirit, an evangelical Christian group that teams up with Westminster Choir College.

Finally, for those that are vocally-inclined but may not want to dive headfirst into the intense and sometimes-competitive world of a cappella, there are always other vocal groups to consider. The University Glee Club, University Chamber Choir, Chapel Choir and the Gospel Ensemble each have their own flavor and repertoire – for instance, the Chapel Choir performs every Sunday during chapel services, and the Gospel Ensemble is student-directed – ensuring that anyone who doesn't find a match in a cappella will still be able to exercise their vocal chords.