In recent years, the Undergraduate Admission Office has aimed to emphasize artistic talent more strongly in incoming classes. The effects of the view are now becoming visible.
"The Princeton class of '07 was a terrific year for performing arts students, probably as a direct result of new University admission policies," said Jessica Bonney '05, president of the Princeton University Players (PUP). "We noticed an increase in both the overall turnout and the quality of performing arts students."
She noted that the Class of 2007 helped fill several leading roles in all of PUP's productions last year.
"It is a bit too early to tell for sure whether the Class of 2008 will follow suit," Bonney said, "but the open houses and audition turnouts seem to indicate that this class is just as enthusiastic and talented."
Devon Wessman-Smerdon '05, president of Theatre-Intime, agreed. "While there are very few theater people in my class, the classes of 2006 and 2007 have proved to be very strong in all aspects of Princeton theater — acting, directing, design, writing and management."
The effects of the recent admission policy aren't limited to theater groups. Both Mara Weinstein '05 and Matt Berner '05, presidents of DiSiac and the Tigertones, respectively, reported an increase in numbers and talent this year.
"There were more dancers who were obviously trained in ballet, tap, jazz, point and hip-hop," Weinstein said. "As a result, DiSiac accepted more dancers than usual."
Though 19 graduating seniors left a large void last year, she emphasized the flexibility of DiSiac's total membership.
The Tigertones only accepted their standard three members, but Berner said the University seemed to be recruiting more art-oriented students than before.
"All of us agreed that the overall quality of the pool was much higher," he said. "Virtually everyone, it seemed, was decent and at least seven or eight were very talented."
Despite the policy's ostensible success, Daniel Skora '05, president of the Katzenjammers, offers a more cautious assessment.
Though five of the group's 12-16 members came from the Class of 2007 last year, only two new members were taken from the Class of 2008, despite the loss of six graduating seniors last year.
"On average, the quality of the singers has increased," he said, "but it's hard to gauge if the policy had anything to do with it."
Similarly, Dave Marcovitz '06, president of the Roaring 20, points to the group's heavy recruiting, rather than the University's admission policy, as the drive behind rising numbers.
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