They say the point of freshmen week is to get the new students acclimated to the Princeton environment and life in college. The first thing I learned at this school is that that's pretty much horse poo. There are some really important parts of "life at Princeton" that no one tells you before you're thrown into the mix. As my second year here begins, I'd like to reflect on what I've learned, and maybe offer some advice to the Class of 2008.
First: Laundry is a high-stress time commitment that can lead to bitching-out and awkward glares. Don't put anyone else's wet laundry where you wouldn't want anyone putting yours.
Second: The people who clean our buildings are great, and you will come to respect the work they do. You will, however, really come to resent the discussions they have with each other. At 8 a.m. When they're on opposite sides of the quad.
Third: Squirrels may look cute and innocent, but really they're completely sneaky and surprisingly bold. Word to the wise: Always shut your screen if you open your window.
Fourth: You will develop a strange obsession with email and might feel the urge to check your inbox about every ten minutes. This is normal.
Fifth: There will come a point at which walking into the dining hall induces nausea and in some cases mild depression. This is also normal. Do late meals at Frist.
Sixth: The points on your prox will disappear before the semester's over. One-hundred fifteen points sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Yeah, it's not.
Seventh: When you do run out of points, being able to hand your prox to a Frist employee and say "charge" is a beautiful thing.
Eighth: Join an a cappella group. It's cool, and by cool I mean totally sweet.
Ninth: Never go to the gym at 4:30 or 10 p.m. Unless you like smelling other people's sweat and standing in line.
Tenth: There are pretty much two drains on the entire campus. Gigantic and deceptively deep puddles will ruin your kicks. That said, rain boots are the best invention ever...ever.
Eleventh: Princetoncleaners.com. Learn it, love it, use it. I mean, if you're a fan of walking all the way down to Wild-freaking-Oats-Land, fine. Otherwise, this organization is holy.
Twelfth: Fro-yo is not your friend. Don't be fooled by the shiny metal of the machine. Furthermore, anything you need to put on a scale before purchasing it is bad news bears.
Thirteenth: Don't wear anything you paid a lot of money for to the Street. Someone will always think it's a really good idea to spray his beer all over the taproom, and there you'll be with Milwaukee's Best-coated duds.
Fourteenth: If the letter you got at the end of the summer told you your new address would involve the words "Butler College," I'm sorry. But hey, your dining hall has booths. . .
Fifteenth: Take pictures.
Sixteenth: Until it's course registration day or you become a gofer for some investment banking firm, you won't get up as early as you did in high school ever again. Eight a.m. will become an ungodly hour, and although you'll eat dinner at about the same time your grandparents do, midnight will still seem like a ridiculously early bedtime.
Seventeenth: Abbreviation is everywhere at Princeton. We can't even deal with the second "wa" in "Wawa." It's a little overwhelming trying to figure out what the hell people are talking about at first, but no worries, you're smart. Or you're really good at diving or chess. Either way, it's not rocket science.
And lastly, this stuff really does go as fast as they say, so at the risk of sounding like a sappy toolbox, love every minute of it.
Laura Berner is a sophomore from Rye, N.Y. She is a member of Roaring 20. You can reach her at lberner@princeton.edu.
Read More
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.