I don't believe Thefacebook.com is nearly as dangerous as Emily Stolzenberg suggests ('Profiling Thefacebook.com,' Dec. 7).
Admissions of wild behavior on Thefacebook.com pale in comparison to what we know about George W. Bush's sordid past. Will membership in the Robo Club really render an individual "ineligible for public office" when we twice elect a president who has been convicted of drunk driving?
Stolzenberg also worries that parents will use Thefacebook.com to check on their children and keep them under their thumb. In order for parents to view their child's profile, they would need a valid email address from the school that the child attends. At Princeton, you need to be a student, staff member or faculty member of the University to get a Princeton email address. If my parents lived or worked at the University, I wouldn't be as worried that they'd look me up online as I'd be worried that they'd check on me by stopping by my dorm on a Saturday night.
Stolzenberg should realize that Thefacebook.com provides harmless entertainment and social utility that greatly outweigh any potential for misuse. Jason Sheltzer '06
'Prince' irresponsible to report on Flaxman
Regarding 'USG vote encounters problems' (Dec. 6):
There is a reason why the Honor Committee does not permit the Daily Princetonian to report on its proceedings. When a student's integrity is called into question, it is best not to inform the entire student body. This is just as true when the accuracy of the charges is uncertain and the student in question is running for elected office.
The case of Freddy Flaxman '07 should have come and gone inconspicuously, as many investigations into campaign regulation infractions do. (There are more than you would guess; most deal with trifles such as proper poster placement.) However, Flaxman was reported to have violated regulations against "disseminating false information" to student voters, a slightly more serious accusation than something like putting up too many posters in a given area.
What I find to be most unfortunate is that the 'Prince' found these charges to be sensational enough to warrant their campus-wide propagation. The article only helped to aggravate an already fractious situation. It oversimplified and trivialized a complex set of circumstances by focusing on only a small part of the facts and wrongfully depicting those circumstances in such a way that led a 'Prince' reader to deem the USG election officials "overzealous, power-hungry remnants of the McCarthy era." Had the 'Prince' observed traditional campus journalism ethics more carefully, he would have taken the pains to tell his readers the whole story.
It is our duty to look into these matters and The Daily Princetonian's to keep them private so that undergraduate voters do not question their fellow student's integrity.
It was never our intention to label Flaxman as a liar. For these inconveniences to him, we apologize.
Readers, rest assured that when the elections managers showed up to the office on Sunday morning, we did not arrive with torches alight and pitchforks in hand prepared to burn anyone who floated on water. Dan Pugliese '06 USG election manager
USG can advocate service and quality of life
Regarding 'Is student government overfunded?' (Jeremy Golubcow-Teglasi, Dec. 8):
Golubcow-Teglasi seemed to miss the point of students' desire to make USG more service oriented, as shown by Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06's recent presidential victory. He argues that if USG became a vehicle for social change, there potentially would be no organization to address students' quality-of-life concerns.
The two visions for USG, however, need not be in conflict. Instead, the newly elected members of USG should look at ways of reorganizing the organization to fit both goals.
A possible solution would be to have class governments tackle quality-of-life concerns in addition to their mission of unifying their respective classes. The rest of USG would then be able to focus its resources on fulfilling Princeton's motto "In the nation's service and in the service of all nations."
The problem lies not with how much money USG has, but rather how USG is organized to accomplish its various goals. Chris Lloyd '06 President, Class of 2006
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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.