Professors need not choose between Blackboard and blogs
Regarding 'Profs choose blogs over Blackboard' (Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006):
The Blackboard system is intended to be a container for all kinds of digital content, as well as a course "home page" that students can use to navigate various academic resources (some contained within Blackboard, some external to it). Ever since we implemented Blackboard, we have used it to provide links to content that is stored in other systems (e.g., the Library e-reserves system), and the Academic Services Blog server is just another example of content that can be made accessible through Blackboard, though it is not actually hosted in Blackboard.
There are a lot of things in Blackboard that cannot be easily replicated in Blog systems (e.g., gradebooks, quizzes, surveys) and a lot of things in Blog systems that cannot be easily replicated directly in Blackboard. The point of the Blackboard system is not to provide a single implementation for all academic IT, but rather to provide a single "point-of-entry" for students and faculty who want to access and use academic IT systems. That is why Academic Services, which hosts both the Blackboard and the MT Blog system, will continue to make available systems external to Blackboard which provide key functionality (e.g., Wiki Servers) but attempt to do so in a way that allows these systems to be easily accessed from Blackboard (and, if possible, integrated with other Blackboard functionality, such as the gradebook).
This should not be an either/or issue. Professors should not have to choose "between" Blackboard and Blogs. We have provided both because they serve different purposes. When used jointly, we believe that they can provide a very compelling pedagogical experience. Serge Goldstein Director of Academic Services, Office of Information Technology
False humor about minority student-groups not appreciated
Regarding 'Tiger truths the freshmen learned this week' (Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006):
While I usually appreciate campus humor, be it exaggerated or politically incorrect, it was in poor taste for a student-run college newspaper to print complete lies about specific student-run groups as "truths."
Perhaps neither Kalaa nor Triple8 can afford to rent out the Berlind Theatre for their performances, but both groups have held well-advertised, well-attended shows and performances on campus. Accordingly, the anonymous author(s) of this article should also consider the "truth" that "no one has ever seen any Princeton University performance group at any time other than Tiger Night and the Activities Fair."
Come to think of it, that wouldn't be nearly as funny as giving free negative publicity to budding minority performance groups. So as to avoid further lack of visibility to the editors of the "Street" section, Triple8 will be sure to consider advertising in The Daily Princetonian for its next spring show. CC Ouyang '08 Co-president, Triple8
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It’s time to step it up on diversity and inclusion
Christofer RoblesOver the last five years, Princeton never achieved parity in diversity and inclusion for Black students. Now, the University faces a conservative culture and federal government hostile to anti-racism. Now, more than ever, Princeton cannot abandon its students.
Over the last five years, Princeton never achieved parity in diversity and inclusion for Black students. Now, the University faces a conservative culture and federal government hostile to anti-racism. Now, more than ever, Princeton cannot abandon its students.
Class of 2029: Reject selective views of free speech
Charlie Yale and Siyeon Lee"Let us make an appeal to the entire Class of 2029: You can care about viewpoint diversity and free expression even if you don’t read the Tory. As liberals and progressives, you can understand that free speech is an issue that affects everyone."
"Let us make an appeal to the entire Class of 2029: You can care about viewpoint diversity and free expression even if you don’t read the Tory. As liberals and progressives, you can understand that free speech is an issue that affects everyone."
For a more effective USG, train newly elected members on the bureaucracy
Luqmaan BambaFor student representatives to make the change we can through the systems we have, we need a more onboarding process that prepares us to navigate these byzantine processes.
For student representatives to make the change we can through the systems we have, we need a more onboarding process that prepares us to navigate these byzantine processes.