Black students are from different groups
Regarding 'Study: Universities prefer foreign black students'(Wednesday, March 7, 2007):
What I find most surprising about this study is not the higher number of African students on Ivy League campuses relative to African-American students, but rather the ease with which these two groups are equated into "black students." If the aim of this study was to highlight the obstacles regarding adequate representation of black American students on campus, I'm not really sure why black African students on campus were used as scapegoats. There is a divide on campus between the black American communities and the African communities (of which there are white students as well — not all Africans are black just as not all Americans are white). Many African-Americans on campus have just as much in common with black Africans as German immigrant descendants have with native Germans ... almost nothing.
The administration needs to address why black Americans are underrepresented on campus but not at the expense of black Africans. Sarah Karam '07
Hip-hop is a multi-faceted issue
Regarding 'Hip-hop and urban America: An unhealthy relationship' (Thursday, March 8, 2007):
Brandon McGinley '10 obviously believes that hip-hop is enough of a problem to write about it. This column offered little new information and no solutions, so I have reservations about its intended objectives.
In order to prove his theorem, McGinley goes about not disproving it. By denouncing what he perceives to be the main arguments against his hypothesis, McGinley appears to believe this affirms his belief. He minimizes the effects of under-education and the still lingering effects of discrimination, red-lining and Jim Crow and underreports the current effect of gerrymandering and disenfranchisement of the inner city by stating that they are not as prevalent as they were 30 years ago. I admit that the choices made by some black youth are unfortunate, however, one must know that these youth are limited in the choices that they are offered.
I will concur with McGinley that the majority of what is presented as hip-hop is terrible and has no positive end results in the black community. These same misogynistic and violent ideals, however, are found in all genres of music and entertainment — why single out hip-hop? Why do black youths aspire to be like these rappers? It goes back to choices, and in order to examine the choices offered, there needs to be a discourse and discussion that America has yet to embark on. Stephen Caldwell '04
Break meals issue must be addressed
Regarding 'Breaks a burden on finances and stomachs' (Monday, March 12, 2007):
I am also very pleased to see the additional financial aid for international students approved. While an American student may see some unfairness in an international student receiving extra subsidizes for a trip home or meals, I believe this special stipend for international students is our best compromise. Food during breaks is definitely an issue that has been brought up among the International Students' Association at Princeton (ISAP) board and our members. Currently, Paula Chow from the International Center and Dean Rachel Baldwin provide one or two dinners during breaks for international students. I commend USG President Rob Biederman '08's proposal for extended meal plans over breaks for those students in need, and I agree with all three points put forward and would love to see the proposal approved by the University. I'm worried, however, about the acceptance and feasibility. If I'm not mistaken, my understanding is that requests for a special stipend to relieve the financial burden of staying on campus for international students have been repeatedly rejected year after year. Thanks to Biederman for your consideration and effort in striving to meet the needs of international students. Megan Chiao '09 ISAP President
Religion column flawed
Regarding 'Discussing the origins of religious belief' (Tuesday, March 13, 2007):
Numerous flaws weaken Soleine Leprince's column probing why people have religious faith. Even given an opinion page's need for digestible arguments, her piece's lack of rigor surprises me a little. Rather than explain where Leprince errs, though, I would direct her and all interested readers to a source which she herself cites: Blaise Pascal. In Pascal's Penses, we find one of the most philosophically serious defenses of faith from the last 500 years. Pascal offers far more than his (in)famous wager, and by ignoring him we impoverish any discussion about the roots of faith. Duncan Sahner '06
Analogy of religion as a drug might be misinterpreted
Regarding 'Discussing the origins of religious belief' (Tuesday, March 13, 2007):
Soleine Leprince '09's well-intended inquiry into the origins of belief in God ought not to have begun by comparing religion to a "drug." Though she surely meant to suggest that the topic has universal appeal and interest, she ought to know that such a comparison at first glance might offend many readers and impede genuine discussion.
Neither was it prudent to search for answers to the question of religion's origins only among skeptics of traditional religion like Voltaire. Her inquiry suggests that in order to "explain rationally" humanity, one must survey reality as if God did not exist or cite only visible or quantifiable phenomena — that is, the observations of modern science, whose methods intentionally prevent it from dealing with non-matter. Such an investigation would be silly — how do you expect to see the stars if you decide not to look at the sky?
Leprince is to be commended, however, for her commonsense observation that the universal longing for a real, transcendent "other" must at least be more than an empty "evolutionary byproduct." Though modern theists must continually grapple with the thought that "perhaps there is no God," honest atheists must admit that they can never fully quiet the nagging thought, "perhaps there is." John Doherty '05
Campus mental health issues should be taken seriously
Regarding 'Grad student's death ruled a suicide' (Thursday, March 15, 2007):
I was very disturbed to see the article "Grad student's death ruled a suicide" juxtaposed with Tiffany Ko's crass cartoon depicting a student hanging herself. Clearly sensitivity toward mental health issues is needed by our community as a whole, not just by our international population, as the article suggests. Emily Parker '07
Students should feel at ease to go to UHS
Regarding 'Alcohol and UHS' (Friday, March 16, 2007):
This editorial may needlessly cause students to worry about their confidentiality and privacy. Our primary concern when an intoxicated student is brought to us is his or her safety and rapid recovery. Students need to know that no information obtained by UHS from a student who has been "McCoshed" is shared with Public Safety or with deans. All student healthcare — related information is considered privileged and is only shared with third parties if the student provides expressed written consent. UHS staff does ask questions (for example, the context in which the drinking occurred and what kind of alcohol was consumed) for the purpose of epidemiologic research, to inform and improve our clinical and preventive health programming. Students are never required to answer such questions, though in fact most students are comfortable sharing general information about their experiences. This information is stripped of any personal identifiers and is used only in aggregate form to help us understand how best to help our patients.
The editorial suggests that students "should be encouraged to help those in need of medical attention." In fact, students in the presence of a severely intoxicated person are not only strongly encouraged to step up and provide help but are in fact required by University policy to contact medical or safety personnel to ensure student safety. This is not only good policy, but also simply the right thing to do when faced with this situation.
Whenever a student is seriously intoxicated, we urge you to get medical help, whether by calling Public Safety or by taking him or her to UHS if that's safe and possible. Daniel Silverman Chief Medical Officer
New coach proposals
Regarding 'Basketball coach Scott '87 resigns' (Friday, March 16, 2007):
There are many outstanding Princeton alums in the coaching ranks — Howard Levy and Mike Brennan (assistants at Princeton), Chris Mooney (head coach at Richmond) and Mitch Henderson (assistant at Northwestern). I'm sure some of these will receive consideration as the next coach. Consider also Sydney Johnson '97. He is an assistant coach at Georgetown, one of the hottest programs in the country. Do not make the mistake of thinking that "Syd" is too young. If I am not mistaken, he is still the only three-time captain in Princeton basketball history, which demonstrates his maturity despite his youth. I'm willing to bet that he coaches with the same qualities that made him such an outstanding player and teammate: hard work and intensity, calmness under pressure and respect for other team members. Phil Belin '00
Scott was a reserve
Regarding '... and from Tigers past' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
Joe Scott '87 was not "a four-year starting point guard for the Tigers". In Scott's freshman year, Bill Ryan '84 was the starting point guard and earned First-Team All-Ivy honors. Scott was a reserve on that team. Stuart Schulman '84
Institute has shown local focus
Regarding 'Local issues need attention' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
I thought it would be helpful to clarify some key points about the Wilson School's Policy Research Institute for the Region.
Anthony Shorris MPA. '79 stepped director in January to accept an appointment by New York Governor Eliot Spitzer '81 to be executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Nate Scovronick, director of the Wilson School's undergraduate program, has been named acting director as we actively search for Shorris' replacement.
Under Shorris' leadership, the Institute organized eight conferences and roundtables on issues of importance to New Jersey and the region, ranging from state stem cell initiatives; global warming's impact on the region's coast; policing in the state's immigrant communities; and state open space programs, to name just a few.
The Institute published 10 books that included 19 research papers specifically commissioned for conferences addressing local, state and regional issues. The Institute's research has begun to generate opportunities for new partnerships with other higher education institutions, nonprofits and state and local governments.
We encourage readers to learn more about the Institute's work (please visit region.princeton.edu) and how they can help bring the intellectual resources of the University to bear on the state's and region's policy problems. Karen Jezierny established the Institute under my direction within three months of my arrival on campus in 2002; I was and am committed to the proposition that although Princeton and the Wilson School rightly emphasize our aim and ability to send students all around the world, we also have many opportunities to learn, engage and serve much closer to home. We look forward to updating you once we have hired the new Institute director. Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 Dean of the Wilson School
Institute is not 'floundering' locally
Regarding 'Local issues need attention' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
As a member of the Undergraduate Fellows program for the Wilson School's Policy Research Institute of the Region, I find that I can only agree with the basic premise in this editorial that resources should be devoted to analyzing local and regional problems. The idea, however, that we are "floundering" is not supportable given what we have done as a group since our inception last year and what we plan to accomplish in the upcoming months. Last year, the group organized panel discussions and a film series highlighting possible policy choices to help underprivileged youth in the New York, New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania region. Topics included education and anti-gang policy. Despite all these activities, we were not even mentioned in the editorial. This year, we have invited a prominent speaker from the Center for Urban Policy Research. We are planning his talk about affordable housing and transportation to correspond with previously organized PRIOR lunch discussions on similar topics that are open to the public. So instead of "floundering," various aspects of PRIOR are working together to increase public awareness and scholarly work concerning the region. James Coan '09
One-rabbi monopoly?
Regarding 'U. refuses to grant Chabad chaplaincy' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
The calumnies and invective directed against Chabad and Rabbi Webb by Joe Skloot '05 are offensive and defamatory in the extreme. He obviously has hatred for the Chabad outreach movement. As one who is close to many Chabad rabbis; as one whose life was transformed into one of Jewish observance by the positive influence of a Chabad rabbi; as one who has witnessed Chabad rabbis, at great personal sacrifice, serving Jews whatever their level of observance in far-flung corners of the world; and as one who met with President Tilghman several times in support of Rabbi Webb being granted the chaplaincy status he deserves, I find Joe Kloot's comments and Tilghman's decision to be insulting, abhorrent, discriminatory and yes, anti-Semitic. Why should the CJL have a one-rabbi monopoly when the Princeton chapel does not? Why should there be only one Jewish chaplain when there are 13 Christian ones? That amounts to even less that the 10 percent quota that Princeton used to have for the admission of Jewish students! Shame, shame, shame! Michael Scharf '64
Rabbi has support
Regarding 'U. refuses to grant Chabad chaplaincy' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
The fact that the only person The Daily Princetonian could find to come out unilaterally against Chabad was Joe Skloot '05, an alumnus currently studying at Hebrew Union College, one of the most virulently anti-traditional institutions in the Jewish world today, says more than this article possibly could have. In reality, there is tremendous support for and little significant opposition to Chabad among Jews at Princeton, and Skloot's characterization of Rabbi Webb as "untrustworthy" is both despicable and ironic, as Skloot is the one bending facts by describing a nonexistent "coercive" ideology that Rabbi Webb supposedly follows. Reading Skloot's comments, I almost expected him to accuse Rabbi Webb of cooking the blood of gentile babies in his matzos for Passover — that is how ridiculous his position is. Chabad is the largest Jewish outreach organization in the world, and one of its guiding principles is that "a Jew is a Jew is a Jew," regardless of denomination or level of observance. Skloot is the one on the fringes here, not Chabad. William Scharf '08
U. should grant Chabad chaplaincy
Regarding 'U. refuses to grant Chabad chaplaincy' (Monday, March 26, 2007):
As an active alum, I enjoyed reading the article on the question of Chabad's chaplaincy at Princeton. Since Skloot '05 is widely quoted, it seems that alumni voices are welcome in the debate.
There is a double standard here. Chabad is one of many ideologies competing for student interest. And unlike the CJL, it does not seek monopolistic control. What's not to like?
Princeton students should welcome as much diversity of opinion as possible. No religious group should be treated differently by the University, or be considered a unique category. Princeton should know better than to have a "special" policy for Jews.
The University should set out a single policy for chaplains and apply it without prejudice to all religious groups — all groups, that is, that do not advocate the elimination of other religions. Isaiah Cox '94
Rankings should not carry much weight
Regarding 'Universities oppose college rankings' (Thursday, March 29, 2007):
This article quoted me as saying almost precisely the opposite of what I believe. We do not believe the rankings are particularly helpful to students and parents as they make their decisions about college, and in everything we say about the rankings we warn against attaching too much significance to them.
If there is anything helpful in the rankings, it is comparative information on the different criteria that the magazine has chosen to measure, if you happen to believe that any of those criteria are important to your college choice. But far more important to most students and families are qualities that the rankings don't and can't measure. That's why Princeton is significantly improving its admission website and other materials, traveling to more schools, providing better information to high school counselors, encouraging as many potential applicants as possible to visit the campus and engaging more than 5,000 alumni volunteers on Alumni Schools Committee to meet with potential applicants in their communities.
As the article correctly noted, there are many different colleges and universities in this country, each with its own distinctive flavor. The goal should be to help each student find the place that is best for them. The rankings do little to help achieve that goal and may even be counterproductive if they are erroneously thought to provide more, better or more precise information than they actually provide. Bob Durkee '69 University Vice President and Secretary
Room draw has been a success so far
Regarding 'Colleges vie for upperclassmen' (Friday, March 30, 2007):
I want to thank The Daily Princetonian for its article about room draw. While demand for the new shared meal plan option has been greater than anticipated, I write to clarify two points.
First, as of the close of the second day of room draw (March 28), the housing website reported that "shared meal plans are no longer available for the following clubs and classes: Cap & Gown Seniors, Cottage Seniors, Terrace Juniors, Colonial Juniors". Contrary to what was reported in the Prince, "all" shared meal plans at these clubs had not been filled at that time. As of this writing on the third day of room draw (March 30), shared meal plans continue to be available (depending on club and class year).
Second, the University did provide each of the eating clubs the option to increase, up to a week before room draw began, the maximum number of shared meal plans they originally elected to provide. Two clubs exercised this option and increased their number of available shared meal plans to accommodate the interest of their members. A couple of days before room draw began, one of these same clubs tentatively inquired about increasing their number a second time, but unfortunately the room draw system could not be reprogrammed at that late date. Thus far, the University is very encouraged by the success of the fully online room draw process.
As room draw continues, please contact the Office of Undergraduate Housing with any specific questions. Angela Hodgeman Manager, Undergraduate Housing
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