What's new at Princeton?

Rocky, Mathey, Forbes dining halls:

Last year's slabs of chicken have been replaced by individual, dressing-drizzled plates decorated with garnishes. Formerly anonymous countertops have been rechristened "stations" and are serving different varieties of food. Fortunately, the staff has remained the same; we couldn't do without Charlie's card-swiping or Howard's omelets. New furniture policy:

Somebody's gotta pay for all this construction. Under the University's new furniture policy, if you decide to chuck your bed, you'll be fined $400. Maybe you should deal with the extra-long twin for another year after all. Whitman college:

This is the biggie. After all, how often do we get a new residential college? Whitman features an architectural rarity; South Baker, a multilevel building that has virtually no stairwells and leaves visitors dazed and confused. Down-campus is movin' on up! Bye-bye Butler:

After a 40-year reign as the "ugliest place in Princeton," The Butt has finally been torn down. Wistful Butlerites look at the demolished ground with the same kind of nostalgia that alums feel for senior theses (or maybe that prisoners of war feel for captivity). But the demolition photos online are awesome. And meanwhile, the rest of the campus is spared the eyesore. Frist mailboxes:

Endless rows of tiny mailboxes have taken over about half of the 100 level of Frist Campus Center. (The mini U-Store no longer exists, though lovers of Frist candy still have the C-Store). If you haven't gone to check your mail yet, you may want to plan on spending at least half an hour there; opening the combination locks is nearly impossible. (Four turns to the left, two to the right... do the hokey pokey?) Lewis library:

A new science library designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry is well into construction, financed by a $60 million gift by insurance executive Peter Lewis '55. Though the building may appear as though it is falling down, have no fear; the structure is apparently safe, though drivers of passing cars should be aware that puzzled glances and excessive neck-craning may cause accidents. Also, a warning to birds: Try to avoid pointy edges, especially on the swooping forms jutting out toward Washington Road. Architecture building:

The School of Architecture is newly equipped with a three-story glass pavilion and entrance lobby, with an elevator to enable handicap access. The addition, designed by New York-based firm ARO (Stephen Cassell '86 and Adam Yarinsky GS '87), also features a student lounge. It doesn't do much to temper the irony that the rest of the building is among the ugliest on campus, but it's a step. 'Princeton reads':

A free seat was a hot commodity this Monday morning in McCosh 46 as students crammed in to catch the first of English professor Michael Wood's star-studded series on fiction, which features guest lectures by Princeton's literary luminaries. Farmer's market:

Somewhere, Kermit the Frog is smiling. Being green is getting easier and easier, now even in the land of orange and black. Between Sept. 25 and Oct. 23 our very own Farmer's Market, offering fresh, sustainable food from local farms will spring to life in Firestone Plaza, lightening up our Tuesdays.