Welcome to Intersections, The Prospect’s newsletter, dedicated to delivering arts and culture to your inbox.
As our newsletter moves forward into its second installment, the semester is coming to a close. Though Dean’s Date and finals still loom, Nov. 24 marks the official conclusion of class meetings — and the beginning of the end of a semester that can only be described with the now-overused word “unprecedented.”
As I look back on the past twelve weeks, I can’t help but think: did that really just happen? Did we really get through it?
I’m sure no one feels that they’ve emerged completely unscathed from this semester. Many students have struggled immensely in unstable home situations. This week, the University altered its emergency housing eligibility requirements to include students who face unsafe or hostile conditions on account of “social identity” or “protected characteristic(s).” The decision came six days after an anonymous student wrote in The Daily Princetonian that the University had denied them emergency housing for the fall, despite their being gay and closeted in a household where they felt unsafe.
Even students who feel safe at home have experienced the challenges of Zoom fatigue, WiFi connectivity issues, social isolation, and blurred boundaries between space and time dedicated to work, family, and rest. In the midst of the anxiety of the semester, it can be difficult to imagine there is space for any new growth.
But life is persistent; it crops up in unexpected ways and places. For me, this semester allowed me to cultivate deeper friendships with my housemates and develop new ways of taking time for myself. For The Prospect, this semester welcomed new growth in our staff, our coverage, and our outreach. This newsletter is just one result.
Over the upcoming break, I encourage you to take a moment to consider where new growth may be emerging. Have you made any new relationships this fall? What’s something new you have learned about yourself? Has a class pleasantly surprised you? Where have you found joy and rest? What’s something you’re looking forward to?
If you’d like, share your reflections with prospect@dailyprincetonian.com. We’d love to learn what’s growing for you.
Paige Allen ’21
Co-Head Editor of The Prospect
peallen@princeton.edu
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- Stolen lullabies, illicit affairs. Staff writer Rebecca Cao ’24 reviews Taylor Swift’s most recent album, “folklore,” praising Swift’s “lyrical prowess” and “indie sound” that contrasts with her previous pop-driven albums. Read the review here.
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- Still wish you were Heather? Staff writer Sydney Eck ’24 sits down with musician Sam Spector ’23 to discuss her new single, a punk rock inspired reimagining of Conan Gray’s "Heather." Check out the profile here.
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What to Do This Weekend (and beyond!)
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- If you want to share stories, check out Organizing Stories’ “What is a Story Circle?— and How to Use It in Cultural Organizing,” a student-faculty activist workshop with Southerners on New Ground (S.O.N.G.) on Friday, November 20 at 4:30 p.m. EST. Organizers from S.O.N.G. — a home for LGBTQ+ liberation across all lines of race, class, abilities, age, culture, gender, and sexuality in the South — will lead participants through a spirited workshop on how “story circles” can be employed in cultural and intersectional organizing work. Undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty interested in the intersections between scholarly and activist work can RSVP here.
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If you want to laugh out loud, check out Theatre Intime’s audio production of “As You Like It.” William Shakespeare’s comedy follows Rosalind as she is banished from her father’s kingdom and escapes to the forest of Arden. Disguised as a man, she finds herself in a tangled web of mistaken identity, unrequited love, wise foolery, and terrible poetry. The audio drama premieres Friday, November 20, at 8 p.m. EST on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
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- If you want to be impressed and awed, check out the Princeton Dance Festival Reimagined, presented Nov. 23 and Dec. 3, 4, and 5. The Program in Dance has redesigned their annual festival for the virtual world. Each evening provides a unique and innovative experience followed by a question and answer session with choreographers. Free and open to the public.
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Are you a Princeton University student or alum with a story to tell about love? The Prospect wants to hear from you. We define love stories broadly; reflections on your relationship with your parents, the loss of a loved one, a meaningful friendship, or a breakup with a significant other all qualify as love stories!
There are two options for submission: Heartstrings are up to 1,700 words, and Lil’ Love Stories are 100–200 words. You can submit anonymously (but you’re not required to!). Submit your story here by Nov. 23 at 11:59 p.m. EST for our first round of submissions or by Dec. 7 at 11:59 p.m. EST for our second round.
Lillian Chen '21 is an Associate Prospect Editor as well as the founder of and curator of the "Heartstrings & Lil' Love” column. If you have any questions, she can be reached at lillianc@princeton.edu.
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