Good morning! This is Kia Ghods, the head Newsletter editor.
Our top three stories this morning:
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Ahead of election season, Frist reinstates notifications for first-class mail
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The University mailroom is located in Frist Campus Center.
Abby de Riel / The Daily Princetonian
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Today’s Briefing:
Ahead of election season, Frist reinstates notifications for first-class mail: Princeton’s Print & Mail Services has resumed email notifications for First-Class mail for students and faculty, a decision prompted by feedback and aimed at addressing issues related to recent software and mailbox changes. These notifications, which are essential for receiving personal and official correspondence, will benefit students — especially ahead of the U.S. 2024 presidential election — by ensuring timely access to mail-in ballots. The service improvement, influenced by student complaints about notification lapses and processing delays, excludes certain mail types like periodicals and marketing mail, which are handled separately.
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Long-term future of Princeton test-optional policy unclear as Dartmouth reinstates requirement: Dartmouth College has decided to reinstate the requirement for standardized test scores for admissions starting with the Class of 2029, citing research indicating that test scores are valuable for evaluating applicants. This move contrasts with Princeton University’s decision to maintain its test-optional policy for at least two more admissions cycles, with the future of this policy beyond the 2025–26 cycle still uncertain. The research backing Dartmouth’s decision suggests that standardized tests can help identify high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds, arguing that test-optional policies may inadvertently harm these applicants by not encouraging them to submit potentially beneficial scores.
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Two Princeton faculty awarded humanities research grant: Professors Angela Creager and Ryo Morimoto, have been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support their research projects in the humanities, highlighting the importance of this field amid nationwide debates over its future in education. Creager’s project will delve into the history of the Ames Test and its impact on environmental regulation and cancer research, while Morimoto’s work will explore U.S.-Japanese collaboration in robot development for disaster recovery and elderly care. These grants are part of the NEH’s broader effort to preserve and expand access to humanities studies, reflecting the vital role these disciplines play in understanding societal impacts of science and technology.
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Town Council consolidates three committees into one, sparking controversy: Princeton’s Town Council recently moved to combine three committees, relating to civil rights, human services, and affordable housing, into one commission. The proposal was carried out without the knowledge of the members of the committees, who were not alerted until Jan. 5 through email. Some community members have criticized the move, saying it will frustrate the work of these committees, while three members of the Town Council supported the move, with one saying it will allow the committee to collaborate better.
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OPINION | Don’t write off the benefits of institutional neutrality
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Large arched gothic building in snow-covered ground with sunset at the back.
Isabel Richardson / The Daily Princetonian
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I’m Christie Davis, an opinion columnist for the ‘Prince.’ The marked intensification of student speech, caused in part by the conflict in the Middle East and controversy surrounding Ivy League presidents’ congressional testimony on rising antisemitism, has thrust the role of universities as both conduits of and participants in speech into the national spotlight. Some argue that the University is answerable to inquiries on its positions regarding national and global events in order to continuously support marginalized voices. While this goal is undeniably admirable, a reexamination of the Kalven Report and recent restrictive legislation levied towards Florida universities serves as a necessary reminder that, in an increasingly polarized world, we shouldn’t overlook the unconditional protection of diversity-centered conversations provided by institutional neutrality.
— Columnist Christie Davis 
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More from Opinion:
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At your leisure
- PODCAST: Listen to this week’s special episode of Daybreak, The Daily Princetonian’s daily news podcast.
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SPORTS | By the Numbers: Two Weeks in Princeton Athletics
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Princeton women’s swimming & diving celebrates during a record breaking showing at the annual HYP meet.
Photo courtesy of @princetonwsd/Instagram.
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Princeton University’s athletic teams participated in 34 games and matches across 20 sports in ten U.S. states over two weeks, achieving a 62 percent win rate — notably higher when playing at home. In track and field, Julia Jongejeugd and Angela McAuslan-Kelly came close to toppling records in the pentathlon and weight throw, respectively, while a men’s relay team nearly topped the all-time Princeton record in the 4x400m. Additionally, significant achievements were noted in tennis and swimming, with new rankings for tennis players and record-breaking performances by the women’s swimming and diving team, underscoring the breadth and depth of talent across Princeton’s intercollegiate athletic teams. Tune in next week for the next analysis!
READ THE PIECE→
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If you have any feedback or concerns about today’s newsletter, please email managingeditor@dailyprincetonian.com
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Today’s newsletter was copyedited by Bryan Zhang. Illustrations by Luiza Chevres. Thank you.
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