News

Sociology department not concerned by drop in concentrators

Though the sociology department saw a 47 percent drop in the number of sophomore sign-ins this year, departmental representative Paul Willis said he was not concerned by the decrease. After the April 24 deadline for sophomore sign-ins, 28 members of the Class of 2014 had signed into the department, compared to the 53 students in the Class of 2013 and the 62 students in the Class of 2012 who signed in.

News & Notes: West GS '80 heads to trial today

African American studies professor Cornel West GS ’80 will head to trial in New York today after an arrest in October for an act of planned civil disobedience in front of a Harlem police station. West will be joined in the courtroom by 21 other protestors with whom West was arrested at the time.

Consolidation 101: The new government

One of the many challenges presented by consolidation was which form of government the joint municipality should choose. In February 2011, the Municipal Consolidation Subcommittee of the Transition Task Force — the entity responsible for ensuring that the consolidation of the two municipalities occurs smoothly — unanimously recommended that the joint Princeton municipality adopt the borough government structure.

Fleming ’12 named valedictorian; Butterworth ’12 named Latin salutatorian

Nathaniel Fleming ’12 has been selected as this year’s valedictorian and Liz Butterworth ’12 will serve as Latin salutatorian, the University announced at Monday’s faculty meeting following the faculty’s approval of the students’ nominations by the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing.

9 honored for contributions to University community

Nine undergraduates have been awarded the 2012 Spirit of Princeton Award, given annually to undergraduates whose positive contributions to the University community may have previously gone unrecognized. The award is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.

At meeting, USG looks to improve academic feedback

At its meeting on Sunday night, the USG discussed its progress on five projects that members said would improve academic feedback at the University. This endeavor has been collectively dubbed the “Improving Academic Feedback Project.”

Following campaign, U. unveils new Asian-American studies class

Against the backdrop of rising student interest in an Asian-American studies program, students interested in the field will have a chance to pursue their interests in a new course next fall.Taught by English professor Anne Cheng, ENG 224: Asian-American Law, Bodies and the Everyday will examine the role of Asian-Americans in American constitutional history, focusing on both specific court cases and how the law affects everyday life. Second Circuit Court of Appeals judge Denny Chin ’75 will attend many of the course’s meetings and help Cheng teach the course.

News & Notes: Malkiel to present lecture at Dartmouth

Former dean of the college Nancy Malkiel will deliver a public lecture on Tuesday at Dartmouth as part of the College’s “Leading Voices in Higher Education” speaker series.

Despite steadiness in concentrations, sociology major declarations drop

The sociology department experienced a significant drop in the number of declared concentrators between last year and this year, the most dramatic yearly change when most departments reported similar numbers of sign-ins compared with those of last year.While the growth of some departments may be due to the larger number of admitted students in the sophomore and junior classes, a department-by-department breakdown of the numbers nevertheless reveals a few shifts in student interest.

In new town, possibility of new ties

This November, rather than electing separate mayors of the Borough and the Township, voters will elect a single person to lead the new municipality. The impending consolidation of the Borough and Township next January has heightened the importance of the upcoming mayoral election.The new mayor will play a large role in shaping the future of the new Princeton, especially in influencing the ever-evolving and often contentious relationship between the town and the University.

Blogging through cancer

"Anyone who’s been in the role of patient can attest to the way it changes how you see yourself,” Suleika Jaouad ’10 wrote in a recent column published in The New York Times.Jaouad, a 23-year-old writer, was diagnosed with leukemia a year ago, only shortly after graduating from the University. In between undergoing rounds of chemotherapy and working toward recovery, Jaouad writes a regular column in The Times, and previously wrote for The Huffington Post, about her life with cancer.

U. held investment in Pakistan

A week after the student body voted in favor of greater transparency in the University’s financial investments, a Daily Princetonian review of University tax filings shows that as recently as July 2009 the University held a financial account within the country of Pakistan.The fund had a maximum value of $86,000, University Spokesperson Martin Mbugua said in an email. He explained that the account was set up by an external fund manager, rather than through a direct investment decision by the Princeton University Investment Company.

Sophomore with Super PAC

While working for the Obama campaign in 2008, Tim Hwang ’14 noted that many federal policies failed to include the voices of American youth. With a group of likeminded college students Hwang discussed the creation of an organization that would start a youth lobby in Washington, D.C., to better represent students in the nation’s capital.

Tilghman to teach course

In March 2010, President Shirley Tilghman gave a lecture at the University called “The Meaning of Race in the Post-Genome Era.” A dinner conversation she had with history and Wilson School professor Keith Wailoo right before the lecture revealed that the two shared similar interests about the interplay of modern genetics and the public sphere.Next semester, the two will co-teach WWS 354: Modern Genetics and Public Policy, a Monday evening seminar that will explore topics ranging from eugenics to FDA regulations, according to the course description. 

For U. fund, extra money creates legal complexity

When professor emeritus of Romance languages and literatures Alfred Foulet GS ’27 donated a gift in the name of Fulton McMahon, Class of 1884, he intended for the gift to be spent covering travel expenses for graduate students. The fund, established in the 1980s, would be reserved for research abroad in what was then called the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.Now, the University is legally seeking to expand the parameters of the Fulton McMahon Research Fund, broaden the scope of who can benefit from the yearly income. The process of expanding the purview of the donation highlights the complicated issues involved when yearly funding exceeds the enumerated need on the campus.

For Borough mayor Moore '79, an uncertain political future

Only five months after winning a close election to succeed Mildred Trotman as Borough Mayor, Yina Moore ’79 seems to be slipping in political favor.It remains unclear how or why Moore, the highest-ranking Democrat in the municipality, apparently lost the support of local Democrats.

Failed Republican candidate pitches campaign reform

Former Louisiana governor and Americans Elect and Reform Party nominee for president of the United States Buddy Roemer discussed campaign reform and his own long-shot bid for the presidency on Wednesday night.

Cartoon: Trolling at Princeton

News & Notes: Light fixture malfunction causes smoke in Woolworth

The source of the smoke that caused the evacuation of roughly 100 people from Woolworth Music Center on Monday has been determined, according to an email from University spokesperson Martin Mbugua. The cause of the smoke has been traced to one of the light fixtures on the third floor of the building’s atrium, which malfunctioned yesterday.

TI's day trip to 'The Jerry Springer Show' reveals life outside the Orange Bubble

When Jerry Springer singled Margaret Tait ’14 out of the crowd at his show on Monday and told her that he loved her, she said her face turned bright red immediately.“He stopped and looked at me, stared at me for a while and pointed. I waved. And he said, ‘You. I love you.’ Then he made some bluntly sexual comment,” Tait said. “I’m pretty sure he’s in his 60s. It was awkward.”