U.S.News ranks U. first for eighth consecutive yearFor the eighth consecutive year, Princeton took first place in U.S.
The University received two anonymous bomb threats on Aug. 27 and Sept. 1, and both were determined to be hoaxes.Princeton was one of a slew of schools across the country to receive e-mailed bomb threats in recent weeks, prompting security concerns, especially in light of the sixth anniversary of Sept.
Former Princeton lecturer Haleh Esfandiari was allowed to leave Iran and reunite with her family in the United States last week after eight months of detainment in Iran, including four months of solitary confinement in the country's notorious Evin prison."I'm really disappointed that this happened to me," Esfandiari, who taught Persian language and literature at the University from 1980 to 1994, said at a press conference yesterday.
Less than a year after beginning "a sabbatical from public life," former Tennessee senator Bill Frist '74 will join the University as a visiting professor in the Wilson School.Frist, the first practicing doctor to serve in the Senate since the 1920s, will teach a course on health policy during both of his semesters at the University, one in the fall for graduate students and one in the spring for undergraduates.Nolan McCarty, interim dean of the Wilson School, said in an e-mail that he believes that students "will benefit from [Frist's] real-world experience," adding that Frist's time spent as a practicing physician, heart surgeon and Senate majority leader have informed his views on "important matters [such as] domestic healthcare policy and global health issues."Frist said that he wants to use his experience in politics to highlight what he views as the incalculable benefits of engaging in public service.
When fans attend the first football game in Princeton Stadium on Saturday, they will be greeted by a redesigned Princeton Tiger mascot.But because of alumni and student opposition to an athletic department contest to rename the costumed cat, the mascot will remain known as just "The Tiger.""For the past couple of years we have been trying to create a new mascot that would take people by surprise," said Jamie Zaninovich, senior associate athletic director, who called the old costume "neither fierce nor cute."The athletics department began its search for a name for the traditionally nameless tiger this summer.
The clanging of a live construction site in the former Butler College quad greeted students upon their return to campus this week, bringing emotions of shock and nostalgia.A demolition team razed the quad's 43-year-old buildings, which included Lourie-Love, 1922, 1940, 1941 and 1942 halls."It was a shock to see the buildings come down," Dean of Butler College David Stirk said.Students came forward to express nostalgic sentiments and reminisce over the time they enjoyed in the Butler quad.Kathleen Li '10 said Butler "was the place where I made all of my freshman year memories ... It's all gone."Construction of new buildings will commence in mid-September and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2009, at which point Butler College will become a four-year residential college to be paired with the two-year Wilson College.But students are worried about the effect the demolition will have on the Butler community.
Alternative rock band Everclear will headline the fall Lawnparties concert on Sept. 23 at Quadrangle Club, the USG announced last week.Everclear, which began recording in a Portland, Ore., basement 15 years ago, enjoyed a string of hits throughout the 1990s, including the Grammy-nominated 1997 album "So Much for the Afterglow." Their most recent album ? 2006's "Welcome to the Drama Club" ? is the first to be released since the five-member group reunited in 2004.Though it's been more than a decade since the group's biggest hits, USG social chair Christian Husby '08 said he listened to students' requests in choosing a performer.
Former U.S. senator and University emeritus trustee Bill Frist '74 will join the Wilson School faculty this fall for a one-year appointment.More to come...
Students with finals on the last day of the exam period have been granted a one-day respite this year before they must move out of their dorms.Those who have exams Saturday, May 26 can apply to extend their move-out deadline to noon on Sunday, May 27.
Speaking with the wit and wisdom that characterized his four decades at the University, John V. Fleming GS '63 imparted his final advice to the Class of 2007, calling them "the last Princeton class I will ever really know," at the University's 260th Baccalaureate ceremony this afternoon.Collectively dubbing the graduating seniors as "the Class of Destiny," Fleming, the Louis W.
Jim Williamson '07 has been elected as the newest young alumni trustee, sources informed of the race's outcome said earlier today.
Two brothers will become the first public donors to the planned Princeton Neuroscience Institute, the University announced on Friday.A $30 million donation from James McDonnell '58, John McDonnell '60 and the JSM Charitable Trust will fund the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience, which will study cognitive processes.In a statement, President Tilghman expressed her gratitude for the McDonnells' gift, saying she believes it will "greatly strengthen Princeton's position at the forefront of neuroscience research.""In years to come," Tilghman added, "we expect many important discoveries to emerge from the center [the McDonnells] have created."The announcement is the first step in a larger fundraising campaign that aims to raise money not only for the institute, but also for the University as a whole.
Concluding a nearly five-month search, the University named the Rev. Alison Boden dean of religious life and the chapel yesterday.An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Boden has served as the dean of Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago for the past 12 years.Boden will also have an occasional opportunity to teach undergraduate courses in the religion department, Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson said.Dickerson, who led the search for a new dean of religious life, said the search committee was "very impressed" with Boden's experience and "commitment to social justice." She said Boden's reputation also made an impact on the search committee.
Less than a year after beginning "a sabbatical from public life," former Tennessee senator Bill Frist '74 will join the University as a visiting professor in the Wilson School."We are very pleased to welcome Bill Frist back to Princeton and the Woodrow Wilson School," Wilson School dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 said in a statement.
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Cottage Club is eligible for property tax exempt status and that Princeton Borough must reimburse the club for its tax payments, totaling more than $300,000 since 2001.
Lindsay Jacob '08, a comparative literature concentrator, died on June 15 in Philadelphia after a long bout with cancer.
The University and the graduate board of the merged Dial, Elm and Cannon Club (DEC) confirmed this week that Cannon Club plans to take new members in February 2008 after 34 years of closed doors."I think this is a great step forward," University Vice President Mark Burstein said.
Follow Wesley Morgan '10's journey from the United States to the Middle East and through war-torn Iraq at Notes from Downrange. Now through early September, Morgan will shadow General David Petraeus GS '87, four-star commander of U.S.
Emmy award-winning actor Bradley Whitford exhorted the Class of 2007 this morning to engage proactively with a society where "fake honesty" is practiced as much in politics as in acting."Charisma will always blur content," said Whitford, who is best known for his role in the popular television show "The West Wing." He balanced criticisms of the Bush administration with jokes, urging graduates to use their education and intelligence to tackle politicized issues such as climate change."If this country is to succeed," he said, "you will all have to get up out of your seats, turn on the lights, and help write the story."Whitford discussed the role of television in politics, and, in light of the 2008 presidential election, emphasized the distinction between a candidate "seeming presidential and actually being qualified.""Willing suspension of disbelief," he said, "is a fun thing to do in a dark theater... but it is a dangerous thing to do when the fate of an accelerating shrinking planet is at stake."With graduates dressed in their orange and black beer jackets, Class Day follows Baccalaureate with a lighter tone and is the second ceremony of graduation weekend, leading up to Commencement tomorrow morning.Class Day serves as a forum for honoring members of the graduating class and this year's ceremony began with a moment of rememberance for Alex Adam, Alan Ebersole and Melissa Huang, three members of the Class of 2007 who died before reaching graduation.Former dean of admission Fred Hargadon was also present at the ceremony.
A total of 1,218 students of the 1,791 admitted to the University have chosen to enter the Class of 2011, according to Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye.
