News

University launches program to up diversity

The Admission Office and Alumni Schools Council have launched a program aimed at increasing the socioeconomic diversity of the University's undergraduate applicant pool through pilot programs involving Boston and Washington, D.C.-area public high schools.The programs are based on creating relationships with schools that have traditionally not yielded applicants to the University and have a large number of low-income and minority students."What we were aware of was that there were Princeton-caliber students out there, and the University wasn't seeking them out, and they weren't seeking out Princeton," chair of the Boston pilot program and vice president of the Princeton Association of New England Andrew Hoffman '89 said in an interview.Both the Admission Office and Alumni Schools Council (ASC) recognized that outreach efforts to these schools present "a qualitatively different challenge" because many students have never seriously considered the University and are reluctant to apply for financial reasons, co-chair of the Washington, D.C.

Tilghman denies Harvard interest

Though newspapers have speculated in recent weeks that President Tilghman might be a candidate to replace Larry Summers as the president of Harvard, Tilghman said she has no interest in the job in an interview Wednesday."Why would I leave the best job in higher education?" Tilghman said, adding, "I have spoken to no one, and I have no interest in the job."The Guardian, a British newspaper, reported Tuesday that religion professor Cornel West GS '80, who left Harvard in 2002 after a much-publicized spat with Summers, had suggested Tilghman as a possible replacement for Summers.West had previously said he believes his former employer could learn from the examples of "strong-willed" women, such as Tilghman and Brown president Ruth Simmons.West specifically praised Tilghman's leadership in an interview Tuesday."She would be a great university president across the board," West said.

Bush names Bolten '76 chief of staff

President Bush named White House budget director Joshua Bolten '76 his new chief of staff Tuesday morning after Andrew Card, the current chief, announced his resignation.At a brief Oval Office ceremony, Bush described Bolten as "a man with broad experience," "a creative policy thinker" and "a man of candor and humor and directness, who is comfortable with responsibility and knows how to lead.""No person is better prepared for this important position," Bush added.In a short statement after Bush's announcement, Bolten praised the president and Card, saying he was excited to take up the post."You've set a clear course to protect our people at home, to promote freedom abroad and to expand our prosperity," Bolten said to the president.

Slaughter quits McDonald's board

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 has resigned from her position on the board of directors of McDonald's Corporation, the company announced yesterday.Slaughter cited the demands of her job as dean and scheduling difficulties in explaining her decision to resign, Crain's Magazine reported yesterday.

Slaughter quits McDonald's board

Wilson School Dean Anne-Marie Slaughter '80 has resigned from her position on the board of directors of McDonald's Corporation, the company announced yesterday.Slaughter cited the demands of her job as dean and scheduling difficulties in explaining her decision to resign, Crain's Magazine reported yesterday.

On job trail, seniors sweat deflated GPAs

As seniors receive acceptance and rejection letters from employers, fellowships and graduate schools this spring, many wonder what role their GPAs have played in the process.Some students fear that the University's new grading policy, which seeks to limit the number of A-range grades awarded, has weakened their chances of securing positions over students at other Ivy League institutions that continue to give out ostensibly inflated grades.University officials deny, however, that the policy has had a negative effect on students' prospects.

Reporter criticizes pre-war coverage

Journalist George Packer accused journalists and government officials of a "herd mentality" in the lead-up to the war in Iraq at a lecture yesterday in Dodds Auditorium.A staff writer for The New Yorker, Packer discussed his recent book about U.S.

Plight of black men worsens, professor finds

Black men in the United States are becoming increasingly estranged from the labor force and mainstream American society as part of a trend which has accelerated despite considerable gains in the overall economy, recent studies from researchers at Princeton and peer institutions suggest.Princeton sociology professor Bruce Western, one of the experts behind the findings, said that the situation for black men is even more serious than previously believed."We thought that the economic expansion at the end of the '90s produced better opportunities for young black men without higher education.

Plight of black men worsens, professor finds

Black men in the United States are becoming increasingly estranged from the labor force and mainstream American society as part of a trend which has accelerated despite considerable gains in the overall economy, recent studies from researchers at Princeton and peer institutions suggest.Princeton sociology professor Bruce Western, one of the experts behind the findings, said that the situation for black men is even more serious than previously believed."We thought that the economic expansion at the end of the '90s produced better opportunities for young black men without higher education.

Chef to rock stars helps tsunami victims in Asia

Private chef to rock bands like Pearl Jam, U2 and the Rolling Stones, Bruce French saw the destruction of the December 2004 South Asian earthquake and tsunami and decided to take action.Ten days after the devastating flood, French ? who spoke about his experiences at a lecture Tuesday in Murray-Dodge ? flew to Sri Lanka.

Sex and religion

On job trail, seniors sweat deflated GPAs

As seniors receive acceptance and rejection letters from employers, fellowships and graduate schools this spring, many wonder what role their GPAs have played in the process.Some students fear that the University's new grading policy, which seeks to limit the number of A-range grades awarded, has weakened their chances of securing positions over students at other Ivy League institutions that continue to give out ostensibly inflated grades.University officials deny, however, that the policy has had a negative effect on students' prospects.

Reporter criticizes pre-war coverage

Journalist George Packer accused journalists and government officials of a "herd mentality" in the lead-up to the war in Iraq at a lecture yesterday in Dodds Auditorium.A staff writer for The New Yorker, Packer discussed his recent book about U.S.

Sex and religion

Bush names Bolten '76 chief of staff

President Bush named White House budget director Joshua Bolten '76 his new chief of staff Tuesday morning after Andrew Card, the current chief, announced his resignation.At a brief Oval Office ceremony, Bush described Bolten as "a man with broad experience," "a creative policy thinker" and "a man of candor and humor and directness, who is comfortable with responsibility and knows how to lead.""No person is better prepared for this important position," Bush added.In a short statement after Bush's announcement, Bolten praised the president and Card, saying he was excited to take up the post."You've set a clear course to protect our people at home, to promote freedom abroad and to expand our prosperity," Bolten said to the president.

Chef to rock stars helps tsunami victims in Asia

Private chef to rock bands like Pearl Jam, U2 and the Rolling Stones, Bruce French saw the destruction of the December 2004 South Asian earthquake and tsunami and decided to take action.Ten days after the devastating flood, French ? who spoke about his experiences at a lecture Tuesday in Murray-Dodge ? flew to Sri Lanka.

Repeat vandalism mars Scully

Scully Hall was vandalized over spring break, the third time in the past four weeks that the dorm has been the target of criminal mischief.The incidents have sparked an investigation by Public Safety, as well as a call from West College for individuals with information to step forward.The first case of vandalism in Scully was reported on Feb.

Departments key to policy's success

When the University leadership decided it was time to combat the problem of grade inflation, it faced a fundamental problem: nobody wanted to take the leap first.

Alumna receives $350k for 2001 chapel accident

An alumna who fell from the University Chapel's bell tower five years ago reached a $350,000 settlement last week with the two contractors who were renovating the tower at the time.Though the University had originally been named a defendant in the lawsuit, the judge presiding over the case granted Princeton's motion to have itself dismissed from the case, citing charitable immunity laws, University officials said.Alexandra Shaw '03 was climbing a spiral staircase and ladder inside the chapel's north turret the night of Dec.

Fun in the sun

Taking a break for a game of catch, Neil White '09 (l.) and Yao Wang '09 enjoy the long-awaited warm spring weather on Alexander Beach.