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University launches online ticketing for campus events

University launches online ticketing for campus events

The University Ticketing Office announced last Tuesday the launch of a new online ticketing program in partnership with Tickets.com, a company which specializes in handling online ticket sales.Tickets to athletic events, concerts and theater performances can now be ordered online as well as by phone, mail or in person from campus ticket offices.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

They're out there: U. debuts its first astrobiology course

Students this year have the opportunity to study astrobiology, a multidisciplinary field that, according to the Student Course Guide, aims to "discover life's origins and to seek extraterrestrial life."Astrophysics professor Ed Turner describes the new course, AST255: Life in the Universe, as "pedagogically challenging.""Not all is known," explained Turner, one of the professors for the course.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

New fundraising effort to support OA, campus life programs

As a result of a new fundraising effort by the Office of Campus Life, Outdoor Action (OA) as well as other athletic and campus life programs might receive an infusion of money in the near future.Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson began coordinating the largest fundraising initiative earmarked specifically for campus life last winter.Though the initiative's scope is modest compared to the 250th Anniversary Campaign that raised $1.14 billion, Dickerson hopes to raise enough to provide significant additional funds for 17 athletic and 15 campus life departments."We recognize that we have numerous needs that are not currently supported by the operating budgets," Dickerson said.New funds raised through the initiative will likely endow sevral programs so that they can generate new income on their own each year, Dickerson said.This fundraising effort is expected to take place over the next three to five years with an official report published in the next six to eight weeks, she added.In addition to OA, funds will be earmarked to add counselors to health services, improve Dillon Gymnasium, help cultural centers and create a student publications board.Though OA director Rick Curtis '79 said it was still too early to determine how the initiative would impact his organization, he said, "The good news is that the University wants to provide additional funds for OA . . . We're certainly excited to be included."Dickerson said she hopes to raise funds for OA from alumni, friends and other donors outside the University.She added that the Priorities Committee ? the body responsible for allocating University discretionary funds ? previously had been hesitant to give money to OA.But with a new infusion of funds, both OA leaders and students are excited for expanded opportunities.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

24-hour study space initiative stalled

Efforts to create a 24 hour study space on campus continue to be deterred by obstacles.USG President Matt Margolin '05 and his board planned a focus group to meet about the issue twice this week.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

Sophomore's death caused by cyanide

Melissa Huang, a sophomore who was found dead in her University room by her parents and a custodian earlier this month, died after ingesting the toxin cyanide, officials said Thursday.President Tilghman made the announcement by email Thursday morning to all students, but administrators and local officials urged the campus community not to jump to conclusions about what this development might mean."The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was cyanide," said Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Medical Examiner's Office, adding that "the manner of death is still listed as undetermined."The most common types of cyanide are hydrogen cyanide, a colorless gas with a faint, bitter almond-like odor, and potassium and sodium cyanide, both white solids also with bitter, almond-like odors.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

Baehr '05 makes push for Borough Council seat

Evan Baehr '05 promoted his candidacy for Princeton Borough Council at a debate last night, portraying himself as a fresh perspective and needed University voice in local government.Dozens of students and a few community residents were on hand to hear the 21-year-old College Republicans president debate with his opponents, Roger Martindell and Andrew Koontz.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

Redesigned University website approaching campus-wide debut

Though not completed in time for the start of the academic year, the major renovation of the University's website has reached its final stages after a yearlong joint effort by OIT and the Office of Communications.Director of Communications Lauren Robinson-Brown '85 said the groups are still working to finish the project."We've been having a lot of positive input, but that input has been making us work harder," she said.

NEWS | 09/23/2004

Palmer stores have consumers worried about higher prices

These days Palmer Square may be confused for Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive with stores like Banana Republic, J.

NEWS | 09/22/2004

International students adjust to campus

Imagine this: It's the end of August. You step off your plane at Newark Liberty International Airport, arriving in the United States for the first time with a few suitcases and with friends and family thousands of miles away.

NEWS | 09/22/2004

University gives funds to Borough

The University announced last week that it will contribute an additional $250,000 toward capital improvements in Princeton Borough this fiscal year.The contribution is in response to a letter Borough Mayor Joseph O'Neill wrote President Tilghman in August, revealing a shortfall in the Borough's finances and requesting a renewed "sense of partnership" between the two groups.The $250,000 is in addition to the scheduled $350,000 payment arranged between the University and Borough, as well as a $141,000 donation arising from McCarter Theatre's expansion."I think the University has responded in a commendable way," O'Neill said.

NEWS | 09/22/2004

MicroFridges garner positive response

Last year students had to search the campus for a place to make their popcorn, but no more. A change in University policy has approved a new combination of microwave and refrigerator for use in dorm rooms.Beginning this school year, 200 MicroFridges are available to students through Tiger Rentals, the student agency that supplies appliances.According to Housing Department Inspections Manager Ken Paulaski, the University had not previously allowed them because of New Jersey policy.However, because other institutions had not been adhering to this policy, the University approached the state and received approval for the use of MicroFridges, Paulaski said.Student agencies head Scott Weaver declined to comment on why the state allowed the appliances.The black appliances have three parts ? refrigerator, freezer and a firmly attached microwave.Reactions among the student body have been largely positive.Amie Ko '07 said delivery was not a problem, as the appliance was shipped only two days after she ordered it.However, freshman roommates Rohini Rao and Suzanne Levy said their fridge was delivered a week late and left outside the room even though the price included installation.But Rao defended her purchase anyway, saying "it does keep my Peach Diet Snapple cold."Some students have complained about the prices, which for this year are set at $190 for the rental plus a $40 refundable deposit."That's so ridiculous," said Scott DeBenedett '08 ? who ended up renting one.Weaver said "just over 100" of the allotted 200 units have been rented out.When asked if he would limit the number of rentals to 200 again next year, Paulaski said the decision would be made based on this year's success.He also explained that storing the relatively large MicroFridges is a problem for the student agency.Tiger Rentals would have to sell off some refrigerators to make room for more MicroFridges if the demand became larger.The Housing Department will only allow one MicroFridge per room.Students are permitted one refrigerator or freezer per person in addition to the MicroFridge.

NEWS | 09/22/2004

Paralyzed, moving on

If not for that day in January 2003, Andrea Wilson '08 might have never touched Princeton. She would have swung, flipped and soared in the air at extraordinary speeds, as a member of Cornell University's gymnastics team.But these days, she is confined to a seat, paralyzed from the waist down.

NEWS | 09/21/2004

Class of 2005 explores wide range of grad school options

It's that time of year again ? just after the weather turns cool and investment banking posters begin popping up all over campus.

NEWS | 09/21/2004

Seniors optimistic as employers look to expand hiring

As Kyle Detwiler '05 sat for a job interview yesterday in the Manhattan office of Bain & Company, a consulting firm, he found himself in an enviable position: the pressure was off.That's because Detwiler, an economics major, already has a job offer on the table from Merrill Lynch, where he interned over the summer.He says many of his friends also saw summer internships yield offers."I think the numbers are up this year," Detwiler said.

NEWS | 09/21/2004

U. releases quintile rank to students

Following the University's adoption of proposals to counter grade inflation last spring, the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing has decided to add quintile rank to student academic records.

NEWS | 09/21/2004

Kelly '76 addresses media's role in politics

While the Republican Party claims to be weary of liberal coverage in the mainstream media, the right wing has done better in harnessing the power of radio and news networks to reach voters, Time magazine Managing Editor Jim Kelly '76 said Monday.Kelly spoke to a packed Senate Chamber at Whig Hall about objectivity in modern journalism in a lecture titled, "Covering Politics in the World of Michael Moore and Rush Limbaugh."Kelly said, though Time will not support a presidential candidate in this election, there will still be a war of opposing media voices."The 2000 election was easier to cover ? until the votes came in," he said.Since then, he said, journalism has been complicated by developments such as well-funded interest groups, partisan news networks and politically slanted documentaries such as "Farenheit 9/11."Kelly said the emergence of new voices has divided the media into two distinct camps: the "blue truth" and the "red truth," in reference to the colors generally used on election maps to represent Democratic and Republican majorities.The "blue truth" is epitomized by Dan Rather, he said, whereas the "red truth" believes that Dan Rather represents what is wrong with the media.On the whole, Kelly said the media clash is "illustrated very well by JibJab," referring to a popular website in which cartoons of the candidates dance and insult each other.Kelly described the growing role of lay citizens and groups in political coverage, citing the recent release of anti-Kerry commercials by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.Kelly said that while the Swift Boat Veterans spent "very little money" on the spot, the national media's drive for objective coverage "forced reporters covering the Swift Boat Veterans to include both pro and con" points of view.

NEWS | 09/20/2004

Yesletter.com founders institute scholarship

The student-run college application website Yesletter.com has established an annual scholarship program for "Outstanding Peer Service."Though Adam Ludwig '06, Robert Moore '06 and University of Pennsylvania student Cliff Jones '06 founded the site two years ago, they initiated the $1,000 scholarship program this past spring.

NEWS | 09/20/2004

'Cottage Bill' vote delayed after flooding

The State Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Properties Committee was set to vote Monday on the so-called "Cottage Bill," but flooding in the statehouse building forced legislators to postpone the meeting until Thursday.The proposed bill comes in response to repeated attempts by the Cottage Club to gain a property taxexemption based on historic status.The "Cottage Bill" will ensure that no private organization classified as a historic site would be relieved of local property taxes unless it met strict qualifications regarding public accessibility.When Cottage Club applied for tax-exempt status in July 2001, Princeton Borough stood to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars if it was exempted and other eating clubs followed suit, former Borough Mayor Marvin Reed said in a November 2003 interview."We protested [the application quite vigorously and approached a number of legislators," Reed said.

NEWS | 09/20/2004

Task Force prepares final report on health

The University's Task Force on Health and Well-Being will issue its third and final report in mid-November, which will provide a detailed budget and establish a set of goals to improve health services across the University.In its first two reports, the task force focused on eight problem areas, including nutrition and University Health Services (UHS).The final report will assess the same areas, but will also include cost estimates and will prioritize goals, said University Vice President and Secretary Bob Durkee '69.In an email, President Tilgman wrote, "the challenge of the task force is twofold: to prioritize their list . . . [and] to begin to attach costs to the proposals.""We simply cannot do everything that is on their 'wish list,'" she added.The other areas for improvement identified by the task force included the Student Health Plan; fitness facilities; integration of health, wellness, and fitness services; faculty and staff issues; postdoctoral student concerns; and child care.However, Durkee said, it is not clear that there is consensus on what areas of health and wellbeing require the most attention."There's a lot of data to digest," Durkee said.The task force has yet to incorporate information from recent student surveys.Students requested extended hours for Dillion Gymnasium in a survey conducted last spring.The University community also wanted to know more about the nutritional content of campus food and the available health resources.The University has already addressed some of the task force's recommendations, which included the recent transformation of the Beverage Lab in Frist Campus Center into the Health Lab.UHS will launch a new, more accessible website in October.They also made improvements to the student health plan.Durkee noted that most of the work going into the final report has revolved around child care for faculty, staff and graduate students.

NEWS | 09/20/2004

Wilson School students voice opinions on lawsuit

A Bulgarian, a Slovakian and an American sit in the lobby of Robertson Hall on Monday afternoon.It sounds like the premise for a politically incorrect joke, but the three students ? candidates for a masters in public administration from the Wilson School ? were nothing but serious when asked about the Robertson Foundation suit.They defend the graduate program, which a $35 million grant by Charles Robertson in 1961 dramatically expanded, has done a good job at sending students in government service.The Robertsons, however, who filed suit against the University in 2002 to reclaim the nearly $600 million endowment behind the Wilson School, says the School has failed in that job.

NEWS | 09/20/2004

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