News

In her last commencement speech, Tilghman tells Class of 2013 to ‘aim high and be bold'

After a Commencement weekend characterized by rain, with guests huddling under white tents, the sun shone brightlyTuesdaymorning as members of the Class of 2013 marched onto the front lawn of Nassau Hall for the University's 266th Commencement. One thousand two hundred and sixty-one members of the Class of 2013, five students from other classes and 892 graduate students received degrees in the morning ceremony, joined from the audience by roughly 10,000 friends and family members. The University's 19th president Shirley Tilghman addressed the graduates.

How Jay White, a Neil Diamond cover act, duped Princeton

Reunions attendees young and old at the 50th Reunions tentSaturdaynight were entranced by the classic songs of Neil Diamond.

N.J. senator Lautenberg dies at 89

U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, a Democrat from New Jersey who served five terms in Congress, died from complications due to viral pneumoniaon Mondaymorning,according to a statementreleased by his office.

Couple allegedly robbed near Engineering Quadrangle after stun gun threat

One man and one woman were allegedly robbedon Sundaynight at10 p.m.on Charlton Street between Nassau Street and William Street, close to the Engineering Quadrangle and Princeton University Press, according to a Princeton Police press release and an email sent to undergraduate studentsMondayafternoon by Department of Public Safety Administrative Captain Donald Reichling. The two victims told police who arrived on the scene that several black males in their late teens to early 20s stole cash, credit cards and a cell phone after allegedly threatening them with a stun gun.

Class Day speaker Remnick '81 speaks on luck, freedom and how Princeton changed his 'dim, denimed' self

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and editor of The New Yorker David Remnick ’81 discussed the responsibilities of freedom and recalled how Princeton changed his life in his Class Day speech Monday morning. Remnick opened by asking the Class Day committee what they were thinking when they chose him over the likes of comedian Louie C.K., filmmaker Lena Dunham and Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan ’81. “The truth is, of course, I don’t want to know what led to your impoverished decision, because I’m so immensely grateful for it,” Remnick said. He recalled arriving at Princeton as a freshman in 1976 as an “amorphous teenager … dim, denimed and desperate to learn.” Remnick majored in comparative literature — what his father called “fancy English” — though he told the crowd that he received a C-plus and D in Russian 102 and 105, respectively. Despite his grades, however, Remnick said he was changed by the University, citing the classes he took with professors Robert Hollander and John McPhee ’53, and his experience outside the classroom writing for the University Press Club after initially being hosed and founding the Nassau Weekly. Remnick likened the seniors to the protagonist of the novel “This Side of Paradise” by F.

Baccalaureate: Bernanke offers Princeton seniors advice on careers, romance and everything in between

Chairman of the Federal Reserve and former chair of the University’s Department of EconomicsBen Bernankereturned to campus 11 years after he left the faculty to speak to the Class of 2013 at Baccalaureate and make observations based on his experiences on everything from potential career paths to future romances. In her introduction, University President Shirley Tilghman described Bernanke as open and fair-minded, traits that not only “won him the deep respect of colleagues” with diverse political views but also enabled him to “rise above the partisan fray in the service of both a Republican and Democratic president.” Tilghman also described him as “one of the nation’s foremost monetary economists” whose leadership during the 2008 financial crisis has led to a “weak but palpable recovery.” “As each of you prepares to put your education to good use, in the service of this nation and all nations, you could not do better than to look to Ben Bernanke, who has combined in his career the best elements of academic and public life,” she said.

Q&A: Chris Lu ’88

Former Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu ’88visited the Princeton campus for his 25threunion andheadlined a panelon the opportunities and challenges facing Asian-Americans today.

With 252, Class of 1998 sets Guinness World Record for largest gathering of people in tennis outfits

For its 15thReunion class picture, the Class of 1998 successfully completed an attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people in tennis outfits, with 252 participants. As this was an attempt to set a new record, as per Guinness policy, the minimum number of people needed is 250.

Alumni panelists discuss changes in news media

The strengths and weaknesses of modern media were discussed at an alumni panel, “Media and Influence: Don’t Shoot the Messenger,” Saturday morning during Reunions. The panelists included Karen Magee ’83, Dan Porter ’88, Helen Coster ’98, AJ Smith ’03 and Jennifer Epstein ’08.

Q&A: Pablo Chavez ’93, Dir. of Public Policy, Google Inc.

Pablo Chavez '93, Director of Public Policy at Google Inc., participated in an Alumni-Faculty Forum titled "Government Today: Key Domestic Policy Issues" on Saturday morning.

Tilghman, Eisgruber discuss transition at conversation with alumni

Twelve years ago this weekend, University President Shirley Tilghman met Provost and President-elect Christopher Eishgruber ’83 for the first time. Tilghman, then a molecular biology professor, had just been elected to serve as president and was preparing to assume office in the fall.

Senator Ted Cruz ’92 discusses experiences as conservative student at Princeton

“I was a weird 17-year-old,” TedCruz’92 told the full house gathered in McCosh 50 to hear him speak in a conversation with professor Robert George on theFridayafternoon of Reunions.

Eisgruber ’83 lectures on importance of technology in learning

The University and universities at large must learn to use technology to enhance the learning experience, according to University Provost and President-elect Christopher Eisgruber ’83 in his lecture entitled, “The Changing Landscape of Higher Education:MOOCs, Money and the Future of Liberal Arts Education” in the filled-to-capacity Dodds Auditoriumon Fridayafternoon.

Chris Lu ’88 and Don Lu ’88 discuss challenges, benefits of being the ‘model minority’

Two prominent Asian-American alumni in public service discussed challenges and opportunities for the Asian-American community at the University, in public service and in the world over a breakfast panelFriday,titled “Trailblazers.” Former Obama assistant and White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu ’88 and Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in New Delhi Don Lu ’88 talked about the benefits and pitfalls of the “model minority” stereotype, the importance of Asian-American studies and the number of Asian-Americans in leadership positions. Both Don Lu and Chris Lu — who are not related — recalled their consciousness of their Asian-American identity while growing up and their efforts to reconcile the values of their parents’ generation with their own.

For potential P-Rade leader Sweeny ’35, U. changed his ‘hum-drum life.’

Krugman talks European financial woes, downplays globalization

Economics professor Paul Krugman fielded questions from the public regarding the issues facing the United States and global economies in a lecture on Saturday morning.

Workshop defines role of class historian

In the Class Historians Workshop, Class of 1982 historian Julio Gomez spoke with five other class historians ranging from the Class of 1966 to the Class of 2009 on how to address problems such as lack of pull and the need for prescriptive guidelines that are faced by Princeton class historians. The job of a Princeton class historian is to document the people in a class and the events they participate in from the beginning of their freshman year to the present day.

FBI director Mueller ’66 to step down in September

When Robert S. Mueller III ’66 steps down as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation this upcoming September, he will have held the position longer than any other FBI director since 1968, when Congress first approved a 10-year limit on the position. Mueller, whose term officially expires on Sept.

Powell shares Princeton admission tips with alumni and their children

Princeton applicants’ writing skills are taken seriously in the admission process because they can provide an indication as to whether the applicant will be able to write a successful thesis by senior year, Director of Undergraduate Admissions Logan Powell told an audience of alumni and their high school-aged children at a Reunions panel Friday afternoon. The panel, called “Navigating the College Admission Process,” discussed what the admission office is looking for in its applicants as well as how the admission process works. The number one criterion the admission office looks for is academic rigor, Powell said.

Alumna allegedly assaulted on Witherspoon Street early Friday morning

An alumna was allegedly assaulted early Friday morning on Witherspoon Street near Wiggins Street, two blocks from the University’s main gates.The woman suffered minor injuries.