News

Sister of Virginia gunman belongs to Class of 2004

Though Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech had already cast a shadow over campus, the news yesterday morning that the gunman's older sister is a recent Princeton alumna brought the tragedy even closer to home.Sun-Kyung Cho '04 was an economics major who interned at the U.S.

University expansion threatens Borough's tax revenue

Since a public work session two weeks ago, tensions have risen between Borough Council members, local residents and University officials over the impact of University plans for expansion on Borough tax rolls.Though the proposed arts neighborhood, to be constructed in the area surrounding the Dinky and the Wawa, will most likely lead to increased tax revenue for the Borough, the University's increasing ownership of Borough land is cause for concern, Borough Councilman Andrew Koontz said in an interview yesterday."It's not in the interest of the community for the University to acquire property that is currently on the tax rolls," he said.

Language project engages students

The daily grind of introductory level practice drills may serve a higher purpose than bleary-eyed beginning language students might think.The Princeton University Language Project (PULP), a student-run volunteer organization, gives students the opportunity to translate documents for nonprofit organizations, helping them to hone and apply their language skills."I think that the coolest part of PULP is that we are involved in true civic engagement, that we are looking outward to really do work in line with [service]," Eugene Yi '08, the project's founder and president, said.

Tragedy hits close to home

Students gathered in Richardson Auditorium last night for a service in memory of the victims of Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech. With solemn faces, some stained with tears, they listened to musical performances, prayers and speeches.Associate Dean of Religion Life Deborah Blanks took the podium first, addressing the assembled students with deliberate, heartfelt remarks.

Virginia dean Benson '73 recalls tragedy

Richard Benson '73, dean of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, has spent the last three days struggling to maintain composure while confronting his own grief over the deaths of his colleagues and students.In his first media interview since Monday's shooting, Benson relived his emotions in the aftermath of the incident, praising the nation's sympathy and the cohesiveness of Virginia Tech's campus while reflecting on ways to move forward.Benson was at a conference in Puerto Rico when the tragic violence unfolded Monday morning.The gunman, Virginia Tech senior Cho Seung-Hui, shot two people in a dormitory before moving, around two hours later, to Norris Hall, a central building in the School of Engineering and home to Benson's office.

Korean students afraid of backlash on campus

After the gunman in Monday's Virginia Tech massacre was identified as being of Korean origin by several news networks, members of Princeton's Korean community voiced apprehension over potential national reactions to the news.

Johnson '97 offered men's basketball head coaching position

Georgetown assistant coach Sydney Johnson '97 has been offered the Princeton men's basketball head coaching position, individuals close to the program and the search said last night.

Stranger snaps pics of nude male athletes

An unidentified man hid in one of the men's bathroom stalls in the Caldwell Fieldhouse last night, taking photos of members of the men's lacrosse and track teams as they were in various states of undress.

Tragedy at Virginia Tech

Students and administrators at Princeton and on college campuses nationwide reacted with shock and sorrow as news of the worst shooting in U.S.

Storm forces U. to curtail operations

With severe rain and wind advisories still in effect yesterday, the University closed some operations and asked all noncritical employees to remain home.The academic schedule was unaffected, but seniors with theses due yesterday received a one-day extension since department secretaries were not present to receive them."The University is closed for all non-essential personnel today," Charles Davall, deputy director of operations for Public Safety, wrote in a campus-wide email yesterday morning.Davall referred faculty, staff and students to the University home page and its emergency preparedness website for updates on the storm.Executive Vice President of the University Mark Burstein made the decision to close nonessential operations in collaboration with University officials and the local police departments.Non-essential employees include those not responsible for safety or important services, including dining.Yesterday morning, Acting Governor Richard Codey signed Executive Order Number 64, which declared a state of emergency in New Jersey.

Nobel-winning professor tells story of his own life in religion, science

Though Nobel prizewinning molecular biology professor Eric Wieschaus is an atheist, he sees no reason why religion and science cannot coexist.At a dinner last night in Murray-Dodge Hall, Wieschaus told a crowd of 80 that keeping a "balance" between religious beliefs and modern science is challenging for a scientist.

TI seeks funding for expansion

Tiger Inn has raised about a third of the $4.5 million it needs to undergo a planned 9,000 square-foot expansion to make the club's kitchen and social spaces bigger.

U. trumps Ivies in recycling contest

Princeton placed 22nd out of 201 universities in this year's nationwide RecycleMania competition, ahead of all other participating Ivy League schools.

How many Princeton students does it take to change a light bulb?

Members of the student environmental group Greening Princeton brought a special delivery to the eating clubs yesterday: boxes of compact fluorescent light bulbs, intended to replace the energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs that many clubs currently use.The delivery was part of the Cool Bulbs Initiative, which aims to improve eating club energy efficiency.

Competition up for presidencies

After two years as the unopposed choice for Class of 2008 president, Grant Gittlin faces two challengers in the race for leader of the rising senior class.USG vice president and senior elections manager Josh Weinstein '09 announced Saturday night that Aaron Spolin '08 and Thomas Haine '08 are both running against Gittlin.In separate interviews yesterday, both Spolin and Haine said they wanted to run because they believe there is demand for more class activities.

Pre-frosh weekend in pictures

Hundreds gather for climate rally

"One, two, three, four! Global warming out the door! Five, six, seven, eight! We cannot afford to wait!" The mantra echoed from the mouths of more than a hundred people gathered by the Wilson School fountain on Saturday afternoon.The chanting crowd ? participants in Princeton's rendition of the nationwide Step It Up 2007 Climate Change Rally ? were mostly local and state community members, along with a smattering of University students.

Corzine in stable condition after crash

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine remains in critical condition at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., after a severe car accident on the Garden State Parkway in Galloway Township on Thursday night left him unable to breathe without the aid of a ventilator.Corzine broke 12 ribs along with his sternum, collarbone and left leg in the accident, which occurred when a red pickup truck swerved onto the highway, forcing another pickup into the path of the governor's car.

Dunne forbids '07 ticket selling

Under the "graduation tickets" heading on Point's TigerTrade, listings express many seniors' desperate desire to get a few more seats for their family and friends."Need 3 Tickets!" one posting reads, typical of the requests from seniors looking for tickets to various Commencement events.Until Friday, strong demand ? and a fixed supply ? supported a flourishing market of graduation ticket buyers and sellers on TigerTrade.

USG will not take sides over Chabad

Following extensive debate last night, the USG Senate voted down a resolution urging President Tilghman to reconsider the denial of University chaplaincy to Chabad Rabbi Eitan Webb."We weren't elected to pass resolutions that reflect our own views," USG president Rob Biederman '08 said.