News

University confronts Greek life

About a year ago, in a second-floor classroom in Frist Campus Center, there was a meeting that would have been unthinkable only four years earlier.The Committee on the Freshman Experience, chaired by Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan, had called a meeting with representatives of the campus' fraternities and sororities.The leaders of Greek life came reluctantly, not seeing much to gain from such a meeting and fearful they could become targets of University action.Though the University does not recognize fraternities and sororities, about 15 percent of the student body joins them.

Seniors play the waiting game

While most seniors rediscover free time and relaxation, Nelson Reveley '05 and Pablo Kapusta '05 remain in limbo between the past and future.

Lacayo '07 honored for Nicaraguan service

The International Service Award was presented Thursday to Antonio Lacayo '07, who organized a project to build houses for impoverished residents of Nicaragua."The main purpose [of the award] is to recognize and encourage services around the world with the anticipation of being able to understand another culture," International Center director Paula Chow said.The accomplishments of this year's 16 nominees ranged from providing sports gear to underprivileged children in the Princeton area to building a foster home for orphans in Bombay, India.Lacayo and fourteen other students worked with Nicaragua's Habitat for Humanity for two weeks last summer to construct the basic structure of five houses in a barrio, or poor urban district, of Matagalpa.Afterwards, the students participated in a week of touring the country's historical sites.

Grad students unlikely to join Yale, Columbia strikes

Two weeks after graduate students at Columbia and Yale united for their first multi-campus protest in the Ivy League, there have been no signs that their unionization efforts have ? or will ? spread to Princeton.Members of Columbia's Graduate Student Employees United and Yale's Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO) spent the week of April 18 on strike in an attempt to alter their schools' longstanding positions against graduate student unionization.

A Survivor's Story

MPAA warns University of file-sharing

Three weeks after the recording industry filed lawsuits against 25 University students, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has launched its own salvo against illegal file-sharing on the Princeton campus.In a recent letter to President Tilghman, MPAA President Dan Glickman expressed concern about illegal movie downloading on the University network and attached a list of 66 IP addresses associated with alleged acts of infringement, according to University spokesman Eric Quinones.The letter did not indicate whether the MPAA intends to sue any of the 66 individuals, Quinones said."Our OIT office has contacted all of the students associated with those machines where the alleged infringement occurred," Quinones said.

Academy issues stem cell proposal

The National Academy of Sciences, an independent advisory board, issued new ethical guidelines for U.S.

Symposium displays student work

University students presented their scientific research yesterday at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium outside Chancellor Green Cafe.

Protest draws national media

The filibuster at Frist Campus Center continued into its eighth day yesterday, as the taping of a lengthy segment on MSNBC's "Hardball with Chris Matthews" drew hundreds of students to the event and brought out the first organized counter-protest since the rally began.Chanting "FIL-i-BUS-ter" and holding signs reading "Support minority rights," crowds of students came to defend the filibuster and protest a push by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist '74 to change Senate rules to make it more difficult for Democrats to block judicial nominees.A smaller group of students, carrying a cardboard cutout of President Bush and signs reading "Majority rules" and "Yea or nay without delay," showed up to support Frist ? whose family contributed $25 million to the campus center ? and oppose the filibuster."It's slightly disrespectful that Frist gave $25 million and we come and crap on his doorstep," former College Republicans president Evan Baehr '05 said.

On display: the intersection of art, science

The photograph "Dusty Plasma" reveals little about its complexity at first glance, but it won Plasma Physics Laboratory's Andrew Post Zwicker and photographer Elle Starkman first prize in the first annual Art of Science Competition Tuesday.The photograph is one of 50 works in the competition, which strove to combine aesthetic excellence with scientific or technical interest.Second place was awarded to Anton Darhuber, a research staff member in the electrical engineering department, and third place to Stephen Pratt, a research staff member in the ecology and evolutionary biology department.

Admissions to consider Early Action

The Admission Office is considering changes for next year that include a possible switch from Early Decision to Early Action and the introduction of online decision notification, Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said Monday at a meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC).At the town hall-style meeting, the section of "Rights, Rules, Responsibilities" governing on-campus protests was also revised.The Admission Office has hired a research firm to conduct focus groups with current undergraduates and prospective students.

Service held to remember Colligan, preceptor and PJP adviser

The University held a memorial service Friday for Linda Colligan, a former University preceptor and Princeton Justice Project (PJP) adviser who died March 12.

Majors initiative gets mixed marks

A week after statistics for the Class of 2007's concentration choices were announced, concerns remain about the administration's campaign to diversify major choices.At last week's faculty meeting, Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel reported that 38 percent of sophomores had chosen to concentrate in the five most historically popular majors: politics, economics, history, the Wilson School and English.

Meet the band

Gin Blossoms and Phantom Planet ? two of the over a dozen bands at the eating clubs' annual Lawnparties on Sunday ? drew a large crowd to Quadrangle Club's backyard.Gin Blossoms followed Los Angeles-based indie rock band Phantom Planet, famous for "California," the theme song of the popular TV show "The O.C." Unlike Phantom Planet, Gin Blossoms satisfied the crowd's shouts for an encore, playing two more songs after ending with their biggest hit, "Hey Jealousy."Princeton is the third stop on the Gin Blossoms' recent college tour.

Politicians join Frist filibuster

Representatives Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) joined dozens of protestors outside Frist Campus Center this weekend to participate in a student-run filibuster that has garnered national attention as it continues into its seventh straight day today.The congressmen, who traveled to campus separately, are the most prominent figures to date to speak at the student protest.The "Frist filibuster" ? a symbolic rally against a push by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist '74 to make it more difficult for Democrats to block judicial nominees ? is being held in front of the building for which the Frist family donated $25 million.On Friday, Holt read from Aesop's Fables, the same selection his father, Senator Rush Holt (D-WVa.), read to block a coal industry regulation bill in 1936."You might have noticed a theme from the fables: Be careful what you wish for," Holt said to a crowd of almost 200 students."We have right now in Washington some people operating out of arrogance who think they know best," he added.

Committee postpones Crystal Tiger

The Crystal Tiger Award ? presented for the first time to Colin Powell in February 2004 ? will not be awarded this year due to scheduling difficulties, according to members of the student selection committee.Hoping to establish an annual Crystal Tiger tradition, the committee is considering nominees for a fall 2005 award."Our mission presents an obvious difficulty," committee member Andrew Bruck '05 said in an email.

New findings back Einstein

Einstein's theory of relativity first introduced the idea of cosmic magnification ? which pertains to the study of light ? and how it is distorted on its way to Earth from distant quasars.

Congressman Holt joins student filibuster at Frist

U.S. Representative Rush Holt (D-N.J.) joined nearly 200 protestors outside Frist Campus Center this afternoon, traveling from Washington, D.C., to participate in a student-run filibuster that has garnered national attention as it continues into its fourth straight day.Holt read from Aesop's Fables in a symbolic protest of a push by Senator Majority Leader Bill Frist '74 to change Senate rules to make it more difficult for Democrats to block judicial nominees."You might have noticed a theme from the fables," Holt said.

EAS professor testifies before Congress

East Asian Studies professor Perry Link has testified before two Congressional committees during the past two months to denounce the treatment of public intellectuals in China and the Communist Party's role in shaping Chinese public opinion through the media.Link, a renowned expert in Chinese culture, spoke to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) in March and the U.S.-China Commission earlier this month."These hearings are held partly so congressmen can inform their constituents [about China]," Link said in a phone interview.

A spring festival

Scattered rain showers didn't stop the party on Frist South Lawn yesterday at the barbeque and carnival night kickoff to the Fristfest weekend celebration.The Fristfest picnic and carnival began at 4 p.m.