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Election polls emphasize 'horse race' of political campaigns

Election polls emphasize 'horse race' of political campaigns

Don't knock the accuracy of political polls until you see the methods behind the madness. Don't completely believe them either.According to Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI), a worldwide polling group with offices in Princeton and Washington, D.C., political and social surveys are conducted at random in order to represent a population at large.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

How a memo became a symbol of contention

When former University employee Jessie Washington was asked to examine the Office of Religious Life's (ORL) endowment accounts in October 2002, she had no idea her report would turn into a major source of conflict in a $600 million lawsuit.But that's exactly what happened.The report, which claims the University mishandled certain restricted donations to the office, has become a lightning rod in the contentious suit filed by the Robertson family two years ago against the University for control of the $600 million endowment behind the Wilson School.According to a copy of her Religious Life Endowment Review of February 2003, Washington argued that about $1.2 million dollars or 59.1 percent of endowment funds for ORL were used to supplement the University's general spending.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

In math dept., tenure an elusive achievement

In most departments, at most universities, junior professors vie for the prestige and job security offered by tenure ? lifetime job security.While seeking tenure, junior faculty members scramble to get themselves published to set themselves apart.However, at the University's mathematics department, a world-renowned programs, the story is completely different.In the last 18 years, the department has tenured only two professors.The legacy leaves a distinct impression among junior faculty."We come not expecting to get tenure," said assistant professor Jordan Ellenberg, who is leaving at the end of the year for a post at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

Gittlin wins runoff for 2008 pres.

Runoff voting for freshman class officers ended Thursday night, and results were announced Sunday.Grant Gittlin defeated Aaron Spolin for president, having received 310 votes to Spolin's 251.The vice president, treasurer and secretary were also elected in the second round of voting.Katie Lawrence and Arjun Reddy faced-off for vice president.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

'Buy Local' campaign showcases area businesses

This October marks the second year of Princeton Borough's Buy Local campaign, an initiative that promotes local services to foster strong neighborhood economy and atmosphere.The campaign was established by Princeton Future, a volunteer citizen's group involved in the planning and welfare of the Princeton community."The people who live here want shops with the things they need from people they know," said Sheldon Sturges, co-chair of Princeton Future.The Buy Local campaign was a response to the community's concern about being overshadowed by increasingly prevalent chain stores ? which caused many local businesses to close."There have been a lot of independent merchants who have not been able to compete with the large, big box stores on Route 1," Sturges said.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

Parents meet Princeton

In the past three days, Freshman Parents Weekend drew hundreds of families to campus to visit members of the Class of 2008."I'm sad that I can't have the college experience too," said Christine Barron, who came from Los Angeles with her husband Paul to see her son.

NEWS | 10/10/2004

OIT works to make campus computer-friendly

Jen Whiting had an unlikely start to her career at the Office of Information Technology (OIT).In the early 1990s, Whiting hung off walls at Cornell University, where she managed the climbing facility.Then she designed a computer program to keep track of rentals at the facility ? which ultimately led her to a job today as OIT manager of customer support."I started messing around with computers and figured out a database rental program," she said.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

Canadian studies offers grants, lectures

From far and wide, international students flock to campus. Yet America's neighbors to the north have an especially strong connection to the University."Canadians are the largest ex-pat[riate] community at Princeton," Director of the Committee for Canadian Studies and a French Ph.D.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

Native American students adjust to University life

One can count the entire membership of the student organization Native Americans at Princeton (NAAP) on just one hand.Christopher Francis '05 and Jacqueline De Armas '05 are two of the group's five members.Francis spent the first four years of his life on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Arizona.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

University launches central scheduling office to ease planning

Booking public space on campus has just gotten a little easier.University Services launched a new department Monday to streamline the current event planning process.The newly created University Scheduling Office provides a central point of access for clients seeking to book facilities on campus.This week, the office began a publicity campaign to better promote its services to students, staff and faculty."We're rolling out ? we're doing a public announcement," said Tom Myers, director of University Scheduling.Myers, who is also the director of Frist Campus Center, created the scheduling office in September to meet the growing needs of first-time planners ? many of whom feel unsure of where to begin when booking campus space."[The office] is looking to be publicized and to be out there for groups that might not have previously known where to go," he said.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

WWS revamps Junior Summer Institute

The Wilson School will resurrect the Junior Summer Institute (JSI) in 2005 after suspending the program last year.Since its establishment in 1985, JSI had sought to prepare minority undergraduates for careers in public service.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

Air Force ROTC trains student cadets

At 7 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, most University students are still asleep. The members of the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), however, are already assembled in Dillon Gymnasium, ready for their morning workout.Behind the grueling hours and physical training lies a group of people with motivations and aspirations similar to the average University student. Cadet motivationsCol.

NEWS | 10/07/2004

Yield declines to five-year low

The University's admissions yield dropped five percentage points from last year, declining to a five-year low, but Dean of Admission Janet Rapelye said the drop is not a problem.The yield ? the percentage of accepted students who chose to matriculate at Princeton ? dropped from 73 percent in 2003 to 68 percent this year.Rapelye said the decline is merely a consequence of a renewed focus in Princeton admissions: competing more directly with Harvard, Yale, Stanford and MIT for the best applicants."We're going for better students.

NEWS | 10/06/2004

Professors debate issues of presidential election

Recent polls suggest that George W. Bush and John Kerry are effectively tied in the race for the White House.

NEWS | 10/06/2004

Student Computer Initiative increases prices on laptops

Since the Student Computer Initiative was introduced in 1998, purchasing a laptop over the summer has become a rite of passage of sorts for most incoming freshmen.After several consecutive years of stable costs, though, prices for this year's models have increased by 13 to 30 percent.The Office of Information Technology operates the program, which allows all students at the University to purchase computers at a lower rate than on the open market through special arrangements with the manufacturers.This year, the prices for all four laptop models offered by SCI have risen by $150 to $360 over prices for similar models offered last year.The costs of a Dell Latitude D600 basic and enhanced model are $1,389 and $1,589, respectively.

NEWS | 10/06/2004

University restricts flu shots amid shortage

With flu season around the corner, University Health Services announced Wednesday that it would not be able to vaccinate all students against the flu because of a nationwide vaccine shortage.According to an announcement on the University website, the vaccine will be made available "only to students with serious medical conditions that render them at greater risk to severe complications of influenza."At-risk students include those with a serious illness like cancer, those on medications that suppress the immune system and students with diabetes, Chief Medical Officer Daniel Silverman said.Health Services will "proactively reach out to students who might fit such a profile," he added.Silverman said the vast majority of University students are not at high risk and can avoid catching the flu by simply washing hands, coughing into a tissue or sleeve and not sharing beverages or food with others."We also have the alcohol-based hand wash dispensers up all over campus and we encourage people to use them liberally," Silverman said.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that the United Kingdom-based Chiron Corp.

NEWS | 10/06/2004

Seniors to decide between blazer and beer jacket designs

In a departure from recent years, the Class of 2005 will decide whether they want their orange-and-black class jackets, worn at the annual P-Rade, Commencement and Reunions, to be in the form of a beer jacket or a blazer.In the last several years, class jackets have been beer jackets, typically lightweight and made of cotton."The fit and shape were awkward for many of the previous years' beer jackets.

NEWS | 10/05/2004

Golf carts available to students in need, at a cost

While most students have seen them zipping around campus, few see golf carts for the injured as anything more than luxury items for varsity athletes.

NEWS | 10/05/2004

Gittlin, Spolin enter run-off for '08 president

The first round of elections for the Class of 2008 concluded Tuesday afternoon with all positions except social chair requiring a second round of runoffs.The contest for president is between Aaron Spolin, who received 199 out of 781 total votes cast, and Grant Gittlin, who received 127 votes.Katie Lawrence received 130 votes and Arjun Reddy had 125 votes in the vice presidential race.The race for secretary was the closest with Megan Petersack receiving 272 votes to Sara Breslow's 270.For treasurer, Kyle Super, who received 209 votes, will be pitted against John Curtius, who received 190 votes. Spolin's agendaSpolin said he was happy with the results from the first round of voting, but added that he would not relax, preferring to continue campaign during the next 48 hours.Spolin's agenda includes the '08 Inter-Collegiate Project, which he hopes will subsidize study breaks among RA groups in different colleges.He also wants to contact alumni to help freshman receive better summer internships, organize volunteer committees for all aspects of freshman life and create an informational website for the class. Gittlin's planGittlin has similar plans for the Class of 2008, choosing to focus on class unity, career opportunities and communications during his campaign.He also said he would use class money for free class gear and to get late meals expanded to other eating venues outside of Frist Campus Center. Voter turnoutAccording to Emily Arensman '06, the USG supervisor of elections, the low percentage of the total votes received by each candidate could be attributed to the number of candidates: Twelve students ran for president this year.Voter turnout was higher than usual, with nearly 66 percent of the 1,175 students in the Class of 2008 casting ballots.While last year's freshman elections still drew the highest percentage ? nearly 70 percent ? the average turnout for class elections ranges from 55 to 60 percent of eligible voters, according to USG statistics.This marks the second year in a row that nearly all positions in freshman elections ended with no clear victor.When no candidate holds a majority, the top two vote-getters face each other in a runoff.This year's runoff will begin at midnight Thursday and last for 24 hours.

NEWS | 10/05/2004

Noble '06 steps into role as tiger mascot

Kinder Noble '06 is used to the excitement building up to a big game, the eyes of the crowd, the rush of leading the cheers.

NEWS | 10/05/2004

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