The capacity for time travel may still be light years away, but one physicist is already planning for a day when computers can send information backward in time.
The USG Senate met last night to focus on the intellectual environment on campus, but half the meeting was spent discussing how to formally realize the mission of the USG's constitution.The topic of intellectual dissatisfaction attracted heated debate, both from USG officers and students not affiliated with USG.As a result of a letter discussing the discontent with intellectualism on campus, students at the meeting said they simply do not have time for casual intellectual pursuits.USG officers have suggested the academic calendar be modified to lower the intensity of students' workload.Under this idea, the number of school days would be increased, with the work more spread out throughout the term.The concern, which is one not of "anti-intellectualism, but a lackluster intellectual climate," was the result of a report on precepts published last year, Anderson said.This concern was reaffirmed by "countless discussions with both students and faculty" initiated by USG officers, he said.Faculty members have expressed discontentment with the academic discussion beyond the classroom, said U-Council chair Josh Anderson '04, who authored the letter about intellectualism.The lackluster intellectualism is a result of the "success work ethic," in which students feel every academic pursuit determines their future success, professors have said.Although faculty may consider their extracurricular activities to be "resume builders," they provide experiences that are equally rewarding, students said.Anderson emphasized that the criticism of intellectual vigor "does not condemn, or even address, the eating clubs."Yet, resolution of this issue seems neither short-term or clearcut.Olivier Kamanda '03, special projects coordinator, called for a forum for both students and faculty to further discuss the issue.Moreover, students expressed an interest in heightening the intellectual discourse between faculty and students on an extracurricular level.One method may be to expand organizations such as Paideia, which organizes dinners for students and professors to discuss academic matters in a relaxed, informal environment."Intellectualism is not the best that it could be considering the vast interests and talents of the student body," Anderson said.He added that because students express interest in attending their professor's office hours or public lectures, but are unable because of time restraints, the problem stems from the "institution of Princeton," rather than the students.During the second half of the meeting, the USG also discussed a revision and expansion of the USG mission statement.Kamanda proposed a specification of the purpose and procedures of the organization.The protocol for soliciting and addressing student opinions is a primary concern of the USG and, pending discussion, should be added to the constitution, he said.
The Sprint PCS cell phone box peaking out of a brown Whalen Moving & Storage carton in the corner of this mahogany Class of 1879 Hall office ? its bookcases overflowing with tomes of every philosophy ? perfectly depicts the epochal enigma who is Professor West.He is schooled in old ways, but he knows what's in vogue.A cell phone is ultramodern for Professor West.
Umbrellas held overhead, about 35 University students, faculty and staff members stood outside the Frist Campus Center listening to each other's experiences as gays, lesbians, bisexuals and straight allies in celebration of National Coming Out Day on Friday.The rally was organized by the Pride Alliance ? a campus organization created to provide a comfortable and safe environment for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning members of the University community.Part of LGBT Awareness Week, the rally has taken place at the University since the late 1980s, said Debbie Bazarsky, LGBT student services coordinator.A majority of the rally's participants were wearing blue jeans as part of Gay Jeans Day, which also took place Friday.Gay Jeans Day stems from the idea that being gay should be as comfortable as wearing a favorite pair of jeans, LGBT leaders said.
Originally started five years ago to draw the town community to Princeton Stadium, Saturday's Community and Staff Day has since expanded to include much more than just admission to the football game.A $6 ticket to the game gave Borough residents and University faculty and staff access to free entertainment, including strolling musicians, balloon animals, children's face painting and spin art, photographs and snacks.Sponsored by the University's community and state affairs office, athletics department and human resources, the event promoted involvement in the community and provided entertainment.
In anticipation of next month's congressional and local elections, the USG and College Democrats have been rallying students to register to vote.
The risk of bioterrorism is not about to go away, but it has to be kept in perspective, said participants in a conference Friday.The meeting, "Bioterrorism: Science, Security and Preparedness," was organized by a pair of graduate students ? Rebecca Katz, who studies the politics of biological weapons in the Wilson School, and Scott Steele, who works in molecular biology.The response to last fall's anthrax attacks has translated into a huge increase in support for biodefense research, said Jack Killen, assistant director for biodefense research at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a unit of the National Institutes of Health.The president requested a total of $5.9 billion for bioterrorism preparedness in next year's budget, Killen said.
A conflict over the governance of one of the newest publications on campus, The Idealistic Nation, has led to a turnover in the leadership of the College Democrats.Dareious Nowrouzi '04 resigned from his position as president of the University chapter of the College Democrats after a meeting of the organization's executive committee Sept.
Though the University does not formally recognize sororities, Greek life has continued to attract a steady number of freshman and sophomore girls in the past few years.While this year fewer girls initially chose to participate in rush ? which ended this weekend ? more girls continued through the rush process to its conclusion, according to Helena Phillibert '03, chair of the Panhellenic society on campus.Last year, about 165 girls registered to rush, while only 150 registered this year.
Harvard political philosophy professor Dennis Thompson says creating a fair electoral process in the United States is simply a matter of time.As part of the James A.
Walter Cerf GS '41 came to the University in 1938 to cook for two graduate students, though he did not know many recipes or many words of English.More than 60 years later, after earning several Ph.D.s and teaching philosophy at the University, Cerf ? who passed away last year ? left $6.53 million to his alma mater, one of the largest bequests the University has received.Cerf was born in Berlin in 1907 to a wealthy Jewish family, which owned a major European securities firm.
Despite a national bear market, Princeton made a small profit on its endowment during the last fiscal year, University financial officials said yesterday.
A fast-talking, backward-walking Orange Key guide leading a tour is a common sight on the University's north campus.
In the face of rising costs and accumulating debts from past budget shortfalls, the Outdoor Action program has had to scale back many of its programs this year.While Outdoor Action's popular freshman pre-orientation trips ? which drew more than half of this year's freshman class ? will continue to operate, the program has cancelled most of its trips during the academic year, including its break trips.Outdoor Action's financial difficulties may also have an indirect effect on the freshman trips, some OA leaders said.
The Republican and Democratic parties dominate U.S. elections, but Americans can start a grassroots campaign to reclaim control of politics, said political reform activist Omar Ali last night at the American Whig-Cliosophic Society.Ali, a Fordham University profesor and director of research for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party, rallied students to push for electoral reform at the invitation of Whig Clio and Ideas for Action."The major political parties have taken over the government," Ali said in an interview before his talk.Ali said independents are people not affiliated with any political party, but are registered to vote.He decried the lack of "meaningful" choices in elections.
Three cheers for the orange and the powder, denim-heather or navy blue?In an effort to fulfill the requests of students and many tourists, the U-Store this year has begun selling Princeton T-shirts in more colors that do not reflect the time-honored tiger colors, said Virginia France, director of marketing for the store.The new alternative colors, which also happen to be those of Columbia University, light blue and white, upset some traditionalists among the student body.When John Andrews '05 learned of the new designs, he was "appalled," he said.Andrews said he could not understand why the U-Store would sell anything other than orange and black with the intent that students would wear such apparel to support their University's teams during athletic events."It's an insult to our Princeton heritage," he said, even though he acknowledged that orange and black is an "atrocious," yet endearing color combination.
Ambitious Wilson School students will have a chance to stab each other in the backs starting next week.Intrigue will hang in the air of Robertson Hall, as students and faculty members eye each other with healthy suspicions.Thursday will mark the first round of a school-wide game of Diplomacy, a strategy board game similar to Risk.The game will continue at a slow, deliberate pace ? two turns each week ? and will likely last for several months.Rather than sitting around the playing board, teams of three to five people will email their moves to the game coordinators throughout the week.
Psychology professor Daniel Kahneman received a call yesterday morning from someone with a Swedish accent.
The University will offer a certificate in Contemporary European Politics and Society for the first time this year."The program encourages the interdisciplinary study of modern Europe with a particular emphasis on politics, economics and society in western and central Europe since the first World War," politics professor Ezra Suleiman said.As chair of the Committee on European Studies, he has spearheaded a decade-long effort to create the program."There is a substantial first-rate faculty in several of the departments at Princeton," he said.
In a private email to her employees Friday, University trustee and eBay CEO Meg Whitman '77 affirmed congressional allegations that she got access to and made quick profits on initial public offerings, but denied any wrongdoing.The House Financial Services Committee alleged last week that Whitman and 22 other executives gained preferred access to the IPOs because of their firms' ties to investment banks.Legal experts say these allegations could land her in court, though they say it will be hard to prove any crime.
