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Terrace Club dinner series draws insights on race relations from University students

Terrace Club dinner series draws insights on race relations from University students

When members of the Class of 2004 ? then hopeful high schoolers and would-be tigers ? carefully completed their applications for admission, they wrote brief essays describing steps they would take towards improving race relations in both the United States and the world.Recently, students representing all class years have asked themselves and those around them a similar question that hits closer to home: what can be done about improving race relations at Princeton University?In an effort to promote open discussion of this issue, Tdinner series chairs Jessica Colter '02, Jonathan Gomez-Trochez '02 and Laura Kaplan '02 put together a dinner series centered around the discussion of the racial dynamic on campus.Terrace hosted the first dinner Tuesday, filling its library to capacity with students from a wide variety of both minority and non-minority backgrounds.Kaplan said she hopes the dinner series will "complement and build upon existing initiatives to improve campus climate."She said she feels "an effective community-building campaign must be student-led and broadly supported" and was pleased at the number of students who attended Tuesday's dinner.Joining the students were University Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson, Assistant Provost and chair of the Race Relations Working Group Joann Mitchell and Director of the Third World Center Heddye Ducree.Each administrator gave a brief presentation detailing ongoing University projects to improve the racial climate on campus.

NEWS | 02/28/2001

University likely to create several four-year colleges

Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson led an open discussion with students about the possibilities for a sixth residential college Tuesday evening, saying that of the six colleges, "there would probably be two or three four-year colleges."Many students at the discussion said they supported such an opportunity for inter-class interaction, though they admitted the change could create additional problems."Would the RA's lose their significance . . . now that the underclassmen [in the sixth college] have a slew [of seniors] living with them?" president of the senior class Justin Browne '01 asked at the meeting.Dickerson responded, "I think it would be a relief for the RA's."This additional college ? proposed a year ago as part of the Wythes Plan to expand the University student body by 500 students ? has proven to be a volatile subject on campus.Dickerson said she hoped to promote a dialogue between the students and the administration in order to gather a large amount of student feedback on the subject."Our goal is to talk about all these things as openly as possible," she said.Though only approximately 25 students attended the meeting, the discussion brought up important issues relating to the introduction of a new residential college.

NEWS | 02/28/2001

The McGraw center: Moving to Frist and seeing the light

Before moving into the Frist Campus Center this year, the University's Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Center for Teaching and Learning ? which was previously hidden in a Firestone Library room ? went largely unnoticed by undergraduates.

NEWS | 02/28/2001

Professor appointed as U.N. adviser

As he dreams of new ways to preserve international peace from the 38th floor of United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, University professor Michael Doyle may draw on memories from his trips to El Salvador and Cambodia.In these "vulnerable populations," Doyle observed soldiers and civilians from different countries setting aside their national idiosycracies and cooperating peacefully.Doyle ? who is director of the Center for International Studies and professor of politics and international affairs at the Wilson School ? was recently appointed as special adviser to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.Doyle's colleagues consider him both a philosopher and a practical problem-solver."He's a specialist in political philosophy and international relations; an erudite scholar but someone with great concern about real world politics," University politics professor Fred Greenstein said.

NEWS | 02/28/2001

'I Love You' Is More Than Just Words

Last week my grandmother said "I love you" for the first time. Those words startled me because she doesn't speak English.We were on the phone.

NEWS | 02/28/2001

University Confers Alumni Day Honors upon Baker, Sarett

Over 2,000 Princeton alumni returned to Old Nassau Saturday for the universities annual Alumni Day gathering in Jadwin Gym.The university conferred a number of honors upon alumni and undergraduates, including the Woodrow Wilson award?the universities most prestigious alumni honor?upon James Baker III '52, chief of staff and assistant to President Reagan.The Wilson prize is given annually to that alumnus who best distinguishes himself "in the nation's service."In accepting the Wilson award, Baker praised Princeton and the Marines?in which he served two years as a lieutenant?as "the two institutions which have most shaped my adult life."He challenged his audience to think deeply about Oliver Wendell Holmes' question, "which direction should America take?"Baker said that meeting this challenge?which he said influenced him at the time of his graduation?is becoming more difficult today because of the growing complexity of governing the nation."It is more difficult to work in the nation's service today than it was in Woodrow Wilson's day," Baker said.He mentioned the need for a strong presidency as a means of overcoming the apparent decline in America's strength."You simply cannot have a strong country and at the same time a weak chief executive, "Baker said.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

Campus forum raises race issues

Discrimination by University Public Safety, a lack of diversity among eating club members and unsupportive faculty were among the issues raised at a forum titled "Does Race Matter at Princeton?" held Monday night in the Frist Campus Center multi-purpose room.The forum, hosted by the Princeton chapter of the National Council of Negro Women and attended by about 120 students, featured a video created by Tschepo Masango '03 and a discussion panel of 10 students.Panelist Mario Moya '02, former president of the Chicano Caucus, said eating clubs are a cause of racial segregation on campus."My feeling is that once the clubs are gone, we will have true integration in this University," Moya said.Marjory Herold '01, an African-American member of Charter Club, defended eating clubs, saying her active involvement makes Charter a place where she feels comfortable."We complain that we don't like the clubs because we don't like the DJs and the parties there," Herold said.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

Professor David Freund examines the history of racial discrimination

Dr. David Freund needed to escape his quaint suburban environment for the weekend to convene with outside experts in his field.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

National study examines student binge drinking

In 1993, Henry Wechsler and a group of associates from the Harvard University School of Public Health embarked on the most extensive nationwide survey of college drinking ever conducted."We wanted to get a national picture of the extent of college student alcohol consumption and associated problems," Wechsler said.Eight years later, the survey results include three separate studies conducted in 1993, 1997 and 1999 that he harvested data from 140 schools and over 14,000 students.Frequent binge drinkers now comprise 22.7 percent of college students ? an increase of 14.5 percent since 1993.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

ENV 299: Mixing science, politics and economics

Up to this semester, the average University humanities student looking to fulfill the lab requirement was limited to about three courses ? "Physics for poets," "Rocks for jocks" and "Shake 'n bake."This term, however, visiting geosciences professor Gregory van der Vink GS '83 has been added to the list.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

Brown announces return to binding early admissions process

Brown University Interim President Sheila Blumstein announced Saturday that the university will change its early admission procedure from a non-binding "early action" system to a binding "early decision" option.The change will take effect this fall with the class of 2006 admission cycle.This is a drastic change in Brown's admissions department, which had switched to a non-binding system two years ago.For the past two years, Brown candidates who were accepted early ? after having applied by Nov.

NEWS | 02/27/2001

Beautiful mind, unconventional matter

Though the room is almost dark, Nash continues to talk. The setting sun's rays coming in through the window of the ninth floor office in Fine Hall illuminates a single green leaf on an otherwise brittle, brown plant, and the circle of light on Nash's right cheek shrinks, while the left side of his face is already lost in shadow.Unable to clearly see his expressions, I offer to turn on the light."I was looking at that screen saver, and it looks better in the dark," Nash says, squinting his eyes in a way that looks like a facial shrug and forms two tight horizontal slits in an otherwise drooping face.Different neon-colored geometric shapes alternately appear on a computer across the room from Nash."It's OK," he says after a quiet moment, and I walk over to the switch that is next to the door.When I return, his gaze is still focused on the screen and he only turns to me when I ask another question.Nash's agreement is typical of his easy-going manner and his actions of the unabashed disregard for the ordinary that has characterized his life. Two weeks ago, as hundreds of students gathered in a large lecture hall for a chance to appear in a movie starring 'gladiator' Russell Crowe, the quiet, unconventional genius whom the movie is about sat in a small, paper-strewn room at the bottom of campus.

NEWS | 02/26/2001

University pledges to battle greenhouse gases

In a decision made earlier this month, the University moved to decrease its impact on the environment by limiting its contribution to the production of greenhouse gases.On Feb.

NEWS | 02/26/2001

Friedman '01 wins Pyne Prize

Sitting back from a microscope in a cramped closet of a room, Adam Friedman '01 is comfortable in his surroundings.

NEWS | 02/26/2001

Scalia speaks despite protests

United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spoke to a capacity crowd in McCosh 50 Friday night, concluding a two-day conference on James Madison and the Constitution.Though the material was specific and intellectual, Scalia maintained an upbeat pace and demeanor throughout the speech, even as the chants of protesters could be heard from outside.The 30 or 40 protesters, who gathered outside McCosh with banners and signs, yelled at audience members as they filed into the auditorium.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

Women's Center presents inaugural award to alumna and student

Saturday afternoon, throngs of alumni wandered through the Frist Campus Center, many for the first time, peering around corners and down hallways, trying to understand how this new Princeton fit with the Nassau they knew.Upstairs, above the bustling crowds and the endless chatter, in the secluded second floor offices of the Women's Center, Princetonians past and present eagerly awaited the beginning of a new tradition.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

Admission rounds report recommends no change

The expected difference in academic performance between students accepted at Princeton in special admissions rounds and "top" waiting-list applicants not admitted is no greater than the difference between B and C+ grade point averages, a University report released yesterday said."We were not moved to recommend any changes in admissions policy," said Dean of the College Neil L.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

Harvard increases financial aid in wake of Princeton's new plan

Answering Princeton's new financial aid plan unveiled by President Shapiro last month, Harvard University announced additional funding for student aid programs last week.The plan calls for an increase of $8.3 million in funding for the undergraduate scholarship program.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

Tigers and tots team up for Kids Day

As the band belted a round of Louie Louie, and the players spilled onto the court at Friday's Harvard-Princeton men's basketball game, 5-year-old Philip Tsien gazed, wide-eyed, at the excitement before him.Clutching a plastic souvenir cup, with a tiger tail peeking from behind him, he happily sipped his Coca-Cola and watched his favorite team, the Tigers, warm up.Tsien, a kindergartner at Riverside Elementary, and about 30 other community children ages 5 to 13 received free admission to Friday's game and a pizza party catered by dining services as part of USG's Kids Day on Campus program."The three-part series, including a cartoon showing in Frist last December and an all-day story reading at Cotsen Library scheduled for April, is designed to foster the University's commitment to welcoming community members to campus," said Nina Langsam '03, USG's campus and community affairs chair."We want to make the community aware of the vibrant student life on campus, and we want the students to be more knowledgeable about the community . . . to feel like [Princeton] is their home and that they know the people in their neighborhood," said Langsam, who coordinates the program.To encourage this one-on-one interaction, Princeton student volunteers from such varied groups as Manna Christian Fellowship, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and the Student Volunteers Council, paired with local children and ensured that their young buddies enjoyed rooting for the orange and black."I think its a fun way for us to interact, and it gives us a chance to spend some time with community kids," said Stacia Birdsall '02, who watched the game with 9-year-old Moriah Akrong.Akrong, a fourth grader at Littlebrook Elementary, agreed."I like basketball and I like the food, pizza, chips and funnel cake, and I like my partner and being here with my friend," she said.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

The tale of an alum's accidental gift of growth to Princeton

The Princeton of 1884 was a very different place. The Graduate School had not yet been born. Princeton University was still the College of New Jersey.The Delaware and Raritan Canal was not a picturesque park but a means of mass transit; Lake Carnegie nothing but swampy farmlands.

NEWS | 02/25/2001

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