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Fire officials say cigarettes likely sparked Frist Campus Center fire

Fire officials say cigarettes likely sparked Frist Campus Center fire

Borough Fire Official William Drake said yesterday that the investigation of the March 23 fire at the Frist Campus Center has led him to all but conclude that the blaze was sparked by rooftop cigarette smoking by one or more contractors."We did find a lot of cigarette butts up there," he said.Drake added that his department initially believed the fire ? which destroyed insulation and roofing materials valued between $25,000 and $30,000 ? had been caused by cigarettes, and further investigations have supported these preliminary theories.

NEWS | 04/24/2000

University trustees offer permanent positions to eight professors

In addition to their highly publicized approval of the 500-student increase in the size of the student body, the University Board of Trustees recently offered eight professors the opportunity to call Princeton home ? permanently.At their April 15 meeting, the trustees bestowed the title of professor on Athanassoios Panagiotopoulos of the University of Maryland and Elizabeth Gould of the University psychology department.

NEWS | 04/24/2000

Second-Class Subjects? Interdisciplinary Studies at Princeton

Eric Bolesh, a senior at Harvard University, scanned his college options four years ago and saw the majors he expected to see.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

In decidedly peaceful encore, Singer protestors meet with Wright

Pushing baby carriages and holding the hands of shy toddlers, about 30 members of United Parents Protesting Singer and Not Dead Yet gathered outside FitzRandolph Gate on Saturday to demand that the University rescind its appointment of bioethicist Peter Singer.If the University refuses, organizers threatened to instigate a nationwide boycott of companies with ties to University trustees, including The Gap and Avon.The protesters took pains to distinguish themselves from previous demonstrators who drew comparisons between Singer and Hitler and chained themselves to University buildings.The predominantly female organizers stood outside University grounds peacefully from 11 a.m.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

Committee to begin review of honor code

Last night the honor committee kicked off a period of revision and public self-examination by proposing an amendment to the honor code constitution meant to clarify its procedures.The amendment ? which the USG will vote on at its meeting during reading period ? resolves "simply a wording issue" in the constitution, according to committee clerk Justin Browne '01.The existing constitution dictates that a student suspected of an honor code violation choose a "defense adviser." This position can be filled by either of the two committee members investigating the allegation after those members decide ? following consultation with the committee chair ? there is sufficient evidence to hold a hearing.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

Looking ahead, Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson considers her new role

As her two-day campus visit draws to a close, Janet Dickerson sits in the empty office that former Dean of Student Life Janina Montero left in December.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

Not smiling yet: Graduate students demand University dental plan

After a semester spent responding to University-imposed restrictions on the Debasement Bar and speculation over the possible location for a sixth residential college, graduate students have taken a proactive stance on another issue ? securing dental benefits for University employees.The charge has been led by Graduate Students for Local Activism ? a group that earlier this month held a rally in Firestone plaza during which 149 students, faculty and staff pledged their support for the dental benefits campaign.According to Karthick Ramakrishnan GS, the group's president, no University employees are granted dental care under their health benefits plans.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

Last chance: Professor absences complicate course selection

In preparation for today's course card deadline, many juniors spent part of the weekend choosing some of the last classes they will take during their Princeton careers.That already difficult decision may have been made even harder, however, when the course guide revealed the array of popular professors who will not be teaching next year.Senior professors at Princeton are required to spend five consecutive semesters on campus before they are eligible for leave, according to history department chair Philip Nord.

NEWS | 04/23/2000

Questionnaires examine race relations, student activities on campus

A University senior and a world-renowned research foundation might not appear to have much in common.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

E-Quad chemical spill sends four students to PMC

Four University electrical engineering graduate students were transported to Princeton Medical Center yesterday after being exposed to chlorobenzene solution while working in an E-Quad laboratory.According to Public Safety Sgt.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

Why 'YES!' may not be enough

Deciding on a college often means lists of pros and cons, exhaustive campus visits and long conversations with guidance counselors.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

Nuclear scientists and environmental activists . . . collaborating?

Noah Rhys '93 is paid by NASA to dream up new ideas and technologies for space flight.And though he spends plenty of time pondering nuclear-powered spacecraft, one of the more difficult projects he is working on is developing right here on Earth.A propulsion research scientist at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Rhys is trying to open a dialogue between two very different groups ? nuclear energy researchers and environmentalists."My involvement is trying to get research scientists to have conversations with the people who end up on the other side of the fence, literally, protesting space missions," Rhys said.NASA research is very vulnerable to negative public opinion, Rhys said.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

False sympathy can be a crutch

Comrades, I have been plagued by a new and over-arching evil. I speak not of the unstoppable march of mindless capitalism, nor even of the deplorable state of my room's drink fund, from which I recently embezzled $20.Nay, the tragedy I speak of is at once personal and universal, historic and immediate ? I'm on crutches, and I hate them.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

University selects new teacher prep program head

The University announced yesterday that John Webb will take the reins of the Program in Teacher Preparation beginning in July.Webb has more than 30 years of experience in teaching and educational administration.

NEWS | 04/20/2000

Seeking common religious ground in Rome

During Spring Break, a group of 20 undergraduate and graduate students spent 10 days in Rome on a trip sponsored by the campus Presbyterian ministry.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

Fuchs to log off from CIT

When Ira Fuchs was appointed the University's vice president for computing and information technology 15 years ago, he stepped onto a campus where scarce technology resources were scattered across different departments.On July 1, Fuchs will accept the newly created position of Vice President for Research in Information Technology at the Andrew W.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

$40 Million, Please?

Most students dread asking their parents to furnish eating club dues or finance a Spring Break trip.Now imagine asking them to buy you an F-16.This scenario is not unlike what the University has faced repeatedly during the five-year run of its $1-billion anniversary campaign, asking some alumni to go above and beyond the call of duty in support of Old Nassau.Vice President and Secretary Thomas Wright '62 illustrated what it is like to approach alumni and ask them, literally, for $40 million."One, it's not for me," he said with a laugh.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

Promise of increased minority enrollment is easier said than done

The recently approved Wythes resolution outlines a 500-student increase that the trustees believe will help raise the proportion of minority students at the University and, in so doing, create a more well-rounded and varied student body.This ambitious plan's success hinges on Dean of Admission Fred Hargadon and his staff, who will hand pick the students to make up the larger class.But yesterday, Hargadon expressed doubts about whether the additional admission slots actually would allow him to increase minority representation on campus."I have no better idea about whether the enrollments of students from one or another minority background will increase proportionately . . . than I do about whether there will be a proportionate increase in the number of entering students interested in classics or Near Eastern studies," he said in an interview conducted via e-mail.The trustees also hope the extra students can be attracted to smaller departments, but Hargadon said he believes there is no way to admit students based on what course of study they would choose."Admissions has little control over balancing out enrollments among the various academic departments," Hargadon said.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

Faculty and students evaluate problems of larger student body

The last time the University dramatically increased enrollment was when it accepted women more than 20 years ago.With the trustees' approval of the Wythes report Saturday, the University again faces the challenge of implementing a substantial change in the size of the student body ? a task about which students and faculty members have expressed concerns.Some professors worry about the potential effect of the enrollment increase on departmental resources and want assurance that the additional students will bring diversity and enhanced intellectual abilities, history department chair Philip Nord said in an interview."The faculty feels very strongly about this, and I know they are seconded by Nassau Hall.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

Students optimistic about potential sign language course

With a helping hand from the USG and several professors, students who proposed that the University introduce a sign language course hope to see their idea become reality as early as next spring."We've been working on it kind of throughout the year," said U-Councilor Melissa Briggs '02, who has spearheaded the effort since it began last semester.Much of the work Briggs has done to bring the project to fruition involves finding a department to host the would-be class.

NEWS | 04/19/2000

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