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Computer science departments struggle to handle rising popularity

Computer science departments struggle to handle rising popularity

The boom in the Internet economy has proved to be a double-edged sword for university computer science departments nationwide.While a mass rush to major in the lucrative field has spurred demand for faculty in the departments, the Internet's lure is siphoning off those candidates who were previously more likely to enter academia.At Princeton, where the number of majors doubled from 42 in 1994 to 85 in 1999, the computer science department has been "bursting at the seams," said the department's acting chair Ken Steiglitz in an e-mail.Part of the pressure on the department comes from an expanding interest by non-majors to learn computer basics they will need for the future, according to Dean of Engineering and Applied Science James Wei."We felt that all engineering students should take a computer science class, but increasingly all the liberal arts students feel they cannot enter today's working world unless they know something about computers," Wei said.

NEWS | 02/14/2000

Students attack plans for Chancellor Green rotunda

The administration's plans to convert the Chancellor Green rotunda into a library were derailed, at least temporarily, at the U-Council meeting yesterday afternoon, after students bombarded University officials with complaints that the administration neither informed students about the plans nor solicited their input.During a tense meeting that administrators struggled to control, students argued that the two-level Chancellor Green rotunda should continue to serve as a cafe and location for special events, like the annual Salsa Party or Chinese New Year celebration.Administrators ? who earlier in the meeting presented their detailed plans as already finalized and said the issue only appeared on the meeting agenda "by popular demand," according to Provost Jeremiah Ostriker ? conceded that additional discussion with students on the proposal would be necessary before renovations would proceed.Associate provost Allen Sinisgalli said afterward he was "distressed" and "frustrated" by the agitation over what he said should be a decision made by administrators, not students.Referring to the 744 signatures on a petition to maintain the Chancellor Green rotunda as a social space, Sinisgalli said, "I think most people would sign anything.

NEWS | 02/14/2000

After successful year, PPPL to receive 11-percent increase in funds

After setting a world record in December by producing a one-million-ampere plasma current with a new type of reactor, the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab received another boost in its research efforts with President Clinton's proposed 11-percent increase in federal funding for the facility, according to PPPL director Rob Goldston.The U.S.

NEWS | 02/13/2000

Local kids hang tough in showdown with league Goliath

Fifth-grader Steven Zecca swayed and lifted his legs as though he were enrolled in a particularly dull dance class, rather than stretching under the basket before his basketball team's fifth and penultimate game of the season.

NEWS | 02/13/2000

Frequent fire alarms at eating clubs and in University buildings spark concern over the Princeton volunteer fire department's strained resources

Burnt toast, candles, practical jokers, smoke machines ? almost anything seems to trigger alarms in campus buildings and eating clubs.

NEWS | 02/13/2000

How the presidents measure up in Greenstein's book

Ever since politics professor Fred Greenstein was a teenager during World War II, both politics and politicians have fascinated him.

NEWS | 02/13/2000

Faculty considers athletes' proposal for class time shift

Prompted by a recommendation from student athletes, the Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics is seeking approval from the faculty to delay evening classes that begin at 7 p.m.

NEWS | 02/13/2000

Heart-felt advice for the guys on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is right around the corner, which means, as you are reading this, throngs of Princeton students are practicing various ways to say, "I love you," in front of a mirror to avoid looking too sheepish.

NEWS | 02/10/2000

U-Store set to begin renovations next month

After more than a year of delays, Borough authorities have approved plans for a large-scale renovation to the U-Store building.The first phase of the project ? the construction of an additional elevator and an extended-hours convenience store ? will tentatively begin March 6, according to U-Store Director of Operations John Augustine.Renovation of the U-Store has been postponed repeatedly because of concerns about the load capacity of the third floor, which under the store's new design will house textbooks and much of the inventory currently located on the ground floor.Rudolph Pedicini, co-consultant for Professional Plan Examiners of Union, N.J., said his organization was contracted by the Borough to ensure that the U-Store's renovation plans complied with building codes.To address concerns about the third floor's weight-bearing capacity, PPE brought in a structural engineer to determine if the store's infrastructure was capable of supporting the books that will be housed on the 10,000-sq.

NEWS | 02/10/2000

Students to conduct research in Havana during Spring Break

While many Americans protest and rally to keep one young boy out of Cuba, several University students and faculty have recently succeeded in organizing a trip to that country, after months of planning and negotiation.During spring break, 20 University students and three faculty members will travel to Havana, Cuba, for 10 days of research as part of the student-initiated Princeton-in-Cuba program.

NEWS | 02/10/2000

Microsoft donates thousands of dollars in software to computer science majors and graduate students

Some say everything has a price. Computer science majors and graduate students discovered this is not always true when their department presented them with free Microsoft Visual Studio software packages, which retail for $1,000 each.The software was originally going to be available for students to download from a server, according to computer science major Dev Tandon '00, former campus representative for Microsoft.

NEWS | 02/10/2000

Sign of the 'Times': New owner of the Jets is no alum

Princeton students and alumni who picked up the Jan. 12 edition of The New York Times encountered a big surprise.

NEWS | 02/10/2000

Princeton Borough proposes pay hikes for mayor and council

With the Borough facing a $23-million debt, some area residents are raising questions about a recently proposed salary increase for Borough Mayor Marvin Reed and six Borough Council members.Under the proposal, Reed's current salary of $6,500 for his part-time position would nearly double to $12,500.

NEWS | 02/09/2000

After weak showing in Delaware, Forbes likely to end campaign

Steve Forbes '70, millionaire publisher and Republican presidential candidate, will likely announce his withdrawal from the race in a press conference this afternoon, a campaign spokesman said yesterday.After spending millions of dollars in his bid for the presidency, Forbes had a strong showing in the Iowa caucus last month.

NEWS | 02/09/2000

Faculty, administrators react to proposed enrollment increase

Since the release of the Wythes Committee Report by the University Board of Trustees last week, administrators and faculty members have had an opportunity to examine the committee's proposal and assess its recommendations.Many expressed concern that an increase in the size of the student body could adversely affect the quality of education at the University."In general, I'm skeptical of adding 500 students," economics professor Elizabeth Bogan said.

NEWS | 02/09/2000

In the end, choosing your major is a minor worry

It happens right about this time for most sophomores ? the gradual dawning of understanding about the awful and awesome choices that are involved with being at Princeton.

NEWS | 02/09/2000

Students enjoy features of campus center classrooms

Students attending spring semester classes in the Frist Campus Center last Monday found themselves in a building replete with both historical artifacts and state-of-the-art technology.Frist 302, an upstairs lecture hall, features rows of old-fashioned chairs that had been in Palmer Hall since its opening.

NEWS | 02/09/2000

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