News

New Year's accident claims life of McConville '00

Mary McConville '00 of Salinas, Calif., died in Paris on New Year's Day after a four-story fall from the apartment where she was staying with friends, according to Paris police.McConville woke up around 3 or 4 a.m., opened one of the apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows and inadvertently lost her footing, falling after attempting to open a second, outer window, according to both University Director of Communications Justin Harmon '78 and Judith Miller, McConville's mother.Miller said McConville had spent the night quietly, going out for sushi with friends and avoiding downtown Paris, which she considered dangerous.Police said McConville died on impact.

Dobkin to travel to Israel on Fulbright Scholarship

In a few weeks, computer science department chair David Dobkin will embark on his six-month Fulbright scholarship and sabbatical to pursue research in Haifa, Israel.Dobkin was awarded a Ful-bright last spring to research computer graphics and the mathematical algorithms used to create such graphics at the Technion Institute.Describing his work as the creation of "virtual worlds that parallel reality," Dobkin said he studies how to build a complex image using many simple polygons ? each with its own algorithm.

PPPL sets plasma-current record with new spherical torus reactor

An experiment at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory produced a 1-million-ampere plasma current with a new reactor last month, setting a world record for that type of reactor and opening the door for further research into the creation of fusion power."What this means is that we are now ready to begin experimentation on the machine," said PPPL spokesman Anthony DeMeo, who added that a larger reactor could be constructed in several years if these tests are successful.The PPPL is funded by the Department of Energy and is managed by the University.

University encounters only small Y2K computer glitches

Most of the world escaped serious complications from the much-discussed millennium bug, and the University was no exception.Campus personnel reported yesterday only minor problems that were fixed by mid-afternoon Saturday "Everything went smoothly, but I'm glad we prepared," said Director of Engineering Tom Nyquist.

Despite risk of University penalty, students earn money from Website

For some University students, the idea of getting paid to surf the Web and recruiting others to do the same sounds simple enough, but officials warn that it may be against University policy.AllAdvantage.com is an Internet company that pays members for using the Internet and collects data on their browsing habits, which it then gives to other companies.

Princeton sweeps Time magazine person of century, year awards

Of all the lists that have come out in the past month ? from greatest sports moments of the century to best nonfiction of '99 ? an index of the best universities of the millennium has not been among them.

'Haven' pays fine, cleans up kitchen

A judge ordered Hoagie Haven to pay a $500 fine for health code violations, but the popular sandwich shop has resolved its differences with the Princeton Regional Health Department, health officer William Hinshillwood said yesterday.Hoagie Haven owner Konstantinos Liras pleaded guilty Dec.

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USG to consider modifications to Projects Board charter

In a closed meeting Tuesday night, the USG discussed amending the charter and practices of the Projects Board, which has been closely scrutinized by USG members all semester.

Jewish writers allege discrimination on Harvard Crimson editorial page

An editorial writer candidate has accused The Harvard Crimson of excluding Jewish students from editorial or columnist positions on its staff.

Judge dismisses defamation lawsuit against University

A federal judge in Hartford, Conn., yesterday dismissed charges filed by a former undergraduate against the University for warning medical schools of doubts it had regarding the truthfulness of his applications.Rommel Nobay '89 brought the suit against the University for breach of contract, invasion of privacy and character defamation in 1995.

Hansen advocates new approach to environmental issues

Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fred Hansen began his speech yesterday by challenging his audience to "think differently about environmental issues.""We think we are communicating, when in fact we are repeating what we've said before but just a little louder," he said.Rather than looking to the past or the present to solve environmental issues, Hansen advocated "looking forward, projecting an extreme picture and then stepping back to help solve the problems we have today.""No one can predict the future," he admitted, but "by looking at the future, we are better prepared for it."Hansen was optimistic about the EPA's progress.

U-Council to debate regulations in light of advancing technology

Seeking to change University policies to reflect the increased use of the Internet and other electronic information technologies, the U-Council will weigh a proposal to revise "Rights, Rules, Responsibilities" at its Monday meeting.The proposal ? written after months of review by the U-Council's Rights and Rules Committee ? contains primarily minor revisions that aim to include references to email, the Internet and other new technologies that are now frequently absent from the rule book.Despite the seemingly limited nature of the changes, the revisions have sparked reactions on a grander scale.

Students to paint, clean-up for Campus Volunteer Day

If you see an army of students wielding hammers, brooms, shovels or rakes Saturday morning, do not be surprised.

Kahumbu GS to enter rally, race for endangered rhinos

In the Southeast, off-roading ? also known as mudding ? is a 'sport' that consists of finding empty construction sites after rainfall and getting Jeeps or Blazers as muddy as possible.But go a little farther south ? Kenya, to be exact ? and off-roading is a conservation activity to save the rhinoceros from extinction.On May 30, Paula Kahumbu GS and her all-female team will drive a 4x4 through the Kenyan wilderness as a fund-raiser for the endangered black rhinoceros.The fund raiser, sponsored by Rhino Ark, is a rally in which 50 cars must reach 12 checkpoints in the minimum distance possible, Kahumbu said.Until exactly one month before the race, the location in Kenya is kept secret, she said.

Grocery chain considers move to present Borough library site

Independents may be able to shop for their groceries in town again. Palmer Square Management has raised the possibility that a grocery store may open on the present site of the Princeton Public Library, which is considering a move into a new building on Hulfish Street, near the Baptist church.According to an article in the Princeton Packet, Jim McCaffrey, owner and president of McCaffrey's grocery store chain, has said he might be interested in opening a store on the library's current site at Witherspoon and Paul Robeson Place.The moves have not yet been approved and would take several years to implement.

Tigertones to sing at MADD concert

Senior Tigertones Greg Paulson, Brian Goehring, David Grossman and Brian Kurtz will have a second "once in a lifetime opportunity" to perform at Carnegie Hall.The University singing group organized the concert and arranged for the proceeds to benefit Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which raises awareness about the consequences of drinking and driving.The Princeton Tigertones, Yale Whiffenpoofs and Harvard Krokodiloes singing groups will perform together in a May 3 concert titled "The Ivy League Remembers . . . A Capella for MADD."Tickets will be on sale at dining halls and eating clubs next week.

Deans end firework investigation; judge lets Brasno charges stand

The University has ended its investigation into a March incident in which a firecracker was thrown in a crowded Palestra during a Princeton-Penn basketball game."I think it is safe to say that the investigation into this incident is now closed," said Kathleen Deignan, associate dean of student life.The end of the investigation comes, however, as the criminal case against Jason Brasno '98 continues to move toward trial.

Muldoon, Heaney readings to open Irish poetry exhibit

You lose more of yourself than you redeem doing the decent thing. Keep at a tangent. When they make the circle wide, it's time to swim out on your own ? Seamus HeaneyPaul Muldoon, the creative writing department's celebrated Irish poet, will be joined on stage with some of his famous peers later this month.But instead of Laurie Sheck and Yusef Komunyakaa ? two more famed poets the University can claim as teachers ? Muldoon will be joined by friends from back home: the Irish poets Seamus Heaney, Michael Longley and Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill.The reading, which will include Nobel Prizewinning Heaney, is in honor of the Leonard L.

Faculty salaries increase by 4.7 percent during past year

If the spring in your professor's step is a little livelier than usual these days, don't assume it's because of the remarkably high quality of that last batch of papers.Rather, the 3.4-percent increase in faculty salaries nationwide may have a little more to do with it.The increase is detailed by the American Association of University Professors in a report that this year has been titled "Doing Better" ? a reference to a jump in salaries that is double the rate of inflation. Above AverageAt Princeton, salaries bested even the national average.