The late spring on campus, with its fragrant verdure, its tidal wave of pressured work, and its round of special ceremonies and parties, becomes ever more poignant as I approach retirement.Houseparties time is particularly bittersweet.
Ask anyone about his thoughts on the precept system and you will be sure to get an earful. For my part, I have precepted three undergraduate courses over the years.
Sure, awards given out on Class Day and accolades like valedictorian are all well and good, but let's be serious: You're not getting those and neither am I, so who really cares?Seniors, I have complied a list of the winners of a new award called the Freddys, in honor of the man who let us into this fine school.
In collaboration with the physics department, the 'Prince' has obtained a copy of the Princeton Review's "Insider's Guide to the Colleges," 2010 Edition.
As much as I would love to write my final column about the moral obligations of those who leave the gate this June, I will not.Anyway, I feel that charity is something that has to come from one's own heart, not from the writings of some amateur columnist.Another part of me, yet, wants to write about the grandiose Princeton edifices, traditions and mores that I will surely miss ? but here I will heed the advice of one of my roommates who criticizes the "over-nostalgic" tone of my columns.
The fast pace of modern life often requires lunch on-the-go, if it isn't skipped altogether, and attaches an agenda to every hour of the day.
When Chanakya Sethi interviewed me for a story in the 'Prince' ('Isenberg case reveals discord, controversy', March 29), I talked to him about the secrecy of the tenure process here.
There is always something happening on campus. On any given weekday, the Princeton campus is inundated with high-profile guest speakers, study breaks, and movie screenings.
My last column but one, 'A Plan's Pitfalls,' generated a large correspondence that elicited from me promises to follow up on the great grade-inflation "debate." So even though it is old news, here it is.I don't pretend to have too many lines from Lucan off by heart, but one I know for certain: "Victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni." This is a line remembered in various second-rate musical, dramatic, and visual monuments of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and inscribed on the tombstones of various Romantic Big Losers of the same eras ? including, I believe, that of General Robert E.
Looking at the world stage these days one can be forgiven for getting a tad depressed. Escalating global tensions, the chaos of Iraq, unprecedented antipathy towards America, rising Muslim fundamentalism, increasing partisan polarization and bitterness at home, the list goes on and on.
Regarding 'The art of pregaming before Houseparties' (Street, April 29):I found this article both disappointing and offensive.
The big story this week was grade inflation, writ large in contraband photos on the front page of the 'Prince' and angry students talking about how the University ignored them.Meanwhile, a smaller story was unfolding.
Regarding 'Deignan's dedication to Princeton is unparalleled' (Letter, April 29):It is pleasing to read a defense of Kathleen Deignan, dean of undergraduate students, by one of the most thoughtful students I have had the privilege to teach here at Princeton, former USG president Joe Kochan '02.
If you had been in the East Room of Murray-Dodge this past Monday at four, you would have been privy to an amusing example of the absurdities that can follow from rigid application of academic rules.
On Tuesday, a Harvard committee of students, faculty and administrators, concluded that in the future students would be expected to study abroad and take more science classes in an effort to adapt the University curriculum to the 21st Century.While study abroad programs are quickly become the new academic "must" for the university student, an idea slowly becoming embraced by the Princeton community, what is more surprising is the intended increase in the number of science classes required for graduation.The committee said that every student should be "educated in the sciences in a manner that is a as deep and broadly shared as has traditionally been the case in the humanities and social sciences." Students should be able to "understand the news and expository articles in journals such as Science and Nature."As Harvard President Lawrence Summers told the New York Times, "an educational culture where it's an embarrassment to not know the names of five plays by Shakespeare but OK not to know the difference between a gene and a chromosome isn't functional."While I agree that there should be an increased scientific awareness an undergraduate student body, from my experience at Princeton, I question Harvard's conclusion that broad-based survey science courses are no longer sufficient.I would argue that survey courses should remain, but should address more current scientific-issue related survey courses are what are needed.
Regarding 'Dobkin tells 'Prince' to 'destroy' photos of vote' ( April 27):The news that has come out of Old Nassau over the past week has been as depressing as it is appalling.First, Dean Deignan is reported to have policed thought by confiscating hundreds of t-shirts based on their viewpoint and content.Second, Dean Malkiel appeared to win this round in her near-decade-long endeavor to police academic freedom by limiting the faculty's discretion in grading.Third, Dean Dobkin is reported to have attempted to police journalistic freedom in demanding that a pressman destroy photographs of faculty voting on Dean Malkiel's proposal.Has Princeton become a police state? Jo Ern Chen '00 Deignan's dedication to Princeton is unparalleledRegarding 'Deignan sets a bad real-world example for students' (Letter, April 28):I refuse to allow one paraphrased quotation in the 'Prince' to tarnish the image of a person as valuable to Princeton as Dean Deignan.I am of the firm belief that one of the greatest strengths of the University is its fanatically dedicated, student-focused administration and faculty.
There is no doubt that Princeton's USG president spends more time in the public eye than the social chair.
The University has a problem. A free speech problem. And just when it takes a step in the right direction, it lurches back in the wrong direction.First, the good news.
Regarding 'Grade inflation plan passes' (April 27):Now that the faculty have approved the proposal to curb grade inflation, I have but one question for the administration: What steps are you going to take to make sure that those of us involved in the "transition period" do not suffer negative effects when applying to jobs and graduate schools?Simply marking that grade inflation was being curbed starting the 2004-2005 academic year isn't enough.
With the 156-84 vote yesterday in favor of the grade inflation proposals, the faculty have agreed to "expectations" that they will limit A's in each department to 35 percent on coursework and 55 percent on independent work.
