On the off chance that you aren't assigned enough work to keep you busy here, several organizations would love to take some time off your hands. These groups don't seem to fit into any general category, so we'll offer you a look at them here.
When campus life starts to feel a little insulated and crowded, it's important to leave the Ivory Tower and trudge into the "real world." But remember — it's a jungle out there. Literally.
Outdoor Action offers plenty of opportunities to leave civilization and explore the great outdoors. Every September, about half of the incoming freshman class treks to Princeton a week early under the mistaken impression that they will be spending a leisurely vacation frolicking around northeastern forests.
The week-long trips before Orientation Week — designed to acquaint first-year students with a group of their classmates — are the annual highlight of the OA program.
One may choose from a variety of trips such as canoeing down the Delaware Water Gap, rock climbing in Pennsylvania's Black Forest or hiking in New York's Catskill Mountains.
OA trips ease the transition to Princeton in several ways. After a week of tramping through the woods, participants begin Orientation Week having met a group of people. Even that top bunk will look comfy after a week of snuggling under a plastic tarp with 11 other people — all of whom have not showered, changed their clothes or enjoyed a decent meal for the last five days. An OA trip is the ultimate in "bonding."
Membership in the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts is not a prerequisite. A good pair of hiking boots and a sense of humor are. Even if your hiking experience is limited to jaunts from the television to the refrigerator, OA trips offer a great introduction to the wilderness — and friendships that often last well beyond the blisters.
OA trips, however, don't stop after September. Throughout the year, OA offers whitewater rafting, rock climbing, sailing, biking, backpacking and cross-country skiing excursions for students in all classes.
ROTC
Having survived several intermittent controversies in the 1970s and '80s, the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps is now more popular than ever at Old Nassau.
ROTC was ordered off the Princeton campus in 1971, allowed to return in 1972 and almost banned again a year later. The program has been criticized in recent years for the defense department's policy on gay and lesbian military recruits.
Today about 40 students participate in the Army program and 18 participate in the Air Force unit, a more recent addition to the campus.
One of the program's attractions is that it foots part of Princeton's hefty bill for some of its participants. Scholarship students in the program receive an allowance of $150 per month during the school year, in addition to tuition expenses.
Participants must supplement their regular course load with one non-credit course per semester, ranging from public speaking to military history and strategy. Freshmen have one hour of class per week, sophomores have two and upperclass students have three hours, and all must attend a weekly Wednesday morning lab.
Outdoor field training exercises are conducted once a semester in the Princeton area and at nearby military installations.
Students who complete the program, regardless of scholarship standing, are required to spend either four years on active duty or six months on active duty with eight years in the reserves.
Religion
Though Princeton University is non-sectarian, there are many campus organizations devoted to keeping religion in daily life.
The University Chapel — besides offering gorgeous architecture and stained-glass windows when not shrouded in scaffolding — holds programs every night of the week, including study groups, social gatherings and, of course, ecumenical services.
Denominational services — including those of the Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Baptist churches — are held in the chapel of Murray-Dodge Hall at various times on Sunday and during the week. A non-denominational service is held in the Chapel every Sunday.
Princeton also has an active chapter of Hillel, a national organization of Jewish college students. Hillel caters to all branches of Judaism and provides Sabbath and holiday services for Reform, Conservative and Orthodox students, as well as a number of social and educational activities, which are usually held at the Center for Jewish Life on Washington Road.
Pride Alliance
The Pride Alliance — formerly the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alliance — provides support and community interaction for homosexuals at Princeton. Discussion groups, meetings and dances are held frequently, and speakers of interest to the gay community are brought to campus several times a year by the Alliance.
Peer educators
Though many extracurricular activities aim to relieve participants' tension, students involved with the numerous peer educator programs help others deal with some of the pressures of Princeton.
McCosh Health Center coordinates several peer educator programs that address a range of difficult issues including sexual assault, alcohol abuse and eating disorders.
These different groups, involving nearly 65 students, offer special training programs to teach counselors how to advise their peers. Applicants for these positions undergo intensive training in such areas as "active listening" and "crisis counseling."
Peer educators run workshops for freshmen and speak to RA groups at the beginning of the year. They also coordinate educational speakers and are available to provide counseling 24 hours per day.
"They are specially trained to provide referrals and guidance to other students when McCosh is not open," Health Education Office spokeswoman Karen Gordon said.
Environmental advocacy
Concern for environmental issues led to the creation of Princeton Environmental Action, a student group that concerns itself with global, regional and campus ecological issues.
PEA also conducts letter-writing campaigns on environmental issues, leads community cleanup projects and invites speakers to campus from organizations such as Earth First and the National Wildlife Federation.
SVC
For those with a desire to extend their Princeton experience into the community, the Student Volunteers Council and Community House offer numerous social service projects in the local area.
The SVC sponsors at least four types of community work: person-to-person counseling, tutoring, work in correctional institutions and volunteering in psychiatric institutions.
Princeton's campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity finished its first complete renovation five years ago. Now, participants make weekly trips to Trenton where they do construction work to help provide more affordable housing.
One of the SVC's more popular programs is University Big Brothers and Sisters. Each volunteer works with one child, offering companionship and help with school work.
Tutoring programs include the Mentor Program for Gifted and Talented Children in local elementary and junior high schools and teaching reading to illiterate adults in Trenton.
College Bowl
For those whose goal in life is to someday appear on "Jeopardy!" College Bowl provides an outlet for cerebral frustrations.
College Bowl tests the wits of two opposing teams of four students each. Questions cover general knowledge, sports, history, science and trivia. Winning requires speed, accuracy and occasionally, dumb luck.
Student agencies
The number of student-run businesses has increased rapidly over the years, but opportunity still exists for enterprising students with fresh ideas. Current agencies offer services ranging from building lofts to providing computer equipment and VCR rental.
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