Regarding “Electroshock to cure toolishness” (Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009):
The fake Daily Princetonian article from last week about curing toolishness at the University was spookily accurate. Princeton is incredible, but it unintentionally nourishes toolishness and egos. This privileged environment makes some people feel that they are infallible and should work only for their own self-interest.
The same attitude made national headlines when former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was revealed as having abused his political position for personal motives. Instead of being contrite upon exposure, he resorted to a self-indignant attack of his accusers. No elected official has the right to bring such shame to the community he or she represents.
I don’t care that former USG president Josh Weinstein ’09 improperly used his position to support a candidate or that his actions resulted in former elections manager Braeden Kepner-Kraus ’10 resigning from frustration (which was a shame). I do care that he behaved more like a child or impeached governor than the USG president of arguably the best undergraduate college in the nation.
Class of 2011 senator George Tsivin ’10, former USG vice president Mike Wang ’10, current elections manager Sophie Jin ’11 and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Thomas Dunne are perfectly within their rights to restore transparency and trust in USG. Regardless of how the revote goes, I trust their intentions. The two vice-presidential candidates have likewise handled themselves with dignity, and I believe either would do an excellent job.
Weinstein ceased being relevant when he betrayed our trust in student government to be unbiased and professional. Despite his many good achievements, he has single-handedly destroyed his legacy more than any “witch hunt” ever could. If he desires to salvage his reputation, he should silently let the revote go ahead and realize the real world has less tolerance for bullshit.
I urge the ‘Prince’ to report only on the revote itself and not give further attention to those with no need for it.
Mark Gray ’11
The revote isn’t actually a joke, though it may seem like one
Regarding “Weinstein ’09: Wang ’10 led ‘witch hunt’ ” (Friday, Jan. 16, 2009):
“Is this a joke?”??
I received an e-mail with this message a few hours after the e-mail I had addressed to the student body about the new election was sent.? I was at first flattered that even at my blandest and most informative, I could be seen as being in competition with the joke issue of the ‘Prince.’ But then, crestfallen, I realized that a true comedienne wouldn’t need to identify her jokes for her audience.?
Aw, shucks. Comedy Career Fail.? Tina Fey won’t be looking for a new job anytime soon.
That said, I understand how this situation can seem to be approaching comic proportions. And perhaps someday, a talented Princetonian with real comedic talent will launch his or her screenwriting career based on inspiration taken from the folds of the joke issue of the ‘Prince.’ At any rate, if there is any drama to be drawn from the situation, dramatic comedy is where it should stay.
However, as the aforementioned e-mail has reminded me, I am a bland and uninspired person with an equally bland and uninspiring job to do. I did not need to draw on drama or intrigue when making the decision to call for a revote. My predecessor, Braeden Kepner-Kraus, determined the original election to have been unduly influenced. He called for a ?revote. The USG Senate voted to cancel the revote. I discovered that there was a possibility that members of Senate knew the results of the election when they voted to cancel. I subsequently called for a new election.
There was no motive behind my decision to call for a new election aside from the desire to clear the newly elected candidate of any ?suspicion that he would be entering office through anything but a legitimate elections process. To do otherwise, in my judgment, would not have been in the best interests of the USG or the student body.
In conclusion, I’m no great comic. But this doesn’t mean that the student body can’t laugh about this. Is this a joke? No, but with better deadpanning and wittier dialogue, it may be a great one some day. For now, let’s just have a nice, clean and bland election.
Sophie Jin ’11
USG elections manager
Read More
Why can’t lecturers win the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching?
Jerry ZhuLet’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Let’s acknowledge those who make “boutique teaching” possible, those who work tirelessly to make our rigorous curricula more accessible, and those who dedicate their time to advising and guiding us through all the challenges we face at this University. Lecturers should be eligible for the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.
Princeton’s administration of justice is Trumpian
Frances BroganThe disparity between the University’s approach to Giberson and its approach to pro-Palestinian protestors reflects a concerning trend of appeasing an increasingly emboldened right rather than resisting the threat it poses to academic freedom and the wellbeing of Princeton students.
Secular Opening Exercises? Don’t throw out the baby with the bath water
Frank StrasburgerThe secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
The secular makes no room for the spiritual. What Opening Exercises are meant to convey is the spirit of the institution so that it may be kept alive from generation to generation.
