The members of the classics department were surprised by the article on the choices of the 269 members of the Class of 2015 who declared concentrations in the humanities. Our department received no mention in your article, despite the fact that the Class of 2015 will have 16 classics concentrators, as opposed to 12 in the Class of 2014. Actually, that figure of 12 for 2014 is unusually low for us over the last 10 years. We have gone from a regular dozen or so in the years leading up to 2003 to an average of 19 concentrators a year between the Classes of 2004 and 2014. Classics demands a range of skills, including historical and cultural studies, but in an important sense we are a foreign language department, and more Princeton undergraduates are currently majoring in Latin and/or ancient Greek than in any other of the languages you mention — more than twice as many, in fact. We have more concentrators in the Class of 2015 than architecture, music and religion, and our total of 16 is within striking distance of the 22 who have declared in comparative literature and philosophy. If you want a success story for the Major Choices initiative, here it is.
All departments are different, and numbers don’t mean everything. But you could have enlightened your article’s overall focus on gloom and doom by pointing to a middle-sized humanities department that for over a decade has been successfully recruiting a stream of Princeton undergraduates to a demanding and richly enjoyable humanities program.
Professors Y. Baraz, E. Bourbouhakis, E. Champlin, M. Domingo Gygax, J. Downie, D. Feeney, A. Feldherr, H. Flower, M. Flower, A. Ford, C. Güthenke, B. Holmes, R. Kaster, J. Katz, N. Luraghi, B. Shaw, C. Wildberg
Editor’s note
The omission of the number of sophomore classics concentrators in the April 25 printed article was the result of an oversight. The online article was promptly updated with the figure. We regret the omission, but it was not the result of any deliberate editorial decision.
Luc Cohen
Editor-in-Chief
Read More
Keep Princeton in Estonia
Astor Lu and William AepliWe strongly disagree with Veronika Kitsul’s recent Opinion piece, in which she argues that the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must end its Russian language program in Estonia and refrain from sponsoring programs in any post-Soviet states. In attempting to cancel Princeton in Estonia, we damage access to Baltic culture, Russian language study, and ultimately, the world’s chances for peace in the region.
We strongly disagree with Veronika Kitsul’s recent Opinion piece, in which she argues that the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures must end its Russian language program in Estonia and refrain from sponsoring programs in any post-Soviet states. In attempting to cancel Princeton in Estonia, we damage access to Baltic culture, Russian language study, and ultimately, the world’s chances for peace in the region.
Princeton’s role in combating the drug crisis must start on campus
Lizbeth ReyesTo maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.
To maintain a healthy and safe community, Princeton must do more to inform students of the risks of substances and substance abuse. This includes making information about drug use and use prevention accessible to students—and not just through a website.
Why the Resources Committee is not recommending dissociation from Israel
John T. GrovesI want to use this opportunity to explain how the Resources Committee arrived at its decision to not recommend dissociation from Israel, and to anticipate and answer some questions members of our community may have.
I want to use this opportunity to explain how the Resources Committee arrived at its decision to not recommend dissociation from Israel, and to anticipate and answer some questions members of our community may have.
