News

Ad Hoc Committee on Calendar Reform proposes fall exams before winter break

In addition to recent attempts to reform the Honor Code, the University is currently considering a reform of the academic calendar. In October 2016, the Task Force on General Education suggested that fall exams be moved to before winter break by beginning the fall semester earlier. At the time of the Task Force recommendations, a survey of students found that 75 percent supported such a change.

University debaters place second at world championships

Sinan Ozbay '19 and Sam Arnesen '20 were named runners-up at the World University Debating Championships, held in Mexico City, Mexico from Dec. 27 to Jan. 4. In a tournament featuring over 300 teams from roughly 90 countries, the pair surpassed predicted frontrunners such as Yale University, Oxford University, and Tel Aviv University to secure the second-place title and advance further than any prior University team.

Egyptian writer Aswany and poet Gregerson read selections from their work

Acclaimed Egyptian novelist and activist Alaa Al Aswany and American poet Linda Gregerson read selections from their work on Feb. 7 as part of the 2017-2018 Althea Ward Clark W’21 Reading Series sponsored by the Program in Creative Writing. 

Eisgruber to hold CPUC meeting following second annual President's Letter

Next Monday, President Eisgruber will hold this year’s annual Town Hall meeting of the Council of the Princeton University Community. The meeting will be based on President Eisgruber’s second annual President’s Letter to the community, a tradition the President began last February. The annual letter provides the University community with a regular update on how the University has changed over the course of the year, and includes goals it has set for the future.

Ad Hoc Committee on Calendar Reform proposes fall exams before winter break

The Ad Hoc Committee on Calendar Reform, charged in spring 2017 and composed of faculty members, two undergraduate students, and one graduate student, released a final survey on Jan. 30 to gather student opinions on the proposed new calendar. This calendar features a fall semester that would begin as early as Sept. 1 and end between Dec. 19 and 23, resulting in shortened reading periods and finals periods. By comparison, the spring semester would remain unchanged, save beginning and ending a week earlier.

Students walk out of anthropology lecture after professor uses the word “n****r”

Several students walked out of an anthropology lecture Tuesday afternoon when a professor allegedly asked a question in which he used the word “n****r,” according to several students in the class.

Six SINSI internship recipients announced

The SINSI Program selected six Class of 2019 students to participate in its public service program this summer. Michael Asparrin, Mikaela Gerwin, Julia Herrle, Tylor-Maria Johnson, Aaron Sobel, and Sophie Troyka were selected as the newest SINSI interns.

Feinberg talks Pixar technology and art, Coco

Danielle Feinberg is the Director of Photography for Lighting at Pixar Animation Studios. She has worked on “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2,” “Ratatouille,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “WALL-E,” “Brave,” and “Coco.” In a lecture on Wednesday entitled “The Art and Science of Pixar,” Feinberg discussed the intersection of art and technology in computer-animated films.

University creates new partnership with start-up organization

The University has partnered with BioLabs — a national network of shared labs and office facilities — to open a business incubator for science start-ups on the James Forrestal Campus, less than three miles away from the main campus.

President Eisgruber, U. Professors Participate in the World Economic Forum

Eisgruber participated in the Global University Leaders Forum, a community of 27 university presidents that focuses on research and educational agendas, and serves as an intellectual advisory body for the World Economic Forum.

U. introduces new name pronunciation tool

University Registrar Polly Griffin: “Our hope is that NameCoach will facilitate a respectful and appropriate use of one another’s — correctly pronounced — names.”

EcoReps generate momentum for a more sustainable year

As the new semester begins, the Office of Sustainability’s Ecology Representative Program (EcoReps) led by undergraduates who “promote the integration of sustainability into campus life,” is working to continue the successful EcoReps Clothing Swap and kick off two new initiatives: MEND and Greening Athletics.

Governor Murphy orders NJ transit audit

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Jan. 22 ordering a full-scale audit of New Jersey Transit. The review will look into NJ Transit funding, current leadership structure, hiring protocols, and relationship with Amtrak. 

Reading between the numbers: Trends in the University’s early acceptance rate

Single-choice early action program  unlike traditional early action plans, restricts how many schools a student can apply to in the early round. Notably, the SCEA admission rate is significantly higher than the regular decision admit rate. Last year, 15.4 percent of SCEA applicants were accepted while only 4.3 percent of regular decision applicants gained admission to the University — a staggering 358 percent difference. 

Announcing the 142nd Managing Board of the Prince

Though conflicted, numbers show small-town U. students fleeing to cities

 Comparing the origins of the current senior class to where the Class of 2012 now resides reveals a pull toward the coasts, especially to New York and California. Even magnets like Texas and Florida do not regain the number of students they send to Princeton. 

In memoriam Chester Lam '19

Chester Lam ‘19 of Morganville, N.J. was a loyal, caring, and funny, though quiet, friend to those who knew him well.  He passed away in a New York City hospital on Jan. 12. He was 20 years old.

University's Director of Global Health Programs competes on Jeopardy!

Starting on Jan. 10, the University’s Director of Global Health Programs, Gilbert Collins GS ’99, racked up five consecutive wins on the television game show “Jeopardy!” The winning streak puts Collins, who holds a Master in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School, in the running for the Tournament of Champions, an annual competition featuring the longest-running champions and biggest winners from recent seasons.

Ioffe '05 discusses Russia, Trump, and the role of the journalist

Ioffe, who covers national security and foreign policy for The Atlantic, was quick to outline the two traps to which Americans often fall victim: seeing Putin and Russians as more competent than they actually are, and blaming the result of the 2016 election on an outside power.

New biodigester to improve U. ecosystem

In February, the University will feature an important addition to promote its sustainability goals on campus: an in-vessel aerobic digester, according to the University’s Biodigester Blog.