News

Trump says he won't recertify Iran nuclear deal compliance, decision could affect U. graduate student's status

President Donald Trump said today that he will not certify that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal negotiated under the Obama administration. He earlier had declared that Iran is not living up to the ‘spirit’ of the deal. By expressing this sentiment, Trump is effectively forcing Congress to decide whether or not to reimpose sanctions on Iran — sanctions that would kill the deal. If Congress doesn’t act, Trump has threatened to end the deal entirely.  The deal may affect the fate of a history graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was detained in Iran well over a year ago. Wang, a U.S. citizen, was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage. 

Princeton-CUNY biophysics center set up with $13-million grant

A $13-million grant from the National Science Foundation was awarded for setting up CPBF, according to Joshua Shaevitz, co-director of the program and University professor of physics and the Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics. This is one of 11 Physical Frontiers Centers funded by the Physics Division of the National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. 

Princeton Citizen Scientists host teach-in at Princeton Public Library

“Our goal as citizen scientists is to better communicate and also to understand and inform public debate,” Philippe said.

Mankiw, Rosen discuss controversial economics paper

Who you believe deserves a hefty paycheck depends on what political party you’re in, according to economist Gregory Mankiw ’80, explaining his controversial paper about inequality. In a Whig-Cliosophic Society-hosted conversation between Mankiw and economics professor Harvey Rosen, the two long-time friends elucidated Mankiw’s paper “Defending the One Percent.”

U. rolls out new dining hall, inter-club electronic meal exchange

 As part of a one-year Campus Dining pilot program, beginning Oct. 9 meal exchanges between the University dining halls and eating clubs will be entirely electronic. Meal exchanges between students who are both members of eating clubs will continue to operate on paper. “Having meals with upperclassmen allows [students] to get a feel for [the clubs] and really what they’re looking forward to, but also to demystify the idea of eating clubs that seems so far from underclass students,” said USG president Myesha Jemison ‘18. 

Former EPA administrator talks climate change, Trump administration

“We can be upset about what’s going on in Washington and have disagreements with what’s happening, but we have to maintain a tremendous sense of hope,” Obama administrator Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy said during her lecture, “The Future of EPA and Our Planet,” on Wednesday. McCarthy, an environmental health and air quality expert, was the spokesperson and driving force of Obama’s climate change and global warming initiative. Among her many accomplishments, she finalized the Clean Water Act and spearheaded the Clean Power Plan and Clean Air Act to fulfill the United States’ goals for coal reduction as outlined by the Paris Agreement.

5000 U. community members get vaccinated against the flu

Roughly 5,000 University community members have received free influenza vaccinations as part of FluFest, University Health Services’ seasonal flu shot program. The necessity of immunization may be particularly high this year, since the unusually severe flu season in Australia indicates similar problems might occur in the United States. 

London singer-songwriter Jade Bird performs at U., fresh from Colbert's show

Clad in metallic silver booties and outfitted with a beautiful acoustic guitar, London-based singer-songwriter Jade Bird took to the stage of Richardson Auditorium to perform her music and engage in dialogue on Wednesday evening. “It doesn’t matter where you are, but you’re always looking up,” she says. “You’ve got to stop doing that, you’ve got to stop looking for that, you know, something American, something great.”

U. professor Betsy Levy Paluck wins MacArthur grant

Professor of psychology and public affairs Elizabeth (Betsy) Levy Paluck was named as one of the 24 recipients of the MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grant on Oct. 11. The MacArthur Fellowship is a “$625,000, no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential,” according to its website. Being named a MacArthur Foundation Fellow is an extremely high honor, with an extensive nomination and selection process. Paluck is best known for her work with social norms and impacts of mass media on behavioral changes, with her experiments largely occurring in real-world environments.

Student makes bus into tiny house

While in high school, Nicolas Viglucci ’19 won an online auction for a bus, but his father cancelled the sale for him since he had neither a design plan nor the funding to realize his dream. Five years later, Viglucci has received generous funding from High Meadows Foundation Sustainability Fund and Project X Innovation Fund to finally build his tiny home inside a bus at the University.  

Harvard changes alma mater lyrics 30 years after Princeton

“Harvard’s mission to be more inclusive is a lot more important than keeping things ‘the same,’” Lee said. Unlike Harvard, “Old Nassau” contains no language with religious connotations. However, the University made a similar decision to change the words of its alma mater in the winter of 1987 to be more inclusive towards women. 

Iranian speakers discuss U.S.-Iran relations

“Everyone thought that the biggest danger that could derail this agreement would be the Iranians cheating in the deal,” said Parsi. “As it turns out, the Iranians have been quite stable in their commitment to the agreement and the party that has become the biggest headache is the United States.” 

Negative email on chemical and biological engineering major sparks dialogue

Chemical and biological engineering students choose their major in part because they believe that upon graduation they will have their pick of dream jobs. But a senior sent an email to the department rejecting this notion. Nathanael Ji sent the email, titled “CBE info - Jobs and Advice,” on Sept.  24. Ji outlined career paths that CBE concentrators typically pursue after graduation. For each path — medicine, consulting or finance, computer science, pharmaceuticals, and oil — he explained why CBE isn’t the best choice. 

Princeton-Trenton connections explored in new campus tour

Last weekend’s “Walking Histories: Race and Protest at Princeton and in Trenton” involved a series of performative walks across campus that “[explored] how issues of race and protest, in Trenton and on campus, are imprinted on Princeton’s buildings and grounds," according to the event's website. 

Q&A: Kip Thorne, co-winner of 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics

Emmy-winning actor and rapper Riz Ahmed talks identity in media

U. announces 12.5 percent endowment return

The University released its endowment returns on Monday afternoon, Oct. 9, and showed a 12.5 percent investment gain for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017. The endowment is now valued at $23.8 billion, a growth of $1.6 billion from last year, when the University reported only a 0.8 percent return.

N.J. senators introduce legislation to ban bump stocks

Jorge Ramos speaks to U. students about Latinx future

“The future of the Hispanic community is on you,” journalist Jorge Ramos told University students at the beginning of his talk, “Nuestro Futuro: A Conversation with Jorge Ramos,” this Friday. 

Academics chair establishes subcommittee on the Honor Constitution

In a weekly USG meeting, Academics Chair Patrick Flanigan ‘18 announced he has established a subcommittee regarding the Honor Constitution.