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Before demolition, Reunions offers last chance to visit Butler Apartments

Before demolition, Reunions offers last chance to visit Butler Apartments

Paul Phillips

An open house held on Saturday was one of the last opportunities to see Butler Apartments -- a graduate housing complex built shortly after World War II that was intended to last for only a decade -- before it is torn down this summer having exceeded its projected life-span by almost sixty years. Many graduate students who resided in the complex remembered it fondly, all the while acknowledging its flaws. Simon Leblanc GS, who is studying applied and computational mathematics, and Sebastien Philippe GS, who is studying mechanical and aerospace engineering, explained that Butler Apartments offers an outdoor and community spirit that does not exist in the other graduate housing options. “I like the environment and especially the community spirit,” Leblanc said.

NEWS | 06/02/2014

Alumni panel touches upon relations with Iran, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Alumni panel touches upon relations with Iran, Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Loully Saney

Alumni discussed the importance of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the tender negotiations between the United States and Iran on the nuclear deal at a Reunions panel on Saturday.

NEWS | 06/02/2014

At Class Day, Al Gore talks climate change, jokes about grade deflation

At Class Day, Al Gore talks climate change, jokes about grade deflation

Loully Saney

On the same day that the federal government announced a 30 percent target reduction of carbon pollution by 2030, former Vice President Al Gore gave a speech to the graduating Class of 2014 at Class Day combining humor and a message to take action against global warming. "I was once named one of the 100 funniest men on C-Span," Gore said. On a more serious note, he criticized the University for not supporting the divestment movement, a push that seeks to stop college endowments from investing in non-renewable energy sources, and turned to University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 to apologize for the disagreement that University presidents and the cause Gore promotes hold on that front. Gore follows in the footsteps of David Remnick ’81, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Chevy Chase, Jerry Seinfeld and others who have spoken at the University's annual tradition of Class Day in honor of the graduating class.

NEWS | 06/02/2014

Eisgruber ’83 outlines priorities as Princeton president

Loully Saney

University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 spoke in a conversation with alumni about the three priorities that he came into office with: reaching out to the larger Princeton community, building his administrative team and continuing the execution of key initiatives that Shirley Tilghman had launched during her time in office.

NEWS | 06/01/2014

Despite political gridlock, hope remains, say alumni in government

Paul Phillips

Although there is obviously political gridlock in the government right now, it can be remedied, alumni panelists said in a discussion moderated by associate politics professor Paul Frymer.

NEWS | 06/01/2014

In baccalaureate speech, longtime Obama aide Chris Lu '88 discusses U. education as an "inheritance"

In baccalaureate speech, longtime Obama aide Chris Lu '88 discusses U. education as an "inheritance"

Jacob Donnelly

Receiving a Princeton education makes one privileged, even if that person was not privileged before, Christopher Lu ’88, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Labor and former White House Cabinet Secretary, told the Class of 2014 in his Baccalaureate addresson Sunday,titled “The Inheritance of a Princeton Education.” After one has received this inheritance, Lu said, one should give back to society. “Your education is your inheritance,” Lu said.

NEWS | 06/01/2014

At reunions panel, alumni discuss service in light of Princeton's unofficial motto

Ruby Shao

Anthropology professor João Biehl noted the importance of recognizing recipients of aid as dynamic individuals while moderating the Friday panel “Princeton Alumni in the Service of All Nations.” “If we work with people on an everyday basis, we understand them as much more complex beings,” he said.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

Future bankers learn how to "get around every rule" at Princeton, says Volcker '49

Jacob Donnelly

The compensation system gives too much incentive for bankers to take risks, and the University has promoted the view that the markets generally take care of themselves, Paul Volcker ’49, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, said in a panel discussion on Friday. "We have a department at this great University ... teaching people how to get around every rule you can conceive of to make big bonuses at big banks," Volcker said, referring to the Operations Research and Financial Engineering department. Richard Herring GS ’73, professor of international banking at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, said governments typically bail out banks for one of four reasons: they are too big, they are important to key markets, they are interconnected with other important financial institutions or they're complex.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

In surprise event, Flo Rida performs at Princeton reunions

In surprise event, Flo Rida performs at Princeton reunions

Angela Wang

Flo Rida, a hip-hop artist, performed at the 25th reunion tent in Whitman College on Thursday night, a concert that was initially restricted to Class of 1989 guests but was eventually opened to all Reunions attendees. The decision to open up the concert was a “class decision,” according to a source familiar with the situation. Multiple members of the Class of 1989 told The Daily Princetonian earlier on Thursday evening that Flo Rida was expected to perform. The concert took place on early in the Reunions schedule, on a day when most attendees have yet to arrive on campus.Entertainment chair for the 25th reunion Stephen Consentino ’89 explained that this was due to the artist's schedule, who was unavailable any other day. One of Flo Rida’s most famous songs is “Low,” featuring T-Pain, which became popular around 2008.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

News & Notes: Guyot evacuated after globe catches on fire

Daily Princetonian Staff

A globe inside Guyot Hall caught on fire Friday afternoon during an alumni reception. University Vice President and Secretary Bob Durkee ’69 was on the scene, but deferred comment to Geosciences Department Manager Nora Zelizer. At approximately 6 p.m., the motor on the globe caught fire and triggered the fire alarm, Zelizer said.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

Alumni entrepreneurs discuss most promising investment opportunities

Jacob Donnelly

The world’s 25 fastest markets account for only 0.4 percent of market capitalization in the world’s stock markets, but also make up 30 percent of the world’s population, Thanassis Mazarakis ’84, COO of Southern Star and former president of Chase Merchant Services, said in a panel discussion Friday about the best investment opportunities.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

Q&A: Former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker '49

Jacob Donnelly

The Daily Princetonian spoke to former chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker '49 following a panel discussion in which he participated, titled "Are financial institutions too big or too big to fail?" At the panel, Volcker criticized universities like Princeton for allegedly teaching students how to cheat the financial system. The Daily Princetonian: Do you think the Federal Reserve went far enough in stabilizing the banking system? Paul Volcker ’49: No, I'm not going to answer a question like that. DP: Pretty recently, some economists have suggested that the central bankers took [the threat of] inflation too seriously. PV: I'll give you a simple answer.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

Panel discusses "Should women do it all?” question

Anna Mazarakis

A panel of female alumni discussed the question "Should women do it all?” at a Reunions discussion on Friday moderated by politics professor Tali Mendelberg.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

UPDATED: Reilly '14 elected new Young Alumni Trustee

Jacob Donnelly

Brian Reilly ’14 won the Young Alumni Trustee election and will begin a four-year term as a University trustee on July 1, the University announced on Friday.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

Eisgruber ’83 addresses alumni, defends value of Princeton education

Jacob Donnelly

While the media and public often take a short-term view of the benefits of a college education, the University is a long-term enterprise, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 told an alumni audience on Thursday at the Class of 1959 Reunion Seminar.

NEWS | 05/30/2014

UPDATED: Flo Rida performing live, concert opened to wristband holders

Daily Princetonian Staff

Flo Rida, a hip-hop artist, is currently performing at the 25th reunion tent. The concert is expected to last no longer than an hour and a half.

NEWS | 05/29/2014

The Reunions Issue - May 29, 2014

Daily Princetonian Staff

The annual Daily Princetonian Reunions issue compiles the biggest stories of the year on Princeton’s campus.

NEWS | 05/28/2014

Princeton holds dialogues on mental health following lawsuit, op-eds

Jacob Donnelly

Following a lawsuit and an outpour of op-eds in The Daily Princetonian, University mental health policy has been at the forefront of campus conversation, prompting administrators to hold dialogues to hear students’ concerns and, in some, cases consider reform. In March, a student filed a lawsuit in federal court against the University alleging that it had engaged in discrimination when handling a case of attempted suicide. In April, a student published an anonymous op-ed in The Daily Princetonian criticizing the administration’s practice of demanding detailed medical records from students who have taken time off for mental health reasons. “If I ever want to return to Princeton as a student, I will have to ‘voluntarily’ waive my right to doctor-patient confidentiality by signing … two forms,” the student wrote.

NEWS | 05/28/2014

TI elects new officers post 21 Club scandal

TI elects new officers post 21 Club scandal

Lorenzo Quiogue

Tiger Inn elected four new officers on March 31 after all but two officers resigned earlier that month following a party, deemed unauthorized, of the heavy-drinking group called the 21 Club. The elections came after what was officially called a “security breach” at the club on March 9, according to an email obtained by The Daily Princetonian that was sent to members by the club’s graduate board president Robert “Hap” Cooper ’82. Former president Ryan Cash ’15, house manager Dror Liebenthal ’15, treasurer Will Siroky ’15 and safety czar Victoria Majchrzak ’15 offered their resignations to the club’s graduate board of governors after the incident. Oliver Bennett ’15, the vice president prior to the incident, was elected president.

NEWS | 05/28/2014

At Columbia, suit alleges sexual assault investigation discriminated against male student

Daily Princetonian Staff and Anna Windemuth

Amid a backdrop of intense activism, a male Columbia student is retaliating in federal court against an internal disciplinary conviction of sexual assault. The student, who is only identified as John Doe in the suit filed Monday, alleges that Columbia administrators sought to make an example out of his case, that his rights under Title IX were violated and that administrators succumbed to external pressures from student activists in determining his guilt.

NEWS | 05/19/2014

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