The Daily Princetonian
Thursday november 16, 2017
STREET EDITORS: JIANING ZHAO, DANIELLE HOFFMAN, LYRIC PEROT
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PAGES DESIGNED BY ASHLEY CHANG AND WILL RANDALL
FALL BREAK Coming back from fall break, Princeton Univeristy students reflect on their experiences and take a look forward to the rest of the semester.
The Mixed Emotions of New Jersey Weather Aishwarya Kalyanraman Contributor ‘21
Break kicked off in the most classically fall way possible: The green scenery was long gone, replaced by a spectrum of warm-colored leaves, and the long-awaited crispness in the air had finally arrived. It was the perfect weather to finally bundle up in your favorite sweater, cherish the end of midterms, and look forward to enjoying the objectively greatest season (this cannot be disputed). However, unless you haven’t been in New Jersey for long enough to know better by now, you probably suspected that the coming week was not about to be smooth-sailing autumn bliss. As a New Jersey resident, the erratic, highly questionable, and always confusing nature of our climate is nothing new to me. I began my break, of course, by hibernating for the entirety of the week-
end in order to make up for my lack of sleep from the previous two weeks. I then figured that on Monday I would finally arise from the dead and do something slightly more productive. I woke up to the sound of a tree branch hitting my bedroom window — the lovely result of the violent rainstorm (more like a monsoon) taking place outside. A Jersey monsoon is typically a come-and-go type of deal that lasts for 30 minutes and then magically disappears into brilliant sunshine, but this one stretched on all day. While I wish that was an exaggeration, it did give me some excuse to extend my hibernation for another twentyfour hours. The next couple of days saw the return of the cool, calm autumn we all know and love. I visited my old high school and the air quickly filled with nostalgia as I sat in my old classrooms and attempted to describe to my teachers what life at Princeton is like. My
feeling of “being old” only grew as Halloween rolled around, and for the first time, I was the one handing out candy to the little kids in my neighborhood. I must say this new role was not nearly as fun as my old one. On Wednesday, in typical unexplainable fashion, New Jersey’s crisp November air instantly disappeared in exchange for mid-seventies and sunny skies. Unlike the weather, I predictably used the weather gods’ volatile emotions as justification to escape all responsibilities. I figured I would take it easy and go for a nice scenic walk in the park, but after seeing more than one incredibly fit senior citizen run past me, a bit of guilt began to set in and I decided I should try to jog. And, of course, my grueling workout was followed up with a classic Jersey bagel from the best shop in town. As fall break came to a close, my emotions were as confused as New Jer-
sey’s autumn weather. I had gotten used to sleeping 12 hours a night once again, and the thought of giving up the comforts of home was beyond unappealing. Not to mention that, at this point, I had run out of excuses not to at least start my R2. I managed to crank out a couple semi-decent pages of writing in between episodes of “The Office” and sporadic naps. While the comfort and security of home would be hard to leave, a week without my friends (love how our fall
IMAGE COURTESY OF PRINCETON.EDU
break doesn’t align with any other school’s!) made me realize how much I missed campus. In its usual fashion, autumn this year brought with it a host of new experiences, unpredictable events, and mixed emotions; perhaps that’s the beauty of it. But I think it’s safe to say we’re all ready for a well-deserved Thanksgiving feast and, more importantly, for Christmas to come already.
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The Daily Princetonian
Thursday november 16, 2017
STREET FIGHT Mamoun’s Falafel
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Princeton Soup & Sandwitch Jack Allen
Contributor ‘21
With most Princetonians fleeing campus far and wide over fall break, culinary options for those of us trapped in the Bubble were few. With only RoMa open for meals, the loss of breakfast in favor of brunch for the whole week, a one swipe per meal limit, and, most depressingly, the disappearance of Late Meal, the gastronomic delights on Nassau Street and beyond looked all the more appealing. This week we pitted Mamoun’s Falafel against Princeton Soup and Photo byJack Allen Photo byJack Allen Sandwich Company in the Mamoun’s, a short trot down one, and $6.75 for a meat one. ultimate battle for King of For somewhere a bit more though the melted pastrami Witherspoon Street, was my The sides menu provides an Cheap Eats. low key, I gave Princeton for $12 on the Souper Fall first venture out of the Campus Dining cartel. The place was packed to the rafters the night I visited it with a friend. We were quickly served, though, and the food arrived after a short wait. Sandwiches are on the smaller end, but that’s probably to be expected considering the cheap prices: $4.50 for a vegetarian
easy solution to this problem. I loved the falafel, which was addictively crunchy on the outside without being too dry in the middle. What the food lacks in quantity, it makes up for in flavor. My lamb shawarma was well-spiced, and the tahini sauce accompanied the meat wonderfully.
Image courtesy of salonspa
Soup and Sandwich Company a go. Just off Palmer Square, it’s more of a squeeze than Mamoun’s — the place only has a dozen or so seats — but it seems ideal for a late lunch at a less busy time of day. Thankfully, the restaurant has a homey vibe and friendly staff. The menu is long,
Specials board immediately caught my eye. Though there was too much sauerkraut, the flavors were well-balanced, I adored the mountain of cheese and tangy Russian dressing, and it was certainly too much to finish. It went deliciously with the tart homemade lemonade.
This week’s winner is a tough battle. Both of the restaurants I tried had good food and were of reasonably good value for their cost, coming in at under $15 for a full meal with a drink. After careful comparison, however, I the Princeton Soup and Sandwich Company takes the crown for its homey vibe and extensive choices, though whether it can live up to its title of “World’s Best Lobster Bisque” is an adventure for another week! Photo byJack Allen
Photo byJack Allen
Canada, Eh? 11 Princeton students embark on a week long exploration of America’s Hat for fall break Carolyne Davidson Contributor ‘21
Image courtesy of Carolyne Davidson Students decorated a large white van for their travels
For many, fall break meant a return home to relax and unwind. For Abraham Cruz-Pena ’21, fall break meant a weeklong journey through Canada, exploring parks and historic sites. CruzPena and 10 other Princeton students departed from Princeton early Saturday morning in a large white van that they decorated with orange window paint. The trip was designed to be very budget-friendly, so the group stayed at Airbnb locations. Cruz-Pena said that “it was really fun cramming ten people into two rooms. We really got to know each other.” For Cruz-Pena,
Image courtesy of Carolyne Davidson Abraham Cruz-Pena poses in front of the Toronto skyline
this was his first time in Canada and it was a unique chance to be immersed in another culture. Each day brought a new city and new adventures. The group started in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where they saw a picturesque sunset and rode the Niagara SkyWheel. In Toronto, they took a water taxi to view the
downtown skyline. They also explored the distillery district and saw the sunrise by the water at Bluffers Park. On Monday, they visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan, a Hindu temple. Cruz-Pena said that he enjoyed performing a Hindu traditional ritual at the temple. Another highlight of the trip was Halloween in Montréal, where they went on the Montréal
Ghosts walking tour. The last stop was Quebec, where they visited the Basilica of Sainte Anne-de-Beaupré. Cruz-Pena’s weeklong trip seemed like the perfect fall break excursion, filled with friends, new experiences, and a much-needed break from the Orange Bubble.
Image courtesy of Carolyne Davidson Cruz-Pena at Major’s Hill Park in Ottowa, Canada over fall break
The Daily Princetonian
Thursday november 16, 2017
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A Look at Fall Break (from those who stayed on campus)
Lydia Gompper Contributor ‘21
Fall break. For most, those two words evoke images of relaxation, catching up on TV, sleeping, visiting family, leaving midterm essays until the last possible second, and sleeping some more. It is essentially a week-long nap mixed with a frantic bingeing of “Stranger Things” season two. But for some, fall break just brings... more school. Many students — often those whose homes are across the country or overseas — remain on campus for the duration of fall break. This may be due to a simple matter of “logistical and economic efficiency,” as one international student said, citing “the large sums of cash” necessary to return home, as well as the “mental struggle” and
“waste of time” that returning home would actually entail. And for some students left on campus over the break, staying at school really does mean a more academically intense week. One student I interviewed, for instance, spoke of having scheduled four midterm exams throughout the week, and thus having a day-to-day experience that could be best summed up as “wake up, shower, eat, study, eat, study, sleep.” Another student said that he “would’ve worked less anywhere else,” despite a “lack of motivation.” Meanwhile, an on-campus break is not without its small annoyances. Besides simply missing friends who left to visit family, the food situation seemed to be a common qualm among students. Only RoMa was open for meals, causing considerable irritation for those living in Forbes. Similar-
ly, one student noted that those without unlimited meal plans had to pay for meals during the break. However, another student expressed satisfaction with the school’s efforts to accommodate its on-campus student population, saying “We still had meals, and I guess that’s all I really expect from the school.” But despite small grievances, an on-campus fall break is not without the cathartic relaxation of a more typical vacation. Sleep is certainly not inhibited — one student spoke of sleeping “for long
periods of time, ranging from 12 to 17 hours a day.” Often, students will also take brief “mini-vacations” off-campus, such as trips to New York City or to a roommate’s nearby home, as another student did. On campus, one still has the opportunity to take time off, whether with other friends who stayed on campus or at the ease of solitude. In fact, one student cited “the silence that settled over campus” as the best aspect of his fall break. Often, time off from school can be as simple as social
down time, a respite from the hectic interpersonal sphere that Princeton offers. The same student spoke of how “it rained very hard one of the nights and it was quite nice to hear rain knocking on my window outside without the chaos of people interrupting it.” Sometimes, a bit of quiet, a bit of time with oneself, can be all one needs to return to the regular hustleand-bustle of Princeton life with a rejuvenated vigor.
Photo by Lydia Gompper
Image courtesy of Princeton University A few Princetonians stayed on campus over fall break to study, relax (a bit), and enjoy the fall ~aesthetic~
W E L C O M E TO T H E S E X P E RT
This week, we interview obstetrician and gynecologist Margaret Nachtigall This week, the Sexpert interviewed Margaret Nachtigall ’84, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist based in New York City. She majored in biology at Princeton and went to medical school at NYU. She did her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at NYU and then had a fellowship at Yale in reproductive endocrinology, and she was kind enough to answer some questions relevant to college students. Sexpert: What is your specialty? Dr. Nachtigall: I do obstetrics and gynecology, specifically reproductive endocrinology. S: When would you recommend that a person with a cervix begins to see a gynecologist? Dr. N: The American College of OB/GYN recommends that a person start a relationship with a gynecologist first between ages 13 and 15. However, it is not necessary to have a Pap smear until age 21. This means that a pelvic exam is not necessary at every visit. If a person is having any abnormal bleeding or irregular discharge then an exam should be done prior to age 21. In other words, the first GYN visit should occur before age 21, but varies from person to person. If a person is sexually active, then they should begin seeing a gynecologist. S: How often do you need to see a gynecologist? Are there any ‘emergencies’ for which you would recommend seeing a gynecologist as soon as possible? Dr. N: Usually it is recommended that people see a gynecologist once every year. However, there are
instances where it is important to increase that frequency. For instance, if a patient has irregular bleeding or pelvic pain or a vaginal discharge. GYN emergencies do exist. Some examples of situations where a person should seek immediate care include the presence of pelvic pain and/ or abnormal bleeding or a suspicion of pregnancy. If a person is pregnant and has pelvic pain or irregular bleeding I would recommend seeing a doctor immediately. One should seek medical attention if they are suspicious of an infection. S: Do college students need to have their own gynecologist outside of school, or are checkups with a school’s health center sufficient? Dr. N: Most student health centers do a very good job of screening for sexually transmitted infections and routine GYN care. However, many people prefer to have their own gynecologist outside of school. As long as the patient is comfortable asking questions and having regular exams either option is appropriate. S: What do you think that every college student should know about sexual health? Dr. N: Be safe! Use a condom [or other barrier method]. I think every college student should know that there are always people available who can answer their health as well as sexual health questions 24 hours a day and no person should be afraid to ask any questions at any time. I think that college students should never feel pressured into having intercourse or any sexual
act. Students should avoid sexually transmitted infections and using a condom is a great way to accomplish this. S: For the medicallyminded, what makes your job so rewarding to you? Dr. N: My job is so incredibly rewarding because I get to meet new people every day. And it is so rewarding to be able to have relationships with my patients and watch them grow over time. It is amazing to be able to help someone get pregnant when they want to, avoid getting pregnant when they do not want to, treat an infection, or correct an underlying hormonal imbalance. It is a great feeling to be able to diagnose and treat an individual’s problem and see a huge improvement. I have an amazing job where I’m able to help people all day long. *Please note that while this interview is with a gynecologist, Pap tests and other sexual and reproductive health examinations can be performed by healthcare providers with a variety of credentials, including nurse practitioners. The Sexpert also wants to remind readers that condoms (both internal and external) are the only forms of protection that lower risk of sexually transmitted infections as well as pregnancy. Other barrier methods, such as dental dams, gloves, and finger cots, can lower risk of STI transmission when used during various sexual activities, including oral sex and manual stimulation. To read more from The Sexpert, visit thesexpert.princeton.edu. To submit a question, email The Sexpert at sexpert@princeton.edu.
Image courtesy of Margaret Nichtigall
The Daily Princetonian
Thursday november 16, 2017
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The Magnetic Draw of Princeton Sanjana Duggirala Contributor 21
Fall break generally brings feelings of joy and excitement at the prospect of flying home to reunite with family on the other side of the country. For me, fall break meant driving a town and a half over. My hometown, East Windsor, is only 20 minutes away from campus. I was excited for break and made a list of things I was looking forward to, but a few days in, I realized that I honestly didn’t have much to keep me occupied. Most of my friends were in school since their fall breaks did not match up with mine, and my parents were at work for most of the day. Throughout high school, I would hang out in Princeton with friends, so a few of us went back to our old ways. I found myself back on Nassau less than 24 hours after I had left, grabbing brunch and walking around. Another day, I went to Terhune Orchards with another friend, and then,
unsurprisingly, ended up on campus again. It was like an invisible magnet kept pulling me back toward campus — to my new life, and away from my old. I even drove back here to use the gym. When I ran into a friend in the Forbes parking lot, who had come for the same reason, I realized that I wasn’t alone. Some of my friends in Forbes who were on campus for break shared the same feelings of boredom and loneliness, so we met up at my house to carve pumpkins and have dinner. I also realized that my family had adopted a new dynamic while I was gone. I couldn’t connect to my home’s Wi-Fi for the first few days. Things were in different places, and my favorite snacks weren’t there. My parents and brother had their own inside jokes, too. It wasn’t until I went home that I realized how independent I had grown since coming here. I wasn’t used to waiting for people, having
PHOTO BY SANAJANA DUGGIRALA
my parents tell me not to stay out too late, and needing to let them know where I was at all times. I also learned how much I had settled into life
IMAGE COURTESYOF YOUTUBE.COM
on campus. One day, as I was driving to Princeton for the heading to Princeton to meet seventh time that break. more friends, I called to my parents, “I’m going home!” before leaving my house and
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Love and Lust:
how to tell your best friend you’re in love with them (and, alternately, how to really screw it up) Anonymous I always thought I was good at improv. In class, I could win a debate on a topic I knew nothing about or improvise my way through a confrontation with a disgruntled voter when needed. But when it comes to what’s important, sometimes you want a script. A script endlessly revised, reworked, tried out in different vocal registers, and said with different patterns of emphasis, all to get it just right. So it was on that truly inopportune night when I decided it would be just right to confess to my best friend of several years that my feelings had stretched far beyond platonic. During the six dozen
times I mentally rehearsed it, it sounded a bit like this: “______, you are immensely considerate, humble, and fascinating. Every conversation we have, I learn something new about you, and you never cease to amaze me. I am grateful to have you in my life as an incredible friend, which I value more than anything else. However, I promised you that I would always be completely honest with you, and it is unfair to you if I am not up front with how I feel. I wanted to tell you tonight that I have feelings for you that are more than platonic. If that makes you uncomfortable in any way, I absolutely understand. We can forget this conversation ever happened and move on. We can also talk about it more after you take time to think about it. Whatever path you
want to take, I am absolutely okay with that. Our friendship means so much to me, and I would never want to endanger that.” Then, we would perhaps have that cheesy moment where she would realize she loves me, too. We would share a passionate kiss under the moonlight, and we would walk together out of frame into happily ever after. As you might have guessed, it didn’t quite go down like that. With my body trembling, completely unable to look her in the eye, I said, “Remember when you were straight? Well, the number one rule of being not straight is don’t fall for a straight girl, so I tried really hard to repress my feelings. Well, now that you aren’t
straight, things…are happening…again.” When I finished those 15 seconds of word vomit, still staring at the ground like an absolute idiot, she really did not know what to say. She wanted time to think it over, and she would give me an answer the next morning to the question I never really managed to ask. I knew it was over. I didn’t even have to see the impossibly kind and gracious text the next morning to know that I had really screwed it up this time. Everyone told me I would be glad I did it. They said that by getting these feelings off of my chest, I could move on. But no one told me about the pit you get in your stomach when you think about them. No one told me how much it sucks to stop
singing “Bad Liar” and start singing “On My Own” while walking alone down Elm Drive at 1 a.m. No one told me how much it hurts to know I added an extra complication to her life. Well, it hurts, but at least you reminded me that I am still able to feel that hurt and, by extension, feel just a little more human.