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Friday November 3, 2023 vol. CXLVII no. 21
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BEYOND THE BUBBLE
Princeton schools superintendent resigns after tumultuous tenure By Charlie Roth & Yan Zhen Zhu
Senior News Writer & News Contributor
Dr. Carol Kelley resigned from her position as Superintendent of Princeton Public Schools on Friday after two years on the job. She will take an immediate paid leave of absence until her resignation takes effect on Sept. 1, 2024. Kelley announced her resignation in an email to staff, writing
in part: “This week, after much consideration, I made the difficult decision to resign as Superintendent of Princeton Public Schools. This decision has not come easy, but for personal and professional reasons, I must take some time to reset and recenter myself, so I can later return to
public education and continue to positively impact students.” The decision comes months after Kelley dismissed then-Principal of Princeton High School Frank Chmiel ’98, leading to student walkouts, protests, and a special Donaldson hearing, an inSee BOARD page 2
CHARLIE ROTH / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Board of Education votes on Kelley’s resignation at Monday’s meeting. U. AFFAIRS
The PROSPECT
As Golden prepares to retire, U. endowment has lowest returns in Grief from 700 miles away Ivy League
By Allison Lesser Contributing News Writer
For the second consecutive year, the University endowment has experienced an investment loss. This year’s 1.7 percent decrease is greater than the 1.5 percent decrease last year, and it marks the lowest investment return since the Great Recession in 2008, when the University recorded a 23.7 percent decrease. This is not the first time that the University’s endowment has decreased, but it is notable given that the endowment’s decrease is an outlier from other colleges. All Ivy League u n iversities, except Princeton, that have reported their endowment thus far saw positive annual returns this year. Columbia had the largest annual return of 4.7 percent. The University of Pennsylvania had the smallest positive return at 1.3 percent.
NEWS
Months after petition circulated over affordable housing development in town, pushback persists by Staff News Writer Abby Leibowitz PAGE 4
However, despite their positive returns, some other Ivy League schools still saw an endowment decrease, meaning they spent more money than their endowments earned. Harvard and Yale both experienced decreases of $0.2 billion and $0.7 billion, respectively. Last year, Princeton’s endowment loss was in the middle of the pack, with the fourth highest returns in the Ivy League. These numbers contrast starkly with the University’s 2021 earnings when PRINCO’s investments generated a historic 46.9 percent investment return. The average annual return on the endowment for the past 10 years is 10.8 percent and is 10.5 percent for the past 20 years. These endowment returns come in the penultimate year of the direction of Andrew Golden, President of the Princeton University Investment Company (PRINCO). Af-
ter almost 30 years with PRINCO, Golden will retire on June 30, 2024. Under Golden’s direction, the endowment has grown nearly tenfold and reached a 37.7 billion valuation in 2021. In 1996, the year after Golden joined, it was valued at approximately $4 billion. University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 wrote in a statement that “Andy Golden’s achievements are the stuff of legend.” According to an announcement from the Office of Communications on Wednesday, Oct. 25, the current endowment value stands at $34.1 billion for the fiscal year that ended on June 30, 2023. This marks an overall $1.7 billion dollar decrease during the 2022–2023 fiscal year. Allison Lesser is a contributing News writer for the ‘Prince.’
By Mackenzie Hollingsworth
Contributing Prospect Writer
In the months leading up to my move to New Jersey, my family was constantly anxious that I would be so far away. In the summer I had before leaving home, there were always questions of “what if something happens, and we can’t get to her?” or “what if she needs us and can’t get back home?” I told my family that everything would be fine. I was just a flight away, and if I truly needed to get home, I would. It’s very easy to plan when you have no actual need to do so. But, when your dad tells you at 3:20 p.m. the day before your flight back to school after fall break that your grandfather has passed away, those plans have a way of falling apart. My dad’s words couldn’t be unsaid. I no longer lived in a world where I had all of my grandparents, and the understanding that I could never have another conversation with my grandfather weighed me down until all I could do was sob while my boyfriend held me. I didn’t know what to do, so the
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INSIDE THE PAPER
DATA
next day, I got on my flight and returned to campus, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. Sitting alone in a dorm, grieving someone that I’d known my whole life, I thought that I had discovered a new level of loneliness. While I knew that my family was just a call away, support via phone versus being at home with them were two different experiences. In my dorm, I was alone with my thoughts, grief, and guilt. At home, I would have had my parents and siblings to support me, but life just doesn’t work out like that sometimes. That’s the thing about grief. No one prepares you for it. The only way to prepare for it is to experience it, and each time you do, it feels like a different weight, a different numbness and pain. No one prepared me for the tears that would start on my walks to class, or in the shower, or while doing homework. No one prepared me for the empty feeling that comes with the knowledge that the next
OPINION
FEATURES
Who are the biggest name professors on campus? by Assistant Data Editor Andrew Bosworth
Princeton’s civic engagement issue is deeper than what a ‘service requirement’ can fix by Contributing Columnist Christie Davis
‘Once in an institutional lifetime’: Before and beyond Princeton’s 2026 Campus Plan by Staff Features Writer Raphaela Gold
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SPORTS
On baseball’s biggest stage, Mike Hazen ‘98 and Chris Young ‘02 face off by Sports Contributors Joseph Uglialoro & Andrew Park PAGE 19
The Daily Princetonian
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Friday November 3, 2023
Board of Education member: “We’re in this position today because of how this responsibility was managed, or mismanaged by this board from the outset” BOARD
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............. formal public hearing where the school board can override a dismissal. Chmiel is currently in the process of appealing his dismissal and has filed a tort claims notice against 11 individuals including Kelley and the Board of Education as an entity, his attorney David Schroth confirmed to The Daily Princetonian on Monday. Parents also complained about a consultant that Kelley hired to review the math curriculum who had a record of being critical of tracking in math and the emphasis on calculus, which some parents saw as “leveling down.” Parents also criticized a new strategic plan that called for “equal outcomes.” There was further outcry after staffing issues at a new afterschool program. Kelley told parents she could only call into a Zoom meeting organized to address it because she was driving to a ferry for a retreat to Cape Cod, M.A., as Planet Princeton reported. In March of this year, Princeton High School (PHS) students and parents circulated a petition citing frustration with Kelley’s “lack of transparency, accountability and respect.” As of Oct. 30, the petition had 2,230 signatures.
During a special meeting on Monday, the Board of Education voted 7–1 to uphold her resignation. As the lone “no” vote, School Board member Michele TuckPonder said “the most important responsibility of a Board of Education is to manage, support and protect its chief executive.” “We’re in this position today because of how this responsibility was managed, or mismanaged by this board from the outset,” TuckPonder added. “I can only hope that we hold ourselves accountable and that going forward, we resist the urge to act in haste and without consideration of the long term consequences of our action.” At the same meeting, the Board voted on Kelley’s leave of absence, in which Tuck-Ponder was also the lone “no” vote. The Board also unanimously appointed Rebecca Gold to acting superintendent, with Tuck-Ponder abstaining. Dafna Kendal, the president of the Board, told the ‘Prince’ that Gold is “a short-term solution until we can find someone who can do it for the next nine or ten months.” “[Gold] is our interim [Human Resources] assistant superintendent, and so we just wanted someone in that [Superintendent] position,” Kendal said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “We need someone who can sign the checks.” Kendal explained that the Board cannot implement a full-
time replacement for Kelley until her term ends on Sept. 1, 2024, and the Board wants “things to calm down a bit before we begin to search for a permanent superintendent.” There were questions among members of the Princeton community about whether Kelley resigned or was forced to resign. There are also questions surrounding why Kelley is receiving the rest of her reportedly $244,800 salary despite the resignation. Jim Wolf, a Princeton resident who self-reportedly served on a school board for seven years, was one of those who raised questions. “My assumption is, she definitely did not resign,” Wolf said during the Princeton Board of Education Special Meeting on Oct. 30. “If she resigned on her own will, her contract would have not paid out the full amount to Aug. 31, 2024. Her contract is for three years,” he added. “The county superintendent would have never approved the contract that would pay out a superintendent that resigned on her own free will.” “Let me be clear here: if she resigned there is no payout. On the one hand, if you fired her, you have to pay out the contract in full,” Wolf continued. “Which one is it? The nice platitudes are part of the settlement. The million dollar question is: why was
she fired?” Others in the meeting also questioned why Kelley was getting paid leave. Pamela Strum, a Princeton resident at the meeting, told the Board that she was “baffled” by the decision to approve paid leave. “[Kelley’s] worked for two years and she gets a 10 month paid leave. A full year’s salary. That’s outrageous,” Strum said. Kendal declined to comment to the ‘Prince’ on these comments. Still, students at the high school say they haven’t been affected yet by Kelley’s resignation. “The actual experience of students hasn’t been impacted,” PHS senior Peter Eaton told the ‘Prince.’ He noted that students don’t interact much with the superintendent. “Right now, it is not as much of a controversy.” Eaton said that the controversy is much less heated than during the time of Chmiel’s dismissal. Eaton is the son of Beth Behrend, who serves as a member of the Princeton Public Schools Board of Education and was the Board’s past president, including when Chmiel was hired. She notably voted against a recent motion to reverse Chmiel’s dismissal. “Right now, it’s not really as much of a catastrophe as some people take it out to be. Last spring, it was a big thing because obviously, a lot of students were
upset but I think many parents were actually more upset than the students themselves,” he said. Eaton says his main takeaway from this experience is “how easy it is for issues like this to be blown out of proportion.” Kendal declined to comment further to the ‘Prince’ on Kelley’s resignation, instead pointing to the Board’s statement sent to parents after her resignation was announced. “We are thankful to Dr. Kelley for her contributions to the Princeton Public Schools. She joined us at a time when we were just emerging from the darkest days of the pandemic,” the statement read. The statement continued, “Dr. Kelley leaves the district with a more effective and efficient administrative structure, exceptional personnel hires, and a data-driven strategic plan that will further support our staff’s ability to provide the necessary conditions for all students to achieve their potential.” Yan Zhen Zhu is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ Charlie Roth is a head Data editor and a senior News writer for the ‘Prince.’
U. AFFAIRS
Next Dean of College may not be chosen internally, according to town hall with students By Meghana Veldhuis News Contributor
Despite student advocacy against hiring externally, Princeton’s next Dean of the College may not be selected from Princeton’s existing faculty. Per a town hall event on Friday, Oct. 27, the open application will not give priority to Princeton employees, according to Brian Li ’24, a member of the search committee for Dean Jill Dolan’s successor. Although the committee has maintained that there will be no bias towards applicants who have an affiliation with Princeton, trends for previous hiring of the Dean of the College show that those who work at Princeton have been favored in the process. The town hall was hosted in Whig Hall by the search committee, composed of students and faculty, and was open to undergraduate students, though only eight attended as participants. The meeting aimed to solicit feedback from undergraduate students about the traits they’d like to see in the next dean. It is a time of transition for administrations across the Ivy League. Harvard President Claudine Gay and Columbia President Minouche Shafik began their terms in 2023, and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Dartmouth President Sian Beilock began in 2022. Yale President Peter Salovey is stepping down from his position this upcoming year. Of the eight Ivy League schools, five will soon have presidents who have served for less than two years. This is not including the many other deans and upper-level administrators who are leaving their positions, resulting in trends across the Ivy League of significant administrative turnover.
Five of the six past Deans of the College previously worked at Princeton, with the only one not, Joan S. Girgus, being recruited in 1977 from City College of the City University of New York. The only one of the six to be an alumnus of Princeton was Neil L. Rudenstine ’56, though this can be explained by the fact that all four of the most recent deans have been women, who only recently gained the opportunity to access a Princeton education. Of the 14 people historically hired for dean-level positions at Princeton, seven have previously worked at Princeton in some capacity while seven did not, supporting the committee’s statement that prior employment at Princeton will not impact a candidate’s likelihood of being hired. Of those who worked elsewhere, deans previously held positions at City College, Stanford University, New York University, University of Cambridge, University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Tufts University, and Yale University. The members of the search committee present at the town hall included Claire Gmachl, the Head of Whitman College, Shinjo Sato, the Director of the Japanese Language Program, Christopher Tully, a professor of physics, Cole Crittenden, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Lily Gittoes ’24, and Li. The process for picking the next dean is well underway, with the application’s priority deadline having closed on Oct. 20, Gittoes told The Daily Princetonian. Li told the ‘Prince’ that the job listing “was put on the public HR website,” confirming that the opening was not “a strictly internal posting.” Maddie Feldman ’27 told the com-
mittee, “I think about the importance of promoting from within … I feel it’s important that [the next Dean] is at Princeton for several months under Dean Dolan,” so that they can acclimate themselves to the intricacies of the University. The search committee will hold interviews for the position in the next few weeks. By the end of the semester, committee members will compile a “short list” of candidates that will be submitted to President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 for selection and approval by the Board of Trustees. The committee did not provide the number of candidates that would be on the short list. “The intention is to have somebody for the ’24–’25 school year,” Li said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “Fall ’24 would be the Dean’s first term.” “It’s a time of great transition for student life,” he added. Students attendees shared recollections of their experiences with current Dean of the College Jill Dolan, describing what they believed led to her successes as dean. The overwhelming majority of students present noted Dolan’s welcoming personality and persistent engagement with students. Saurish Srivastava ’27 said, “[Dean Dolan’s] commencement speeches and her speaking skills are really, really good. I would want a Dean to have that [speaking skill] because it sets the tone for the college and what we want to be. A lot of students come out of her speeches motivated and, in general, happy with being at Princeton.” Li added, “She responds to nearly every email she sees, regardless of if it’s immediately actionable by herself.” He said that such responsive-
ness leads to boosted morale amongst students. Mohan Setty-Charity ’24 said, “My experience with Dean Dolan stemmed from a personal encounter with her taking the time to talk to me at a student event. She continued to stay in contact with me for over a year. For me, I felt like that sort of personal connection is not something to be taken for granted.” Setty-Charity is a senior columnist in the Opinion section at the ‘Prince.’ Students also shared what they’d like to see accomplished by Dolan’s successor. D’Schon Simmons ’27, who serves on Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Class Council for the Class of 2027, said, “One thing that pops into my head is introducing new majors. There’s demand for different jobs as well as new majors, and the Ivy League is lacking in that regard because we’re so historical in our majors.” He mentioned including education, marketing, and journalism as majors, incorporating new minors, and adding to Princeton’s pre-professional tracks.
Simmons also added, “I would expect USG to work directly with the Dean. I think a student committee [with the Dean] would be nice. I’m sure there’s opportunities for this to happen.” Students also raised points about planning schedules with potentially longer passing periods, how increasing class sizes will be physically accommodated by the University, and dedicated spaces for religion and social issues. Li told the ‘Prince’ that the search committee is prioritizing student feedback in choosing the next dean. “Lily and I only represent two students in the University. We’ve been meeting with a lot of students [to gather their opinions].” He said that more events like this town hall will be held in the future so that students can share the traits they’re looking for in a Dean; that feedback will be collected and considered by the search committee. Meghana Veldhuis is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
DHARMIL BHAVSAR / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
The Daily Princetonian
Friday November 3, 2023 U. AFFAIRS
TigerHub portal takes incremental steps towards mobile access
By Ava Fonss News Contributor
TigerHub, Princeton’s official portal where students view their grades and schedules and pay their tuition, has come under a fair amount of criticism: “It’s clear from the look and feel of [TigerHub] that insufficient time and money have been allocated to make [it] easy to use and aesthetically on par with modern web standards,” wrote then-Contributing Columnist Christopher Lidard ’25 last fall. The platform has recently begun to increase its mobile accessibility. Beginning Oct. 18, additional features were made available to students on TigerHub Mobile, a version of TigerHub accessible on mobile platforms. New features include the ability to view grades, request proof of enrollment, and view high school test scores and placement test results. The ability to access the “Academic Year Sign-In” and “Personal Details” tabs through TigerHub Mobile were made available at the beginning of the academic year. Students still cannot view their class schedule or final exam schedules. In an email to The Daily Princetonian, University spokesperson Ahmad Rizvi wrote that the mobile version was created “to provide mobile-friendly access to some of the student system features [previously] only available on the desktop format of TigerHub.” Rizvi added that “the [Undergraduate Student Government] Academic Committee has encouraged the development of TigerHub Mobile as a priority in recent years.” According to Rizvi, the development of TigerHub Mobile began in fall 2022, and the first feature roll out came in summer 2023 with “Academic Year Sign-In” for graduate students. “[The Office of Information Technology] supports the student information system in partnership with the Office of the Registrar, and these offices worked together to launch the mobile version of TigerHub,” Rizvi said. “Significant development was not necessary since the released
features are delivered with the student system. However, implementation did require some customization and formatting to create a TigerHub Mobile experience similar to the desktop version.” Kayla Carmical ’27 found it beneficial to be able to access certain TigerHub features on a mobile device. “I tried TigerHub Mobile shortly after it was launched, and I found it very useful as I am now able to use TigerHub on my phone without having to take out my laptop,” she said. “I think the ability to check grades and view test scores are the features that will be the most practical for students.” “I’ll probably mainly be using it to check my grades,” Yiling Li ’26 said. Rizvi said “there are no immediate plans for further additions to TigerHub Mobile,” but there are discussions regarding “potential future enhancement to the application.” An Oct. 18 email from the Office of the Registrar sent to all undergraduate students stated that “We will continue to add features to the TigerHub mobile platform to help make your student academic record more immediately available.” Some students are hopeful that additional features will be added to the platform moving forward. “I think that being able to access a detailed schedule on the phone would be very helpful, especially during the first few weeks of the semester,” Carmical said. “I also think it would be nice to be able to access exam schedules, which you can currently do on a laptop.” “Room assignments often change at the start of the semester, and there is a schedule on the non-mobile version of TigerHub that updates these assignments,” Li said. “If I want to check my schedule during the beginning of the year and I haven’t downloaded it yet, then it would be useful to be able to check it on my phone.” Ava Fonss is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
THE MINI CROSSWORD By Madeline Rohde Contributing Constructor
X Marks the S pot
ACROSS
1 Taylor Swift's sixth album, colloquially 4 Shrek or Fiona 6 Spoils, to a pirate 8 Ballerina's dress 9 Hoover, for one
DOWN
1 Burgle 2 "Grand slam" in showbiz 3 Self-important 5 Singer James 7 "Delicious!"
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The Daily Princetonian
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Friday November 3, 2023
BEYOND THE BUBBLE
Months after petition circulated over affordable housing development in town, pushback persists
By Abby Leibowitz & Kent Kim Staff news Writer & News Contributor
Three years ago, the Princeton City Council passed Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) Ordinances, proposing new housing units, including affordable housing, in three of the town’s seven overlay zones. The housing development in AHO2, one of the seven zones, is facing significant opposition. Opponents have noted the development, at 344 North Tulane Street, is in the Jugtown Historic District. Months after the petitions have started circulating, there has been little resolution. The project has been held up by a group of residents who have protested new development. Last spring, this controversy was reignited after a petition opposing the overlay, titled “Save Jugtown Historical District,” gained over 1,200 signatures. Some of the lots slated for new development fall within the Jugtown Historic District, which is located at the intersection of Harrison and Nassau Streets and includes structures dating as far back as the 18th century. The petition demands that new buildings comply with historic preservation standards, reach no higher than three stories, and be visually compatible with other buildings in the Jugtown Historic District. The project is not the only affordable housing project which has faced pushback. A construction project in AHO-7 — one of the seven zones, which is partially located within the Witherspoon-Jackson Historic Dis-
trict — was approved this April, but only at a site within the overlay not located within the historic district. Councilmember David Cohen told The Daily Princetonian that contention over future development within the zone is likely to arise. “As projects start to come in on Witherspoon Street on that overlay we do expect to see some concerned voices,” he said. Limited access to affordable housing has long posed a challenge to community members. In September 2023, the median listing home price in Princeton was $1 million, an increase of 18.5 percent from last year, according to Realtor.com. Typically under federal housing programs, in order to qualify for affordable housing, households cannot have an income higher than 80 percent of the county’s median family income; in New Jersey, the median family income was $89,703 in 2021. As such, the 20 percent of new housing units that will be designated as affordable housing units, as required by New Jersey law, will help to open Princeton to a wider income range. Louise Wilson, chair of the Planning Board, wrote in a statement to the ‘Prince’ that “some people object to, or have mixed feelings about new affordable housing, especially near where they live and especially if it results in changes to the landscape or streetscape.” Justin Lesko, the town’s Planning Director, told the ‘Prince’ in an interview that he has received numerous emails from students and graduate students at the University saying they
pay more to live in Princeton than in large metropoles like Washington, D.C. or Seattle. He also noted the issue of the University competing with other institutions for faculty members, who may be deterred by lofty housing prices. A call for improved access to housing was a key ask in the graduate student unionization effort launched last year. All first-year graduate students are guaranteed housing, and about 70 percent of regularly enrolled graduate students live in University accommodations, according to the Princeton website. As rent prices trend upward nationally, however, many peer institutions are facing similar housing shortages. The housing shortage in many major cities has been attributed to a lack of new construction. At the same time, many homeowners resist the building of new housing, oftentimes using historic landmarking and restrictive zoning laws. Arguments for historic preservation have often been associated with the Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) movement, whose proponents oppose new development. Opponents of the new development projects in Princeton dispute an opposition to developing affordable housing, saying in the petition that they “support the addition of housing including affordable housing in this neighborhood zone.” They instead express concerns with the bulk and setbacks of the buildings. In an interview with the ‘Prince,’ the author of the petition, Catherine Knight, a local architect, said she “certainly think[s] it would be good for
more affordable housing opportunities,” but that when an existing neighborhood is designated as a historic district, certain guidelines for how to incorporate new buildings in historic districts need to be considered. Clifford Zink, a local preservation consultant and historian who told the ‘Prince’ that he signed the petition, said he thinks the town’s historic features add “layers of richness to [the] community,” and are “a big part of why a lot of people live in town.” While he said he loves his neighborhood and “wants to share it with others,” he feels that urban design and historic preservation are being neglected in the proposed development in Jugtown. A chief concern that Knight and Zink expressed is the height of the proposed buildings. The tallest existing building in the neighborhood is two-and-a-half stories, as are the buildings right nearby. Both Zink and Knight said they would accept a three-story addition, but that four stories, which is what the ordinance allows for, is unacceptably high. They also said that while the sidewalks on Nassau Street have zero setback, this does not work in other Princeton neighborhoods. They recommended moving to a five-foot setback, adding that having this zerosetback line in the guidelines does not accommodate historic district regulations. Despite this claim, Cohen said that there is still a lot of historic protection in the ordinances. He explained that approval by the planning board for these overlays required going to the
historic preservation commission. Wilson also said, “The AHO ordinances are designed explicitly to protect historic structures.” Cohen also told the ‘Prince’ that overlay locations were chosen on areas that had surface parking lots, in the effort of discouraging car use and promoting a walking-friendly environment. Wilson echoed this: “the new housing is being built in walkable areas and on transit lines, so folks who live there can be far less dependent on cars. I hope the new housing will attract people who want to live that lifestyle.” “Hopefully more University staff can live in Princeton and enjoy a ‘caroptional’ lifestyle. And hopefully more graduating seniors who want to stay here, or return in the future with families, can afford to do so — not just in designated-affordable homes, but in the market-rate units too,” Wilson continued. She said that new housing does not necessarily alter the character of the neighborhood. “New buildings can be built side by side with, or even attached to, historic structures in ways that respect and draw from the historic features. Princeton’s affordable housing overlay zones require that historic structures be preserved.” Abby Leibowitz is a staff News writer for the ‘Prince.’ Kent Kim is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
A N A LY S I S
Keith Whittington talks academic freedom as he decamps to Yale
By Twyla Colburn & Vitus Larrieu Contributing Podcast Writer & Associate Podcast editor
After 25 years at Princeton, Keith Whittington, the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics, announced that he is leaving Princeton to teach at Yale Law School at the end of this academic year. Whittington describes himself as a “right of center” academic, a core value he upholds as important for bringing diversity to academic spaces. In an interview with The Daily Princetonian, Whittington says that a lack of conservative voices in academic spaces creates “stereotypes of what those views look like” which leads to increased political polarization. His move to Yale Law comes as the school has faced criticism from conservatives for fostering “cancel culture,” prompting Circuit Judges James Ho and Elizabeth Branch to boycott hiring clerks who graduate from Yale Law. Here are a few highlights from his interview with The Daily Princetonian. Free speech on campus Whittington weighed in on the culture of free speech at Princeton, including the concept of institutional neutrality and pressures from peers. Princeton is ranked 187th in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) 2024 college free speech rankings. The University’s ranking includes a low policy ranking, despite the University’s adoption of the Chicago Principles produced by the University of Chicago, which was ranked first overall by FIRE in 2024. Whittington echoed the discrepancy. “On the whole, [Princeton’s] poli-
cies are actually pretty good,” he noted. “I think that pressure often comes from peers,” he said. “It’s a hard challenge to improve that from a faculty perspective, because it’s not driven by faculty. It’s not driven by the policies on the books.” Princeton has not adapted the Kalven Report, which some academic free speech advocates consider the gold-standard of free speech given it mandates universities be neutral on contested political subjects. The report asserts that “the university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critics.” University President Christopher Eisgruber supports a platform of “institutional restraint.“ In contrast to institutional neutrality, restraint does not require an absolute silence on “social, moral, or political topics“ on the part of the University. Rather, the University opts to occasionally comment on issues to reflect its institutional values. Eisgruber has said that he believes institutional restraint does not impede free speech. Whittington questions this perspective. “Once the institutions begin to stake out their own political positions, it will affect how individuals on campus feel welcome and fully part of the community,” he said. Whittington has spoken out in the past against what he has perceived as violations of institutional neutrality from the University. In 2021, the University anecdotally referred to an op-ed where nowformer Professor Joshua Katz called Princeton’s Black Justice League a “small terrorist organization,” on a website titled “To be Known and Heard: Systemic Racism and Princ-
eton University.” In a 2022 letter to Eisgruber, Whittington requested that the University “refrain from using its administrative resources to target Professor Katz.” Eisgruber responded, resisting Whittington’s call to edit Katz out of the website. In the interview, Whittington noted how the University’s policy of institutional restraint can create pressure to speak out about current events, noting the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine. The University issued a statement in support of Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. “I think our present moment with the debate around Israel and Gaza has highlighted some of the complications associated with this. The university has had a long period of issuing statements about all kinds of events,“ he said. “Universities feel cross-pressured for what they’re going to issue. And, as a consequence, they haven’t made anyone very happy with what they’ve done.“ Grade inflation “I was a supporter of the grade deflation policy that we adopted for a while,“ Whittington said, speaking about the cap on the number of Arange grades that the University imposed from 2004 to 2015. There has been a rise in GPAs since the policy ended, with the average GPA being 3.56 as of the last annual report. “I think the consequences have been predictable that we’ve had grade inflation recurring to a greater degree, and there seems to be very little interest in actually trying to hold it back at this point,“ Whittington said. Whittington noted some of the
consequences of grade inflation. “The signals are not very clear to the students about the quality of their work. It’s not very clear to outsiders about the quality of the work,“ he said. The Supreme Court In 2021, President Joe Biden appointed Whittington to a bipartisan Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court to investigate different forms of court reform, including imposing term limits and expanding the size of the Court. The conclusion of that report was inconclusive, making no direct recommendations. The Supreme Court’s prominence in the daily life of college students has increased in recent years. Longstanding legal understandings have been overturned with the elimination of affirmative action in university admissions and the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade sparking campus debate. Whittington was pessimistic about an easy solution to longstanding problems. “I think the Court will, by nature, continue to be involved in very hotbutton political issues,” he told the ‘Prince.’ These issues, he says, will contribute to “continued hostility to the Court.” According to an August Gallup Poll, public support for the Supreme Court is currently around 40 percent, which ties a 23-year lowpoint with ratings in 2021 and 2022. “It’s not obvious how you rebuild legitimacy in that environment,” Whittington said. An increase in administrators As the University has grown, so has the number of administrators. Since 2012, the University has added nearly 1200 non-instructional staff.
This has led to campus debate over the ballooning number of administrators, an evolution that Whittington has observed over his 25 years at Princeton. “There’s no question that there is a proliferation of administrators during the time I’ve been here,” he noted. Though he attributes much of this bloat to the regulatory environment and increased student needs, he expressed concern that added administrative procedures have created barriers to communication and expression of free speech. “I have particular concerns about some features of the administration that do directly impinge on classroom teaching,” he said. “Some of the administrative rules and activities surrounding harassment policies, as they’re applied to classroom speech, are too intrusive.” Amid the backdrop of professors facing criticism for use of the n-word in classrooms or being thrust onto the national stage for assigning controversial literature, Whittington highlights a need to balance academic freedom and safeguards against discrimination in the classroom. “I don’t think we have that balance right, yet,” he said. Listen to the full Q&A online to learn more about Whittington’s thoughts on Yale Law, the importance of conservative thought in academia, and more. Vitus Larrieu is an associate Podcast editor for the ‘Prince.’ Twyla Colburn is a contributing Podcast writer for the ‘Prince.’ Nivan Dhamija contributed reporting.
Friday November 3, 2023 DATA
The Daily Princetonian
page 5
Who are the biggest name professors on campus? By Andrew Bosworth Assistant Data Editor
Keith Whittington is departing the University after 20 years to teach at Yale Law School starting next fall. Whittington’s departure has aligned with the departure of a number of other high-profile professors, including Jhumpa Lahiri, Peter Singer, and Imani Perry. In an analysis, The Daily Princetonian discovers who professors on campus are with the highest public profile through a breakdown of Google Trends. While there have been prominent departures, they have not been concentrated among the most well-known professors on campus by Google searches. The ‘Prince’ analyzed Google trends from 2010 to the present day for all current faculty members, including emeritus faculty members who are permitted to teach courses. The values were scaled to the average number of searches for President Christopher L. Eisgruber ’83 in the same period of time. For example, a faculty member with a score of five has been searched an average of five times as much as Eisgruber over the course of the past 13 years. Many of the faculty members have more prominent namesakes, making it difficult to disentangle their Google search results. Among faculty members who dominate search results when searching for their name, the mostsearched was Paul Krugman, professor emeritus of economics. A Nobel Prize winner in economics, Krugman’s most public role is as a columnist for The New York Times. Krugman does not regularly teach on campus anymore. Krugman is followed by Cornel West GS ’80, a professor emeritus of African-American studies. A prominent left-wing public intellectual, West is currently running a third-party campaign for President of the United States. Interest in West jumped nearly 25-fold after he announced his third-party presidential bid. West is closely followed by Robert George, a conservative intellectual who serves as the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and is best known for his work on constitutional interpretation and conservative social policy. George and West are close friends and often appear together in public. Sociologist Paul Starr, founder of the liberal magazine the American Prospect, follows behind George. Other professors with significant interest through Google searches include Wallace Best in AfricanAmerican studies, physicist Robert Austin, then Singer, the intellectual godfather of the effective altruism movement and an advocate for animals’ rights. Notably, the
top seven searched faculty members are all men. Of the other professors that are retiring or have left the University, their profiles are still significant. Lahiri, former director of Princeton’s Creative Writing department, left the University in 2022 to join the faculty at Barnard College after seven “extraordinarily stimulating and productive” years, Lahiri wrote in an email to the ‘Prince’ at the time. Lahiri would rank 288th out of current faculty in Google searches, with an average of 4.084 times the searches for Eisgruber. Whittington also credited a new opportunity: “Yale Law School has been a place in which there has not been a lot of political diversity on the faculty,” he said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “To my knowledge, I’m the first right of center faculty member teaching constitutional law topics that Yale has ever hired in its history.” Whittington ranks 528th out of current faculty in Google searches, with about 1.12 times as many searches as Eisgruber. Imani Perry left Princeton earlier this year to join Harvard University’s African American Studies Department and would rank 593rd among current faculty in Google searches with 0.869 times the searches for Eisgruber. Perry had a significant national profile as a columnist for The Atlantic. Major national news did have an effect on the searches. Maitland Jones Jr., a professor emeritus of chemistry, saw his searches jump to 120 times Eisgruber’s searches in November 2022 after a New York Times article about New York University (NYU) failing to renew his contract after student concerns about his grading processes. A number of the top names were faculty members who shared a name with a prominent cultural figure, including the Princeton Writing Program’s Jessica Jones, who shares a name with a Marvel character. The ‘Prince’ also analyzed the searches for top administrators. Eisgruber began his term as the University’s 20th President in July 2013. Google searches for Eisgruber peaked after he was named the next President on April 21, 2013 at a press conference in front of Nassau Hall. Eisgruber, with a weight of one, ranks 557th most searched out of 1750 faculty, placing him in the top 35 percent of well-known faculty. Andrew Bosworth is an assistant Data editor for the ‘Prince.’ Head News Editor Isabel Yip and Data Contributor Nathan Beck contributed reporting.
page 6 DATA
The Daily Princetonian
Friday November 3, 2023
A look at heated rivalries and the football history of the Big Three By Andrew Bosworth Assistant Data Editor
Harvard, Yale, and Princeton have often been described as the Ivy League’s “Big Three,” a term coined in the mid-1880s to refer to the three of the country’s best football teams. Today, the “Big Three” label has evolved to signify academic prestige, rather than athletic prowess. Currently, they place third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in total Ivy League football championships. If Princeton defeats both Harvard and Yale in the same season, the University lights a large bonfire, to symbolize the capture of the Big Three Title. The Princeton Tigers’ recent homecoming game win against Harvard on Oct. 21 brings them halfway towards a bonfire. The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) has earmarked $10,000 under its bonfire reserve. Traditionally, this event was held on the Friday evening before the final game of the season, serving as both a pep rally and celebration. The most recent bonfire occurred in 2021 on Cannon Green after the final game of the season, marking the second bonfire during the four years at Princeton for many members of the Class of 2022. Since 2009, Princeton has held four bonfires: in 2012, 2013, 2018, and 2021. Princeton has beaten Harvard eight times and has beaten Yale six times. Within these 15 seasons, a split — where Princeton beats one team and loses to the other — occurs in fewer than half. The bonfire was historically built to celebrate wins in baseball but quickly changed to include football as the sport increased in popularity. In the early 20th century, two bonfires were held each year, one for baseball and one for football. According to University Archives, a bonfire was built in 1914, but Princeton football lost to both Harvard and Yale, while Princeton baseball beat Yale in two of three games that season, but lost to Harvard in the one game played that season. The Daily Princetonian analyzed all football games Princeton has played against Harvard and Yale since its first football game in 1869. After analyzing archival footage, it appears several bonfires in the early 1900s may have been set after winning against one team and tying with the other. In some earlier seasons, Princeton did not always play both Harvard and Yale, unable to secure bonfires these seasons. Between 1889 and 1908, Princeton only played Harvard thrice, winning each time. During this time, Princeton lost to Yale 13 times, beat them six times,
and tied once. The past two bonfires, in 2021 and 2018, were set ablaze with wood panels reflecting the scores of the games. Other pallets in the fire contain jabs at Harvard and Yale, calling them “Safety Schools” and writing “Yale is number 5 in the ranking but last in our hearts”. Princeton first won against both Harvard and Yale in the same season in 1878. During this period of college football’s development, tie games were still allowed and occurred often. Between 1889 and 1908, Princeton lost to Yale all but six times, winning against both Harvard and Yale twice in this period. Between 1969 and 1988, Princeton lost 25 games to Harvard and Yale, winning only 13. The longest period of no bonfires occurred between 1967 and 1981, where Princeton won no games against Yale. Despite this losing streak against Yale, wins against Harvard were on the same trend as they had been in prior years, winning approximately every other year. Princeton has played both Harvard and Yale in football every season beginning in 1946, aside from the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these 76 seasons, Princeton has secured bonfires 20 times. Since 1946, of the seasons when Princeton beats Harvard, Princeton also beats Yale 51 percent of the time. Starting in 1946, Princeton has consistently played Harvard first each season, before playing against Yale, often as the final or penultimate game. Some wins against Harvard and Yale were tight victories secured in the final moments of the game. For example, last weekend, the Tigers scored a touchdown with 1:28 to go in the game to secure a win over Harvard. When Princeton’s football team is successful one year, they have a good chance of success the following year. Princeton’s longest backto-back streak of bonfires occurred between 1947 and 1952, beating both Harvard and Yale in six consecutive years. “With four championships in a row, we want this bonfire to be the biggest that Princeton has ever seen,” head cheerleader of Princeton’s 1950 cheer team, Richard Buck ’51, told the ‘Prince’ in 1950. The bonfire-deciding game will take place on Nov. 11 at Princeton Stadium when the Princeton Tigers face off against the Yale Bulldogs as the final game of the season. Andrew Bosworth is an assistant Data editor for the ‘Prince.’
This Week in Photos Autumn Activities Friday November 3, 2023
The Daily Princetonian
page 7
By Jean Shin, Ryland Graham & Ammaar Alam
Head Photo Editor & Contributing Photographers
AMMAAR ALAM / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Protestors and counter-protesters gathered in front of Nassau Hall regarding the conflict between Palestine and Israel.
RYLAND GRAHAM / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Fall foliage covers Nassau street.
LOUISA GHEORGHITA / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Tables were set up on Cannon Green for the first Community Care Day on campus. JEAN SHIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Princeton celebrated its 277th birthday on Oct. 22.
The Princeton women’s ice hockey team played against Brown last week. RYLAND GRAHAM / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
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Hum r
Student trades soul to Devil for A- in French class, wishes she negotiated for more By Sam McComb & Fletcher Block Assistant Humor Editor & Contributing Humor Writer
The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional. Johanna Faust ’26 claims that she received less than what she bargained for when she sold her soul to the Devil in exchange for an A- in French 101. Faust, a pre-med Chemistry major, says that she was at a low point in the year when she was first contacted by the Prince of Darkness through LinkedIn, a company he
co-founded. “Knowing what I know now, I wish I had negotiated for more, like an A in CHM 301 or PHY 105,” says Faust. In exchange for the French grade, Faust is required to do Satan’s bidding on Earth for the rest of her days, after which she will be in his employ in the underworld, overseeing Hades and the legions of nonEpiscopalians doomed for an eternity. Faust made her choice following a tour through the nine circles of Hell led by the Roman poet Virgil, organized by the Center for Career Development. She says that
the scene was not much worse than her many family vacations spent on Carnival cruises. Editor’s note: In an emailed statement, Carnival Cruise Lines objected to this comparison to Hell, stating that their ships host the Limbo of Infants on the third level, not the first. Faust is not alone in accepting the first offer she received. A 2023 Pew Research poll found that 60 percent of respondents did not negotiate their most recent salary offer. This number was even larger when the offer came from supernatural or demonic forces.
During fall break, Faust was deciding between summer opportunities with the various entities under Lucifer’s control. Faust had already interviewed with Herbalife, ExxonMobil, and James Corden’s production company. Fletcher Block is a contributing Humor writer and Sam McComb is an associate Humor editor. They have been described by The Nassau Literary Review as “rising talents” and by The Star-Ledger as “cooperating witnesses in the investigation.”
GUSTAVE DORÉ, ILLUSTRATION FOR PARADISE LOST BY JOHN MILTON (1866)
The Daily Princetonian
Friday November 3, 2023
“Lettuce E at”
page 9
By Kasia Kirnie
Contributing Constructor
ACROSS 1 Scratch, as a leather shoe 6 State once led by Nikita Khrushchev 10 Biblical baby brother 14 Counterpart to Bert 15 Musical thing with a stem and flag 16 "Bye," in Bologna 17 Butchered jack o'lantern? 19 Mix, as a salad 20 Have no ___ (don't need) 21 Keeps on keeping on 23 Skill known as Legilimency in the Potterverse 24 Genre for Flo Milli 26 City for Baylor University 27 Extra steamy dumpling? 32 Vampire's attack 35 Safari sub-section 36 Puzzle originally called Number Place 37 Capping for cake 39 Football league with the Aggies and the Crimson Tide: Abbr. 41 Joe of podcast fame 42 Ladybug or scarab 44 Liquid tapped from trees 46 Brand known as Walker's in the UK 47 Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios?
50 Org. with Div I, II, III 51 Series with alums Seth Meyers and Will Ferrell 52 Airport agent org. 55 Princeton discussion sections 59 "One Thousand and One ___" 61 Currency for Malta and Cyprus 62 Cow kebab? 64 Work without end 65 Kid-favorite red Muppet 66 21+ in the US, for example 67 Barely scraped by, with "out" 68 Of the Indian subcontinent 69 Sniffed (around)
DOWN 1 Smooth transition 2 Like an angry archbishop? 3 General Assembly diplomat, for short 4 Feudal land 5 Distinguisher for Perry the Platypus 6 Card game, for one? 7 Salad course alternative 8 Tossed about 9 Erases, then pencils in again 10 Like G.I. Joe 11 Who's Who contents 12 Milan to Venice direction 13 The "1" of 7-1, for instance 18 18th US President
22 Scrub 25 Classroom concerns orgs. 27 Sat for an exam without studying, maybe 28 Like 42% of the US population 29 Roman robe 30 "Fine by me" 31 Convent residents 32 Protective wear for lobster eaters 33 Frozen treat 34 Membership level 38 Like a candied cherry 40 Mater movie (2006) 43 Went by, as time
45 Angled tubes of pasta 48 Animals found on ranches 49 Middle name for Taylor Swift 52 Bay Area baseball team 53 All the world, according to Shakespeare 54 Queried 55 Fictional cat who loves white shoes 56 Check in phrase, in a text 57 Canal running through upstate NY 58 ___ Club 60 "The door is over there," in an angry text 63 Pond fish
The Minis By Madeline Rohde Contributing Constructor
“Pirate Parley”
“Shiver M e Timbers”
Scan to check your answers and try more of our puzzles online!
ACROSS 1 5 6 7 8
Latest thing With 1-Down, skull and crossbones flag Student at Texas A&M Wherewithal Poison frontman Michaels
ACROSS 1 6 7 8 9
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5
See 5-Across Green growth Catch the light "1, 2, 3, ___ on me!" Doorway post
Pirate's "Halt!" Rashness It has many layers A long time Bill ___, the Science Guy
DOWN 1 2 3 4 5
Pirate's "Hello!" Barn topper From east of the Urals "Little Red Riding Hood," for one Past, present, or future
Opinion
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Friday November 3, 2023
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }
Princeton’s civic engagement issue is deeper than what a ‘service requirement’ can fix Christie Davis
Contributing Columnist
E
lite schools are commonly criticized for d ispropor t ion ately funneling their graduates into the privileged professions of finance and consulting, fields which have been exposed again and again for unethical practices and corporate greed. Princeton is no exception, with nearly 20 percent of graduates in 2023 entering these sectors, a phenomenon which some Princetonians feel contradicts Princeton’s unofficial motto of being “in the nation’s service and the service of humanity.” In my conversations with others on campus, some have suggested that in order to get more alumni to go into service, there should be a “service requirement” in order to expose students to novel situations and increase their awareness of how they can address societal problems. Last year, contributing columnist Jalen Travis argued that service should be given course credit, another way to externally incentivize students to participate in service. When faced with a Princeton-related issue like students overwhelmingly going into industries that don’t “serve humanity,” it is natural to first look to the University for potential causes and solutions. But given that the problem is rooted in projected earnings, a service requirement would not fix the problem. While the Ivy League-to-finance pipeline exists at Princeton, it isn’t caused by the University, so it’s not a phenomenon
Princeton has the capacity to solve entirely. Princeton has plentiful programs that orient students towards service: the Pace Center for Civic Engagement, Trenton Youth Arts, the Program for Community Engaged Scholarship (ProCES), LENS: Learning and Education through Service, the Novogratz Bridge Year Program, and Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) all aim to give students easy access to participating in civic service. Students in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), often criticized for going into consulting after majoring in public affairs, must participate in a policy task force, small groups of students that synthesize individual research to tackle and brainstorm solutions for far-reaching social issues such as multiculturalism in global institutions and youth mental health. Although pre-existing service opportunities and requirements see robust engagement from current students, they haven’t stopped alumni from pursuing careers that are not “in the service of humanity.” The actual barrier to pursuing careers in public service is built of dollars and cents: if we look at Princeton’s Senior Survey for the Class of 2023, we see that the average expected incomes for those entering finance and consulting are $176,500 and $108,700 respectively, significantly more than the average expected income of those entering public service, who are predicted to earn only $46,900. There’s an inverse relationship between careers in service and financial
gain, meaning that there is a societally-imposed financial motivation to pursue these privatized paths. Princeton cannot change the incentives of the broader economy outside of its gates, so Princeton is only able to realistically reinforce their motto — “serve humanity” — when its students are inside the Orange Bubble. The University should not be held responsible for its graduates’ career choices. Yes, Princeton alumni can certainly be a reflection of the University, but it is impossible for it to totally ensure their professional paths reflect only positively on the school. To be fair, postgraduate plans can’t tell us everything about service. People switch companies and even fields over the course of their lives, people can do service outside of their main career, and some “service” groups are not as virtuous as they seem. At the same time, Princeton students’ initial attraction to non-service careers, like finance and consulting, is still significant. But a service requirement can’t solve this problem, because it focuses on the wrong area: on-campus service, where there is no problem, rather than the external world, where there is. A service requirement would also make service a box to check, shifting students’ motivation from genuine desire to help those in need to a performative fulfillment of requirements. That’s how it played out at my high school: The administration greatly emphasized community service, but it didn’t create
a more empathetic or serviceminded school culture — despite high numbers of volunteer hours, students resented it for being compulsory. Exposure to service, forced or otherwise, does not guarantee students’ edification as to its moral significance. The debate about getting Princeton students to go into careers that serve humanity is a relevant one, but we’ve been too focused on university-based solutions that we’ve missed its societal origins and, ultimately, wasted our efforts. It’s time to move beyond the fool’s gold of
a service requirement and ask ourselves what we really want to do with our Princeton degrees and how we wish to shape the world around us. Maybe those answers will be more profitdriven than people-driven, but knowing that about ourselves is the first step to striking a perfect balance between the two as we enter the real world. Christie Davis is a first-year from Jacksonville, Florida, planning to study history and journalism. She can be contacted at cd6404@princeton.edu.
Princeton’s statement on Hamas stands in stark contrast with Ivy League peers’
Aidan Gouley
Contributing Columnist
I
n the days since the Hamas terror attacks of Oct. 7, which resulted in the kidnapping and murder of thousands, universities across the United States released formal statements with strikingly differing tones. Responses from peer institutions, including Harvard, UPenn, and Columbia, faced widespread press, public and donor backlash, and have been criticized for being relativistic and lacking moral clarity. Princeton’s timely, morally unambiguous response, emphasizing compassion and education in the service of humanity, constituted a stark contrast to those of peer institutions. Princeton’s proactive response demonstrated decisive leadership, setting the tone for campus dialogue. Harvard President Claudine Gay’s initial, widely criticized Statement to the Harvard Community was released on Oct. 9. The statement
was viewed principally as a reaction to the perceived co-opting of Harvard’s stance by some 34 campus student groups, and had to be officially revised and qualified multiple times. Despite being released a day later, President Christopher Eisgruber’s statement preceded a majority of those made by campus groups, enabling Princeton’s administration to guide subsequent engagement within the University community. Insofar as Princeton’s statement established the University’s stance, it became the benchmark for guiding further discussion and responses. At Penn, President Liz Magill waited eight days to release a definitive response. Students, donors, and the public viewed Penn’s delay as disappointing and weak, and the subsequent statement as forced. Campus tensions at Penn escalated amidst allegations of antisemitism. Rather than remaining silent, Princeton’s response denouncing the events of October 7 as the “most atrocious of terror attacks” rejected any moral
ambiguity. Providing a robust moral foundation for Princeton students to guide conversation, the statement provided clarity about how the University community should engage with one another on complex topics. In appearing decisive and thoughtful, Princeton’s statement contributed to creating space for dialogue by proactively guiding the campus community away from division and conflict. Princeton’s statement also sent a powerful message by directly naming the groups impacted by Hamas’ attacks and the subsequent outbreak of war — both Israelis and Palestinians. Centering humanity in its call for compassion distinguished the University’s statement from peer institutions. Unlike statements from Columbia, which omitted mention of Hamas, and Penn, which did not name the peoples impacted by violence — neither Palestinians nor Israelis — Princeton’s statement thoughtfully recognized those communities. Not only did Princeton’s message convey the human cost of violence, but
it also emphasized the profound personal impact of the conflict on members of the University community. By centering Princetonians’ individual and collective experiences, the University’s statement attempted to pull the University community together in compassion to reject division and seek dialogue. Princeton’s statement demonstrated an appreciation of the inevitability of student discussion and debate and emphasized compassion as the cornerstone of serious, thoughtful dialogue about complex issues. Princeton’s message highlighted SPIA’s information-focused response, which included several scholarly analyses, a lecture by Daniel Kurtzer, former US Ambassador to Israel, and a panel discussion featuring Salaam Fayyad, former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Kurtzer, and others. Rather than pushing students towards a particular position on contextual issues that drive debate, or suppressing discussion altogether, Princeton’s response emphasized knowledge-seeking
through education as essential to informing meaningful discourse. Princeton’s informal motto is “in the nation’s service and the service of humanity.” October 7th and the days since have borne witness to horrific violence and human tragedy in Israel and the Palestinian territories. No institution alone is wholly capable of addressing a profoundly human issue, especially one with such a deeply complex historical context. Instead, individuals, whether it be university presidents, scholars, students, or advocates, must come together to acknowledge our common humanity — in the service of humanity. To do so requires precisely what Princeton’s statement called for, which is to reject moral ambiguity, “recognize suffering,” and seek knowledge in a context of “grace and compassion.” Aidan Gouley is a contributing columnist intending to study in the School of Public & International Affairs. He is a first-year from Fairfield, Connecticut.
Opinion
Friday November 3, 2023
page 11
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } vol. cxlvii editor-in-chief Rohit Narayanan '24
business manager Shirley Ren ’24
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
president Thomas E. Weber ’89
assistant treasurer Kavita Saini ’09
Kathleen Crown Suzanne Dance ’96 Gabriel Debenedetti ’12 Stephen Fuzesi ’00 Zachary A. Goldfarb ’05 Michael Grabell ’03 Danielle Ivory ’05 Rick Klein ’98 James T. MacGregor ’66 Julianne Escobedo Shepherd Abigail Williams ’14 Tyler Woulfe ’07
trustees Francesca Barber Craig Bloom ’88
trustees ex officio Rohit Narayanan ’24 Shirley Ren ’24
vice president David Baumgarten ’06 secretary Chanakya A. Sethi ’07 treasurer Douglas Widmann ’90
147TH MANAGING BOARD upper management
Kalena Blake ’24 Katherine Dailey ’24 Julia Nguyen ’24
Angel Kuo ’24 Hope Perry ’24
Strategic initiative directors
Education Kareena Bhakta ’24 Amy Ciceu ’24 Financial Stipend Program Genrietta Churbanova ’24
Mobile Reach Rowen Gesue ’24 DEIB Chair Christofer Robles ’25
head audience editor Rowen Gesue ’24
head opinion editor Abigail Rabieh ’25
associate audience editor Paige Walworth ’26
community opinion editor Lucia Wetherill ’25
head archives editor Raphaela Gold ’26 Kaylee Kasper ’26
associate opinion editors Eleanor Clemans-Cope ’26 Ashley Olenkiewicz ’25 Christofer Robles ’25
Sections listed in alphabetical order.
head copy editors Jason Luo ’25 Nathalie Verlinde ’24
head photo editor Jean Shin ’26
associate head copy editors Tiffany Cao ’24 Naisha Sylvestre ’25 head data editor Elaine Huang ’25 Charlie Roth ’25
head podcast editor Eden Teshome ’25 associate podcast editor Senna Aldoubosh ’25 Vitus Larrieu ’26
associate data editor Ryan Konarska ’25
head print design editors Avi Chesler ’25 Malia Gaviola ’26
head features editors Paige Cromley ’24 Tori Tinsley ’24
head prospect editors Kerrie Liang ’25 Claire Shin ’25
associate features editor Sejal Goud ’25
associate prospect editors Isabella Dail ’26 Joshua Yang ’25
head graphics editors Noreen Hosny ’25 Katelyn Ryu ’24 head humor editor Spencer Bauman ’25 associate humor editors Sam McComb ’25 Sophia Varughese ’26 head news editors Sandeep Mangat ’24 Isabel Yip ’25 associate news editors Lia Opperman ’25 Annie Rupertus ’25 Tess Weinreich ’25 head newsletter editors Olivia Chen ’26 Sidney Singer ’25
head puzzles editors Joah Macosko ’25 Simon Marotte ’26 associate puzzles editors Juliet Corless ’24 Sarah Gemmell ’24 Jaeda Woodruff ’25 head sports editors Nishka Bahl ’26 Cole Keller ’26 associate sports editors Diego Uribe ’26 Hayk Yengibaryan ’26 head web design and development editors Ananya Grover ’24 Brett Zeligson ’24 associate web design and development editor Vasila Mirshamsova ’26
147TH BUSINESS BOARD assistant business manager, director of sales Aidan Phillips ’25 business directors Benjamin Cai ’24 Jessica Funk ’26 Gabriel Gullett ’25 Andrew He ’26 Tejas Iyer ’26 Daeun Kim ’26 Jordan Manela ’26
Applying early to Princeton shouldn’t be a risk. Ditch restrictive early action. Brian Hegarty
Contributing Columnist
A
s tens of thousands of high school seniors vie for a spot in Princeton’s Class of 2028, many will be accepted through their Nov. 1 early applications. For the Class of 2024 — the class with the most recent publicly available early admissions data — nearly half of the students were accepted through early admission. Early action (EA) acceptance rates are considerably higher than those for regular decision (RD) at every Ivy League institution: early commitment clearly increases a student’s chances of getting into top schools. But the nature of restrictive (or single-choice) early action (REA) processes, like Princeton’s, offer that benefit to only a privileged collective. In order not to disadvantage and dissuade applicants who need more security in the college process, Princeton should adopt non-restrictive early action or, at least, return to its pre-2008 early decision (ED) program. Currently, Princeton, along with Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, do not allow their earlyround applicants to apply to other private schools. Because of REA, choosing Princeton early means sacrificing the opportunity to capitalize on higher acceptance rates at a range of schools through traditional EA and ED processes. REA precludes the potential security of being accepted to at least some private college, and therefore, pushes applicants who can’t afford to pass through the early round without any ‘safety schools’ out of our early applicant pool. For lower-income students, rates of REA acceptances are particularly low. Of matriculating applicants from families making $40,000 to $80,000, only 19 percent were accepted early, while 62 percent of their peers with household incomes above $500,000 were accepted
early, and the share accepted early rises with each upward step in family income between those two brackets. High school type, as well, seems to predict who can gamble on Princeton alone in the early round, as 53 percent of acceptances from private schools applied with REA, compared to 32 percent of those from public schools. Applying to Princeton early has become a privileged pathway, rewarding those with enough resources to take an application risk and shutting out those who want or need the security that Princeton’s ultracompetitive process can’t offer. The University shouldn’t miss out on potentially great students who aren’t able to play numbers or confidence games, and who eliminate themselves from early consideration — or even exclude themselves entirely by finding ED acceptance elsewhere — when we fill half our class before the admissions office sees their profiles. Some students, having missed out on the early window’s higher acceptance rate and the chance to demonstrate commitment to Princeton, may look at the staggeringly low 5.8 percent regular decision acceptance rate and consider not taking serious time and effort away from school, work, or other applications for one that seems like an impossible reach. Switching to nonrestrictive early action, which would allow students to try for Princeton without giving up the early-round advantage at other schools, would remove this barrier. In reality, REA does more to serve the school’s image through yield rate than to better the student body. After removing ED in 2008, Princeton’s yield rate dropped by 10 percent, and after Princeton’s admissions office instated REA four years later, the yield rate recovered 8 percent. For most colleges, yield rates are a key factor in boosting rep-
utation and ranking, but Princeton (ranked first by Forbes, the WSJ, and U.S. News) needs no help in those areas, so a drop in yield seems like a worthwhile sacrifice to increase the breadth of applicants that our admissions office sees. All Ivy League schools besides the “Big Three” of Princeton, Harvard, and Yale, offer ED, a less harsh system that allows you to identify a top choice but also apply early to backup options. REA applicants must already identify one of these four schools (including Stanford) as their top choice, and if accepted, will almost certainly matriculate absent unexpected circumstances — the system is practically ED on Princeton’s side. And ED wouldn’t lock students in undesirably — students can (and realistically should) break ED agreements for financial reasons. At least with ED, rejected students could open other options with other EA applications. Unless it is desperately important to Princeton that they know who is most committed to them (unlikely, considering they don’t even track demonstrated interest), the University should go further than ED. If knowing the most committed students is truly that crucial, they could, following the University of Chicago, give students the choice of either ED or EA, but any system that doesn’t lock applicants into Princeton and only Princeton would be an improvement. Yes, the yield rate might take a hit, but Princeton’s prestige means it should be above cheap tricks to boost matriculation. By forcing would-be Princetonians to weigh the risks of REA, we prevent our admissions office from reviewing as diverse a pool as possible in the easier early round. Brian Hegarty is a freshman from Milton, Massachusetts and can be reached at bh3247@princeton.edu.
Robert Mohan ’26 Kok Wei Pua ’25 project managers Julia Cabri ’24 Jason Ding ’25 Bibiane Kan ’26 Kaustuv Mukherjee ’26 Shravan Suriyanarayanan ’26 My Ky Tran ’26 Brian Zhou ’26
147TH TECHNOLOGY BOARD
chief technology officer Joanna Tang ’24 lead software engineer Roma Bhattacharjee ’25 software engineers Pranav Avva ‘24 Carter Costic ’26 Dylan Epstein-Gross ’26 Jessica-Ann Ereyi ’24 Ishaan Javali ’26
Adam Kelch ’24 Austin Li ’26 Isabel Liu ’26 Tai Sanh Nguyen ’26 John Ramirez ’26 Hang Pham ’26 Aidan Phillips ’25 Caitlin Wang ’26 Jessie Wang ’25 Shannon Yeow ’26 Brett Zeligson ’24
THIS PRINT ISSUE WAS DESIGNED BY Vanessa Auth ’26 Avi Chesler ’25 Vivi Lu ’26
Madeline Rohde ’27 Rachel Seo ’26
AND COPIED BY Naisha Sylvestre ’25
LOUISA GHEORGHITA/THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
“Oval with Two Points” art piece.
Opinion
page 12
Friday November 3, 2023
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In a time of war, don’t post what you won’t perpetrate Abigail Rabieh
Head Opinion Editor
I
n his first lecture of POL 388: Causes of War, Professor Gary Bass described a small number of the horrors of war as detailed by its survivors and perpetrators. He detailed the sight of the transformation of a human body into a mist of blood and guts after being hit with artillery blasts, or the sounds of soldiers dying whilst screaming for their mothers. This instilled in us a sense of the solemnity of our topic. Every time I’ve opened Instagram in the past two weeks and seen my acquaintances, peers, and friends negotiate the justice of war and revolution in Israel and Gaza through infographics, memes, and reposted videos, I think back to this lecture. Then, I contemplate when people began to mistake the figurative battleground of social media for the real thing and began to believe that they accomplished something by promoting rhetoric that demands to be fulfilled in blood. It feels supremely silly to think about internet virtue signaling when I have friends on military bases risking their lives at this very moment. Yet clearly, something about the political climate of young America can be gleaned from the use of these sites. We do no deeds by using Instagram, but it is certainly a revelatory tool which provides insight into individual values, which are not unimportant. We must hold two truths about social media. As individual users, using social media means nothing — it does not cost us anything to go on the site, and we signify nothing about our willingness to take actions by posting, sharing, or liking. Yet, it acts as a tool of real political power: terrorists make videos of their terrorism to globalize their mission, using social media as a conduit. Social media is powerful when it is used to disseminate infor-
mation backed by intention to act. We can see that people who post messages glorifying “revolutionary” death by indicating solidarity with the criminal terrorist violence initiated against Israel are promoting, and seeking to continue, warfare. But their engagement is patently absurd, as they offer nothing to support their lofty and inhumane goals. It is a supreme failure of self-understanding to be advocating for revolt behind a screen, which reveals both a deep fear of being silent when “justice” demands action and the shallowness of that fear when action never materializes. What does it mean to attempt to engage in a war while ensconced in the comfort of America’s safety? More than the content of messages themselves, social media activism demonstrates the egotistical dissonance that lies within the young people of today. People feel helpless, yet they want to do something — what else can they do? The act of posting is reassuring: they assuage their inner guilt and fear of their own unimportance and satisfy their ideals by calling for this “revolutionary” death. Yet, they also believe that no one will actually die as a result of their actions, because they’re risking nothing by simply sending a message into the void. This self-centered cognitive dissonance is deeply troubling, and while it doesn’t result in action, it does have consequences. The national outrage over the statements of elite youth is distracting and disproportionate, but it does correctly recognize the inanity of many young “radicals.” While Harvard students are far from indicative of America, they do demonstrate the self-absorption that is pervasive online. In America, young people are used to having it both ways: they want to be on the forefront of a good cause, yet to retain their privilege and safety. Journalist and Bates College Professor Tyler Austin Harper sharply diagnosed this incoher-
ence in a biting end to an article about soft radicalism at universities, noting that the “American elite” has always managed “the class war at home and real wars abroad.” We are trained to “cosplay rebellion,” using the speech of genuine radical action to promote revolution and violence everywhere but at home, where we might actually find ourselves in danger. Even the extent to which material action is taken in America is fundamentally un-radical. Chanting “long live the Intifada,” as Princeton students did at a walkout in solidarity with Gaza on Wednesday, does not in any way result in the realization of violent rebellion in Israel. Are these students really planning on strapping on a bomb and blowing themselves up in a bar? Linguistically, this is what such a saying suggests: “long live” refers to a continuity, and thus an association with the last Intifada against Israel, whose mission was encapsulated by this form of terrorist violence. No one can take physical actions to support every cause they believe in: many of us support American operations without donning the uniform of an active duty service member. Yet, endorsing violence necessitates
deeper thinking and action than the two seconds it takes to repost media on your Instagram story. It involves reconciling yourself to the fact that your beliefs may result in the loss of human life. This truth should not be minimized, but proclaiming it on the same account that you post your European vacation photos to does just that. Much of the passive advocacy I have seen since Oct. 7 has been both immensely infuriating and incredibly stupid. The sort of speech students are using has nothing behind it: it holds no impressive weight and contributes to nothing meaningful. All the same, it is terrifying to see people I have sat next to in lecture, graduated high school alongside, and eaten dinner with justify the torture and death of my people because they have political power in their ancestral homeland. An incomprehensible Editorial from the Cornell Daily Sun’s Editorial Board detailing their realization that war is difficult to understand claims that “we cannot threaten or silo those who speak out of turn when they are themselves victims of a conflict that has no given vocabulary.” I offer this instead:
by virtue of our life in Princeton and our spatial removal from the areas of bombardment and destruction, our vocabulary is the only accountability we can cling to. Language that threatens those within our community or defends terrorism reveals the insidious hatred held by the speaker. We have gotten far too accustomed to an uncomplicated understanding of the world; we are so caught up in being on the right side of history that we end up caring more about our own reactions than the reality of actions themselves. We cannot mistake these reactions, while ideologically telling and revelatory, for anything worthwhile: we must not let our ultimate fear of our own incapacity to create change cloud our understanding of what constitutes meaningful support. War is not simple, nor is it something most of us are ever going to participate in. We must not simplify it whilst we sit in privileged safety. Abigail Rabieh is a junior in the history department from Cambridge, Mass. She is the head Opinion editor at the ‘Prince’ and can be reached by email at arabieh@ princeton.edu.
VEENA KRISHNARAJ/THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Clio Hall seen through fall foliage.
Letter to the Editor: Don’t moo-ve on from beef
Nadia Makuc
Guest Contributor
The following is a letter to the editor and ref lects the author’s views alone.
T
o the Editor: I sympathize with Thomas Buckley ’26 in his recent article, “It’s time for Princeton to stop serving beef.” Buckley correctly identifies that the amount of carbon produced by the American food industry is harmful to the environment, and rightly suggests that it should not remain the status quo. However, while our current dependence on factory farms negatively impacts the environment, this is far from the only way to farm. The conversation about what
we eat is worth having, but we must expand our discussion beyond an all-or-nothing attitude. Anyone who’s worked with cattle can tell you that a field with cows pruning the grass, trampling the brush, and fertilizing the soil is healthier than one without. Allowing cows to move through fields as they naturally would result in both better land and better beef, not to mention a higher quality of life for these animals compared to those which are factory farmed. Beyond bearing personal witness to the restorative faculties of regenerative livestock farming, there is now greater widespread recognition of sustainable practices as a better path forward. These practices mitigate the negative effects of food production
while also benefiting the local economy, preserving cultural practices, and providing communities with higher-quality food. And regarding the climate, grass growth when promoted by proper grazing sequesters more carbon than produced by the animal. It is not raising cattle, then, that is problematic, but rather how they are raised. Currently, most farming practices are not the best for animals, humans, nor the land, but are best for profit. While the prevalence of factory farming has its own economic, social, and political complexities, our notion of dependence on unsustainable and unethical sources of meat need not remain as it is. There exists a false dichotomy between protecting the
climate and eating meat. This, beyond being untrue, misdirects our concern to what we are eating as opposed to what matters: how it is produced. The solution is purchasing and consuming local, sustainable beef. While I have, on more than one occasion, suggested to my friends that we should put cows on the Forbes golf course — depending on the quality of grass, a cow might need two acres per year, which would allow a herd of up to 120 cattle on Springdale Golf Club — I recognize that New Jersey has an abundance of local farms with sustainable practices. In addition to addressing climate concerns, supporting local farms also provides major economic, cultural, and health benefits. Instead of advocating for the unnecessary elimina-
tion of beef, Princeton should direct its energy to continue to find and expand its use of local sources for our food. Those who are, as Buckley says, “serious about safeguarding the future of our planet” should be open to creative solutions that balance the cultural and logistical realities of our campus and of farming. We can and ought to support farmers who are helping the land, their animals, and us — and as an institution rich with resources and thought, we have a unique opportunity to advocate for more than platitudes. Let’s not go cold turkey on the beef. Nadia Makuc is a sophomore from Monterey, Massachusetts intending to major in Classics. You can reach her at nadia.makuc@ princeton.edu.
Opinion
Friday November 3, 2023
page 13
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The law limits Israel’s response to Hamas Kenneth Roth
Guest Contributor
T
he appalling nature of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, killing more than 1,400, abducting at least 200, and firing rockets indiscriminately into civilian neighborhoods, has understandably prompted an Israeli military response. It has also prompted passionate discussions on campus. I urge Princeton students attempting to make sense of the conf lict to look at the unfolding situation through the lens of international humanitarian law (IHL). That law, which makes it a war crime for Hamas to target civilians, also restricts how Israel wages war. Those limits apply regardless of the justice of Israel’s decision to take military action. They are unconditional requirements, not contingent on the behavior of the other side. The most serious violations are subject to prosecution by the International Criminal Court, whose involvement is urgently needed. The Israeli military and its supporters like to say that, unlike Hamas, Israel does not deliberately target civilians. But IHL requires far more — a series of steps designed to spare civilians as much as possible from the hazards of war. Israel’s compliance with these broader requirements has been spotty. IHL was codified in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their additional protocols of 1977. The key provisions are also part of customary international law. They apply to all warring parties, whether governmental or not. Although these requirements consume hundreds of pages, their essence is straightforward. In addition to prohibiting deliberate attacks on civilians, IHL requires attacking forces not to fire indiscriminately into civilian areas even if legitimate military targets can be found there. The Israeli military’s f lattening of certain Gaza neighborhoods appears to violate this rule. IHL also requires warring parties to refrain from attacking even a legitimate military target if the anticipated civilian harm will be disproportionate — a rule that the Israeli military’s destruction of large apartment buildings, rendering hundreds of families homeless, seems to violate. In the past, the Israeli military has cited a Hamas presence in these large complexes to justify the destruction, but it is hard to see how the military advantage justifies the enormous civilian cost. The point seems to be the destruction. In addition, warring parties are required to allow humanitarian aid to civilians in need. But immediately after Oct. 7, the Israeli government blocked all food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity to the 2.2 million people of Gaza — an act
of prohibited collective punishment. By Oct. 21, a trickle of food, water, and medicine was being allowed in, but nowhere near the 100 trucks per day that the United Nations says is required. Nor had the Israeli military allowed in the fuel needed to run desalination plants and the generators that hospitals require to treat the many civilians injured by Israeli bombing. Finally, IHL requires warring parties to give effective advance warning of an attack if possible to enable civilians to f lee. But Israel’s evacuation order for the 1.1 million civilians of northern Gaza made a mockery of the humane purpose of this requirement, because the Israeli military continued to bomb southern Gaza as well as the route to get there, and Israel’s siege left southern Gaza with no resources to receive this huge inf lux of people. The Israeli military is also threatening that civilians who do not f lee northern Gaza “may be identified as a partner in a terrorist organization.” That is what Israel did in southern Lebanon in 2006 against Hezbollah before attacking and killing civilians who remained. But there are many reasons that civilians do not f lee — poverty, disability, fear, or simply a reluctance to leave their homes. None of that turns them into a legitimate military target. The Israeli military and its
backers like to cite Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields to justify the large civilian toll in Gaza, but that is an inadequate defense. IHL does prohibit using the presence of civilians to deter an attack, and it requires warring parties to take all feasible precautions to spare civilians. But even when Hamas violates these provisions, the duty remains on the attacker — Israel — to refrain from firing if the rules against indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks are violated. These are not pie-in-thesky rules concocted by human rights groups or pacifists. They were written by the world’s leading militaries, including the United States. These are not nice rules to follow until the going gets tough — they are designed for a nation’s most trying circumstances, when its troops are at war and its citizens are being killed. They ref lect an evolution from the “total war” approach to armed conf lict in which an opponent’s civilian population was viewed as fair game. That, for example, is how Russian President Vladimir Putin has fought wars in Chechnya, Syria, and Ukraine, but few embrace that approach. These rules also have a pragmatic dimension — targeting an opponent’s military is the best way to deploy scarce military resources. In addition, in the case of Gaza, it is the best
way for the Israeli military to avoid inf laming the civilian population, leaving it determined to replicate Hamas even if the current leadership is killed or captured. Hamas has no record of prosecuting its war criminals, and Israel has a poor record, but the International Criminal Court (ICC) provides a new option. Israel has never joined the ICC, but since 2021, the ICC has had an open investigation of the ”Situation in the State of Palestine,” meaning any war crime committed in the occupied territory or by a national of that territory. Palestine was able to join the court because in 2012, the U.N. General Assembly accepted it as a nonmember observer state. That a state can subject its own nationals to ICC jurisdiction is uncontroversial. Yet for years, the U.S. government opposed the ICC’s ability to prosecute crimes on the territory of an ICC member state if the alleged perpetrator’s government had not joined the court. That was the basis for President Donald Trump’s outrageous imposition of sanctions on former ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda for opening investigations in Afghanistan (which might have implicated U.S. torturers there) and Palestine (which could ensnare Israeli officials). But the Biden administration lifted those sanctions and has now even abandoned that objection by
applauding the ICC’s charges against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Ukraine has conferred jurisdiction, but Russia has not joined the court. Even so, the current ICC chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, undoubtedly wary of Washington’s reaction, has been slow walking the Palestine investigation since he took office in June 2021. That ongoing impunity can only encourage more war crimes. I hope the surge of war crimes by both sides in Gaza will light a fire under the ICC prosecutor’s office to promptly investigate and file charges for war crimes. There may be no situation anywhere that elicits more discord and debate on the Princeton campus than the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conf lict. Finding a political solution has proven extraordinarily difficult. But we should all be able to agree on the importance of both sides respecting IHL. That will reduce the civilian toll and enhance the prospect of someday finding a solution. Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch (1993-2022), is a visiting professor at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs. He can be reached at kr9870@princeton. edu or @KenRoth on X, formerly known as Twitter.
JEAN SHIN/THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
page 14
Features
Friday November 3, 2023
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‘Once in an institutional lifetime’: Before and beyond Princeton’s 2026 Campus Plan By Raphaela Gold Staff Features Writer
Picture the Princeton University of the early 1900s: the Dinky drops you off right before Blair Arch and, of course, there is no Wawa in sight. You stroll through the numerous Oxbridge-influenced courtyards, admiring the Gothic architecture around you and find yourself on the grassy lawn before Nassau Hall. The pairing of open green space with this building inspired the first known use of the word “campus,” derived from the Latin word for field, to describe University grounds. But even on that serene, historic campus, construction was abundant. At the time, University President Woodrow Wilson Class of 1879 was overseeing a major architectural undertaking, led by the first University Architect Ralph Adams Cram and first Landscape Architect Beatrix Farrand. Together, the two carried out the comprehensive campus plan of 1911, combining architectural vision with intentional landscaping. Since then, the master plans have just kept coming. This is why when you walk through campus today, you will find modern buildings and state of the art research centers. If you tried to take the Dinky from Blair Arch today, you wouldn’t get very far at all. In fact, since the 1920s, the Dinky has moved twice. These campus plans involve years of organization and input from hundreds of people. Current University Architect Ron McCoy ’80 broke down the 2026 institutional planning process into three parts: the strategic objectives, led by current University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 and the Board of Trustees; the campus plan, led by the University architecture and infrastructure teams; and the capital plan, which secures funding for the campus plan. This is the most ambitious tenyear expansion yet, amounting to over 3 million square feet added over the course of the plan, and this is the first time in Princeton’s history that the University has planned for all of the land it owns. In addition to this massive expansion, the University is making sustainability a priority in the construction process. Today’s campus is ridden with fences and holes as the University undergoes giant construction projects, but the growing pains are all part of an intentional vision for the future.
Changing visions for campus The most recent campus plan before the current one began in 2002 under former University President Shirley Tilghman. It was steered by former University Architect Jon Hlafter ’61. The plan had five main objectives, the most prominent of which was to maintain a “pedestrian-oriented,” walkable campus. The plan also supported fostering a sense of community and building in an environmentally responsible manner, although sustainability initiatives were not nearly as widespread as they are now. Former Dean of the School of Architecture Stan Allen ’88 had a “ringside seat” for the 2016 campus plan. “The campus architect and the administration … would consult with the Dean of the School of Architecture for expertise around questions of architecture,” Allen explained. When Allen arrived on campus, two architecturally juxtaposed construction projects were underway. The first was Whitman College, a traditional Collegiate Gothic building. Meanwhile, across Washington Road, the University had commissioned architect Frank Gehry to build Lewis Library. “In some ways, you couldn’t imagine two styles more distinct than … Whitman College and Lewis Library on the other side of campus. But it was the same campus, the same Board of Trustees,” said Allen. Allen explained that, while the University valued traditional architecture, the requirements of modern day laboratories could not be accommodated by traditional buildings. In order for the University to remain competitive in grants and funding, it needed to supply state-of-the art laboratories. “The idea was that this could happen on the other side of Washington Road, where there was more space, and that gave permission to use a more modern architectural language,” said Allen. The area now includes Jadwin Hall, the Frick Chemistry Building, and, connected by a bridge, the Princeton Neuroscience Institute. In the same period, the University also built Butler College and the Lewis Center for the Arts. Allen’s time as dean certainly saw an increase in campus construction, but the expansion now underway is unprecedented. The current ten-year campus plan, set in motion in 2017 and set to finish in 2026, includes the construction of a new residential college and the development of a grad
student campus across Lake Carnegie. Ron McCoy, the current University Architect, is in charge of taking this framework and making it concrete, often quite literally, into a new period of massive construction. Because the plan is so broad across both time and space, the architecture team must “constantly review it and ask whether it is providing the guidance we need to make the next set of strategic decisions,” said McCoy. The plan’s five guiding principles are: providing an integrated environment for teaching, living, learning, and research; enhancing the campus’ distinctive sense of place; fostering a setting that is welcoming and supportive and encourages positive interaction and exchange; creating a climate that encourages thoughtful and creative approaches to sustainability; and serving communities that extend beyond campus. In particular, the framework’s commitment to sustainability requires new approaches to construction and operations, as the University aims to achieve net carbon neutrality by 2046. The aesthetics of sustainability While campus expansion and commitment to sustainability are both pillars of the 2026 plan, the two values often seem to contradict one another. Constructing new buildings requires a significant amount of embodied carbon — the carbon expended on the construction of the building itself. This is different from operational carbon, the building’s carbon expenditure once it has already been built. “When we initiated the 2026 campus plan, our focus was at that time on operational carbon, so the 2046 goal is about operational carbon neutrality,” explained McCoy. Since then, however, the team has concluded that, “if the world considers only its operational carbon, that’s not good enough, because buildings have significant embodied carbon in their construction materials.” One tactic they’ve taken to reduce embodied carbon is using mass timber for construction whenever possible. The new Princeton University Art Museum, Hobson College, Schmidt Hall, Class of 1986 Fitness and Wellness Center, the new UHS building, and ES & SEAS buildings will all have some mix of mass timber structural systems because the amount of energy required to create steel or concrete is much
higher. According to McCoy, when you replace these materials with mass timber, “you can take a bit of a dent out of embodied carbon,” and in fact even sequester carbon. This change is one example of how sustainable construction is altering not only buildings’ inner workings but also their aesthetic. “It’s a fact that 10–20 years from now, when people look back at this generation of buildings, there will be a moment in time that people can say ‘that’s the way a place can attack embodied carbon.’” McCoy added that the reduction of embodied carbon will be a “very experiential part of campus because wood is a very distinctive material, it adds a kind of warm glow, it has an acoustic quality, and it will be really dramatic.” While adjustments to embodied carbon will likely have a greater aesthetic impact on University construction going forward, there is an even greater change taking place right beneath our feet. Princeton’s thermal energy systems are being transitioned to a geothermal exchange system, which will largely, though not entirely, replace the cogeneration plant and steam distribution system that currently deliver heat, improving the University’s energy efficiency and water usage. “Ironically, the geo-exchange system is invisible,” said McCoy. “When you look at campus, you can’t tell the source of energy.” While this is currently the case, Energy Plant Manager Ted Borer is hoping to change that with the new heat pump facility dubbed TIGER (Thermally Integrated Geo-Exchange Resource). Borer, his boss Tom Nyquist, and their team advise McCoy and his team on how to most effectively heat, cool, and power their buildings. “We want to be an example that others can follow, a place where students can learn through our own activities,” said Borer. Part of setting an example is visibility, and, for inspiration, Borer looks back to one particular Philadelphia power plant from the 1920s. This plant “had mahogany railings, it had a restaurant above the turbine hall so that people could sit and eat and see the power that was being generated for the city. Because that was the modern sparkly thing and everyone was obsessed with it.” Today, the University is putting the same principles into practice with the TIGER facility, which will be built east of
Jadwin Gym, with large glass windows. That way, Borer explained, “you can look in and you can interpret what happens with the differently colored pipes and systems.” Additionally, the building will house a conference room for presentations before tours of the plant. “It’s a teaching space as well as an energy facility … and it harkens back to what we were doing with power plants in the nation a century ago.” Borer added that the geo-exchange system has allowed the University to think outside the box in numerous ways. “We hadn’t thought about using land that goes 800 feet below the campus until just now.” Now, the University is also considering the real-estate on top of buildings for green roofs and solar energy. “It’s about realizing that we’re not discreet and solitary. We’re part of a hyper-interconnected community … What we build is beginning to reflect that,” said Borer.
RYLAND GRAHAM / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Raphaela Gold is a staff Features writer for the ‘Prince.’
Student consultation for the plan The planning teams had regular meetings with USG and GSG focus groups, which McCoy said served as “touch points, where we can get input from the broader campus community” when the plan was still under development in 2016. This team often tailors their consultations by focusing on specific groups that will be using the buildings. One of the challenges of a plan which requires “such an anchoring and long-term institutional commitment,” according to McCoy, is that the main consultants are those enrolled when the plan is set into motion. After that, it becomes more difficult to incorporate student voices as an ongoing discussion. Despite these challenges, McCoy explained, “the voices and beliefs of students are constantly being filtered into our system … It’s a very organic process.” While those included in focus groups in 2016 might have had a greater voice in the original framework of the plan, the current student body is given continuous input to the policy choices made within the framework. John Raulston Graham ’24, an architecture major and USG architect, appreciates the University’s involvement of student voices in their initiatives. “Ron McCoy has been very open to having students participate in the building performance team in the past,” said Graham. One of the ways in which students are consulted is through post-occupancy studies, in which the planning team talks to the people who live and work in buildings they plan on renovating to compile data. Graham also described a “general consulting” of students that accompanies every project. For example, when the University began work on Hobson College, Graham attended an event where representatives presented the plan and asked participants a series of questions. Some students are dismayed by the construction. Some laud it as the key to the future. Either way, McCoy is positive that this plan will be remembered for years to come. Borrowing from President Christopher Eisgruber, McCoy noted, “the University is always under construction. Under construction means advancing institutional practices so that programs serve the core mission of our teaching and learning.” He asked that students step back and “realize that we’re doing this for the greater good of the earth and the future of humanity. Construction is something we should all have tolerance for, and maybe even embrace.”
the PROSPECT. Friday November 3, 2023
The Daily Princetonian
page 15
ARTS & CULTURE
I tried hot chocolate from 5 places in Princeton, so you don’t have to By Brianna Melanie Suliguin
the first sip (minus the sip that consisted of only whipped cream), I was hit with a very forward chocolate flavor. I find it to be right in between the profiles of my previous orders: chocolate-y without leaning into the bitterness of Starbucks, and sweet without leaning into the sugariness of Coffee Club. While initially creamy, mixing in the whipped cream lightened the drink’s body a pleasant amount. Summary: Small World Coffee’s hot chocolate satisfies my morning sweet tooth without giving me a sugar brain fog — I’d love to sip on this drink in the flagship store surrounded by all things coffee and sweets.
Contributing Prospect Writer
With the brisk autumn atmosphere setting into Princeton’s campus, my usual iced tea orders are quickly being replaced by warm drinks better fit for the incoming chilly seasons. Instead of an energizing coffee, I gravitate towards hot chocolate — the sweeter and more festive winter alternative in my opinion. I’ve always found myself holding a mug of hot chocolate over coffee; in high school, I would prepare a Thermos to savor the drink during my 7:30 a.m. classes, and I usually brought hot chocolate for classmates to celebrate my birthday right before Christmas. To explore campus and also reward myself with a sweet treat after classes, I perused the array of local coffee shops and cafés to determine which hot chocolate I’ll be savoring through the fall and winter seasons. From worst to best, I’ll be noting and ranking various aspects about my hot chocolate ventures — the ambience, price, and convenience — with taste as the most important factor in my ratings. Alexa, play “Hot Chocolate” from “The Polar Express.” 5. Starbucks
BRIANNA MELANIE SULIGUIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Ambience: A popular chain coffee shop, I crossed Nassau Street and was enveloped by warmth, greeted with the aroma of coffee beans. The warm lighting automatically made me feel cozy, even on the busy street. Many customers at the shop were studying and chatting, and I felt the environment was conducive to small group work or reading a new novel. While waiting for my order at the barstools at the window, I enjoyed the indie rock selections playing overhead and watched the passersby. Review: For $3.95, I ordered a Venti hot chocolate with whipped cream, but the first thing I noticed was the lack of the topping. My first sip indicated that the whipped cream might have been infused into the hot chocolate rather than sitting on top. The drink leaned more into bitter chocolate notes, which is a nice contrast to the typical sugary versions I usually get. However, I felt that the texture was somewhat flat — maybe because the drink was made with hot water instead of milk (I prefer the latter in my hot chocolate). Summary: This hot chocolate is good for a sudden craving, but I don’t recommend this for anyone looking for an indulgent beverage — you might fare better getting the iconic pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks instead. 4. Coffee Club at New College West Ambience: Much of my studying time is spent at NCW — I find myself spending hours fig-
BRIANNA MELANIE SULIGUIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
uring out my chemistry and calculus problem sets in the common rooms with my classmates. After my lecture, I went to the Coffee Club’s NCW branch to pick up a drink before studying in Addy Hall. The Club picked a perfect place to establish a campus-based location as the large, open space allows for natural lighting (even during the cloudy day that I went) and a comfortable setting for studying solo or in groups. I also appreciate the student-run music — there’s always something new playing depending on who’s running the café. Review: For $4.70, I got a large hot chocolate. On the first sip, I immediately noticed that it was sweeter than my Starbucks order. Again, no whipped cream (granted, I didn’t ask for it), but there was a foamy feel, most likely from steamed milk. It tasted like the famous Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate packets: nostalgic and more sweet than chocolate-y. While I personally enjoyed it, I could definitely achieve a similar taste by preparing a mug of the prepared sachet and hot milk. Summary: The Coffee Club hot chocolate is a true neutral character — sweet and milky. While it is a standard hot chocolate, it is a reliable pickme-up for someone craving the drink. 3. Small World Coffee at Frist Campus Center
BRIANNA MELANIE SULIGUIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Ambience: While I planned on visiting the main storefront on Nassau, my day starts at Frist Campus Center every day, so I decided to stop by after my Korean class. While there were not many people around, going any time after 10 a.m. will likely spoil the quiet study nook vibe established in the early morning. Review: For $3.75 and one minute of waiting, I received a large hot chocolate. When I picked up my cup from the register, I instantly noticed the swirl of whipped cream peeking through the top. Considering the lack of whipped cream on my last two drinks, I was elated to see the topping! Upon
walk from the heart of campus, as it functions as a perfect pairing with some rich ice cream or as a standalone indulgence during a chilly day. 1. Bent Spoon
2. Halo Pub
BRIANNA MELANIE SULIGUIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
BRIANNA MELANIE SULIGUIN / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Ambience: Since it was my first time at the town-favorite ice cream parlor, I had no idea what to expect. I was immediately greeted by a moody and homey storefront, tantalized by the ice cream barrels in front of me. I ordered two (!!) hot chocolates — a Parisian Hot Chocolate and a Hot Chocolate Float — since I was curious about the difference between the two. I waited for my drinks at the parlor booths as I took in how quaint the store felt at that moment. All that surrounded me was the sound of the espresso machine and the whiff of freshly scooped ice cream in my hand (the chocolate chip cookie dough and pecan praline were to die for, but that’s another review). Review: Each drink cost $5.85, some of the most expensive orders I’ve gotten yet. First, the Hot Chocolate Float was not what I expected from the name — I was expecting some form of ice cream floating on top of the drink, like an upside down affogato. The drink had a semi-sweet chocolate flavor, but I was somewhat disappointed by the body: it lacked the creaminess and thickness in other hot chocolate orders I’ve gotten (especially since the word “float” implies an airy texture). It is similar to the Starbucks drink, with a more watery, bitter chocolate profile, but this one has a smoother mouthfeel and sweeter aftertaste. In comparison, the Parisian Hot Chocolate stood out from my previous reviews: I was hit with a whiff of cinnamon upon first sip, which added a unique compliment to the semi-sweet base. The body was creamier than the other drink, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly foamy. While I expected a more melted chocolate mouthfeel, I still enjoyed the not-so-thick consistency. A dollop of whipped cream would have pushed this drink towards perfection. Summary: The Hot Chocolate Float is a standard hot chocolate — semi-sweet and easy to sip. While this may fare well for on-the-go hot chocolate, I can’t justify the price for a more reasonable buy at somewhere like Small World. The Parisian Hot Chocolate, on the other hand, is worth the
Ambience: Technically, the first food I got as a Princeton student was hot chocolate from The Bent Spoon when I visited campus after committing to the school on Ivy Day. To finish the saga of hot chocolate tastings, I strolled through Palmer Square and found the tiny, dimly lit parlor with its employees bustling behind the counter. There wasn’t much space to enjoy my drink — there were only two seats inside the store. However, I was able to secure a window-front view to enjoy my hot chocolate order. Review: I ordered a Classic Hot Chocolate with all the fixings — whipped cream and toasted marshmallows — for $8.25. This was, by far, the most expensive beverage I’ve bought on campus. However, my expectations for this drink were shattered when I first saw the beverage: the marshmallows were humongous and were toasted just like on a campfire. The taste? I was astonished by how bitter the chocolate was — there was barely any hint of sweetness. However, the marshmallows melted into the drink and added the perfect amount of sugar (and some burnt notes from the char) that balanced the bitterness of the liquid. The body was velvety and rich — the best way I could describe both the flavor and texture is melted chocolate. The most surprising thing about this drink is that its profile changes over time: as the marshmallow melts, the drink becomes more creamy and sweet. For such a small cup of hot chocolate, I was sipping my cup for the next 45 minutes. Summary: The perfect drink for an indulgent hot chocolate experience — whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer the dark side, the multidimensionality of this The Bent Spoon special will have you reminiscing about warm fireplaces and chocolate chip cookies throughout wintertime. Final Thoughts For a beverage with such a simple concept, hot chocolate holds various flavor profiles across campus. Sweet or bitter, creamy or velvety, there’s probably a hot chocolate calling your name, within a 15 minute walk from your favorite study place. So do yourself a favor and grab a hot chocolate near you: it’s the perfect time to stroll past the falling leaves and enjoy a book with a warm drink in hand. Brianna Melanie Suliguin is a contributing writer to The Prospect. She is a part of the Great Class of 2027 and is from Toms River, New Jersey. She can be contacted at bs7122@princeton.edu.
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The Daily Princetonian
Friday November 3, 2023
‘In the Company of Good Books’ exhibition, a celebration of inspiration in literature By Ivy Chen Contributing Prospect Writer
This year marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of William Shakespeare’s “First Folio.” Produced seven years after his death, the First Folio was the first published collection of Shakespeare’s plays, serving as an essential compilation of 36 works in their complete text. In honor of this anniversary, the Princeton University Library’s Milberg Gallery presents “In the Company of Good Books: Shakespeare to Morrison.” It’s an exhibition that celebrates the continuous conversation between various authors and their works throughout the decades, showcasing Princeton’s sprawling collection of English literature. The exhibition begins with Shakespeare and progresses chronologically, moving “into time.” The first display case holds three rare copies of Shakespeare’s “First Folio,” including the first copy to ever make it into North America. This special folio also contains signatures by various scholars, playwrights, and actors; it was customary for the author of a folio to keep it for a period of time and then pass it on to others. This tradition reflects a central idea of the exhibition: writers converse among themselves and across generations, with Shakespeare’s work continuing to influence and inspire authors to this day. This idea develops further throughout the exhibit in earlier examples like the influence of John Milton’s 17th-century epic poem “Paradise Lost” on Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” to more contemporary examples, such as letters between Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman and ideas exchanged by authors of
color in the 20th century. The latter is spotlighted in a display that features Toni Morrison’s copy of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” its margins annotated in bright red ink, and James Baldwin’s copy of Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin in the Sun,” whose title derives from Langston Hughes’ poem, “Harlem.” The exhibit reveals a sprawling network of connections and relationships between different writers and the themes they examine in their respective works. There’s an intimacy to the handwritten, unfinished nature of the manuscripts featured: it’s a tangible record of writers developing their craft. One display holds juvenilia by the Brontë sisters — tiny inscriptions on wax paper from wrappers — evidence of how many female writers of the time educated themselves at home. Another display featuring Morrison’s manuscripts includes alternate endings to her novel “Beloved,” a signed page from when her apartment caught fire, and circled and crossed-out early drafts in pencil — a peek into her writing process. Poets Phillis Wheatley and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s works are spotlighted as well, demonstrating how many female writers of their time borrowed ancient ideas and used literature as a form of escapism. The exhibition takes care to reflect on how various mediums and the art of publishing have been important elements in creating and reading literature. One case holds a stack of thin volumes of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in its original serialized format, which would have served to keep the readers engaged with each installment and provide revenue for Stowe. Chicago poet Gwendolynn Brooks used broadsides — large, one-sided posters — to
IVY CHEN/THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
share her poetry with the masses. These posters were mass-produced and placed in barbershops and churches; one such broadside, featuring her poem “We Real Cool,” hangs on the exhibition wall. Two independent publishing ventures are noted by the exhibition as instrumental in shaping modern literature. One is Sylvia Beach’s Paris bookshop Shakespeare and Company; the original store sign is mounted on the wall of the exhibit. The bookshop hosted readings by authors, a lending library, and later a publishing office, and became a center for literary life. Especially striking is a rack of library cards, including one that records what Ernest Hemingway was reading from 1925 to 1938. The other enterprise is the Hogarth Press, established by Virginia and Leonard Woolf, which they hoped would allow them to publish works of literary merit that did not appeal to a wider public. One copy of a book printed by the Hogarth Press includes an offcenter woodblock print that overlaps with the type — an endearing reminder of the novice state of the press when they began. One of the final displays is dedicated to contemporary writing by authors in areas where the British empire had influence, such as former colonies. Many of the authors challenged the ideas they were brought up with, dealing with questions of power and assimilation in their writing. These authors were also in con-
versation with one another: William Butler Yeats’ poem “The Second Coming,” written during the Irish War of Independence, lends a phrase to the title of Chinua Achebe’s Nigeria-set novel “Things Fall Apart,” exploring the consequences of colonialism on language and culture. The exhibition ends with a callback to Shakespeare, again highlighting the ongoing conversation that occurs when writers today read and respond to his works. The last display centers on a story involving Morrison: in response to her friend, theater director Peter Sellars’s claimthat “Othello” had lost significance over time, Morrison sought to write a play named “Desdemona” to maintain that Shakespeare’s play still held valuable insight. Her goal was to elevate the previously largely voiceless character of Othello’s wife to the forefront. The display contains early manuscript drafts of “Desdemona,” where Morrison reimagines Desdemona as a fully articulated character, crafting the story of her girlhood and an afterlife and bringing Shakespeare’s character into a bolder, modern context. It’s a fitting final element for an exhibition honoring the ever-evolving nature of the literary world. “In the Company of Good Books: Shakespeare to Morrison” is open until Dec. 10, 2023. Ivy Chen is a first-year and a contributing writer for The Prospect from Naperville, Illinois. She can be reached at iychen@princeton.edu.
“That’s the thing about grief. No one prepares you for it” GRIEF
Continued from page 1
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time I visit home, I’ll be visiting a grave. While my family has done their best to be there for me, they get a sense of closure at home that I lose here. They got to attend his funeral. They got to say goodbye. I’m left here, praying that the sadness and numbness will go away soon, praying that reality will set in and that I can accept it, but also hoping that it never does. If it doesn’t set in, it isn’t real, and I don’t have to accept that I lost someone that had been in my life forever. The only version of grief I previously knew of came from comforting my dad after the loss of his uncle and comforting my brother after the loss of a close cousin. While I was sad and in mourning, there’s something fundamentally different about losing a grandparent. There’s
something fundamentally different about grieving that loss on a college campus and having to call family instead of being with them as you cry. Princeton, as much as I’ve loved it here, is not the place I needed to be at that moment. Despite my desire to go home and be with my family, my friends here have been amazing at preventing me from wallowing in grief. Going out for dinner or just studying in someone else’s dorm have been a saving grace in the past few days. Despite the loneliness of grief, I still know that I’m not alone. That’s the thing about grief. You don’t know how to prepare for it. You don’t know how to deal with it. All you can do is survive it. Mackenzie Hollingsworth is a contributing writer for The Prospect from Middlesboro, Kentucky. She is a member of the Class of 2026 and can be reached at mh5273@princeton.edu.
Friday November 3, 2023
The Daily Princetonian
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Everything to give you: A review of Troye Sivan’s ‘Something To Give Each Other’ By Christopher Nunez | Prospect Contributing Writer CHRISTOPHER NUNEZ / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
This Friday the 13th was met by mass enthusiasm from Halloween fanatics and Troye Sivan fans alike when the renowned musical artist released his first album in five years. “Something To Give Each Other” is Sivan’s third studio album. After years of sharing his work on YouTube, Sivan released “Blue Neighborhood” in 2015 and “Bloom” in 2018 and built his passionate fanbase along the way. His music is acclaimed as a prideful celebration of the beauty in the LGBTQIA+ experience. By sharing his personal accounts of being queer, Sivan becomes a powerful symbol that embodies sentiments from continuously underrepresented voices in the music industry. “Blue Neighborhood” and “Bloom” are lyrical declarations of pain, regret, and broken promises from Sivan’s adolescence. While singles such as “YOUTH” and “My My My!” stand out for their joyous melodies and upbeat tempos, both albums, as a whole, are devastatingly emotional exclamations of heartbreak. Following these two albums, Sivan continued to release music, including crowd favorites like the nostalgic and uplifting single “1999” with Charli XCX, the ethereal and timeless tune “Angel Baby,” and the elegant and reflective extended play album “In A Dream.” Sivan has hinted at an upcoming album over the past five years. On July 13, he released the song “Rush,” a first glimpse of the album to come. While Sivan makes relationships the focal point in nearly all his songs, “Rush” was an exuberant, sparkling tribute to falling in and out of love and enjoying the impermanence of youth. His following single, “Got Me Started,” was released on Sept. 20, another track highlighting the adventures of young adulthood and finding true hope. From the very start of the “Something To Give Each Other” campaign, I was drawn into the world that Sivan
crafted: a universe of visceral and colorful emotions that define a journey ahead. I immediately pre-ordered the signed deluxe vinyl record from the artist’s webstore and counted down the days until the album’s debut. The album’s imaginative originality and joyfulness amazed me. Sivan’s sampling of other music and his lyricism throughout inspires a feeling of nostalgia and whimsy. Additionally, the apparent happiness in each song on the album struck me. Often, when artists switch their usual styles, they are met with mass criticism or disappointment. However, I can strongly say that “Something To Give Each Other” has already fulfilled all that I could ever wish for in Sivan’s music. His ability to shapeshift and reinvent is present in each song. All ten tracks embody the feeling of ebullience that Sivan has yet to explore until now. One of my favorites from the album is “One Of Your Girls.” The song’s rhythmic quality and humming background create a perpetual feeling of warmth. Lyrics such as “Pop the culture, iconography / Is standin’ right in front of me” tap into the artist’s thrilling command of language. The song further presents a synth-pop style with a retro feel that complements the modern themes and lyrics presented. Tracks such as “Still Got It” and “How To Stay With You” slow the pace of the album and highlight Sivan’s ability to tell a story in his songwriting. These tracks play on the true delicacy of the artist’s words and his ability to paint a world that is defined by human connection. “Still Got It” introduces a melancholic opening: “Cut my hair into a bowl after you told me that you liked it like that / Wish I didn’t care at all, but now I’m in the mirror with scissors in hand.” Despite the seemingly sad lyrics, Sivan creates a reflective feeling of nostalgia and joyful regret with his inability to move on. The strum-
The Duality of Dining By Austria Merritt | Contributing Cartoonist
ming guitar in the background adds to the persistent airiness in the song. Similarly, “How To Stay With You” has an honest account that sums up the euphoria of the album. With the opening, “Cut my garden down / I’ve got no flowers, but it’s the thought that counts,” Sivan alludes to the act of trying. Troye creates a world built upon trying to do what is best always, emphasizing how important it is to strive to care for others and most importantly yourself. Though I was immediately captivated starting with the first track of the album, what spoke to me the most were the back-to-back tracks “Silly” and “Honey.” The two songs create an inexplicable feeling of floating. When I first heard them, I felt that I was transported to another state of being, to another form of musical territory that is entirely unique to this album. The artist masterfully layers vocal tracks to create a rich sound that reverberates within the mind of listeners. Though they both are similar dance-electronica inspired tracks, I would select “Honey” as my favorite of the whole album. “Honey” is the embodiment of sunshine and that beautifully transient feeling of a worry-free world. The upbeat tempo and distinctive smoothness of Sivan’s vocal tone crafts a song that decisively impresses. Taken together with the visually stunning and radiant music videos thatSivan has created, the artist’s new album dares to inspire ambition, daydreaming, and forever-yearning. If you have not yet taken the time to listen to “Something To Give Each Other,” I can guarantee that it has everything to give you emotionally. Christopher Nunez is a contributing writer for The Prospect from Point Pleasant, N.J. He can be reached at christophern@ princeton.edu.
I Miss My Dogs By Raina Maldonado |
Contributing Cartoonist
The Prospect 11 The Daily Princetonian
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Friday November 3, 2023
Weekly Event Roundup
By Christopher Nunez, Contributing Prospect Writer
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The Movement-Image — Workshop by Sahra Motalebi: “VOICE/S”
Nov. 7 at 4:30 p.m. Hagan Gallery, 185 Nassau St.
Curated by Lecturer in Visual Arts Colleen Asper, this event invites multi-disciplinary artist Sahra Motalebi to deliver a workshop that allows participants to define their voice in the spheres of art and community. This workshop is free and open to the public. No advance tickets are required.
“Bodywork,” a new play by Juliette Carbonnier
The Freshman One Act Festival
Nov. 3, 4 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. Hamilton Murray Theater, Theatre Intime
Nov. 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 at 8 p.m. Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts complex
Princeton University first-years deliver one-act plays that are entirely crafted by the Class of 2027. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing or through the Theatre Intime Box Office before the show. Through Passport to the Arts, tickets are available for free to University students.
Student playwright and performer Juliette Carbonnier ’24 and director Sabina Jafri ’24 explore femininity and the persistence of chronic pain. The play’s protagonist, Maia, is offered the opportunity to have her body replaced by one that does not experience any suffering. This play is free and open to the public. Advance tickets are encouraged and may be acquired through University Ticketing.
Yale at Princeton — The Football Concert
Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
The Princeton University Glee Club and the Yale University Glee Club celebrate the upcoming football game. This annual event celebrates choral excellence from both schools in a manner that is guaranteed to excite. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing. Through Passport to the Arts, tickets are available for free to University students.
Jean Rondeau, Harpsichord
Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
Presented by Princeton University Concerts’ Performance Up Close series, this performance invites harpsichordist Jean Rondeau to the Richardson Auditorium stage. Redefining the typical conventions of the harpsichord, Rondeau adapts traditional piano arrangements to be presented through the musicality of the harpsichord. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing with free tickets available for University students through Passport for the Arts.
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Arts complex
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“Grief Work,” an original choreopoem by Kenza Benazzouz ’24
Nov. 10, 11 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. with shows the following weekend, Nov. 17-19 Hamilton Murray Theater, Theatre Intime
Nov. 10, 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 11th at 2 p.m. Donald G. Drapkin Studio, Lewis
Kenza Benazzouz ’24 showcases a choreopoem that explores grief and coping. Seeking to recontextualize the act of grieving, this performance is an exploration of the power in healing. This performance is free and open to the public. Advance tickets must be acquired through University Ticketing.
Hip-Hop Techniques and Foundations with Castro Nov. 4 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Ellie’s Studio, Lewis Arts Complex
Internationally recognized street dancer, Castro, presents this cocurricular hip-hop class. The series, curated by dance program alum Liam Lynch ’21, allows participants to delve into a variety of dance styles while building upon their unique skill level. This event is free and open to the University community and does not require advance registration.
Fund for Irish Studies: Lecture & Reading by Louise Kennedy Nov. 10 at 4:30 p.m. James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St.
Acclaimed writer Louise Kennedy is invited to present a lecture, “Trespasses: Fact, Fiction and Memory.” This lecture is about the writer’s famous novel “Trespasses” and explores themes of adolescence, familial relationships, and the mundane. This lecture is free and open to the public. No advance tickets are required.
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“All the Things They Wish They Said,” a play by Matthew Cooperberg ’26 and Orion Lopez-Ramirez ’26
Playwrights Matthew Cooperberg ’26 and Orion Lopez-Ramirez ’26 present the romantic tragedy, All the Things They Wish They Said, which follows the queer relationship between two characters, Kane and Felix, and the power of dreams. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing or through the Theatre Intime Box Office before the show. Through Passport to the Arts, tickets are available for free to University students.
The Winter’s Tale — A Public Works Musical Nov. 10, 11 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 12 at 3 p.m. Berlind Theatre, McCarter Theatre Center
Faculty member and director Shariffa Ali delivers this rendition of Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale.” Involving students, arts groups, and community members, this play introduces a spin on the typical production with roots in dystopia and utopian realities. Tickets can be purchased through McCarter Box Office. Through Passport to the Arts, tickets are available for free to University students.
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Film Screening: “Perfect Days” by Wim Wenders Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Taylor Auditorium, Frick Chemistry Building
The film “Perfect Days” follows the life of cleaner Hirayama, as he uncovers an unexpected past. Join speakers of the event — Sugarman Practitioner in Residence, Chukwuemeka V. Chukwuemeka, and Assistant Professor of East Asian Studies and Japanese Film and Media Studies, Junko Yamazaki — in delving into the world of Perfect Days. This event follows the public talk “From The Tokyo Toilet to Perfect Days” by Mr. Koji Yonai on Nov. 9 at 4:30 p.m. in Arthur Lewis Auditorium, Robertson Hall. Open to the University Community and public. Registration is available on the Kahneman-Treisman Center for Behavioral Science & Public Policy’s website.
Friday November 3, 2023
Sports
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{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } BASEBALL
On baseball’s biggest stage, Mike Hazen ’98 and Chris Young ’02 face off
By Joseph Uglialoro and Andrew Park Sports Contributors
PHOTO COURTESY OF GOPRINCETONTIGERS.COM.
Chris Young ’02 on the mound (left) and Mike Hazen ’98 at the plate (right) for the Tigers.
This October, when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers meet, Mike Hazen ’98 and Chris Young ’02 will go head-to-head on Major League Baseball’s (MLB) greatest stage: the World Series. Hazen is the general manager (GM) of the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Young is the GM of the Texas Rangers. Although both teams experienced over 100 losses in 2021, Hazen and Young have orchestrated remarkable turnarounds over the past two years. According to Theo DeRosa and Andrew Simon of MLB.com, this is the first World Series in which two teams have simultaneously experienced turnarounds from 100-loss seasons to World Series berths in two years or less. The similarities don’t end there. Although Arizona and Texas both suffered from up-and-down regular seasons, both teams secured a Wild Card berth for the playoffs and swept the first two rounds, before emerging victorious in a seven-game Championship Series. The Diamondbacks notably swept
the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers, while the Rangers swept the 99win Tampa Bay Rays and 101-win Baltimore Orioles. Hazen, selected in the 31st round of the 1998 draft by the San Diego Padres, was an excellent center fielder for the Princeton Tigers between 1994–1998. Over the course of his career with the Tigers, Hazen hit for a .333 average and a .487 slugging percentage with 10 home runs. The all-time Princeton stolen-base leader with 49, Hazen received Princeton’s Robert L. Peters Jr. ’42 Award in 2006 for “significant contributions to the game of baseball following his graduation.” After a shoulder injury derailed his playing career, Hazen joined the then Cleveland Indians as an intern, ascending to assistant director of player development in 2004. Hazen then accepted a position as the Boston Red Sox’s director of player development in 2006, kickstarting a decade-long tenure in which the Red Sox won two World Series titles. After a year as
GM for the Red Sox, the Diamondbacks hired Hazen as their GM and executive vice president in 2016. He has held this position ever since, leading a rebuild that saw the team rebound from a 110-loss season in 2021 to a World Series berth this season. Hazen’s acquisition of young talent through the draft — including Rookie of the Year favorite Corbin Carroll in 2019 — and through trades(standout starting pitcher Zac Gallen and closer Paul Sewald) proved crucial to the team’s rapid turnaround. On the other side, the two-sport standout Chris Young arrived on campus just months after Hazen graduated in 1998. Young made an immediate impact on Princeton’s baseball and basketball teams, winning the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award in both sports. As a center for the basketball team and a starting pitcher for the baseball team, Young leveraged his 6-foot10-inch frame to dominate both the court and the field. During his sophomore year, Young led the Tigers to an Ivy League title while
pitching to a 1.82 ERA and 5–0 record. His impressive campaign caught the eyes of MLB scouts, and he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the MLB draft. Young agreed to terms with the Pirates on the condition that he be allowed to finish his degree in politics at Princeton, which he completed two years later. After a successful 13-year career that included an MLB All-Star Game appearance in 2007, and a 2015 World Series title with the Kansas City Royals, Young set his sights on a career as a baseball executive. The former pitcher served in the MLB office from 2018 to 2020 before interviewing for multiple GM positions across the league. Young accepted a GM position with his hometown Texas Rangers in 2020, inheriting a team in the midst of a rebuild. An infusion of cash from the team’s ownership allowed Young to spend over $500 million on All-Star middle infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, while shrewd moves like
the acquisition of postseason hero Adolis Garcia turned the Rangers into a legitimate contender. These moves in addition to the debuts of rookies like Josh Jung and Evan Carter created a formidable Rangers lineup that has slugged its way through the 2023 playoffs. The World Series will begin this Friday as Young’s Rangers host Hazen’s Diamondbacks in Arlington, Texas. As both Princeton alums are seeking their first title as GMs, the fruits of their remarkable work with their respective teams will be on full display over the next week. Regardless of the outcome, Princeton students and alumni will have something to cheer for when one of their own reaches the pinnacle of baseball and lifts the World Series trophy. Joseph Uglialoro is a contributor to the Sports section of the ‘Prince.’ Andrew Park is a contributor to the Sports section of the ‘Prince.’
Sports
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Friday November 3, 2023
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }
FOOTBALL
FOOTBALL
Defense powers Princeton to Living in the moment: a 14–3 victory over Cornell Jalen Travis reflects on activism and athletics at Princeton
By Peter Wang
Sports Contributor
In a matchup between two teams tied for first place atop the Ivy League, Princeton football (4–3 overall, 3–1 Ivy League) defeated Cornell (3–4, 2–2) 14–3 in another strong defensive showing. With the victory, the Tigers are tied for first place in the conference with three games left in the season. Princeton came into the matchup with a victory over previously undefeated Harvard (6–1, 3–1), backed by a dominant defense that limited the Crimson’s prolific offense. This weekend’s game was no different for Princeton, as their defense consistently stepped up to contain Cornell quarterback Jameson Wang, coming up with two critical takeaways. The Tigers set the tone on defense just four minutes into the game with a fourth down stop on the first drive. Cornell kept the offense in the game for a fourth-and-6 at Princeton’s 36-yard-line, but a blitz and pressure by senior linebackers Ozzie Nicholas and Liam Johnson forced Wang to turn the ball over on downs. “I thought our defensive coaches and players had great balance in the game plan which is something we strive[d] to achieve,” said head coach Bob Surace ’90 in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. Cornell went into the game with momentum after they dismantled Brown’s defense for 36 points and 434 total yards of offense, but the Tigers prevented a repeat performance, limiting them to three points despite 330 yards. On the offensive side of the ball, all it took was one play to get onto the scoreboard. Coming off a threeand-out on their first drive, the Tigers rebounded quickly at their next opportunity. On a first down at their own 23-yard-line, senior quarterback Blake Stenstrom rolled out to his right and launched the football to a wide-open man, junior wide receiver Tamatoa Falatea, who took the ball to the endzone for a 77-yard touchdown. The throw
was the longest in Stenstrom’s collegiate career. Cornell responded with a drive that ended in a field goal, helped by a roughing the passer penalty on Wang after a 30-yard completion to tight end Matt Robbert. With a little over a minute left in the first half, Princeton looked to add to their score. Starting at their 26-yard line, Stenstrom completed a short, seven-yard pass to junior wide receiver Luke Colella. Following an incompletion that stopped the clock, Stenstrom launched a deep ball to junior receiver AJ Barber, who was able to draw a passing interference flag on Cornell linebacker Damon Barnes to set up the Tigers at midfield. Four plays later, with only 11 seconds left on the clock, Stenstrom found Colella on a crossing route, who then cut through an entourage of defenders for Princeton’s second touchdown of the day. Princeton’s aerial offense has improved notably since the beginning of the season. After just three touchdowns in his first four games, Stenstrom has thrown six in his last three games. “I think game experience has played a big part in helping our offense get better,” stated Stenstrom. “As we get more games under our belt, our offense will continue to fine tune and get better.” Princeton’s 11-point lead at halftime would remain throughout the second half, which turned out to be a defensive stalemate. Cornell came out of the locker room with renewed energy on both sides of the ball, forcing Princeton’s offense to punt on their first drive. The Big Red was then once again able to drive into Princeton territory after a seven-yard gain on a quarterback draw by Wang. However, the Tigers’ defense halted their progress on a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Nicholas Sanker after the ball was forced out by defensive lineman Ryan Ives. The Tigers only managed seven first downs and 110 yards of offense in the second half, a stark contrast from the 208 yards they put togeth-
er in the first half. Princeton fans watching in Ithaca and at home could not help but remember the team’s second-half collapse against Brown two weeks ago, where the Tigers held a 21–7 lead up until the fourth quarter. However, the Tiger defense would not allow another comeback to happen in this game. Time and time again, Princeton defenders flew around the field, breaking up passes and creating negative plays for Cornell’s offense. With 14 minutes left in the game, Cornell attempted a trick play in the red zone that resulted in a nine-yard loss. Wang tossed the ball to running back Ean Pope, who then handed it off to wide receiver Samuel Musungu. Before Musungu could make a play, however, Sanker and sophomore linebacker Marco Scarano brought him down for a loss. The drive would culminate in a missed field goal attempt by Cornell kicker Jackson Kennedy. An interception by junior defensive back Mason Armstead seven minutes later would all but seal the game for Princeton. “We need to work on not committing penalties that stall our offensive drives,” wrote Stenstrom to the ‘Prince.’ “Seemingly little mistakes compound and end up stalling drives. Our defense has done a great job this year so far, but we need to score more points if we want to achieve our goal.” Princeton has three more conference games left in its season. The Tigers travel to face Dartmouth (3–4, 2–2) on Friday night before returning home to play Yale the following week. “The message [stays] consistent,” stated Surace. “Prepare to the best of our ability, win the edges in our recovery, compete at practice, and enjoy the journey.” With a 3–1 conference record right now, the Tigers are vying for their first Ivy League title since 2021. Peter Wang is a contributor to the Sports section of the ‘Prince.’
PHOTO COURTESY OF @PRINCETONFTBL/INSTAGRAM.
Junior wide receiver Luke Colella finished the game with 3 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown.
By Alex Beverton-Smith Sports Contributor
For senior Jalen Travis, football is just one of his many passions. Hailing from a town less than two miles away from where George Floyd was murdered in May 2020, advocacy and activism were central to his upbringing. “Following the murder of George Floyd is when [my activism] really took that next step in terms of finding my place in that movement [and] finding my place given my identity as a biracial male in Minneapolis,” Travis told the Daily Princetonian in an interview. Travis’ passion for advocacy and activism only grew from there through his role as Class President at DeLaSalle high school. At Princeton, he serves as co-director of the Minority Pre-Law Association, and he is a liaison for Princeton’s Advocacy and Activism Student Board. Travis applies the same drive to his athletics that he does to his advocacy. “On the field we’re not going to win every rep; not every play is going to be our best play,” Travis told the ‘Prince.’ “I translate that directly into advocacy and activism — you’re not going to convince somebody of your argument or your cause, oftentimes, the first go around.” “[You have] the goal of people joining your cause, joining your movement, but from their own viewpoint,” Travis continued. “I think that’s very similar to football, where it’s all about the collective and play after play to fight towards a win and ultimately to reach your end goal at the end of the season.” Travis, an offensive lineman and captain for the Tigers, has earned recognition for his activist, academic, and athletic achievements. As a junior, he was named Second-Team All-Ivy, having played a key role in the Ivy League’s then-No. 1 passing offense. Most recently, he was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, one of the most prestigious academic-focused awards in college football. He was also named a Fall 2023 PNC Achiever and recognized as a 2023 Truman Scholar — an award centered around leadership, public service, and academic achievement. “It’s amazing, just understanding the history that trophy has,” Travis said about the William V. Campbell Trophy. “To even be considered in the conversations with some of our sport’s best who were both exemplary players and accomplished great lives off the field, it’s a blessing.” The award has previously gone to notable NFL players like Peyton Manning, Tim Tebow, and Justin Herbert during their respective collegiate careers. “I think that it’s a tremendous blessing to even be considered in these conversations and also validation for all the work I’ve put in up to this point,” Travis continued. “But it’s also a promise for what the future may hold.” Though that future is certainly bright, Travis’ focus currently lies on his Princeton football team. It’s in the locker room, as well as on the field, where Travis stands out to his teammates. “Aside from football, Jalen is a great guy. What is special about him is how intelligent he is,” junior running back John Volker ’25 told the ‘Prince.’ “There have been many occasions where I walk into the locker room and he is discussing real world events in
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Jalen Travis has helped lead the Tigers to a 3–1 conference record, placing them atop the Ivy League. depth with other guys on the team. I’m not sure how many college football locker rooms have these discussions going on inside them, but I doubt it’s a lot, if any at all.” Travis will play an integral role for the Tigers during the second half of their season as they continue to mount a push for the Ivy League title. Most recently, he featured in Princeton’s 14–3 win on the road against Cornell, improving the Orange and Black’s Ivy League record to 3–1, currently tied for the League’s first place spot. Nonetheless, Travis’ football career may just be getting started as he is being considered as a late-round prospect for the upcoming 2024 NFL draft. He was selected to be a part of the 2024 Senior Bowl Watchlist and the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000: a feat accomplished last year by Andrei Iosivas ’23, who now plays in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. “[Jalen’s] super athletic and I know his family is full of a bunch of athletes. You can see that lineage and it translates to him as well,” Iosivas told the ‘Prince’ about Travis. “He’s got the mental tools as well,” Iosivas continued. “So he obviously has the smarts to go along with it, and you always know those guys will eventually find a way and I’m excited to see what his future holds for him.” What makes Travis stand out — literally — is his height. At 6’ 9’’, he is a physical presence on the O-line. Compared to current NFL players, he is only one inch short of the current tallest NFL player Dan Skipper, who stands at 6’ 10’’. However, it is the combination of his height and his mobility that allows him to be such an effective blocker. “Running behind Jalen is a running back’s dream. He makes me look good, and you can feel his presence and strength on the field,” Volker said to the ‘Prince’ about Travis. “I can always count on him to help me up after each play and be one of the first guys to celebrate with me when that play ends in the endzone.” For now, Travis wants to make the most of his last year at Princeton. With the NFL draft coming in late April 2024, there is still plenty of time until the draft enters the forefront of Travis’s mind. “It’s a tremendous blessing, truly something I could have only fathomed as a kid growing up playing the game,” Travis told the ‘Prince’ about his NFL prospects. “But I’m just trying to stay in the moment and realize that I only have five more games here at Princeton, so I’m trying to value each and every day.” Alex Beverton-Smith is a contributor to the Sports section of the ‘Prince.’