The Daily Princetonian
Thursday march 30, 2017
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PAGES DESIGNED BY ANDIE AYALA, CATHERINE WANG, AND JIANING ZHAO: STREET EDITORS
NEW BEGINNINGS
This week Street looks at the new beginnings that spring has to offer. From a change of seasons to upcoming photo campaigns, campus always provides new opportunities for growth.
Student walks towards Frist Campus Center through the path between Prospect Garden and Prospect Tea Room on a snowy day.
The evergreen trees in Prospect Garden stood tall, covered in sheets of snow.
Hints of bright color in a grim world covered in snow. .
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pring: the season of new beginnings. When warmth comes back from hibernation, sunbeams emerge from dark clouds, and birds sing from the twigs of blossoming trees... at least that’s what it used to be like. But we now seem to face the ugly truth: spring is not the promise of a new beginning anymore — no, spring is the promise of apocalypse. Does that sound too cynical to be true? Or do you just refuse to believe it? Just take a look outside your window — it is likely that instead of blossoms, illuminated by bright sunlight, there are still remains of dirty snow on the ground, reminding us of the most recent snow storm. In the last few decades, spring has arrived later and later in the year, not only confusing poor local plants and animals trying to get through their seasonal cycles, but also Princeton students, who face the challenge of deWhen the snow is finally melting, the leaves sparkle like jewels.
See PHOTO ESSAY page S2
Even without much warmth, this year’s spring has its own form of crystalized, breathtaking beauty.
Flurry snow blurs the view into the courtyard on a casual spring morning in March.
Cold sunlight shines on Blair Arch and the path through it that has been previously covered in snow.
The Daily Princetonian
Thursday march 30, 2017
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NEW BEGINNINGS, PHOTO ESSAY Continued from page S1
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ANNA WOLCKE Staff Writer ‘20
Don’t give up spring just yet! You can find hope if you only try hard enough!
ciding what to wear each morning, and sometimes get trapped in libraries all day long. Here’s how some of these students have described adjusting to the changes in season: “When the winter months were approaching, I remembered to heed the warnings of my parents. I began digging out my thick coats and gloves while stocking up on canned goods in case of malevolent blizzards. However, to my surprise, I survived December with little more than a thin jacket. As spring came around, I decided to stick with my shorts and t-shirt combination, seeing no reason to layer up. It wasn’t long until I realized that my hubris was gratuitous! Rather than spending my spring playing kickball
and spin-the-bottle, I’ve been stuck inside with a little more than a pair of Bean boots and a handle of [apple juice] to keep me company.” — Ben Clarke ’209 “[I feel like] I’m stuck in an iceberg. It’s like a never-ending stay in a freezer.” — Lencer Ogutu ’20
“I love the diffuse light that pervades these days. When the fog set in the other day, I reveled in the way seemingly forbidding weather can really caress you.” — Akiva Jackson ’20
“It makes me feel excited for the warmth.” — Renee Louis ’19
“Late winter produces in me the vain excitement which comes in anticipation of new beginnings.” — Christian Lawson ’19 So despite our long wait for the spring and our knowledge of the imminent end of the world, maybe our spirits could derive some comfort from a little positivity. After all, who could have guessed that the rustling sound of snow, falling down on newly blossomed leaves, could be so beautiful?
UNFAMILIAR STREET: Jadranska Magistrala, the Adriatic Highway ANNA WOLCKE Staff Writer ‘20
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our strangers. Three countries. Two adventurous hitchhikers. All connected by one street: Jadranska Magistrala, better known as the Adriatic Highway. Starting in Montenegro, this single road goes through Montenegro, Croatia and Slovenia, all the way up to Italy. My friend and I were doing a hitchhiking trip through Eastern Europe and crossed a border every day to see as many countries as possible in the five days we had off from work. While we had encountered many different people and many different roads before,
Jadranska Magistrala’s apparent endlessness took us by surprise. The morning when we woke up in the Albanian city of Shkoder, we had no idea that only one road could take us all the way through Montenegro in one day. And what’s more, taking the road allowed us to fall asleep in the magical and medieval city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. After a very nice taxi driver unexpectedly brought us to the border of Albania and Montenegro for free, we got to experience the feeling of this particular road. The kindness of strangers mixed with a scent of adventure, a hint of danger. The curves of the road fostered our curiosity and made us wonder would await us next. The green hills on the right promised even greener mountains that were hiding behind the tall trees and contrasted
ANNA WOLCKE:: STAFF WRITER
The Jadranska Magistrala weaves through Montenegro, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.
with the grey sea at our left. It rained all day, and while we never saw Montenegro in sunshine, somehow that felt just right. In some way, it made the road like a painting — the imperfection made it even more appealing to us. Even our long wait in the rain at a gas station could not detract from the awe we felt that day. And when we finally started dancing in the rain, we saw lots of smiles on the faces of bypassing drivers. Many of them waved or honked, and even though we only shared a split second with them, we somehow felt very connected to all of the people who were traveling on the same road as we. We had a short ride with a young Russian man whom we had impressed with our dancing skills and with whom we compared our conceptions of what a functioning democracy should look like. Who would have thought that we would end up having a political discussion with a stranger on this almost magical road? While one curve of Jadranska Magistrala led us to dance in the rain, a second curve brought with it yet another surprise. A truck driver, coming from Albania and going all the way up to Germany, took us with him and gave us the chance to experience the versatile nature of the road from a new perspective. Although we could not speak with him because of our language barrier, he made us feel at home in his small truck. It was with him and his truck that we, completely taken by surprise, left Jadranska Magistrala for a short while and took a ferry that served as a shortcut from the road. For the first time, we could see Jadranska Magistrala making its way
Love and Lust in the Bubble: Unbreakable Love ANONYMOUS
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ike all good relationships, this one started out of boredom. I was restless, and he was craving human company. Locked doors and hidden tower stairways beckoned. Dark paths through wooded forests called irresistibly to two kids blessed with endless curiosity and cursed with endless wanderlust. It was day one, and I was already falling for him. Hanging out soon turned into procrastinating on problem sets by talking for hours, trying out all the bubble tea options that Princeton had to offer, and wandering through the neighborhoods to Westminster Choir College. He walked me back to my room and tried to comfort me on election night as I delivered a hysterical rant punctuated by moments of disbelief. We slipped from friendship into dating, and at the beginning it felt easy. We were neither physical nor alcoholic, but on day one I fell asleep next to him and his fever. I somehow convinced him, and he somehow convinced me, that it would all be okay, because love. On day two, we admitted to personal uncertainties and declared love. He picked a best man for our wedding. I agreed. He took time to comfort me, and we kept going on walks together. We still felt effortless. I don’t know when I started feeling like he was a weight to drag around. “Come on, get out of your room.” “You need to be social.” “You need to come with me.” When we started dating, he stopped trying. It was just me, asking for his time again and again. I didn’t
think this was where our relationship would go, but he mattered to me. I stuck with it, but it didn’t matter anymore. Something had already shattered because love, the justification that once meant the world to me. “Joined by the bond of love,” that’s how Buttercup described it in “The Princess Bride.” She said, “You cannot track that, not with a thousand bloodhounds, and you cannot break it, not with a thousand swords.” But perhaps love was breakable. It has been two breakups since, and the tears have finally stopped. It’s funny how much crying I remember, now that I’m writing this. In my room, in his room, in empty classrooms, in stairwells, in his arms — those moments were as much a part of that relationship as the cuddling was. I’ve found that it’s easier to brush off sadness with anger. To push away sobs with a stubborn, fiery rage. Crying to
my friends and pouring out what was left of my heart summoned an inner wrath that I rode on for the first few days. But when it eventually died down, I found I had no one but myself to fight. I found that it doesn’t matter if someone else thinks you’re not worth fighting for, as long as you still believe in fighting for yourself. I like to tell myself that I’ve prevailed, but I’m going to give it a little more time before I declare victory. There’s no nice, neat, conclusive, I-learned-fromheartbreak-type ending in this story. No redemptive fairy tale happily ever after. Just more classes and more things to keep myself busy as I let the memories fade. The healing has certainly begun, though because I’ve realized that ‘ignorantly ever after’ doesn’t last forever. I still tenaciously hold on to the belief that purest of love can be attained. Someday. Just not now.
COURTESY OF PRINCESS BRIDE
“Joined by the bond of love” was first used in “The Princess Bride” by Buttercup.
ANNA WOLCKE :: STAFF WRITER
Every turn of the road brings a surprise, providing new sights and experiences.
through the green hills behind us and saw its continuation in front of us. And suddenly we realized the immensity and endlessness of the road. There seemed to be no beginning and no end. It appeared as if this one road would continue forever, as if it was the only road on this earth. We felt so free and so light. We could go wherever we wanted to — nothing could stop us and the possibilities seemed endless. New beginnings seemed to be waiting for us at every curve. Never in my life have I felt as free as I did in this moment. And I couldn’t wait for the next curve to come and the next surprise to mesmerize me. We didn’t want to leave this road that had been entirely unknown to us in the morning. So, not knowing where
we wanted to go, we decided to just keep riding in the truck, and ended up leaving Montenegro and crossing the border to Croatia. Still on the same road, suddenly, the lights of the beautiful medieval city Dubrovnik appeared in the distance. In a quick glance, my friend and I silently agreed that the city had been our destination all along. Somehow, this place felt just right for us to spend the night. When we finally left the truck, ready to find a place to stay, we looked back at the way from which we had come and thanked Jadranska Magistrala for the people we had met and for all the surprises that had awaited us in only one day. The feelings of endlessness and absolute freedom stayed with us long after we left the road.
Helping Students Relax: New Campus Resources YANG SHAO Staff Writer ‘20
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n the challenging bubble of extremely colorful Google calendars and late night dining hall studying, various campus resources help students recognize the importance of relaxation and mindfulness. Very recently, Princeton Relax emerged as a new student-run resource that provides massages for students on Princeton campus. Inspired by the success of massage study breaks before and during midterm week in residential colleges and at Frist Campus Center, the organization is now offering affordable massage services to Princeton students in the long term. According to Princeton Relax’s website, the massages are “low-cost” and “time-efficient.” Catering to students’ busy schedule and small wallets, massage services run at all times of the day with prices starting from $10. Massages range from a quick 20-minute shake out to a 70-minute deep tissue Princeton Relax belongs to a long tradition of campus resources that promote physical and mental health to counter the sometimes-overwhelming stress culture. As perhaps the biggest resource for relaxation and mindfulness available on campus, Counseling and Psychological Services offers individual counseling that allows for more personal and in-depth conversations and care as well as group counseling that allows members to gain support, share experiences, and hear new perspectives.
This spring, the CPS counseling groups are addressing a wide range of needs and concerns and many are based on mindfulness, giving students opportunities to learn about its many applications and benefits. Groups include “Emotion Management Skills,” “Adult Children Empowerment” for students who have grown up in dysfunctional families, “Back at Princeton” for students back on campus from a leave of absence, “Tea and Talks” for international students, and “Cupcakes and Connections” for first-generation students, among many others.9 Apart from these diverse resources that address the different needs and worries of Princeton’s student body, CPS is looking to make its counseling resources more directly accessible and sustainable for students. According to Dr. Joseph Cooper, a psychologist at CPS, it is looking to shorten the wait times for initial counseling appointments, augment its resources, and increase its staff. “For next year, we are also planning on developing a new way for students to enter into our system so that students can have at least a brief contact with a counselor within a few days of their initial contact with us,” he commented. For students simply looking to de-stress after a long day, yoga sessions at Rocky and Wilson residential colleges are another great option. On Wednesdays, Vinyasa yoga takes place in the Rocky classroom from 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. In the hour before that, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Wilson Dance Studio, instructor Alisa Rose offers a Yoga and Meditation Class.
The Daily Princetonian
Thursday march 30, 2017
7 REASONS WHY
ASK THE SEXPERT
Spring Break is NOT a Real Break LYRIC PEROT Staff Writer ‘20
1. Spring break isn’t a break if it is only one week: How many times did friends from home ask what you were doing for both weeks of spring break? Any offer to visit during one of their weeks that doesn’t overlap with yours? October break has Thanksgiving on the horizon. Intersession makes its happy appearance after an unscheduled month of reading period and exams, and spring break.... Well, we only have a meager eight weeks before summer begins and real work begins — internships, fellowships, junior paper, and thesis research — an eight weeks that will fly by, right? 2. By the time you recover from midterms week (read: sleeping in, bingewatching Netflix, snacking), your one week of break is already half over: Mental recovery takes time. Depending on the individual, this varies greatly. After the grueling week of midterms (and seeing your grades for the first time), a few days of sleep, good food, and binge-reading Princeton’s meme page are required in order to overcome your fear of the “real” world. 3. Speaking of recovering, there are still midterms due during (and after) break: We all breathe a sigh of relief when our professors tell us that our midterm papers won’t be due until after break. We nod along with Cheshire-cat grins as they say, “This way, you can choose when you want to write it.” But
is there ever a choice, really? Circumspectly, we tell ourselves we will commit to writing over break, and still find ourselves procrastinating (or, perhaps taking a long-deserved break is a better way of phrasing it) until the last few days. Every day that we don’t begin writing, we recommit to working a twinge of guilt reminding us that we shouldn’t be relaxing and we still have work to do. Finally, we succumb to the pressure and jump in, realizing that if we had started it sooner, the paper(s) wouldn’t have been hanging over us all of break. Well, there’s always next time.... 4. This is the time to “catch up on work before it’s too late”: With the realization that this is the last break before summer comes the realization that now that midterms are over, we are behind, and there is only one full month separating us from reading period. All the reading you were saving to catch up on over break? You thought it would be easy to find time to read. But it’s surprisingly difficult to fit copious pages of dry reading into a highly organized routine of Netflix, napping, snacking, and, dare I say, reading for fun. 5. Seniors are struggling to finish their theses: With the chatter of thesis boot camp echoing through the University’s gothic arches, the sudden disappearance of RCAs, and library spaces reserved for seniors, the time of year is upon us when seniors rush to finish (or start) their theses. It’s senior spring, of course, the last term they will spend
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on campus (if they finish their theses), but their time is consumed by this Herculean task that has been successfully procrastinated until now. What may have seemed like a cool idea when given thesis funding for summer research following junior year is, in reality, much more challenging. 6. It is actually several degrees colder when we come back to campus than when we left: Ah, New Jersey weather in “spring.” Highly unpredictable, often colder than we are willing to admit, not conducive to wearing cute flowery spring dresses or shorts, and one of the biggest selling points of why you should choose to go to Stanford. Well, too late for that decision now — guess it’s time to face the facts and accept that the end of spring break doesn’t mean you will “spring forward” into warmer weather. 7. Everyone else seems to travel to exotic locations: This one goes for a lot of breaks at Princeton (in fact, even most days). People always look like they are doing cooler things than you are. Somehow when I lounge around familiar territory checking my phone and nibbling on snacks, it feels like spring break is less of a break in comparative achievement and more like a social media competition of who can post the most (outrageous, provocative, curious, or hilarious) vacation pictures on Instagram. And while it may have been nice to go home for a little and relax, catching up on sleep and chatting with family, it
COURTESY OF SPRINGBREAK247
This week, we discuss period products. Dear Sexpert, I want to explore alternatives to pads and tampons. Are there more environmentally friendly products that I can use during my period? What are the benefits of these products and what should I look out for? -Shark Week Dear Shark Week, There are many menstrual hygiene products, so it is important that you keep in mind the range of products on the market, have open and honest conversations with people you trust, and try out different products (keeping in mind that it might take two to three periods to get used to them.) There are basically two types of period products: external and internal protection. External products absorb your menstrual f low after it leaves the body. Internal products are inserted into the vagina to catch or absorb menstrual f low before it leaves the body. Both forms of protection are safe when used correctly, just follow the the product directions closely so you know to change products every 4-8 hours. A benefit to reusable pads is that they are not filling landfills like disposable pads, and they can be used for at least five years which makes them more cost-effective Disposable pads, however, are easier to find in stores and are offered in a greater variety of shapes, sizes, absorbency levels, and brands. Also there is no need to wash or store disposable pads (and tampons), and they are often more comfortable. If you’re concerned about the environmental impact, you can buy disposable pads made with organic cotton and without chemical additives in most health food stores. Reusable/absorbable period underwear are the newest menstrual product on the market. The crotch is four layers thick and absorbs light to medium amounts of menstrual f low. People wear this type of underwear with or without a tampon, and they are washable, reusable, and environmentally friendly. A menstrual cup is a type of cup or barrier worn inside the vagina during menstruation to collect menstrual f luid rather than absorb it. The cups look like a cervical cap with small f lexible rod connected to the base. The cups are made from a few different types of materials, such as medical grade silicone (non-latex) or natural gum rubber. They can be worn for up to twelve hours on light
f low days, which is twice as long as a tampon so they’re handy for overnight use. Finally, they are also more environmentally friendly While most menstrual cups are washable and reusable, there are also disposable menstrual cups. The Instead Softcup covers the cervix. The manufacturer claims that it can be kept in place during any activity, including sexual intercourse (Note: the Instead Softcup during sex does NOT protect against pregnancy or STIs). The cup must be thrown away after a single use. Instead Softcups are sold in drug stores and supermarkets, but they can be hard to find and are more expensive than tampons. The last product is the sea sponge tampon, a natural alternative to synthetic tampons, that comes in different sizes to absorb varying amounts of menstrual f low. Once in place, it works like a tampon to absorb menstrual f low. A sea sponge needs to be rinsed out about every 3 hours and thoroughly cleaned, dried, and properly stored at the end of each menstrual cycle. Care must be taken to remove the sea sponge to avoid tearing it. According to the manufacturer, Jade & Pearl, Inc., the sea pearl sponge can be left in place during intercourse, but it must be removed and cleaned thoroughly afterwards. Whichever type of menstrual hygiene product you choose, remember you can always switch things up. Comfort, convenience, and effectiveness all come into play when choosing among the different types of menstrual products, but rest assured that when you use them right, all products are completely hygienic and safe. Along with examinations and screening, McCosh Health Center provides sexual and reproductive health counseling regarding different menstrual hygiene options. Best, Sexpert For more information: http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/reusable-vs-disposablepads http://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/ins-and-outs-menstrual-cups-–-how-do-they-differ-tamponsand-pads https://sexetc.org/info-center/post/ transguys-get-periods/
Interested in Sexual Health? The Sexpert is always looking for members of the community to join the team of sexual health educators who, along with factchecking from University health professionals, help write these columns. Email sexpert@dailyprincetonian.com for more information and questions about sexual health.
Princeton Portraits Project sheds personal light on University Administration MOFOPE OLARINMOYE Staff Writer ‘20
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his week, Street explored the Princeton Portraits Project, which was overseen by Debbie Bazarsky, manager of Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources. Adam Mastoon, a socially conscious photographer, was in charge of shooting the portraits, while Andy Chen and Waqas Jawaid, both from Isometric Studios, created the website. The Princeton Portraits Project challenges existing views of the University administration by offering us an insight into who the administrators are as individuals. Many students consider administrators only in the scope of their roles in the University. It is easier to think of faculty members as the collective and elusive “administration” that makes decisions that affect our lives at the school, rather than consider who they are as unique individuals. According to Annette Chu ’20, she tends to “view administrators as being very distant in their positions of power.” Therefore, Princeton Portraits Project aims to shed lights on the diversity of the University administration, which may not be as obvious to the wider public. The project, which can be found on portraits.princeton.edu, comprises of portraits of different administrators of color, which are accompanied by short descriptions of their life stories and the personal journeys that have led them to their present position.
The actual portraits were created by Mastoon, who is a “socially engaged artist driven by a desire to create work that generates social awareness and speaks to issues of social justice.” According to Mastoon, a vital step in the process of creating the portraits was listening to and conversing with the administrators in order to determine what they wanted their portraits to convey. By doing this, Mastoon allows us to appreciate the importance of taking the time to listen to one another. Too often, tension arises between students and the administrators because of misunderstandings that can be solved by taking the time to share and understand one another’s perspectives. The portraits in the project highlight some of the University administrators who work towards the promotion of diversity and inclusion. Although the phrase “diversity and inclusion” might seem like a token phrase that many schools, organizations, and businesses often throw around, this project’s attempt to reveal the people who are dedicated to achieving diversity and inclusion at the University suggests that people genuinely care about the improvement of diversity and inclusion in the University community. Many of the descriptions that accompany the portraits describe exactly what these administrators actually do. This project not only helps its audience to understand the duties of these administrators, but also “displays [the] humanness [of the administrators] and allows others to see the multiple perspec-
tives [that they] have,” as LaTanya Buck, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, describes. And this diversity of perspectives applies to not only members of faculty and administration, but also ourselves as students. Katherine Powell ’20 finds it crucial to “see [ourselves] ref lected [not only] in the student body but also [in] the administration.” As relevant as this project is, can it actually be used to promote diversity in the University community? On one hand, the answer would be no, because although it is interesting to read and learn more about some of the University administrators, the project is not taking practical action. On the other hand, however, it is helpful for students to see diversity ref lected in the administration and for many prospective students, and their parents, being able to see that the University is committed to improving diversity and inclusion would be an integral factor when choosing schools. When asked if he would approach the project differently if he could, Mastoon replied that he is “pleased with the final results of the project [but] would welcome the opportunity to also tell the stories of students [as] amplifying the voices of students.” To see the portraits and learn more about the administrators, visit the website, portraits.princeton. edu. Try using the site as a launchpad for conversation with some of the administrators. You never know what you could learn just from listening.
COURTESY OF PRINCETON PORTRAITS PROJECT
Princeton Portraits Project aims to display the diversity of University administrators.
The Daily Princetonian
Thursday march 30, 2017
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REVIEW: “Murder on the Orient Express” Brings Thrills and Comedy DANIELLE HOFFMAN Staff Writer ‘20
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Murder on the Orient Express” begins with the murder of Daisy Armstrong, a five-year-old girl. The play launches its audience into a murder mystery with an incredibly dark, chilling moment: A silhouetted man breaks into Daisy’s room and then an abrupt blackout that leaves the child’s scream hanging in the air. I was quite surprised, then, when the next two hours of the production felt fairly light-hearted and even comedic. The comic characters, such as the bitter old woman and the flamboyant foreign man, received countless laughs from the audience. These lighthearted “shticks,” however, took over the stage so much so that the play never managed to fully bring back its audience to the intensity of that opening scene. In his opening monologue, detective Hercule Poirot introduces this case as one that makes him question all of his values. He returns to this grave tone in his closing monologue, in which he confesses that even though the case was resolved, for countless nights he has been unable to fall asleep until the sun rises. Yet, to me, this murder mystery did not feel haunting or chilling. It felt theatrical and fun, but ultimately very detached from any of the themes of justice, culpability, or loss that the original script conveys. “Murder on the Orient Express,” based on Agatha Christie’s novel of
the same name and adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig, had its world premiere at the McCarter Theater on March 14 under the direction of Emily Mann. The story takes place in 1934, aboard the Orient Express train as it travels from Istanbul to Western Europe. After the five-year-old is found murdered in her room, detective Hercule Poirot, who is also aboard the train as a passenger, investigates the crime, slowly unraveling each clue and deciphering the mysteries behind each character, until he arrives at the shocking truth of the murderer’s identity. The disclosure of this “shocking truth” was effective in the sense that it was definitely a plot twist that someone unfamiliar with the novel would not see coming. However, it didn’t feel quite as satisfying as it should have. This might have resulted from the fact that the clues leading up to this revelation were so cloaked in comedy that they didn’t feel particularly relevant, or because the characters felt underdeveloped and lacked contextualization: Even as the audience members were gradually made aware of certain secrets and mistaken identities, I still had trouble understanding or empathizing with each character’s “truth.” While the dots connected to reach an unexpected outcome, they didn’t connect in a way that I felt to be particularly moving, meaningful, or climactic. One of the most interesting aspects of bringing a classic murder mystery to the stage is the opportunity to use
COURTESY OF T. CHARLES ERICKSON
Allan Corduner, Juha Sorola, and Julie Halston performed at the McCarter Theater under the artistic direction of Julia Mann.
dramatization and the performative nature of theater to heighten the suspense throughout the story so that the audience truly holds its breath as the pieces of the puzzle slowly piece together in real time. There were moments in this show when I laughed or felt surprised, yet none of these reactions seemed nearly as amplified as I think they could have been. One aspect of the show that did feel
exciting and intentional was Beowulf Boritt’s brilliant set design. Simulating the movement of the train by strategically utilizing the curtain and moving set pieces, his design beautifully captured the rhythm and atmosphere of the train, transporting the audience’s imagination into the play’s specific setting. Almost the entire show took place on the train set piece, and Boritt’s
ability to make this space aesthetically pleasing and detailed, while accommodating the whole cast without feeling cramped, was truly incredible. The show promotes itself as “eight suspects, one thrilling ride.” And while its comedic reins seemed to prevent it from truly reaching that thrilling summit, the ride was mostly entertaining, unpredictable, and beautifully situated.
PUCC Hosts U.S. China Global Governance Forum NINA SHERIDAN Contributor ‘19
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eventeen student leaders from around the world arrived on Princeton’s campus last April to spend three days engaging in important dialogue with colleagues who might one day shape US-China policy. Now in its second year, the U.S. China Global Governance Forum has a new name, different programming, but a similar mission. PUCC will welcome 33 students on April 5, 2017 from the United States, China, and other countries to listen,
learn, and share their perspectives on the challenging issues facing the two countries over the next few decades. In twelve short months, the conference has rapidly developed and expanded. More than 70 students applied, and 33 were accepted, almost doubling the number of attendees from the previous year. Ten of these students will be from universities in China, including Fudan University, Renmin University, and Shanghai International Studies University. “Having these delegates coming in from China gives a diversity of thought to the lecture and precepts, and in the casual conversations
taking place among the delegates,” Kunitz-Levy explained. Co-president Eric Wang ’18 said, “Our hope is that the community we create through these 30 delegates is strong enough to serve as a launch board for new partnerships between Princeton U.S. China Coalition and other student organizations across Chinese campuses in the future.” The forum this year is oriented around a two-pronged theme, “beginning with a thorough comparison of the existing political and legal frameworks in the U.S. and China, and culminating in an analysis of spaces in which the U.S. and China
NINA SHERIDAN :: CONTRIBUTOR
Seventeen students attended the conference that Princeton U.S. China-Coalition hosted in 2016. Thirty will be attending this year.
can collaborate on timely global policy issues,” according to PUCC promotional materials. To accomplish this, attendees have been chosen with particular regard to the different perspectives they will be able to bring to the forum. The students have wide-ranging specialties, from economics to cybersecurity to environmentalism. Some are undergraduates, others are graduate students, Ph.D. students, and even young professionals. The now five-day conference will feature prominent speakers, including former U.S. Ambassador to China Max Baucus, New York Times Beijing bureau chief and journalism professor Edward Wong, and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Wilson School professor Thomas Christensen. “Baucus will bring a lot of fresh, on-the-ground insight from his recent career,” said Wang, “He’s the guy to speak to right now about China.” PUCC has also expanded on its interactive content. “We have a number of exciting activities planned for this year that we didn’t do last year,” Li explained. Crisis simulations, a career panel, and precepts are on the 2017 schedule. “I think it’s really valuable for them to network and hear from experienced individuals who have done Chinarelated work,” said Natalie Nagorski ’20, Director of Career and Alumni Relations for PUCC. She is aiming to bring together experts from a variety of different sectors who have experience bridging U.S.-China relation-
ships in professional fields to provide advice to the students. Much of the additional content was made possible due to productive fundraising efforts this year that allowed PUCC to expand its connections and marketing. “This year we’ve received extremely generous levels of support from different departments at Princeton — everything from the Projects Board to History and the Practice of Diplomacy to the Journalism Department, among many others,” conference director Andrew Li ‘19 said. With increased funding and prominent speakers, PUCC is opening up all of the lectures to the Princeton community this year, and spaces in the precepts and lunch with Ambassador Baucus to the forum’s sponsors. “It’s really hard to put on a conference. Last year, I think went incredibly well for all the different challenges we were presented with,” said Kunitz-Levy, “This year we have more experience. More experience has led to more funding. And that has given us more opportunities in planning a conference that is more polished. I think delegates will come away with thinking ‘wow.’” “I hope every year it will get better,” said Kunitz-Levy, “And I think it’s going to be better this year in a lot of different ways.” “I envision in the long term having Chinese and American students hosting forums like Global Governance at their universities. This could be the start of a really important conversation,” Wang concluded. For more information on the public lectures, visit puccuschina.org.
Q&A Eduardo Cadava Reflects At The End of His Time as Head of Wilson College ERIC ZHAO
Staff Writer ‘20
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tion and at Princeton? EC: One of the things I’ve particularly loved about the position is that
his is Eduardo Cadava’s last year as Head of Wilson College before he takes a sabbatical year. Although he will be returning in fall 2018, Street interviewed Cadava and asked him to reflect on his 27 years at the University as he prepares to step down from his position.In addition to being the Head of Wilson College, Cadava is a professor in the Department of English. The Daily Princetonian: What has being the Head of Wilson College meant to you? Eduardo Cadava: My nearly eight years at Wilson have been among the happiest of my 27 years at Princeton. It has given me the opportunity to meet students from across campus — from all disciplines and departments — outside of the classroom, either in my home or at the college. I believe that Princeton’s students COURTESY OF PRINCETON.EDU are among its most remarkable resources. It’s been wonderful to be able Eduardo Cadava, Head of Wilson College. to have conversations with students, faculty fellows, and staff about what the world it permits me to inhabit is matters most to them and to me, and much larger than the one I inhabit I’ve learned a great deal from each of simply as a faculty member, and it has these very singular interactions. allowed me to imagine how we can best DP: What experiences have most make the place where students live be a characterized your time at this posi- place where they also continue to learn
— not only through the various events we organize but also through the various relationships they establish as part of this community. I’ve enjoyed seeing what all of us have been able to create together and, now that I’m stepping down from the position, I have to confess that I will miss this rather wonderful set of collaborations. DP: You inaugurated the Wilson College Signature Lecture Series several years ago — tell us more about the series and what you hope to achieve by it. EC: I have to say that of all the things I have done at Wilson College, I am perhaps most proud of this series, not only because of its success, but also because of its origin in my admiration of the College’s origins.
First of all, Wilson is the only college founded by students, and as part of a stance against elitism and exclusion. This gives the College a distinctive history of what I have called “expansive inclusiveness,” one that is absolutely relevant to all the discussions that have taken place on our campus over the last couple of years, and especially in relation to the contested lega-
cies of Woodrow Wilson. For me, the history of Wilson College is more closely linked to its founding act of social justice and to the community of students that live in it than to the name of any single person, and it has been my great privilege to be able to continue its historical commitment to social justice. Indeed, what I have always loved about the history of Wilson is that it’s a story about student agency — about the way in which students can transform the landscape of Princeton. This is why, in 2010, on the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the New Quad and Wilcox Hall, I held a celebration in honor of this early history and I invited three alums who were most actively involved in founding and expanding the Wilson Society to come to talk to our students about why they had done what they did. At the same time, I inaugurated the Signature Lecture Series. Every event in the series features a speaker or performer — including Cornel West, Toni Morrison, the Guatemalan singer Gaby Moreno, and many more — whose work aims to create a more open, just, and diverse community. I do believe that it has become a kind of signature of the college and, as I said, I’ve very proud of it. DP: Are there any lingering events or other things you still want to do as
Head? EC: I’m actually finalizing the details of the closing events of the Series. I will be bringing back several of the speakers and performers who have participated in the Series, from journalists to human rights photographers, from dancers to literary theorists, and from foreign government members to opera directors, to mark the closing of the series and my tenure as the Head of the College in a celebratory manner. I hope that everyone will come out to enjoy everything these wonderful events will have to offer us! DP: What are you hoping to do next? EC: I will have my first sabbatical year in ten years, so I’m hoping to get a lot of writing done this coming year. I plan to spend much of the year in Greece, finishing a collection of essays on art and photography called Paper Graveyards and a book on the photographer Fazal Sheikh called Erasures. I also have several catalog essays for photographic exhibitions in Barcelona and Paris that I’m hoping to finish before the end of the summer. I, of course, will remain in contact with students and friends here, and I will look forward to my return in the fall of 2018, and to the next chapters of my life at Princeton, all of which I trust will be as gratifying and exciting as the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have here.