Street: Women at Princeton by The Daily Princetonian

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 5, 2015

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WOMEN AT PRINCETON

PAGES DESIGNED BY LIN KING :: STREET EDITOR

To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th, Street examines the experiences of women on campus. Associate Street Editor JENNIFER SHYUE writes about women in male-dominated majors, Street interviews U. President Emerita Shirley Tilghman and USG President Ella Cheng ‘16 and cracks open the ‘Prince’ archives to rediscover the last 50 years of women’s history at Princeton.

hen Hannah Davinroy ’17 was in elementary school, she hated science. “You had to draw a lot of pictures for science, and I was never good at drawing,” she said. By the time she graduated from her high school in Lafayette, Colo., however, Davinroy’s attitude toward science had been transformed by one of her teachers, a former National Aeronautics and Space Administration employee who taught Davinroy AP Physics B, general chemistry and AP Chemistry. “[She] convinced me I was good enough in science to pursue it,” Davinroy, an intended physics major, said. “I really liked that it became more of a puzzle to figure out science questions than it had been before.” Physics, math, philosophy and B.S.E. computer science are the majors at Princeton with the highest percentages of male enrollees. For our issue about women at Princeton, Street spoke to six women who are current or intended majors in the departments to get a better sense of what it’s like for women to study in male-dominated majors. FORMATIVE EXPERIENCES Like Davinroy, many of the students Street interviewed had similar formative experiences in high school. Though she did not have the opportunity to study it formally in high school, Natalie Hejduk ’16, a philosophy major, did some introspection and decided in 11th grade that studying philosophy in college would allow her to combine her love of both humanities and science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes. At her high school in Belmont, Calif., intended philosophy major Laura Ong ’17 founded a philosophy club because she wanted to learn more about the subject, which her high school didn’t offer. The club still exists today. Kasturi Shah ’16, a physics major from Mumbai, India, knew she was inclined toward the sciences as she saw news footage of rockets going into space as a small child, but she also spoke about the inf luence of the chemistry and physics department heads at her all-girls boarding school in the U.K. Both B.S.E. computer science major Stefani Karp ’15 and math major Isabelle Nogues ’15 concentrated on math and science in high school. Karp went to a science and technology magnet high school in Alexandria, Va., and Nogues was on the

mathematics and science track in her latter two years at a French international school in Bethesda, Md. SOMETIMES SURPRISED Currently, according to numbers provided by the respective departments, 70.6 percent of undergraduate concentrators in philosophy are men, as are 73.5 percent in B.S.E. computer science, 78.7 percent in physics and 83.8 percent in math. That is perhaps why Nogues, Ong, Davinroy and Karp said people are sometimes surprised when they first tell them what their majors are. “One of the first questions I do receive is, ‘How many women are in the department?’” Nogues said. “Once they really discover your passion for the field, all those questions somehow fade away.” Ong said that sometimes people are surprised she is more interested in analytic philosophy, which she described as more math-like, than continental philosophy, which lies somewhat closer to the humanities. “I started to suspect that maybe that’s because [analytic philosophy is] more like math than like English, and there’s the expectation that women would be more into humanities subjects,” Ong said. “That’s the only thing that seems to me like it’s a sort of gender-related thing.” IN THE CLASSROOM In the classroom, however, the students’ experiences have been more varied. Both Shah and Nogues took the Integrated Science Curriculum when they were freshmen, and Shah said that experience encouraged closeness with her peers who are also now physics majors. “Maybe when I was younger, I did care about what people thought,” Shah said, “but I don’t anymore.” She asks questions in class, she said, “no matter how stupid my question is.” For Nogues, ISC sharpened an abiding love for math. She decided at the end of her freshman year that she wanted to be a math major. Of her classes, Nogues said, “The atmosphere has been quite open and prone to questions.” The fact that she might be one of two girls in a class of 20 has “been more of something amusing and something that I’ve just noticed. It’s never been a true obstacle to my performance or experience,” she said. For Karp and Hejduk, gender has not played a substantial role in their classroom experiences, but it has been something of which they’ve taken note. Karp offered as an example the

group of undergraduates with whom she worked in a graduate-level theoretical seminar she took last semester: “I was basically the girl with a group of guys, which is not uncommon at all given the classes I’ve taken,” she said. “It affected [my experience], but at the same time I felt very comfortable in that setting.” “I’m taking a logic course this semester; it’s probably one-third women at best,” Hejduk said. “It definitely feels like if you don’t seek out the support system of other woman philosophy majors or other woman professors, who usually are very supportive, you definitely feel like a minority.” On the other hand, Ong said, “I feel like I’m that one kid in precept who talks and talks and talks. … Maybe I’m breaking down other people’s gender expectations.” She added: “I think our department does a good job of not having gender feel like an issue in class.” MENTORSHIP The mentorship between female undergraduates and professors that Hejduk mentioned has become part of an organized effort in some departments. Ong said she regularly attends meetings of the Women in Philosophy discussion group, which is part of a department-wide initiative called Minorities and Philosophy. In an interview, Professor Andrew Appel ’81, chair of the computer department, pointed to the student organization Princeton Women in Computer Science as a strong source

of undergraduate peer mentorship. On the physics department’s website, there is a page dedicated to the Women in Physics Group, though Shah noted that the group seems to be geared primarily toward graduate students. On a more informal level, “There’s actually quite a push among graduate students and professors in my department right now to reach out to women and to become mentors,” philosophy professor Delia Graff Fara said during a Skype interview. Part of that stems from a larger conversation surrounding the underrepresentation of certain groups, not just women, in philosophy, she said. Fara is also the department’s equal opportunity officer. “We’re very actively talking about these issues — broadly, not just at Princeton,” Fara said. “NOT GOOD ENOUGH” Research led by philosophy professor Sarah Jane Leslie has also recently pushed into the spotlight the topic of gender ratios in the country’s most male-skewing disciplines. Using survey data from 1,820 faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students at schools across the nation, Leslie and her team found that the more a discipline emphasized the value of brilliance rather than hard work, the lower the number was of women earning doctorates in that discipline. Davinroy seemed to echo those attitudes toward brilliance when she said, “I’m not a smart physics major.

I’m not the best physics major — I put in a lot of work, and I care a lot about it, but it’s also not my life like it is for some people. … I do feel like I’m lost a lot in class and have to work really hard.” She said of conversations she’s had with other female physics majors, “There’s also a lot of talk [about] what it’s like to feel like you’re not good enough.” Hejduk also talked about not feeling “good enough.” She recounted how, in a philosophy course she took as a freshman, it took most of the semester for her to raise her hand in class. “Probably some of that was I was a freshman, but some of it was, it feels like all these guys [are] just sort of going at it; I’m one of four or five women in this class, and I just don’t know what to say,” she said. “I felt like what I had to say had to be good enough in order to equal the other people’s comments.” The feeling has faded as she has integrated more into the department, she noted. For Ong, philosophy feels like a natural fit, but she mentioned reading about research that indicates men are more likely to continue in disciplines like computer science even when they don’t get the best grades, whereas women are more likely to drop it. She said of her own experience with COS 126: General Computer Science and her decision not to major in computer science, which she

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ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS WITH LOWEST PROPORTIONS OF FEMALE MAJORS # Female

# Male

% Female

% Male

Philosophy

29.4

70.6

Math

16.2

83.8

Physics

21.3

78.7

Computer Science (BSE)

202

26.5

73.5

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 5, 2015

CONTINUED FROM S1 brief ly considered: “That does resonate with me, like I do feel like that was part of the reason — I did okay, but I didn’t get a great grade. And I felt like I was just kind of out of my depth, which is not something that I’ve felt her with philosophy so far, although I imagine it’ll get harder.” Davinroy, too, talked about reading about research regarding differences in how men and women approach science. “A lot of it has to do with there’s not a lot of positive feedback in science — it’s kind of a punishing trajectory,” she said. “The way that the research that I’ve read says that girls handle that is that they find something they are the best at … And so whenever I feel like I should do something else because I’m not good enough to do physics, I think about that research, and I kind of talk myself into being good enough in it again.” THE BIGGER PICTURE Both Appel and Fara emphasized the importance of viewing the gender ratios

within a larger context. The number of women in philosophy at Princeton ref lects national averages, Fara said. In Princeton’s computer science department, Appel said, there are actually proportionally more women than the national average. Additionally, Peter Bogucki, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, noted in an email containing information about the gender breakdowns in computer science that the percentage of female B.S.E. computer science majors has more than doubled in the past 10 years. The undergraduates Street spoke to also said their experiences do not necessarily ref lect a more general experience. “All of what I’m saying … it’s coming from one person who’s had a relatively good experience in STEM,” Nogues said. “I don’t mean to generalize or speak for all women in STEM.” AN UPWARD TREND? It does seem, however,

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FACULTY IN ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS WITH LOWEST PROPORTIONS OF FEMALE MAJORS # Female

# Male

% Female

% Male

Philosophy

23.5

76.5

Math

13.8

86.2

Physics

5.3

94.7

Computer Science (BSE)

22.2

77.8

that an overall upward trend in women majoring in disciplines where they have historically been underrepresented will lead to continued, if gradual, progress in improving gender ratios in academia. Hejduk, Karp, Nogues and Ong all plan to apply at some point to graduate school in

their respective disciplines. In particular, Hejduk and Ong both said they would love to ultimately become professors. When asked what advice they might give to other women considering majors in their fields, all six undergraduates urged students to at least give things a try, even in spite of

potential challenges. “[Philosophy] really is a subject where you can just pour hard work into it and be really excited about it, and that will make a difference, and I think that’s something that’s important to see,” Ong said. For some of these women,

the road has not been easy. For others, it’s been easier than they might have initially expected. Ultimately, however, Karp said, “What’s important to succeed is really genuinely enjoying it. I think if you’re enjoying it, the rest will sort of f low naturally.”

Q&A University President Emerita Shirley Tilghman MAYA WESBY Staff Writer

treet sat down with Shirley Tilghman, who from 2001 to 2013 served as the 19th President of Princeton University. The first female to hold the position, Tilghman discussed her accomplishments as president, gender dynamics at Princeton and the national gender equality movement. Daily Princetonian: What would you say was your greatest accomplishment as President of Princeton University? Shirley Tilghman: That is a difficult question, as I don’t think there was one single thing that stood out above others. I could point to the increase in the number of students who receive financial aid, thereby making Princeton more accessible for students from all income levels; the [Lewis] Center for the Arts that increased so many opportunities for students to pursue the arts; the [Princeton] Neuroscience Institute; [the Center for] African American Studies. DP: Was there a moment during your tenure when you felt undermined because you were a woman?

ST: No — I never felt undermined. I think it took some time for some alumni to get used to a woman president, but I never felt as though that temporary unease undermined my ability to serve. DP: In your experiences, how has Princeton changed in its views on women’s rights and gender equality? ST: Two major initiatives during my time have improved conditions for women on campus: the Task Force on the Status of Women Faculty in the Natural Sciences and Engineering was instrumental in improving the recruitment, retention and experience of women scientists and engineers, and the Steering Committee on Undergraduate Women’s Leadership has brought a greater focus on the ways in which we are preparing young women for the world after Princeton. I also think it has helped to have so many women serving in senior roles in the University and going on to lead other institutions. DP: How has Princeton changed in its representation of females in the student body

and faculty? ST: The percentage of women in the undergraduate student body has increased only modestly because women were already well-represented. The percentage now is routinely just below 50% because of greater interest in engineering on the part of male applicants. I don’t know the current number of women on the faculty, but that has been increasing as well, but very slowly. DP: Specifically, how would you describe the current state of female representation in scientific fields? What improvements would you recommend, if any? ST: The picture is mixed. In fields like molecular biology and psychology, women are very well-represented in graduate school, but their numbers fall off at the faculty level. At the other extreme are fields such as physics and mathematics where women are under-represented at all stages. Some of the problem is related to [the] way we teach science, beginning in primary school, and some of it is related to deeply ingrained cultural practices within the

disciplines that are not welcoming to women in general. There is good evidence to suggest that women need more effective mentoring in order to persist within such cultures. DP: Nationally speaking, would you say that the goals of the gender equality movement are being met? Why or why not? ST: I have been worried for some time that the improvements in the status of women in our society have slowed in recent decades, after remarkable gains in the wake of the feminist movement. It is very clear that until we find better solutions for working parents — including paid maternity leave and proper child care options — the progress is going to be slow. DP: What advice would you give to the other women of Princeton? ST: [Find] what truly interests you and [what you] are reasonably good at; then pursue that career with determination and focus. Choose your mentors well, and don’t let anyone discourage you because you are a woman or turn you into a victim.

COURTESY OF DENISE APPLEWHITE

Q&AUndergraduate Student Government President Ella Cheng HARRISON BLACKMAN Associate Street Editor

treet sat down with Undergraduate Student Government (USG) president Ella Cheng ’16, one of the many new female leaders on campus. We asked Cheng about the gender dynamics of the USG election last fall and women’s leadership roles on campus. Daily Princetonian: According to The New York Times, you are the first female USG president since 2003. How does

YICHENG SUN :: PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

it feel to inhabit that role? Ella Cheng: Well, it’s a huge honor but it’s also a huge responsibility at the same time. I really hope that through this position I can do a good job as a standard USG president, but also to really be a role model for women on campus in general. I don’t think we have enough women running on campus in general for these very public, campus-wide elections. I think that hopefully my running and winning, that more

girls will step up to run for USG president and vice president, the executive committee chair positions, and even for freshman senator, class council elections, which also do have a gender skew. Most of our class council and our senators consist of men. So I think there’s still a disparity there across USG. I think it’s generally getting better but that doesn’t mean we should be complacent. I think that how I really started [was] I was really encouraged from the vice president from I think two terms ago at this point, Carmina Mancenon [’14] — she knocked the first few doors when I went door-to-door. So that really encouraged me when I was running for freshman senator and really set me on a pretty clear trajectory onward. I think that’s a really clear illustration for me I guess

as what my role is as a woman leader... I’ve learned the first few weeks that it’s a lot of work, but I’ve really enjoyed it. Every day I get the unique role of getting to make a difference on this campus, little by little. I’m trying to innovate a lot in the USG after such a controversial and well-talked-about election. DP: During the election, you said that a female candidate would not have been able to pull off the satirical campaign that Will Gansa ’17 did. EC: First of all, the funny thing is I don’t think I have that great a sense of humor, or I have a very weird sense of humor, so I wouldn’t have been able to pull it off myself. But besides that, I think that even a girl in Quipfire, or you know, really a great comedian on campus here, I don’t think she would necessarily have gotten an attraction that Will’s campaign did because she’s a woman. I think generally women in politics are viewed as — when they are in that position to really run for higher positions — usually they’ve gotten de-positioned because they’ve gone well be-

yond their calling, their roles, their responsibilities and over-performed. It’s always about hard work and diligence and almost serious work, it’s not necessarily about your personality or sense of humor. And when you have those elements sometimes you can be discredited as too light-hearted and not taking your job seriously enough. I think this is kind of different gender norms for women in leadership and I generally do think, from what I see women have to over-perform to themselves feel qualified for the position or and also sometimes to be perceived as qualified to run. So that’s why I think there’s a disparity there. During the election I did not want to necessarily embrace these points as directly but that was one of the points that resonated with me the most when a lot of women stood up to defend me and Molly [Stoneman ’16] and stand up for us, and I think that one made a lot of sense to me. Having a lot of experience in politics and having gone through numerous election cycles since high school,

middle school, it really goes way back, I think. DP: Aside from the satirical campaign, the USG election was also marked by gender dynamics. Will you try to address these dynamics as president? EC: To address it, what I’m trying to do on my end is to promote the work of the Women’s Center and the Women’s Mentorship Program. While I don’t want to overlap with their work and supercede it, what I’ve tried is to advertise their networking events, their forums on the school-wide emails and also to attend a lot of these myself. I’ve joined the mentoring program, I’ve been at Women’s Center events so that this way, my face is known and that girls can feel like they are comfortable to talk to me about what it’s like to run, what it’s like to campaign. You’ll probably see more of me when it comes to upcoming spring elections for USG, because you know this will be my last term so I will have a lot of freedom to reach out to a lot of girls and to advocate for them specifically and encourage them one-on-one.

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Thursday March 5, 2015

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Princeton Women’s Mentorship Program:

WOMEN’S SQUASH AT PRINCETON

community of empowerment VICTORIA SCOTT

NICOLE BUNYAN

Staff Writer

he Princeton Women’s Mentorship Program was founded in the 20112012 school year — more than forty years after women were first admitted as undergraduate students to the University in 1969. The program was inspired by a March 2011 report by the Steering Committee on Undergraduate Women’s Leadership. Then-University President Shirley Tilghman created the committee in 2009 to explore the disparities between female and male undergraduates inside and outside the classroom and to understand how both perceive and achieve leadership and success. The 118-page report, which can be found online, concluded that women “consistently undersell themselves,” feel “pressured to behave in certain socially accepted ways,” are “outpacing men on our campus in academic achievement, except at the very highest levels” and ultimately “seek, and benefit from, affiliation with other women.” Seeking to build and strengthen relationships between women on campus, the Princeton Women’s Mentorship Program started with 81 undergraduate women in 2011, according to the program’s website. This number increased to 140 undergraduates in the 2012-2013 school year and 260 the following year. By the fall semester of 2014, the program had over 610 undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff and alumni members. Current co-presidents Elizabeth Dolan ’16 and Olivia Robbins ’16 joined the men-

torship program mainly for its mission to “actively engage in conversations about leadership on campus and beyond,” as stated on its website. “I joined as a freshman because I thought it was a great way to meet other women I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to interact,” Robbins said. Dolan saw the program as a more structured approach to engaging with upperclassmen. “I was looking for mentors who I could ask questions relating topics such as course selection, social issues, and I felt like this was an organized way to do it,” she said. These conversations and ability to network with other undergraduates have been some of the most valuable experiences for former co-president Carolyn Yang ’15. “The structure we have used to pair up women in the program has changed over the years,” Yang said. “For me, just interacting with my pod, which consists of women across class years and campus affiliations, has really given me a support network outside my direct friend group.” In addition to frequent interactions between undergraduates, the conversation is expanded through faculty members and administrators. The mentorship program is sponsored by the Women’s Center, the Office of the Dean of the College and the Office of Vice President for Campus Life, in addition to administrative sponsors Tara Christie Kinsey, associate dean, and Amada Sandoval, director of the Women’s Center.

Staff Writer

“For me, the best part about being a member has been the relationship with other team leadership members and the administrators that oversee the program,” Robbins said. “[The network with administrators such as] Associate Dean Tara Kinsey, Bruce Easop, who is a Leadership Fellow, has been useful — they have been able to give me feedback on my leadership abilities.” Dolan expressed optimism about the program’s interaction with administration and faculty. “The interaction between faculty and administrators has been really interesting,” she said. “We have the ability to ask faculty members their advice in a non-academic setting and to hear their perspectives on different topics such as career development.” An important aspect of the program’s mission statement is to “empower women students to take on leadership roles and realize their full potential at Princeton and beyond.” The Women’s Mentorship Program aims to help undergraduate women on campus find their voices and inspires them to be confident women of promise. “We want women on the campus to feel like they have a space where they can talk about their issues, worldly issues and any issues on our campus,” Yang said. “I personally would love to see every women on campus at least on our listserv,” Robbins added. “Our events are open to everybody. Ideally, I think, every woman should be part of the conversation.”

his past weekend officially marked the end of my career as a student-athlete at Princeton. Although I will no longer spend countless hours underground at Jadwin Gym, the personal identity that I have developed as a student athlete will stay with me forever. Being a freshman at Princeton can be daunting. It can be difficult to find your classes, find your friends and most importantly, find yourself among such a competitive student body. Entering Princeton as part of the squash team not only gave me an instant community, it made me feel as though I were contributing to something larger than my own academic success

and personal growth. Having team gatherings, matches and practices provided an outlet from the rigorous academics at Princeton. Although the majority of the benefits I have reaped from being a studentathlete have not been genderspecific, there are some things for which I am very grateful as a female athlete. Some benefits may seem trivial while others may be much more noticeable, but all have had an impact on my career both on and off the court. Throughout my four years of college, I have noticed how almost all women are selfconscious about their bodies (I am not exempt from this). However, being a female athlete has made me much more aware and also more comfortable with my body. Sure, there are times when I wish I could wear f lowy frocks that look good on thin, frail models. But then I remember how weak I feel on the squash court after having failed to fuel properly before a practice. I remember how my body helps me to run, bike and hit a squash ball. The sense of accomplishment and personal pride I gain from success in athletics far outweighs the feeling of being a delicate model. Is my butt COURTESY OF MTBELLO.COM too big for those Nicole Bunyan ’15 at the 2011 Women’s Ivy pants? Oh well, I League College Squash Scrimage. can lunge on the

squash court. A sweater is too tight on my shoulders? Hm, well I (almost) did a chin-up yesterday and that was pretty cool. In my opinion, if you feel good in your body, it probably looks good too. And to be honest, who is scrutinizing it anyway? Playing squash, which appeals to a wide range of body types, has certainly opened my eyes to the variety of talent and skill which is used in the game, and for that I am grateful. Another topic that is somewhat contentious amongst females in our day and age besides body image is food intake. As an athlete, I eat to perform. My primary reason for eating well is not to keep a certain body fat percentage so I can wear a smallersize squash dress (which, to be honest, fits me like a long shirt anyway). I eat well so that I can play well in the dress. Furthermore, I feel fortunate to not worry about being judged for what I eat. I truly enjoy good food, and being an athlete not only gives me a pass to eat as healthy as I want, but to eat “other” foods as well. Peanut butter is a food group for me, and I take great pride in it. From the small things, like justifying my decision to wear sweatpants far too often, to larger issues, such as everyday confidence, being a female athlete has been one of the most important parts of my Princeton career. Furthermore, it has given me the confidence to write this article — something I would not have been willing or able to do without these experiences.

The Golden Age for Spanish language women writers and beyond OLIVER SUN Senior Writer

rofessor Ronald Surtz has been teaching with the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Languages and Cultures at Princeton since completing his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1973. “The profession chose me,” Surtz explained. “Spain and Spanish literature have always interested me.” Surtz said he finds the study of Spanish culture particularly compelling because of its uniqueness among its European neighbors. “People think they know Spain,” Surtz said, “but in reality Spain is constantly surprising. It doesn’t really fit the European model.” This spring, Surtz is teaching SPA 301: Topics in Spanish Literature of the Golden Age – Women Writers of Spain and Latin America. The Golden Age of Spanish literature spanned from the early 16th century to the late 17th century. He finds this topic intriguing because it explores the voices of dissidents and often times sup-

pressed groups in Spanish history. The course also relates to Surtz’s own research: He recently traveled to Spain to write the first English translation of the visionary sermons of a 16th century Spanish nun. According to Surtz, works such as this illustrate “a combination of the old, customary traits with the new, imaginative traits in a blend of orthodoxy with unorthodoxy.” Surtz is particularly interested in the works of female writers because of their refusal to submit to the social norms of their time. “They didn’t have it easy,” Surtz said. “Female writers needed to justify what they were doing to their contemporary society. During that era, women publishing books was almost like walking naked in the streets.” The course is conducted entirely in Spanish, but most of Surtz’s students are not Spanish concentrators. Instead, these students already have some familiarity with Spanish language and culture and are seeking to engage more deeply with

the literature, he said. Surtz incorporates a mixture of old and new into the classroom when he outlines the books that the class will read during the semester. He assigns readings with which he is well acquainted as well as readings that are relatively new to him. “The core of this course is similar to what it was 20 years ago,” Surtz explained. “But as the course evolves, there is a growing expansion into modern texts.” In addition to works from the Golden Age of Spain, Surtz also includes readings from the 19th and 20th centuries, hoping to build on the framework of the literature from earlier centuries. Many of these modern texts deal with themes such as the Spanish Civil War, but are, according to Surtz, “refracted through the lens of female characters.” Surtz finds the movement from historical to modern texts particularly poignant because these new texts bring a fresher feel to the course. “Literature is organic,” he said. “It grows over time.”

WORK FOR

STREET

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The Daily Princetonian

Thursday March 5, 2015

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1965-2015

CAMPUS PICKS

Street Editors Lin King, Harrison Blackman and Jennifer Shyue take a look at portrayals of women in 50 years of ‘Daily Princetonian’ archives.

POETRY: ELLIPSES PRESENTS: ‘UNDER CONSTRUCTION’ Theatre Intime Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.

Been wanting to tear things apart? Worried about how to put them back together afterward? Come learn about all that in Ellipses’ spring show, “Under Construction.” Watch the slam poetry group rebuild “anything and everything” with nothing but words. Word of caution: remember to bring a helmet, because according to Ellipses “the foundations are shaking and nothing is safe.”

1965

The cover art of “Where The Girls Are: A Social Guide to Women’s Colleges In the East,” a dating guidebook for Princeton men published by the ‘Prince’ in 1965. The book includes summaries of events and insiders’ looks at women’s colleges, as well as an opening article titled, “How to Succeed with Women Without Really Trying — You Can’t.”

THEATER: ‘HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE’ Matthews Acting Studio at 185 Nassau Street Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 8 p.m. March 12-13, 8 p.m.

1969

Princeton officially began accepting women applicants, a transition documented in the Prince on October 21, 1969. The photograph below, featured in the article “Coeducation at Princeton: The Struggle of an Idea at a University in Transition,” was accompanied by the caption: “Flirting with more than snow during Coed Week.”

Haunting, gripping and unsettling are just a few of the words that may describe the Program in Theater’s “How I Learned to Drive.” Directed by lecturer R. N. Sandberg, the senior thesis production of Paula Vogel’s acclaimed play chronicles the life and struggles of Li’l Bit, played by senior certificate student Caroline Hertz ’15. Hertz is a senior writer for the Daily Princetonian. Be on the lookout for Street’s review of the show online next week.

THEATER: ‘SPRING AWAKENING’ Berlind Theatre Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. March 12-13, 8 p.m.

Do you feel like a repressed teenager? Do you feel like you belong to 19th century Germany? Do you like electric rock & roll? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Program in Theater’s senior thesis production of “Spring Awakening” is for you. Directed by theater certificate student Julia Hammer ’15 and starring theater certificate student John Fairchild ’15, this rocking adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical is sure to cheer up the sobbing teenager in you. Be on the lookout for Street’s review of the show online next week.

1970

On September 14, 1970, the ‘Prince’ reported that freshmen and sophomore women students will be able to enroll in Physical Education courses. According to the article, thirteen students signed up to form a women’s crew team, “[scoffing] at a suggestion that they might develop tremendous shoulder muscles.”

MUSIC: PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA MARCH 2015 CONCERTS Richardson Auditorium Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

1979

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Future of Women’s Studies officially proposed the Women’s Studies Program on May 22, 1980. The Program was officially renamed Gender and Sexuality Studies (GSS) in 2011, according to its website. Nancy Malkiel (née Weiss) went on to become the first interim director of the Women’s Studies Program and the longest-serving Dean of the College.

Looking for some professional-standard live music? Luckily for you, Princeton is filled with talented performers who people will be paying big bucks to see in just a few years. This weekend, PUO will be accompanying three such people: winners of the 2015 Concerto Competition Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen ’15 (countertenor), Edward Leung ’16 (piano) and Emma Powell ’17 (violin). Come enjoy their award-winning performances — or just get some autographs for future reference.

DANCE: RAKS ODALISQUE PRESENTS “ARZU” Frist Film/Performance Theatre Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday, 9 p.m.

If you’ve watched Raks Odalisque’s trailer for “Arzu,” you wouldn’t have to look the word up in a Turkish dictionary to guess that it means “desire” or “wish.” On their 15th anniversary, Raks is inviting everyone to celebrate this milestone of Princeton’s only belly-dancing troupe. Be sure not to miss “Arzu,” or you’ll have to wait a whole year to see swords, shimmies, carnivals, shimmers, gypsies and more.

1990

Although Sally Frank ’80 lodged her complaint against the University’s all-male eating clubs for sex discrimination in 1979, it was not until 1990 — eleven years later — that Ivy Club and Tiger Inn were compelled by law to admit women members. Frank, now a professor at Drake University Law School, spoke about her experiences on October 13, 2014 at a public lecture in Whig Hall.

ART: ”S-T-O-R-E-D” Lucas Gallery, 185 Nassau Street Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2001

On May 5, 2001, Professor Shirley Tilghman was named the 19th president of Princeton University. She stepped down from the presidency in the end of the 2012-2013 academic year, after a 12-year tenure. See S2 for an exclusive interview with Tilghman.

Half yard sale, half art gift shop, senior Ben Denzer’s thesis show merges the the old and the new to create a unique space of “modified artworks and found objects.” Hosted by The Program in Visual Arts, “S-T-OR-E-D” is a visually stunning inventory of books on wheels, books with nails, books with hooks, normal books and more. Check out the inventory online at www.s-t-o-r-e-d.com or swing by the Lewis Center of the Arts for the full experience.