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Wednesday March 17, 2021 vol. CXLV no. 18
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NEWS
Designed by: Srija Patcha
SPORTS
Athletic Director Mollie Marcoux Samaan ’91 on recruiting during a pandemic By Wilson Conn Contributor
PHOTOS COURTESY OF ILOGU, KAMANZI, SOLIS, AND SPENCER.
Chisom Ilogu ’21, Sarah Kamanzi ’21, Leopoldo Solis ’21, and Lydia Spencer ’21, this year’s recipients of the Henry Richardson Labouisse ’26 Prize.
Four seniors awarded $30K Labouisse Prize By Diya Kraybill Staff Writer
Princeton seniors Chisom Ilogu ’21, Sarah Kamanzi ’21, Leopoldo Solis ’21, and Lydia Spencer ’21 have been awarded the Henry Richardson Labouisse ’26 Prize. The prize, which grants each recipient $30,000 to pursue international civic engagement projects in the year following graduation, is administered by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS). According to the University release, the prize “enables graduating seniors to engage in a project that exemplifies the life and work of Henry Richardson Labouisse.” An alumnus of the Class of 1926, Labouisse was a “diplomat, international public servant, and champion for the causes of international justice and international development.” Emmanuel Kreike, Professor of History and Chair of the Labouisse Selection Committee, told The Daily Princetonian that the fellowship was instituted by Labouisse’s daughter and family to honor his commitment to global health, safety, and equity. “In that vein, we ask from our fellows that they use Henry Labouisse as a model
for designing and executing a project that in its own way in some modest (or less modest) way contributes to making this world a better place,” Kreike wrote. This year’s prize recipients expressed excitement about the projects they plan to undertake over the next year. “I was overjoyed,” Kamanzi wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “I spent a significant amount of time and effort writing, interview prepping, and waiting. This was truly the most important project I wanted to dedicate my time to, post-graduation and also an avenue I intend to pursue as a career.” Each recipient will pursue a unique and largely personal project following the year after their graduation. Chisom Ilogu Ilogu is a senior in the history department and will earn certificates in African studies and journalism. Her project is focused on the legacy and influence of FESTAC ’77. “It was a massive arts and culture festival held in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1977, and brought together the Black/African world like no event before, and no event since,” Ilogu explained. “But the festival has quite a complicated legacy, and suffers from some erasure as
well.” Ilogu will work on building a digital exhibition and archive around the event, and will assist the Lagos-based art platform SMO Contemporary with their efforts to create an in-person exhibition. “I really want FESTAC to become common knowledge for members of the Black diaspora and the African world,” she wrote. “So many movements today can be traced back to major Pan-African summits like FESTAC ’77, thus making it essential to better understand all the triumphs, and failings, of FESTAC so we can better understand this current moment.”
Although the Ivy League has not held any athletic competitions this school year, recruitment — one of the most important processes in collegiate athletics — has chugged along at the University, despite the obvious challenges the pandemic has presented. “Like everything during COVID, the recruiting process has required a lot of creativity and flexibility and sort of rethinking how you do your work,” said Mollie Marcoux Samaan ’91, Princeton’s Ford Family Director of Athletics. “Coaches have had to sort of step back and say, ‘How do we get to know prospective student athletes?’” The cancellation of high school sports seasons nationwide has been one of the challenges causing coaches to restructure their evaluation processes, especially for fall and winter sports, as many states had to either delay or cancel the season last year. Because of cancellations in their home states, many athletes were unable to produce game film or statistics for coaches. In a typical recruitment cycle, coaches would not rely
solely on game film to get a sense of their most preferred recruits. Instead, they would be watching recruits at games and showcases nationwide. However, many of these events have been canceled due to COVID-19. Even in places where they are being held, the NCAA recruiting dead period — which prevents coaches from conducting in-person visits with recruits — has made attending these events impossible. The dead period has been in place since the start of the pandemic and was recently extended through May 31, 2021. “Coaches have had recruits go on virtual tours sponsored by the admissions office,” Marcoux Samaan said, in reference to work-arounds that coaches have relied upon during the dead period. “Coaches have been watching a lot of videos high school athletes have been sending in,” she added. Some athletes are able to send in film from their 2020–21 school season, while others may have footage from club showcases or previous seasons. Furthermore, the status of Princeton’s summer athletic camps, which many coaches See SPORTS for more
Sarah Kamanzi Kamanzi is a senior in the French and Italian department and is earning a certificate in African studies. Her project will center on telling the stories of people who come from low-income backgrounds but have acquired socio-economic and passport privileges, and she will partner with Iriba Art Center in Kigali, Rwanda. “I am going to write the stories of the burdens we carry for the sake of an American education and the socio-economic benefits it grants us,” Kamanzi wrote. “I want to explore the See NEWS for more
LAUREN FROMKIN AND AKANEH WANG / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
NEWS
USG discusses Dillon Gym expansion, approves seven new clubs
By Andrew Somerville Staff Writer
Plans to renovate and expand facilities at Dillon Gym for purposes of increased accessibility were presented at this week’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG) Senate meeting by Jarett Messina, Project Manager for the Office of Capital Projects. In its first of two phases, the renovation will involve the creation of a new entrance on Elm Drive, the construction of a New South Pavilion south of the existing building, and the creation of an outdoor court space. According to current program plans, the New South Pavilion will serve as
In Opinion
an additional space for cardio workouts. Indoor use spaces will also be renovated. The first phase is scheduled to begin in Summer 2022 and will be completed in Summer 2024. The second phase, which will add another building replacing the outdoor court space, has yet to be scheduled. The exact purpose of this building was not clarified during the meeting. Also during the meeting, the Senate approved a funding request for diSiac Dance Company to curate a virtual performance. The request for $1,700 to be used for production costs was unanimously approved. “The show would be filmed
Columnist David Palomino reflects on how the pandemic shaped student experiences and outlooks over the past year.
over the course of 2 weekends (5-6 days total) where a dancer and videographer would meet to film individualized shots (outdoors, in masks, 6ft apart) in accordance with ODUS and social contract guidelines.” according to the meeting agenda. Additionally, Chair of the Student Groups Recognition Committee (SGRC) Lehman Montgomery ’22 submitted for approval seven new student groups. Each club has already met with the SGRC to request approval. The clubs that were unanimously approved were: Black Student-Athlete Collective, Common Cents, FIRST@ See NEWS for more
In Opinion
Columnist Sally Jane Ruybàlid discusses violence surrounding gender inequality and the severity of issues relevant to Women’s History Month.
COURTESY OF MATTHEW M. BRZYCKI
In Multimedia
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