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Monday April 29, 2019 vol. cxliii no. 56
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IN TOWN
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CHARLOTTE ADAMO / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
40,000 people attended the 49th annual Communiversity ArtsFest on Nassau Street on Sunday, April 28.
U. students, community members come together for 49th annual Communiversity ArtsFest Associate News Editor
On Sunday afternoon, a crowd of around 40,000 took to Nassau Street for the Arts Council of Princeton’s 49th annual Communiversity ArtsFest, which brought together members of the University and the town of Princeton, as well as surrounding communities. From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., over 200 art vendors, musicians, and merchants displayed their wares and performed in the largest cultural event in Central New Jersey. Booths represented a variety of organizations, ranging from local restaurants to
churches to artisan jewelry stands. Tents lined both sides of the street, overflowing into Palmer Square and into campus through FitzRandolph Gate. The event featured live entertainment on six stages. University student groups, such as Princeton University Rock Ensemble, Fuzzy Dice Improv Comedy, Sympoh, Mariachi Band, Raks Odalisque, and Bhangra, performed. In total, nearly 40 other student organizations participated in Communiversity. Students and community members alike appreciated the festivities. Kisara Moore ’22 staffed a
STUDENT LIFE
booth for the Princeton InterCommunal Arts Students Service Organization (Picasso), an organization which aims to link the University and the local community through the arts by collaborating with the Arts Council of Princeton. “It’s really nice to see everyone in the town getting together. It’s very vibrant,” Moore said. “I honestly didn’t expect so many people. I come from a relatively big city, Austin, so you don’t have as much of this small town culture. It’s really nice to get a taste of that — small town vibes are cool. I’m really glad I came.” The Lewis School of Princeton, a school which serves
students with learning difficulties, brought student music performers to Communiversity. “The community becomes aware of what our students do and the talents that they bring to the community,” said Kate Devoto, a middle school teacher of 16 years. Hua Qu, the wife of University graduate student Xiyue Wang, staffed a booth to increase awareness of her husband’s years-long imprisonment in Evin Prison outside of Tehran, Iran. According to Qu, the timing of the event fell at a “crucial moment,” as it coincided with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad
STUDENT LIFE
STUDENT LIFE
Eight students awarded Spirit of Princeton awards By Oliver Effron Assistant News Editor
JON ORT / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Last Thursday, Housing sent out an email notifying students about issues with the room randomization process.
Students react to room draw randomization error By Rebecca Han Staff Writer
Last week, students received an email from Dorian Johnson, Director of Housing and Real Estate Services, notifying them about issues with the randomization process through which students are assigned to select their dormitory rooms. The announcement prompted a bevy of questions and thoughts regarding the current, randomized system, as well as the Univer-
In Opinion
sity’s decision to offer financial compensation, in lieu of a new room draw, to students disadvantaged by the error. Multiple rising seniors initially contacted Housing about their room draw times having been affected by a perceived error in the randomization process. The students also expressed confusion about the process. One female student had been told she was affected by the nonSee ROOM DRAW page 5
Columnist Kaveh Badrei praises the Mueller Report as a rare totem of truth in today’s turbulent political climate, and contributing columnist Jasman Singh implores students to engage with USG more.
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Eight undergraduates were named the 2019 recipients of the Spirit of Princeton Award, according to Leadership Program Coordinator Claire Pinciaro. The award seeks to honor undergraduate students who have made outstanding contributions to campus and student life. The awardees are Marcia Brown ’19, Nnenna Ibe ’19, Kyle Lang ’19, Moyin Opeyemi ’19, Hannah Paynter ’19, Samuel Vilchez Santiago ’19, GJ Sevillano ’19, and Colin Yost ’19. Since 1995, the award has recognized “students who have made a strong commitment to enhancing the undergraduate experience through contributions to student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life, and the arts,” according to a description from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. All members of the University community were allowed to submit a nomination, and all undergraduates were eligible for the award. Brown is from Shaker Heights, Ohio, and is majoring in history with a certificate in African American studies. She
is a member of the Glee Club and works for University Ticketing as a ticketing associate. Brown is a former editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian. “I really admire so many of the award winners from previous years as well as from this year,” Brown said. “I am excited to be honored alongside them.” Ibe, from North Brunswick, N.J., is majoring in ecology and evolutionary biology, with a certificate in African studies. Having worked with the Freshman Scholars’ Institute since her arrival at the University, as a senior, she served as Head Fellow for the Scholars Institute Fellows Program. She is also a member of the varsity women’s volleyball and track teams, and bicker chair for Cannon Dial Elm Club. Lang, a psychology major from West Salem, Wis., has served as a treasurer and ministry team member for the Aquinas Institute, as well as a Peer Academic Advisor in Forbes. Among his passions are music — he plays French horn in the Princeton University Orchestra and Sinfonia — and running, having received the Martin A. Dale ’53 Award in 2017 to run across the United States. See SPIRIT page 4
Today on Campus 4:00p.m.: “Taama”: Princeton University African Music Ensemble Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall
Javad Zarif’s trip to New York and Washington, D.C., this week. Tom Pyle ’76 represented the Princeton Battlefield Society, which aims to preserve the Revolutionary War battlefield and educated the public throughout the day. Assistant Manager of the Princeton Varsity Club (PVC) Fiona McKenna ’17 staffed the PVC table. She saw the event as a benefit to the whole community. “It’s great for the culture of the town and the neighboring town,” she said “I hope they do it every year.” Check out our Communiveristy photo spread inside.
USG discusses potential meal plan changes, funding requests By Jacob Gerrish Senior Writer
The Undergraduate Student Government (USG) discussed Projects Board funding requests and student meal plans during its weekly meeting on Sunday, April 28. According to USG President Zarnab Virk ’20 — who recently met with Vice President of Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun and the University Student Life Committee, the University may soon change the structure of the lowest available meal plan for upperclassmen, Block 95, by either adding more meals to the plan or decreasing the price, so as to incentivize more upperclassmen to live in the residential colleges. “They’re planning on either adding more meals to it for the same price or decreasing the price,” Virk said. “Because right now, price-wise per meal, it really does not make sense.” Projects Board Co-Chair Rachel Hazan ’21 also asked that the Senate approve two See USG page 6
WEATHER
By Claire Silberman
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Partly Cloudy chance of rain:
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