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Monday December 3, 2018 vol. CXLII no. 110
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STUDENT LIFE
USG presidential candidates speak on their platforms By Zach Shevin, Oliver Effron, and Ezra Zimble Contributors
The Daily Princetonian sat down with Undergraduate Student Government (USG) presidential candidates Zarnab Virk ’20, Electra Frelinghuysen ’20, and Nate Lambert ’20, who answered questions about themselves, their platforms, and their plans for the University. Polling opens on Monday, Dec. 3 at noon in Helios and closes at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Though half of the elected positions are uncontested, elections for USG President, Social Chairperson, Class of 2020 Senator, Class of 2021 Senator, and Class of 2022 Senator are contested. The Daily Princetonian: Tell us about yourself. (Where are you from, what do you like to do in your free time, etc.) Nate Lambert: “I’m a junior in the Woodrow Wilson School pursuing a certificate in the Gender and Sexuality Studies program. My main extracurricular at Princeton has been working on the USG Senate since freshman year. I started as a Class of 2020 Senator and then this past year served as Vice President.” Zarnab Virk: “I was born in Pakistan. That’s where my whole family is from. I moved to Canada when I was really young, and that’s where I grew up. I moved in Michigan for high school, and that’s where I currently live. I am a psychology major. I came in as pre-med, and now I’m thinking of going into business development, and [I have] a certificate in neuroscience, since I’m really interested in that stuff. Some of my hobbies include playing tennis — I was on the tennis team in high school — and I’m really interested in photography.” Electra Frelinghuysen: “I’m from
New York. What do I like to do in my free time? Recently I’ve been interested in getting re-into knitting. I used to knit a lot in middle school and have lost it so I need to find a local place that sells knitting needles. But more practically, I play soccer and tennis, and I’m also involved in model congress on campus which is fun.” DP: Why did you decide to run for USG President? NL: “Working with [USG President] Rachel [Yee ’19] the past year was a really character-building and fun experience on USG, and I felt like I have a lot of energy left to give and really care about the issues we’ve been working on. Also, a lot of the projects we’ve worked on this year we’ve made progress on, but they’re the kind of projects that take more than one year to work on, and I feel like I’m in a good position to kind of continue working on those projects with everyone and hopefully get some strong deliverables next year.” ZV: “I decided to run for USG president because, coming into junior year, I noticed that there was a really big divide between students who were in an eating club and students who were not in an eating club. Not being one in myself, this was really strange for me. I was used to being with my friends all the time and doing everything together. Suddenly, I felt like, ‘What happened?’ I don’t think there’s enough to address that on campus, and I think it’s still relevant to people who are in eating clubs because a lot of the times friend groups get split up over the different clubs.” EF: “It originally stemmed this fall from a realization that Career Services was more geared towards jobs in finance and consulting and a See PRESIDENT page 4
STUDENT LIFE
STUDENT LIFE
SONYA ISENBERG :: PRINCETONIAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Lou Chen ’19 conducts the Trenton Youth Orchestra.
Chen ’19, Pace Center lead classical music accessibility movement in Trenton By Claire Silberman Contributor
An hour before the school bell would signal the end of Trenton Central High School’s (TCHS) day Nov. 30, around 200 eleventh and twelfthgrade music students packed the school’s auditorium for “Tigers in Trenton!”. The event involved performances by three University performing arts groups: Princ-
eton Bhangra, Princeton Chamber Music Society, and Princeton Pianists Ensemble (PPE). While the concert was the first of its kind performed for Trenton high schoolers, Friday’s event was the beginning of a larger outreach initiative to foster a connection between University students and the Trenton community through music.
STUDENT LIFE
The student spearheading this initiative is Lou Chen ’19, outreach director of the Princeton Chamber Music Society and director of the Trenton Youth Orchestra (TYO). Founded in 2016, TYO aims to make classical music more accessible to local high school students. Over the past two years the program has grown to include 13 See ORCHESTRA page 6
STUDENT LIFE
PSRJ, PSGE host annual Bat invades Menstruation Celebration Frist, third Contributor
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Obama ’85 spoke about her U. days at the Wells Fargo Center on Sunday, Dec. 2.
Obama ’85 recalls time at the U. in Philadelphia trip By Karolen Eid Contributor
Thousands of people lined up at the entrance to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia an hour before Michelle Obama’s ’85 book tour event on Thursday, Nov. 29. Nearby, peddlers sold t-shirts with the former first lady’s picture printed on the front. Attendees clutched copies of Obama’s memoir “Becoming.” Inside, feel-good pop songs from Obama’s playlist blasted
In Opinion
through the speakers as the seats quickly filled up. Before long, comedian and writer Phoebe Robinson, the moderator for the event, welcomed Obama on stage. Among the people in the audience were several University students, many of whom attended as Carl A. Fields Fellows, receiving the tickets through the University. During the conversation, which discussed Obama’s life See OBAMA page 2
Contributing columnist Priya Vulchi discusses the bittersweet end of a tradition in her courtyard, and senior columnist Madeleine Marr evaluates women candidates’ sweeping entrance into the next Congress. PAGE 8
Many students walking through Frist Campus Center on Friday, Nov. 30 paused when they saw cupcakes decorated with labia and chocolate covered pretzels designed to look like bloody tampons. The desserts were part of Princeton Students for Gender Equality (PSGE) and Princeton Students for Reproductive Justice’s (PSRJ) third annual Menstruation Celebration, an event that aims to destigmatize conversation about periods. “It’s not just about raising awareness about several problems around menstruation like the lack of access to menstrual products, but also just trying to reduce some of the stigma around periods,” PSRJ co-president Mabel Felix ’20 said. In addition to the creative food decoration, the celebration included a game of “Pin the Ovaries on the Uterus”, a “Tampon Toss” with the aim of throwing a tampon into an oversized vagina, and a station for watercolor painting. “It’s a really important issue and I think it’s great that there is such an open platform to talk about it,” Kirsten Keels ’21 said.
There was also a box where students could donate menstrual products to homeless people who menstruate through Support the Girls, an organization dedicated to distributing bras and menstrual products to women in need. After donating, people could enter a raffle to win a diva cup, cramp care oil blend, an echo dot, or the event’s featured book, Jennifer WeissWolf’s Periods Gone Public: Taking a Stand for Menstrual Equity. All of the activities were meant to educate University students about menstrual equity and the stigma associated with menstruation. Organizers said menstrual equity is a movement for equal access to menstrual products for everyone with periods, especially homeless, incarcerated, and economically insecure people. According to Felix, University students are less informed on the general topic of menstruation than some would think. “The two previous menstruation celebrations, we had videos of some of the officers going around asking people — mostly men, who don’t get periods — asking them what menstruation was and it’s reSee MENSTRUATION page 3
Today on Campus 4:30 p.m.: Former governor Christine Todd Whitman will speak on “What’s Next for Democracy.” Robertson Hall/Bowl 016
floor gets evacuated By Rebecca Han Contributor
At approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2, students evacuated the third f loor of Frist Campus Center in the McGraw Center due to a bat sighting. University spokesperson Ben Chang confirmed the existence of the bat. “Public Safety was alerted and identified the bat, cleared students out of the area, and has closed off the space until our contracted pest control service can come to capture and remove it,” Chang said. Christopher Umanzor ‘19 walked up to the third f loor around 7:15 p.m. and saw a barricade of chairs with a note that said, “This area is closed off. There was a bat.” Umanzor is a former staff writer with The Daily Princetonian. Umanzor did not see the bat but noted that he “felt it emotionally.” According to the CDC, See BAT page 3
WEATHER
By Marissa Michaels
HIGH
52˚
LOW
34˚
Partly Cloudy chance of rain:
0 percent
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The Daily Princetonian
Monday December 3, 2018
Obama: I was surprised at students’ ‘mediocrity’ OBAMA
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from childhood to to her last day at the White House, Obama recounted her experiences at the University. She explained her thoughts on affirmative action and obstacles facing students of color. Hearing a few cheers from the audience at the mention of the University, Obama responded with, “Go Princeton!” The conversation had first shifted to the University when Robinson asked Obama about her encounter with a guidance counselor in her senior year of high school, which Obama details in her memoir. According to Obama, the counselor had discouraged her from applying to the University, explaining that she was not “Princeton material.” “My only thought at that moment was ‘I’ll show you,’” Obama wrote in the memoir. Obama laughed about a visit to her high school after she had shared the story of the encounter. “I went back to my high school recently,” Obama said. “The principal was like, ‘She doesn’t work here anymore.’” Returning to issue of discouragement, Obama said that she decided to focus on the support she gained from her family in making decisions for her future. “There’s always someone in your life who thinks well of you,” she told the audience. “Maybe it’s a teacher. Maybe it’s from your church. Maybe it’s from a community group you belong to.” She explained that it is oftentimes more difficult for first generation students to find this support because of a lack of understanding from families or communities. Returning to the problem of doubters, Obama shared that she believes women and people of color are frequently told that “they can’t” or that “they shouldn’t reach.” She noted that meanwhile, there are “mediocre, average” people who are always encouraged to follow their goals. When she arrived at the University, for instance, Obama said she was surprised by a reality quite different from the one her guidance counselor warned her about. “When you’re told that you shouldn’t even apply, you get to the school and then you look around and go ‘Are you kidding me? Is this who was getting in before me?’” she said. She recalled being surprised by the “mediocrity” of people who she was warned would be at a level higher than she was. Obama also described the pressures on minority students who fear that they were only accepted to the University because of affirmative action. She then shared a realization that helped her to overcome this mindset.
“I realize there’s all kinds of affirmative action that goes on here, let me tell you. When my neighbor down the hall happens to have the same last name as the hall we live in,” she said. She went on to criticize the idea that minority students are not viewed with the same level of acceptance as legacy students or athletes in terms of admission. “This is what kids of color and poor kids from rural communities don’t understand. They walk into those schools and they’re thinking ‘I don’t belong,’ and it’s not true,” she said. The conversation then shifted to her love story with former President Barack Obama at Harvard Law School and her involvement in political life. When asked about her next move, Obama explained that she will continue to support causes that she is passionate about and find out what her future holds. Josh Faires20ʼ who attended the event described it as “one of the most incredible moments of [his] life.” Faires is a news contributor for The Daily Princetonian. Obama’s description of the University resonated with Faires. “Her discussions on Princeton were on point!” Faires wrote in an email to the ‘Prince.’ “Many people like to say that minority, FLI students are just getting in because of affirmative action. When your last name matches the name of a hall here, don’t go saying that we have some extra advantage.” Katherine Powell20ʼ was also at the event and was one of the few women invited to share “#IAmBecoming” statements with the audience. As a student from the South Side of Chicago, like Obama, and who attended the same high school as the former first lady, Powell told the ‘Prince’ that she has always been inspired by Obama. Powell also shared that she agreed with Obama’s comments on the doubts facing low income students or students of color. “You’re told that you’re so much less than these people who grew up with so much more than you and you realize that it’s not true — you’ve worked hard and you can compete with them because you’re just as intelligent,” she wrote in an email to the ‘Prince.’ “That was powerful. It was really affirming to me.” Earlier that day, Obama surprised high school girls from the Philadelphia-based organization beGirl.world at the African American Museum. After discussing issues of confidence, fear, and achievement, Obama gifted the girls with copies of her memoir and tickets to the Philadelphia book tour event. Ten percent of proceeds from the book tour events are given to non-profit organizations based in each host city.
Oop s, sorly, Dos theeS butherr u?
Join the ‘Prince’ copy department. Email join@dailyprincetonian.com
Monday December 3, 2018
Felix: It’s really shocking how little people know MENSTRUATION Continued from page 1
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ally shocking how little people know about periods,” Felix said. To help educate people about menstruation, Michelle Schramm, Coordinator of Sexual Health and Wellness for the University Health Services, sat at a table to answer any questions. Signs at the celebration included one supporting the Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2017 (H.R. 972), one explaining menstruation, and another urging people to stop referring to menstruation as a women’s issue, since transgender and non-binary people get periods as well. A more lighthearted sign deconstructed period myths like “You can lose a tampon in your vagina,” “Period week = blow job week,” and “PMS is not real.” According to Felix, the language used when discussing menstruation is crucial to destigmatizing it. For instance, Felix said she encourages people to say “I have really bad cramps” instead of “I have a really bad stomach ache,” and to not hide tampons and pads when going to change them. But she is aware that these
The Daily Princetonian
adjustments can feel difficult. “The fact that you acknowledge that periods are natural and there is nothing to feel ashamed about doesn’t translate necessarily into feeling more comfortable talking about them just because the stigma is such a socially pervasive thing,” Felix said. Felix also explained that the University could do more for the accessibility of menstrual products. “We’ve been trying to get the University to have menstrual products in bathrooms and they’ve been pushing back against that,” she said. Information about menstrual product access at the event included a study that showed 54 percent of menstruating prisoners do not have enough pads and that menstrual products can cost up to $18,171 in a lifetime and they are not tax exempt. The event also promoted involvement with organizations working towards menstrual equity, including PERIOD., Distributing Dignity, Pads4Girls, #HappyPeriod, #TheHomelessperiod, Days for Girls, and Free the Tampons. The Menstruation Celebration was held on the main level of Frist Campus Center from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
MARISSA MICHAELS :: PRINCETONIAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
People take advantage of the watercolor painting station and the fun food at the Menstruation Celebration on Friday.
Umanzor did not see the bat, but ‘felt it emotionally’ BAT
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while only 6% of bats are aff licted with rabies, they are the number one source of the disease in the United States.
If you have come into contact with the bat, the CDC recommends washing the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seeking medical advice immediately.
ISABEL HSU :: PRINCETONIAN MANAGING EDITOR
A sign posted on a chair on the third floor of Frist Campus Center reads “Area off limits! Bat in area. Third floor! Thank you! DPS”
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The Daily Princetonian
Monday December 3, 2018
USG polling opens on Monday, Dec. 3 at noon PRESIDENT Continued from page 1
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realization that, if I wanted to change it, I should actually get involved and do something. I also, just in general this year, feel a lot more connected with Princeton because I know professors better and go to more office hours. Even talking to precepters more, I just feel like there are so many things that I didn’t take advantage of my freshman and sophomore year, and now understanding that I only have a year and a half here left and the desire, basically, to help other people have that experience starting freshman year instead of starting junior year like I did. It would be so cool if you had lunch once a month with a professor — that’s something that I never did, and I did it for the first time this fall. Overall, it was a desire to get more engaged with the community in Princeton and to help everybody get more engaged with the community and the professors, and then my specific complaint was [about] Career Services.” DP: What key on-campus issue is most important to you, and what plans do you have in respect to that issue? NL: “I have three priority issues: combating sexual assault, decreasing isolation on campus, and the menstrual products implementation. If I were to just choose combating sexual misconduct, some things I’d like to do are really getting USG engaged more with student groups already addressing this issue or students groups that would be interesting to have conversations with on this issue — SHARE, Princeton Students for Gender Equality, Maverick, etc. I also want to create a program that’s a bit more specialized to really look at the ‘We Speak’ survey data results and see which groups are mostly affected, because often USG’s approach to combating sexual misconduct tends to be a little bit more broad, and I think that since we have that data it’s good to look at specifics, so specifically looking at why underclassmen are most affected, why LGBT students are most affected, things like that. We’re also creating a new position on the USLC, which is the Student Live Committee on USG, that will be on the Student-Faculty Sexual Misconduct Committee [sic], so I would be excited to work with them to kind of garner what insights we get from working with student groups and using that position to help influence campus policy.” ZV: “One way that [the eating club] issue can be solved is by making more inclusive spaces on campus. One of the things I proposed is making student-run cafes in residential colleges or maybe even Campus Club. I know the Coffee Club has been talking about this also for some time, so maybe partnering with them, we could make this a possibility — a place where people can hang out unaffiliated … One of the things I would like to address also was … transportation. I do think it’s really hard for people to get off campus. It’s especially important for independent students who need to leave campus the most because there’s nowhere to get groceries on campus. If they are not in eating clubs, I don’t think they want to spend money on eating out everyday on Nassau. Transportation to be able to access more grocery stores. One of the ways I propose to [solve] this is by adding TigerTransit stops on north campus. It’s too expensive to expand their [TigerTransit] hours because I don’t know how high the
demand there will be at each time. I don’t want empty buses to be running and the school’s paying for that. Another way is to have a business partnership with either Uber or Lyft to give free credits to students.” EF: “With USG, what I’m most excited about is Career Services because it seems like the place where I can make the most change, at least initially. There are so many resources that Princeton has through its students and through the alumni, so with Career Services, it’s just a question of organizing those resources into usable things for students. I know there are alumni who work in all different career fields, so it’s an opportunity for Career Services to improve their website, what kind of advice they offer, and stuff like that. Also as someone who has no USG experience, something that is very fun for me is that I get to learn a lot about what people on campus want and what other issues I can approach. I have a very open-minded approach to that which is exciting. Even when I was walking around and getting signatures to be on the ballot, it was so exciting to hear from people that I had never met or would never have met had I not been doing this, about what their concerns were. Career Services is an easy place for me to start, but I have a lot of openness to other ideas which is exciting.” DP: What sets you apart from the other two candidates? NL: “I really admire the initiative and insight that the other two candidates have brought to their campaigns. I think that I’m the most experienced candidate, and I think that the kind of institutional knowledge that I bring to the table is really valuable. When you’re in charge of ‘fifty-some’ people, there’s a lot of institutional knowledge that’s good to know.” ZV: “One thing that I think is important is that I feel like I have a wider variety of campus experiences, just because I had an eating club experience … I have the co-op experience now, all my friends are independent, I also live in a residential college right now so I get to see what that’s like. I think that I do have a wide perspective. I know what it’s like to be in each of these situations, what the pros and cons are, and what needs to be addressed in each situation.” EF: “In a large part, it’s that I don’t have USG experience so that I am much more open to kind of doing what the people who we’re supposed to represent desire. I am just truly excited to get to know the role of USG as it connects to the students and know how best USG can act to improve life across the board in whatever ways people bring up. I think that genuine enthusiasm for this new world that I’m getting to peak into is something that’s different.” DP: In your mind, what is the worst part about Princeton? How will you make it better? NL: “The worst part about Princeton? Well, I guess one of the broadest things I’ve heard about has been feelings of isolation or exclusion. I think it’s a pretty universally felt experience at some point in every person’s Princeton experience. I’m currently serving on a designthinking task force with Rachel and the incoming Vice President Chitra Parikh [’21], where we’ve collected interviews from students, looking at when they felt excluded or isolated, and we’re currently looking through the design-thinking methodology to kind of brainstorm ideas about how to address that in the future on USG. See PRESIDENT page 5
ZACHARY SHEVIN :: PRINCETONIAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Left to right: USG Presidential Candidates, Zarnab Virk ’20, Electra Frelinghuysen ’20, and Nate Lambert ’20.
Monday December 3, 2018
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Although we have yet to concretely set out what our recommendations would be, that’s an area I’m interested in addressing because I think it’s great that in the past year we’ve been able to expand mental health resources on campus, but I think that kind of universally experienced feelings of exclusion around times of bicker, around times of student group auditions, around times of breaks, when a lot of people get to go home to their families and some don’t. I think that that’s an issue that I would like to see USG tackle next year.” ZV: “The worst part about Princeton is that how stressful it can sometimes get with academics. We’re all here to learn, but on top of that, you add other social problems and feelings of isolation that we could work on fixing.” EF: “For me, the saddest part is that I haven’t used all of the resources the Princeton has. It’s kind of dumb to say that there’s an overwhelming amount of resources, but over the summer, I would always talk about it to my family like, ‘Oh! Princeton can fund me to travel over here and do research about this,’ but I haven’t actually ever followed through on getting Princeton to do that. So I think that the saddest part is that I haven’t con-
The Daily Princetonian nected with enough of the resources that Princeton offers.” DP: How do you plan on making sure underrepresented groups on campus have a voice? NL: “One of the ways in which I’d actually be interested in increasing the role that the Diversity and Equity Committee on USG plays. This is a relatively new committee, [which] would be looking into the possibility of making the Chair of Diversity and Equity an elected position, making it one of the Core Committees. For one, it would allow the Diversity and Equity Chair to be a voting member, which I think, on various USG issues, would be a welcome addition, and I think it would be a good way of increasing the presence of that committee on USG, integrating its work with the other committees on USG that currently have more of a presence and a history.” ZV: “I myself am a minority student, and I’m also from a low-income family. I’m a child of immigrants, so I do think that I represent a lot of different minority groups. In that way, I do understand their struggles as well. A lot of the challenges here are amplified when you do come from a minority group or a low-income background, and I think that does affect the way that certain groups experience their years here at Princeton.” EF: “A main part of my potential involvement in USG would be listen-
STUDENT LIFE
USG discusses partnership with CVV, Wintersession By Jacob Gerrish Staff Writer
The Undergraduate Student Government discussed a possible partnership with the Pace Council for Civic Values (PCCV), the upcoming campus elections, and the creation of a resources page for students during its weekly meeting on Dec. 2. Emma Coley ’20 and Charlotte Champ ’20 talked about the mission of PCCV and asked the Senate to consider potential avenues for partnerships in the future. As a student board of the Pace Center, PCCV helps organize the Civic Engagement Student Activities Fair and coordinates “Find Your Pace Coffee Chats,” which offer one-onone peer service advice. “Our whole idea, our whole ethos of service is really rooted in the idea that you can build a community around service,” Coley said. Coley and Champ also emphasized PCCV’s current effort to promote equitable access to service, especially for first-generation or low-income students and students of color. However, Class of 2020 Treasurer Juston Forte challenged the reasoning behind this goal. “Statistically, on Princeton’s campus, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to go into service and public sector work,” Forte said. After recognizing the validity of Forte’s objection, Coley responded that PCCV wished to remove barriers to service and did not want to place the onus on low-income and students of color to get involved. USG president Rachel Yee ’19 then reviewed changes that might be made to voting procedures in campus elections go-
ing forward. Potential adjustments included not releasing vote counts for first-year elections anymore. “I was asked by multiple people who had run for freshman class council and were now juniors and seniors to take that information down,” Class of 2020 Senator Brad Spicher said. “People really don’t want this online or available.” Spicher is a photographer for The Daily Princetonian. Next, Yee introduced Project 50, which would seek to increase voter turnout among the student body to 50 percent. Members of the Senate who are not running in this election will participate in door-to-door campaigns, tabling, postering, and social media publicity. U-Councilors Isabella Faccone ’21 and Matthew Bomparola ’21 requested that the Senate help with the planning of Wintersession, through email initiatives and recommending gift ideas for instructors. Social Chair Liam Glass ’19 underlined the importance of maximizing the experience of those who stay on campus for Wintersession. “Part of the campus is having wild, extravagant trips, and half of the campus is just on campus which really divides the community,” Glass said. Lastly, Bomparola and UCouncilor Aditya Shah ’21 proposed to the Senate that a section on the USG website be devoted to centralizing and institutionalizing resources for students. One of their suggestions was that the resources page include a guide for independent life. The next USG meeting will be on Dec. 9.
COURTESY OF BRAD SPICHER ‘20
PCCV helps organize the Civic Engagement Student Activities Fair and coordinates “Find Your Pace Coffee Chats.
ing to as many people as possible because I don’t have the answers to all these questions. I don’t know what the solution to the many problems that are on this campus so I think that something which would be really important is to have a constant, I called it a virtual suggestion box in the debate, but either on the website or at the weekly meetings where people could come and bring up complaints or issues that they have. I’m very aware of my limitations that I don’t know all the answers, so one of the most important things is listening to what people want and listening to those voices that are underrepresented on campus.” DP: How are you going to deal with administrative pushback? How would you have dealt with the administrative pushback during last year’s Honor Code referendum? NL: “Since I actually started my term as Vice President with that dilemma, I’d say that, in dealing with administrative pushback, I think it really depends on the issue at hand. In talking with the administration last January, we kind of realized that the
administration has an understanding that the Honor Code is a studentfaculty contract, and USG believed that it was solely the students. So, currently that process is still being deliberated in a committee, so in some ways we’ve had to just wait and see what those findings are before proceeding, because we don’t know what they’re going to say. I think it’s important to convey and be honest about how students are feeling about issues and about what issues are important to students. At the same time, I think that it’s important to maintain a strong working relationship with the administration, because there are so many issues on which we need to work with them.” ZV: “The most important thing is to be completely transparent with the students because they’re the ones who voted me on, so they’re the ones who have the right to know what’s going on. Secondly, I would make sure that we have a way so that the administration knows that this is a huge issue on campus. Signing more petitions, having people address emails to the administration so that they get
page 5 the constant flow so that they know that this is something that people care about and not just like, ‘Nobody cares about this, and it’s not really important.’ I feel like making sure that the students take part in that is important.” EF: “One important part to dealing with administrative pushback is consolidating real data from the students. If this many students demand this, that has a meaningful [impact]. I see the [USG] president’s role as just communicating what the student body wants. I think that [an effective method to deal with pushback is] going back to the student body and saying ‘Can we express that this is something that we want?’ and then bringing that to the administration. Rachel Yee, when I’ve talked to her about this role, has told me that it’s important to establish personal connections with these administrators through casual meetings with them, it’s a real connection and that’s an important way to have administrators take you and the demands of USG seriously through keeping up your relationship.”
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Monday December 3, 2018
Chen: A lot of the students are tremendously talented, but don’t have private lessons, aren’t in music groups outside of school ORCHESTRA Continued from page 1
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University student music teachers and 15 TCHS students and alumni. In November, Chen’s work with TYO won him the Pace Center’s Fisher Award, which celebrates “entrepreneurial spirit, zest for life, love of people, and loyalty to Princeton,” through civic engagement, according to the Pace Center. “Trenton in general is very, very different from Princeton,” Chen said. “Musical opportunities are far fewer than in Princeton. A lot of the students are tremendously talented, but don’t have private lessons, aren’t in music groups outside of school. For most, this will be the first time they’ve heard classical music live.” While TYO has offered free tickets to performances by Princeton University Orchestra, few of Chen’s students have been able to attend due to a lack of transportation or availability. So Chen decided to bring the music to them. As the high school students finished up their lunch hour on Friday, the University performers tested mics, tuned strings, and rolled in keyboards. Meanwhile the high school students set up rows folding chairs, trading weekend plans and engaging in friendly banter over which instrument was squeakier: the f lute or the clarinet. Sincere McGrady, an eleventh grade pianist, acoustic guitarist, and trombonist dressed in a minion onesie sat in the front row, eager for the performance to start. “I’m really excited for the music and dancing,” she said. She said Friday’s performance was her first time attending a concert of this caliber. Chen greeted his orchestra members with relentless enthusiasm. “Have you been prac-
ticing?” he asked high school junior Andy Dilone, in reference to the upcoming TYO concert. “Something I want to make clear to them is that this is the potential of your musicianship. This is what you’re capable of if you work hard,” Chen said about Friday’s performance. In his eighteenth year of classical music study, Chen is no stranger to hard work. In his sophomore year, when TYO was in its infancy, Chen would get up at 6:30 a.m. every Friday to attend his students’ orchestra practice in Trenton. “The three of us other than Lou only did it for a semester, but Lou just kept going back,” Mary Kim ’19 said. Chen imbues his students with the same work ethic and love for music every Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., when TYO rehearses on the University’s campus. According to TCHS Orchestra Director Joseph Pucciatti, TYO incentivizes students to commit to joining his orchestra mastering their instrument, saying the experience of rehearsing and taking lessons on campus is “icing on the cake.” He said his students also love travelling to Princeton. “The kids look forward to getting out of the city and going some place. It’s almost like going to another country,” Pucciatti said. One of Pucciatti’s best musicians, sixteen year old violinist Nayely Rivas, said she looks forward to each TYO rehearsal. Dilone chimed in, imitating Lou’s passionate conducting: “Upbow, upbow! Staccato!” As students settled into their seats, Lou introduced the afternoon’s performers. First, Princeton Bhangra members Neha Anil Kumar ’21, Vedika Parwari ’21, Maggie Poost ’22, and Anu Vellore ’22 previewed this year’s competition choreogra-
phy in a characteristically high-energy performance. Next, John Hoffmeyer ’19 introduced the next piece as written by none other than “the first rock star of the music scene,” 19th-century Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. Framing his piece in the context of the artist’s wild biography, Hoffmeyer made the piece appeal to modern, younger audiences. “It’s about finding common links to use as bridges between stories and pieces that are sometimes two or three hundred years old,” he said. In the broader sense, Hoffmeyer continued, it’s about accessibility. “We are dedicated to bringing music to everyone, people who don’t always get to go to big classical concerts in Carnegie Hall, because everyone has a right to enjoy music,” he said. Kim joined Hoffmeyer for a rendition of Beethoven’s Violin Sonata No. 5, also called the “Spring” sonata, which was met with the students’ vigorous approbation. “She’s my favorite violinist now,” said one high school student, Tatiana Diaz, of Kim. “She’s what I aspire to be,” another student Collin Thompson added. PPE, represented by Alex Chien ’20, Konstantinos Konstantinou ’22, Alicia Wang ’19, and John Hoffmeyer ’19 closed out the concert with their signature piano battle. The afternoon’s match: Beethoven versus Mozart. “You have to pick a side. You can’t remain neutral,” Princeton Pianist Ensemble’s Music Director Alex Chien said. Chien’s warning prompted a stir among the young musicians. “That’s hard,” Diaz said. “I like Mozart and Beethoven.” Thompson agreed, but qualified: “Mozart’s First Sonata on violin is sweet.” Diaz laughed. “We
sound like nerds,” she said. When the piece began, students immediately recognized the first notes of Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” The piece elicited cheers from the audiences as it f lowed from Beethoven’s 5th symphony to Mozart’s 40th symphony and back to Beethoven’s piano concerto, until it concluded with a dramatic four-hands-two-pianos f lourish. Students left the concert beaming. “It was awesome. My hands are hurting because I was clapping so much,” 15-year-old Nanet Rodriguez said. Theater teacher Felicia Latoya Brown noticed how the concert shaped students’ general attitudes toward the University. “I think sometimes the kids get a little nervous when they hear the term Princeton,” Brown said. “When the students are torn between ‘I have to leave so I can go home’ or ‘Can I stay and enjoy the music?’ That is the beautiful moment.” “You don’t know how many times kids have come up to me and said ‘How can I be like you, how can I get this good?” Chen said. In forging these relationships, the TCHS students aren’t the only ones learning. Student performers ref lected on the mutually beneficial nature of collaboration. “I always notice how appreciative [TCHS students] are whenever we play something for them,” Kim said. It’s such a contrast from performing on campus. With how steeped [University students] are in cultural things we hold our performances to ‘higher standards’ and lose a lot of the joy that comes with performance. These kids don’t have the same expectations.” Chen agreed with Kim’s sentiments. “You lose that when you’ve been playing music for as long as we have.
Private lessons, classical music since age four, you get jaded. My students remind me to appreciate my encounters with music more,” Chen noted. But beside the musical reinvigoration, cooperation with community partners in Trenton provides a unique opportunity for students to pop the Orange Bubble and uphold the University’s unofficial motto of “Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of humanity.” “Being on campus for a year and a half, and not really interacting with the Trenton community, something that I didn’t realize was how much I take for granted the opportunities at Princeton. It’s easy for me to forget that there’s a bigger world,” Parwari said. On the bus ride back from Trenton, the student performers looked toward a future of increased outreach. “I see no reason why there shouldn’t be more collaboration between music groups on campus to do things like this, and every few months have a benefit concert,” Kim said. Chen expressed hope that “Tigers in Trenton!” will continue to help students recognize the impact their art can have on younger students who may not have access to the same resources and opportunities. Despite his graduation in the spring, Chen is planning to continue partnering with TCHS students. He hopes to find a job in New York that will allow him to come back to Trenton every one or two weeks to continue his work with the TYO, a project which shaped both his undergraduate years and the high school musical experience of his students. “It’s really a movement, and as with any movement, it’s not only about strength in numbers,” Chen said. “It’s about the strength in conviction in what we’re doing.”
Monday December 3, 2018
The Daily Princetonian
page 7
Opinion
Monday December 3, 2018
page 8
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In memory of my courtyard’s photography Priya Vulchi
Contributing Columnist
I
f I’m not happy, they don’t get to be,” one of my roommates said (only partly joking). “They” strut around in poofy gowns, slick tuxedos, sparkling tiaras, luxurious veils, and with photographers trailing close behind. I caught my roommate, sleep-deprived during midterms, muttering this once as she stared outside our window at a couple grinning aggressively for the camera. Whether it’s for a quinceañera, birthday party, or wedding, the courtyard I live in — specifically the doorway to my hall — is apparently the spot for capturing life’s most cheerful moments. Another one of my roommates, an international student, said, “Seeing all these families and friends celebrating together every single day, right outside, always makes me feel so homesick.” I patted my roommates’ shoulders reassuringly. A
few weeks later, they’d both be wishing for the return of these absurdly happy people from all around the world (one couple whom we talked to said they traveled from Hong Kong, and another from London). A sign was put up in our courtyard recently: “Event photography is prohibited in all residential college areas, including interior courtyards in residential colleges.” And, most excitingly for me and my quadmates, four bullet points down it says, “For everyone’s safety, photo parties may not block archways or doorways.” Read: freedom to enter and exit our dorm as we please. It could get annoying sometimes — like when you need to grab something for class, which starts in two minutes, but there’s a wedding party outside your doorway, so instead you have to squeeze through many meticulously-posed bodies, showering them with “sorrys” and “congrats!!” and “you all look sooo amazing!!” and then a
few more “sorrys.” Or, even worse, like when they instruct you, resident of the area that they’re blocking, to “wait for 10 more minutes” until they finish. It could also be creepy sometimes — like when you’re walking along, minding your own business, and a group of tourists suddenly ask “Do you live here? Can you take a photo?” but, as you adjust the iPhone in your hand, ready to take a photo of them, they put their arms around you, expecting that you — a “real life Princeton student” — will be in it too. While it’s definitely a relief, and probably for the best, regardless, I think I might actually miss them. And I’ll miss two things in particular about all the quinceañera, birthday, and wedding photography. First, in the midst of being caught up in my own stress, running into someone else’s happiness, oftentimes literally (these photoshoots do involve a lot of equipment), would simply remind me to smile.
You might have just failed a test, but, look, someone else just turned 16 and is wearing a neon yellow gown! Secondly, seeing people in awe of everything — whether it’s the orange and red leaves in the fall, or the looming Gothic architecture — and choosing our campus to be included in photos that could potentially sit on their mantelpieces forever, was always a great reminder to avoid normalizing this campus’ beauty. Because, living here, it can so quickly become, as my friend Leonella Serrano ‘22 said, “just another state-of-the-art cathedral, you know?” Who knows though, maybe it’s too soon to say goodbye — that sign in my courtyard is pretty small. Plus, we already caught one wedding party sneaking into our courtyard yesterday. Priya Vulchi is a first-year from Princeton, New Jersey. She can be reached at pvulchi@princeton.edu.
Backup Plan? Adam Wickham ’22 ..................................................
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Opinion
Monday December 3, 2018
page 9
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The pink wave
Madeleine Marr
contributing columnist
A
s the results of the midterm elections have settled, voters have begun to appreciate the remarkable number of historic firsts that took place on election night this year — so many, in fact, that the implications of each individual victory pale in comparison. The importance of this election for the future of American politics, especially for college students who represent the next phase of this wave, cannot be overstated. Increasing the number of women in politics has a compounding effect, meaning that the results of this midterm election suggest not a blue wave but instead a pink one. Conflating the two obscures a crucial takeaway from the midterms — women are the future of politics, and the Democratic party in particular. Looking ahead, party officials should be tapping women for the biggest rac-
es in 2020 — especially in the race for the presidency. Americans elected the first Muslim women (Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib), the first Native-American women (Deb Haaland and Sharice Davids), and the youngest woman ever (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) to Congress. The first female governors for South Dakota (Kristi Noem) and Maine (Janet Mills). The first black woman to represent Massachusetts (Ayanna Pressley). The list continues and spans national, statewide, and local elections. While most of the elected women were Democrats, this was a result of more Democratic women running and receiving support from women. On the flip side, Republicans did not run nearly as many women, and they have not put forward a platform that addresses women’s concerns. Political research has suggested that the impact of successful female candidates harnesses the ambitions of young girls and women through an increase in political discussion at home. Young girls are significantly less likely to discuss politics and to receive encouragement to participate in pol-
itics as a candidate than young boys; however, that gap decreases significantly when a visible female candidate is running, especially when that candidate is a “first.” Therefore, the cross-country scope of the newly elected women has expanded the reach of this effect — more young girls than ever are being exposed to female candidates, which suggests that more young girls and women will express political ambition than before. This fact signifies more candidates and more political action, likely on behalf of these female candidates. As a result of the increase in women in 2018, a sizable new political cohort has emerged, and these women will enter as canvassers, donors, and campaign volunteers. Since ground game is crucial to elections, this lends a huge advantage to the Democrats. Adding even more women will only increase this edge. This will have significant electoral impacts down the road. The firsts also included women from all backgrounds achieving the title of “first,” including multiple Native American and Muslim women. The impact of descrip-
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tive representation is intersectional, meaning that simply having more white women does little for young girls of color. Breaking that first barrier on such a national stage will likely empower more women from more backgrounds to participate in the democratic process. Furthermore, women of color represent groups with a history of low voter turnout. Yet in this election, women represented a crucial voting bloc in flipping many districts for the Democrats. This was the first year since 1984 where Democrats won the House without winning men, and women of color in particular made the difference (white women still backed Republicans in many races). Energizing these voters through symbolic representation will make previously safe districts and states competitive in upcoming elections, as was already seen in Kansas (Sharice Davids, KS-3) and Georgia (Lucy McBath, GA-6). Women donors also increased in the 2018 election cycle, with women primarily supporting female candidates. On both sides of elections, women are becoming more crucial
players and are using their political capital to boost their representation. In the past, women have donated at significantly lower rates than men, instead choosing to give to charitable organizations. Their new support would allow more women to launch viable campaigns and would offer a chance to progressive candidates who want to avoid taking money from large PACs. While politicos still bicker over whether the much-discussed “blue wave” came to fruition, one thing is clear — women, on both sides of the aisle, are bursting onto the political scene. The results of the 2018 midterms indicate that women are not only gaining an edge, but are contributing to a shift in political power that a smart party would harness for the 2020 elections. Running women in crucial elections is necessary for electoral success. The pink wave is coming, and it will be powerful force in elections to come. Madeleine Marr is a sophomore from Newtown Square, Pa. She can be reached at mmarr@princeton.edu.
Sports
Monday December 3, 2018
page 10
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } MEN’S BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball cruises to a 21-point home win over GW By Tom Salotti Staff Writer
Men’s basketball (4–2, 0–0 Ivy) defeated George Washington University (1–7) on Saturday evening 73–52. The Tigers led for most of the game, including the entire second half. Princeton’s junior center Richmond Aririguzoh earned the first points of the game with a layup in the first 20 seconds. The Colonials responded with a three-pointer from DJ Williams, putting both teams on the board. The two teams went back and forth until the fourteenth minute when GW went on an eight-point run, bringing the score to 15–9 in GW’s favor. This six-point lead would be the largest margin the Colonials would hold over the Tigers all game. Princeton responded by scoring seven straight points, with buckets from Aririguzoh, sophomore forward Sebastian Much, and a three-pointer from senior guard and captain Devin Cannady, bringing By Jack Graham and David Xin Associate Sports Editors
the score to 16–15. GW’s Terry Nolan Jr. then hit a threepointer to bring GW to a two-point lead with nine minutes left in the half. Nolan’s three marked the last time that the Colonials would lead the Tigers for the rest of the game. Princeton’s Ryan Schwieger, a sophomore guard, hit a jump shot to tie the game, and then proceeded to score back and forth with Cannady until the Tigers were up 26–18. Captain Myles Stephens, a senior guard, dunked on a fast break, capping the Tigers’ 10–2 run. The Tigers led GW 33–26 at the end of the first half. Aririguzoh was again the first Tiger to score in the second half with a simple layup. Junior guard Jose Morales followed with two successful free throws, bringing the Orange and Black to a nine-point lead at 37–28. GW never got within more than six points of Princeton for the next eleven minutes as the two teams continued to add points, until GW’s Nolan Jr.
hit a layup and drew a foul for which he subsequently made the shot, bringing the score to 48–45. The now very close game had Jadwin Gymnasium
heating up, with emotion from fans and the teams’ benches flowing freely. Thirty seconds after the lead was narrowed to just three points, GW’s Javier
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Myles Stephens had 19 points and 11 rebounds in Saturday’s win over George WashingtonWednesday.
Weekend review
Men’s Basketball vs. George Washington: W 73–52 Midway through the second half, George Washington went on a run to cut a formerly comfortable Princeton lead to 48–45. Princeton would pull away after to coast to a 73–52 win. Junior guard Jose Morales played significant minutes for the second straight game after spending most of his first two years at Princeton on the bench and provided a spark for the Tigers with 13 points and three steals. Senior guards Myles Stephens and Devin Cannady provided 19 and 16 points, respectively. In addition to contributing 13 points, junior center Richmond Aririguzoh anchored a Princeton defense that held its opponent under 60 points for the second consecutive game.
Langarcia slammed the ball on the court in anger after fouling Cannady. He was given a technical foul, and Cannady made the two shots alone in his half, bringing the score to 55-45. Princeton’s momentum was obvious. With four and a half minutes left in the game, the Tigers had rolled GW with six additional points while holding off their opponents from scoring a single point — the board read 61–45. With three minutes to go, Morales passed the ball to Cannady near the basket, who hit a flying alley-oop, dunking the ball into the basket. The Tigers finished the game victorious, with a final score of 73–52. “We’re really happy about this win,” said Head Coach Mitch Henderson. “We need to keep going forward — December is going to be a huge month for us.” Next up for Princeton is St. Joseph’s University (4–4) on Wednesday night in Jadwin.
Performances of the week
Women’s Basketball vs. Davidson: W 65–57 After trailing 27–24 against Davidson at halftime, women’s basketball came out strong in the second half to earn its second win of the season. The game was tied at 51 late in the second half before Princeton finished the game on a 14–6 run to secure the eightpoint win. Sophomore guard Carlie Littlefield played the entire game and matched a career best with 22 points. Senior guard Gabrielle Rush posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and senior forward Sydney Jordan contributed 14 points. Men’s Squash vs. St. Lawrence and Rochester: W 6–3, L 8–1 Princeton began the weekend with an impressive win over No. 4 St. Lawrence Saturday, with Howe Cheng, Cody Cortes, Alex Engstrom, Duncan Joyce, Gabriel Morgan, and Henry Parkhurst all winning their matches. Cheng was the sole win for Princeton on Sunday at Rochester. Women’s Squash vs. Amherst and Williams: W 9–0, W 9–0 No. 3 Princeton improved its record to a perfect 5–0 on the season with impressive blowout wins over Amherst and Williams, in which the team won every match in both games. The first 9–0 win came Friday night at Amherst, and the second came Sunday afternoon at Williams.
Carlie Littlefield Sophomore guard Carlie Littlefield played all 40 minutes and matched her career high with 22 points in women’s basketball’s comeback win over Davidson.
Men’s Hockey vs. Quinnipiac: L 0–3, L 3–6 Despite two goals from junior forward Jackson Cressey, the men’s hockey team was not able to capitalize on an early lead to win their second leg against Quinnipiac at Baker Rink. Cressey found the back of the net to put the Tigers on the board after an assist from senior Josh Teves. The Bobcats would take advantage of their power play to equalize. While the Orange and Black would go on to regain the lead off a goal from Ryan Kuffner, two quick goals gave Quinnipiac a lead that they would maintain for the rest of the match. This was the second game in a two-leg face-off between the Tigers and the Bobcats; Princeton lost the first leg 3–0 at Quinnipiac Friday night. Women’s Hockey vs. Quinnipiac: W 3–2, W 4–1 No. 10 women’s hockey swept Quinnipiac with a second-leg 4–1 win over the Bobcats. First-year Sarah Fillier found the back of the net twice to lead the offense for the Tigers. Fillier’s first goal helped equalize the game at 1–1, after the Bobcats scored their first and only goal of the match. Fillier’s second helped the Tigers extend their lead to 3–1, giving the Tigers a much-needed cushion to finish the match. Princeton also defeated Quinnipiac 3–2 in the first leg. The Tigers will continue their season next week with a doubleheader against Rensselaer and Union. Fencing vs. Ohio State: The men’s and women’s teams each picked up two wins in the Ohio State Elite Invitational Duals this past weekend to open the season. The men’s fencing team defeated hosts Ohio State and Penn State, while the women’s team beat Cornell and North Carolina for their two wins. Both sides fell to Notre Dame, and the women’s team also lost a tough match to Northwestern. Defending NCAA épée champion junior Kasia Nixon led the women’s side with an impressive 17–1 record. First-year Mohamed Hamza helped lead the men’s team with a 9–3 record in foil.
Sarah Fillier Freshman forward Sarah Fillier recorded two goals in women’s hockey’s second leg match against Quinnipiac on Saturday. She also provided three assists.
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Women’s basketball’s Carlie Littlefield matched her career high Sunday against Davidson with 22 points.