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Wednesday February 14, 2018 vol. CXLII no. 8
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } STUDENT LIFE
Princeton now has a dating app By Benjamin Ball Staff Writer
Similar to dating apps like Tinder, “Prospect: Find Your Tiger” allows users to privately message one another after establishing mutual interest. “You can search and find any undergraduate student, and add them to your interests without them knowing,” reads the app’s description. “If one of your interests marks you as interested, you match! Matched pairs can then make use of the chat feature.” Paddy Boroughs ’18, the app’s creator, began working on the project the last week of winter break and released it on the App Store about two weeks ago. Boroughs said he made the app for people who feel the need to ask someone out but want to make sure the interest is mutual prior to doing so. “The only way for it to be successful is to know if someone’s interested in you or not,” said Boroughs. “So that’s why I came up with the app; it’s a way for you to actively express interest in people
without them knowing unless they’re interested back. The whole idea is that it’s risk-free dating.” The free app is exclusively for undergraduates, requiring a CAS login to enter. Students can search other students’ profiles and mark as many profiles as they are interested in. However, students are only notified if an interest is mutual, after which students can chat. The app can filter by residential college, department, or class year. A student’s profile includes a profile picture and a 40-character bio. All undergraduates already have profiles on the app, consisting of their University prox headshot and a blank bio. To update one’s profile, a student must download the app from the iOS store. “Filtering by res college is really funny,” said Sam Einspahr ’20. “The res college really isn’t a good marker of personality, which is what I feel most dating apps filter for. I will admit it’s a unique idea.” Boroughs remarked that while he did not beSee PROSPECT page 3
U . A F FA I R S
STUDENT LIFE
COURTESY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA
Princeton University Orchestra has been named a top twenty college orchestra in the US.
PUO named a top twenty college orchestra in US By Ariel Chen Associate News Editor
The Princeton University Orchestra (PUO) is ranked as one of the top 20 college orchestras in the US. Led by conductor Michael Pratt, who celebrated his 40th season with the Orchestra this past fall, PUO performs a wide range of repertoire, from the classical period through the modern works of today. PUO was founded in 1896 by a group of professional musicians from the New York Symphony and Philharmonic Societies. It now consists of University undergraduate and graduate students. “Any successful orchestra has some basic things in common,” said conductor Mi-
chael Pratt. He lists “technical ability and innate musicality among the players, a conductor who knows what he is doing, both in technical matters, like a clear beat and musical/ leadership skills, and a mutual commitment and belief in each other” as important factors in an orchestra’s success. “I think a big reason why PUO is ranked so high is because of its musicians. PUO has a large pool of musical talent to select from,” said Steven Chien ’20, a cellist in the orchestra. Musical ability can impact a student’s admission to the University. Pratt explains that the music department’s three conductors and all the Lewis Center for the Art’s heads of departments are involved
with the Office of Admission. “I, myself, with the help some others in the performance faculty, review hundreds of recordings sent with the arts supplement,” Pratt said. Pratt explained that, unlike the University’s peer institutions, which only review arts supplement recordings, he evaluates several dozen live auditions each year. He then sends a “Gotta Have” list to the Office of Admission, and once admissions decisions are made, he encourages musicians on his list to choose Princeton. To best allow existing strong talent to flourish, reasonable rehearsal and time expectations accommodate talented musicians who also take chalSee PUO page 3
BEYOND THE BUBBLE
The debate over charter schools in Princeton Township, explained Contributor
COURTESY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS
Pre-read focuses on free speech during ongoing censorship debate.
Selected 2022 Pre-read focuses on free speech By Mallory Williamson Staff Writer
On Feb. 7, the University Office of the President announced that President Eisgruber selected “Speak Freely: Why Universities Must Defend Free Speech,” written by
politics professor Keith Whittington, as the Class of 2022 Pre-read book. A timely selection, Whittington’s novel discusses an ongoing onslaught of censorship and anti-free speech adSee PRE-READ page 3
In Princeton, the school community has been wracked in the last decade by bitter disputes over the educational goals and governance of the schools, according to former member of the Princeton Public School school board Chiara Nappi in 1999. Writing as a self-proclaimed concerned Princeton parent after her tenure on the board, Nappi was referring to the tension between the curriculumists and non-curriculumists in the community. The so-called curriculumists sought a uniform course of study that would ensure coordination among grade levels, “where lessons learned in one grade were built on in the next.” These values were largely rejected by the noncurriculumists, who were parents and teachers preferring a less structured approach, where educators had freedom to “teach children, not curricula,” Nappi said. These two groups held competing visions on what it meant to improve schooling. It’s been more than twenty years since the curriculumists forwent trying to change the public school
system from within, opening the Princeton Charter School (PCS) instead. According to Nappi, PCS was founded by parents who believed in higher academic standards and stronger teacher-student accountability than what was offered in the public school system. Before the passage of the New Jersey Charter School Program Act of 1995, which authorized the establishment of charter schools in the state, curriculumists furthered their reform efforts by attempting to obtain a majority on the Princeton Board of Education. Nappi, one of the curriculumists who secured a seat at the time, said the minority non-curriculumist faction was able to impede majority motions while simultaneously, however, “crippling the Board of Education” and any chance of reform that aligned with the curriculumist agenda. The passage of the 1995 legislation provided the curriculumists with a timely alternative to circumvent the public school system entirely. They redirected their efforts towards founding PCS and were presented with a charter in 1997, along with eight other New Jersey charters, Nappi
In Opinion
Today on Campus
Guest contributor Matthew Kritz encourages his fellow Princetonians to donate blood, while Editor-in-Chief Marcia Brown explains her decision not to reprint a racial epithet. PAGE 6
4:30 p.m.: Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden, Jr. (USMC-ret.), former administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) , will deliver a public lecture. Reception to follow. Robertson Hall.
said. The opening of PCS fed the “us v. them” narrative between the curriculumists and non-curriculumists, accentuating the divide between those who were satisfied with the local public school system and those who weren’t, Nappi said. More than 20 years later, relations between PCS and the Princeton Public School (PPS) system are still contentious. PPS is currently suing PCS for violating New Jersey’s Open Public Meeting Act, known as “the sunshine law,” during a meeting about expanding the student body of PCS by 76 students, head of PCS Lawrence Patton said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ According to the NJ Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the sunshine law is “designed to ensure that decision-making government bodies in the state conducts their business in public.” The application process for conducting the meeting required applications be sent to the school district affected, so the public was adequately informed about what was going on, Patton explained. See CHARTERS page 2
WEATHER
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COURTESY OF PRINCETON CHARTER SCHOOL
A Princeton Charter School teacher reads to young PCS students.
Nappi: School community has been wracked in the last decade by bitter disputes over educational goals CHARTERS Continued from page 1
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“In the event that we may have made a violation, we cured any oversights in that,” said Patton. “We’re not trying to act in any inappropriate way.” The Acting Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington approved PCS’s move to expand despite the alleged violations, a decision that incited an additional lawsuit when PPS
challenged the ruling. “Nobody has ever successfully challenged expansion,” President of the PCS board of trustees Paul Josephson said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ Josephson thinks the lawsuits may be intended to discourage PCS expansion in the future, something PCS does not plan on doing. Copies of court records reveal the total cost of litigation paid by both parties exceeds $400,000. “It’s an outrage,” said Pat-
ton. “Taxpayer money that should be going to the education of children is going to the pockets of lawyers.” Two factors provoke conflicts between Princeton’s public and charter schools, Josephson said. On one hand, it’s a pure policy matter: “We need a separate stream of funding,” said Josephson, of PCS. “A financial system that doesn’t pit the two of us against each other.” Funding for charter schools rests on the princi-
ple that the money should follow the child, Josephson said. If a student from the public school district enrolls in a charter school, the public school district has to pay the charter school to educate the child. Thus, taxpayer dollars that would otherwise go to the students at PPS are redirected towards PCS, a point of contention among many community members. On the other hand, it’s a power struggle: the influence of the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) said Barnes. “Ultimately, we want to make sure that every student has an excellent teacher in front of the classroom and a safe and healthy environment in which to learn.” In Princeton, there has been a long history of reasonable people disagreeing on what constitutes an improvement to schooling, and competing visions of the ideal educational sys-
on public education is huge, Josephson said. The NJEA is one of the most powerful political forces in the state of New Jersey and is concerned about the lack of collective bargaining mechanisms among charter school employees, Josephson said. Compared to other states, New Jersey charter schools are low in number — under 100 — because of the complex approval process and the spread of misinformation by vocal members of the NJEA, Patton said. “We are frustrated because we are educating children and, I think, doing a great job,” said Patton. “We want to minimize any and all divisiveness.” In an interview with the ‘Prince,’ NJEA spokesperson Meredith Barnes offered a statewide perspective on the union’s position towards charter schools. “There are good and notso-good charter schools,” said Barnes. “After twenty years, let’s pause and reflect on whether this is the best approach or worst approach for public school students — if we look at other states that have had a huge increase in charter schools, they are not top three in the nation — New Jersey is. We don’t want to model after states that aren’t doing as well.” The main item on the NJEA agenda regarding charter schools is amendments to the Administrative Code, specifically Title 6A, Chapter 11 on Charter Schools. These amendments were proposed by the state board of education. Some of the amendments would make the process of becoming a charter school teacher or administrator less rigorous than becoming a public school teacher or administrator, Barnes said. “At the NJEA, we want to ensure the requirements are equivalent,” tem have created political divisions within our community that surface at the state level. It’s become the “Princeton way.” More than twenty years after her initial report covering events leading the opening of PCS, Nappi said, “I am surprised that with all the more important things to worry about these days, people put their energy to still fight PCS.”
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Whittington’s novel Chen: I think a reason why PUO is discusses an ongoing ranked is because of its musicians PUO onslaught of censorship Continued from page 1
PRE-READ Continued from page 1
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vocacy on college campuses. Touching upon recent patterns which have threatened the f lourishing of free expression nationwide, the book suggests that the existence of free speech is not only justifiable but essential to the academic missions that universities aim to fulfill. Whittington’s work, due to be released later this year, has already received widespread acclaim from advance reviewers. In a back cover review, former American Civil Liberties Union President Nadine Strossen suggested the novel provides “a crucial reminder that free speech and a diversity of perspectives are necessary prerequisites for a vibrant intellectual life.” The annual Pre-read selection began in 2013, when Eisgruber selected Kwame Anthony Appiah’s “The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen” as required reading for the Class of 2017. This year’s Pre-read
will mark the sixth year of the tradition. The Office of the President’s press release announcing this year’s selection suggests a union between the Pre-read and the Pre-rade, indicating that the two traditions represent shared experiences for the first-year students which “symbolize the rich blend of residential and scholarly life and community spirit that characterizes the Princeton experience.” During orientation activities in September 2018, once the Class of 2022 has arrived on campus, President Eisgruber will host a discussion with Professor Whittington and the new freshman class about the book and its implications. Additionally, students will discuss the novel within their residential colleges and are encouraged to incorporate it into their conversations during Orientation. Members of the Class of 2022 will be mailed the Pre-read novel this summer. Last year, the Class of 2021 read “What is Populism?” by Jan-Werner Mueller.
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lenging classes and have other time commitments. “[Pratt] really understands the difficulties of academics at Princeton, so he isn’t unreasonable with the time he expects of us. I think this is the biggest factor that keeps many members engaged with the ensemble,” Chien said. Pratt expresses similar ideas, saying that “in an orchestra in a university like Princeton, there has to be the right balance between recognition of the intensity of academics, yet still insistence that a certain standard of preparation and attendance be maintained.” The University’s support of the arts, especially with the addition of the new Lewis Center to campus rehearsal space, serves as an added benefit for orchestral musicians. “We are particularly lucky this year to have the amazing Lewis Center as a new rehearsal space,” said Thomas Graul ’20, who plays double bass. The surrounding community also demonstrates an enthusiasm for the arts. “From my freshman year on,
I have also been amazed at the support we receive from the greater Princeton community; we frequently fill Richardson Auditorium,” Graul added, explaining that the orchestra was a factor in Graul’s decision to attend the University. The orchestra has grown and evolved over Pratt’s 40 years as conductor. “PUO, when I arrived in 1977, was already a serious and hardworking group that wanted to stretch themselves. There were some strong players, just not as many of them. The deepening commitment of first the department and then the University to performance led to the establishment of the Program in Musical Performance in 1991, which led to Princeton becoming more of a desirable destination for talented students. All that led naturally to the flowering we see today, with Lewis Center Complex, a powerful manifestation of Princeton’s commitment to the arts,” Pratt explained. Student musicians credit Pratt for the orchestra’s success. “I think a lot of our success as an orchestra is owed to our amazing conductor, Michael Pratt. Over the past [forty] years he’s transformed the music performance program
at Princeton,” said Graul. “[Pratt has] really crafted and reshaped the music department during his time here at Princeton, which is why it is so strong now,” Chien added. Though PUO has changed over Pratt’s 40 years, he’d like to see more changes in the future. “I would like to see a way that students could see their time in PUO on their transcript. Maybe find a way to make it a course, like Harvard. I’d also like to find ways, from time to time, to break the big group into subsets to vary the repertory more,” he said. His guiding mission has remained the same, though, and he continues to inspire student musicians. “It is my passion to guide students into the interior of this music that I have loved so deeply for so long,” Pratt said. There are several more opportunities left to experience PUO’s music this year. On Mar. 9 and 10, the winners of this year’s concerto competition will be featured, and on Apr. 27 and 28, PUO will present Benjamin Britten’s “War Requiem” with the University’s Glee Club, Princeton ProMusica, and the American Boychoir. The annual Reunions Fireworks Concert will be held on June 2.
Prospect app creates account for all students PROSPECT Continued from page 1
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lieve the filters would be used extensively, he did want the option there for those who may want to find someone with similar classes or a similar major. Because Prospect automatically includes all undergraduates’ names, majors, residential colleges, and prox headshots, some students are hesitant about the new app. “I think that this app represents a breach of our privacy, given the fact that they’re using my information and face without my permission,“ said Noah Schochet ‘21. Others, like Amy Jeon ’21, suggested giving students the choice to opt in or out instead of automatically receiving a profile. She said this would make students more comfortable, and thought it would work better anyway. “If there was an opt-in option, it wouldn’t be as weird, like other dating apps,” said Jeon. “I would think that would give me and other people less hesitation.” Boroughs stated that, should the app gain substantial popularity, he does have plans to add a feature where one could filter only for people who are active within the app. Boroughs received the undergraduate student body information from the Residential College Facebooks, and hopes to reassure users concerned about privacy that all information was secured within the CAS system, so only other undergraduates could see the information. “The official guideline is that if your application is secured with CAS, that information can be displayed. No non-Princeton undergraduate could ever see that information, and they’re seeing less
information than they could on the residential college Facebooks,” said Boroughs. “It’s not giving people more information than has already been given.” Some interviewed students felt their peers’ privacy concerns were somewhat redundant. These students argue that since information is already accessible through Tigerbook, one additional way to search for students makes little difference. “I don’t see how the information already being there actually affects me,” said Brooks Eikner ’21. “I wouldn’t use it probably, but I’m sure it will be relatively popular.” Excluding privacy concerns, a few other Princeton students, such as Einspahr, believed the very idea of a Princeton dating app seems out of place and unnecessary. “I’m sure some people on campus will be interested, but it strikes me as so weird,” said Einsphar. “Usually dating apps are for people in places where meeting people isn’t readily available, but on a college campus that’s not really much of an issue.” As of Feb. 13, the app currently has 287 users, with 194 matches already made. Boroughs himself stated that the app is growing “very quickly.” The app is similar to an app for students at MIT. The two apps are functionally the same, although the MIT app allows people to link their Facebook profiles. “There’s plenty of people who make it and never look at it again, and then there’s people who use it a bunch,” said Dylan Lewis, MIT class of 2020, in reference to the app. Boroughs also has possible plans in the next few weeks for a swiping feature similar to Tinder for people who do not have specific interests and would prefer to just scroll through other profiles.
BENJAMIN BALL :: STAFF WRITER
“Prospect: Find Your Tiger” creator Paddy Boroughs ‘18 displays his product in Small World Coffee
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Wednesday February 14, 2018
Rece Davis: Education is not learning life lessons — it’s also about learning how to compete — all programs should aspire to win DAVIS
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lenge to do both [education and athletics] at such a good competitive level and it’s very impressive to see these young men and women being able to thrive in both environments,” Rece said. For Chris, the idea of competition has manifested itself in new ways since coming to Princeton. “I think that in a lot of ways, Princeton has helped me grow my understanding of competition,” he explained. “You’ve got some of the best and brightest people here and, you know, sometimes it’s a common thing to say ‘I’m competing against myself,’ and there is some merit to that. But the fact of the matter is that you are not just competing against yourself if it’s for a spot on a professional baseball team or for a Rhodes scholarship or for research grant money. There [is] a ridiculously talented pool of people trying to achieve the same goal.” For his job as an announcer, Rece often travels from college to college — and he’s come to learn the importance of preparation and the ability to work on the road. Similarly, Chris is now embarking on the experience of balancing school work and travel for games. Chris spoke about some of the challenges weekend road games present. The Tigers will be playing every weekend on the road to start their season, in addition to having an extended road trip across the mid-Atlantic over
COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
ESPN host Rece Davis, parent of Chris Davis ’20, makes attending his son’s baseball games a priority.
spring break. He said that a typical weekend schedule might include leaving Thursday, with games Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and returning home the night before classes start for the next week — only to do it all again the next weekend. He added that this often creates a class scheduling issue, forcing him and his teammates to schedule as many as five classes in one day, unlike non-athletes.
Another part of the general routine: working on the bus. Despite the apparent challenges, he ascribed a certain appeal to them. “It’s funny when you have guys that are in the same class that may all be reading the same book on the bus, or you may be writing a paper and, you know, some of the guys behind you are also writing the same paper. You’re going to be on the bus for
12 hours, so you have to do work on the bus, but at the same time, you can’t do work for 12 hours straight.” “I think that is a bit of an excuse to try and say that you cannot do both at an elite level,” said Rece. “Education is not just learning life lessons; it’s also about learning how to compete. All programs — and all students — should aspire to win.” Chris agreed. “I want son. The sophomore outfielder — one of only two lefty batters on the team — spent his summer returning to baseball form by playing for the Bristol Blues, a member of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League based in Connecticut about 30 minutes from his hometown. Coming off of a season where the team finished with a 7–13 conference record, Chris believes the biggest change this year has been the attitude of the team. “I think that the difference with this season is that we are not just going to games to show up,” he said. “We are going in there to win. We think we can win we think we are just as good as anybody and we can beat anybody we face.” Chris even alluded to the theme of this season; “The Revenge Tour” will feature a team that is hungry to re-stake its claim at the top of the Ivy League, and, according to Chris, will be ready to “trust . . . that [it] can get it done and [have] that relentlessness on offense.” The road ahead, at least on paper, looks daunting for the Tigers, who are picked to finish 7th in the league according to College Baseball Daily. They open their season with nearly a month of road games that features
to play my sport professionally,“ he said. “And being able to understand that it’s okay that your sport doesn’t have to take a backseat to the academics. They can both be very important they can both work together, and you can keep your professional hopes in the front of your mind.” After missing most of last year’s season due to an injury, Chris is excited to start the upcoming seaprojected Colonial Conference champion UNCWilmington and perennial SEC powerhouse South Carolina. And, of course, the Tigers face the gauntlet of Ivy League play, which for the first time will feature all eight teams playing each other three times over the course of the season. Both father and son have been able to experience and take in the great moments each can offer the other. Chris recalled a special moment with his dad at College GameDay last season, when he and Rece watched from the endzone of Death Valley as the Clemson football team stormed down their iconic hill onto the field for a primetime showdown with Louisville. As for Rece, he fondly remembered last season when he and the Davis family made their way to Durham, NC and College Park, MD to watch Chris play in his inaugural games as a Tiger. To both of them, sports is a chance to take in the moments together and to find opportunities to share in a common passion that has hugely impacted both of their lives. For both, there is no current greater sports passion than the one for Princeton Baseball, whose season — fortunately for everyone — is just a few short weeks away.
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In defense of RAM Truck’s MLK Super Bowl ad Rachel Kennedy
Contributing Columnist
Super Bowl Sunday is essentially an American holiday. Rocky-Mathey dining hall featured a game day meal of wings, chili, and guacamole, and every TV on campus streamed in to the biggest day in sports. Some watch for the game, but some stick around just for the commercials. Companies are willing to pay NBC about 5 million dollars per every 30 seconds. Car company Ram Trucks invested heavily in a minute long slot for their ad featuring a recording of a sermon delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 50 years ago to the day.
Opening in silence with a black screen, the first words projected are “Dr. Martin Luther King.” Dr. King is one of the most prominent and valued cultural figures of the 20th century, and many found it inappropriate to involve his legacy in the trivial world of Super Bowl advertising. Yet Ram evoked King’s memory with a serious tone. Ram did not manipulate King’s voice or image to conform to the generally light spirit of the night. Instead, Ram provided a moment of silence of sorts for King, and built a commercial honoring the spirit and goal his words. I interpreted it as a tribute rather than as a disparagement.
as expanding the definition of what it means to contribute to society. King explains that greatness is also accessible to anyone: “everybody can be great … you only need a heart filled with grace.” King’s phrasing may have been stylistic at the time, but in the context of 2018, I hear something else. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan is the most visible use of the word great now, and the Ram ad seemed to be a commentary on the components that have always made America great: racial and gender diversity and opportunity. The speech King gave Feb. 4, 1968 is 10 pages long. They could have built a commercial off
DORA ZHAO ‘21
With his voice serving as the only audio, quick blips of a Ram truck trudging through mud spliced various scenes of service work. Many are accusing Ram for appropriating King’s words and repurposing them in an effort to make a profit. Although I am not surprised by this reaction, I thought the advertisement was one of the best commercials of the Super Bowl this year. It felt deliberate, thoughtful and humbling, and provided a much-needed ref lective moment in the heat of what is one of the most consumerist, wealth-celebrating nights of the year.
The ad uses the motivational, yet servicedriven, message of King’s words to celebrate everyday Americans and to display Ram trucks’ utility in facilitating these jobs. King’s voice promotes a new definition of greatness: “but recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” Scenes of teachers, military personnel, mothers, fathers, and construction workers are shown as his words continue to detail the valor of service. In my mind, there a few more productive ways to spend $10 million on advertising than exalting members of society who are often ignored, as well
of any excerpt, but this one must have stuck out for many reasons, and I can’t see the echoing of “great” as not being one of them. Using an excerpt from a sermon King gave on Feb. 4 showed an attempt to give the ad some temporal relevance, but also brings up the bittersweet endurance of King’s legacy and what he fought for. Weaving civil rights into the NFL is nothing new, especially this season. From players kneeling to Kaepernick remaining unsigned, members of the NFL are still engaged in the same causes King was. Ram is not blind to this connection, and
I applaud them for quietly, but actively engaging in the league’s relationship to civil rights, despite the obvious risks for push back. Right after the commercial ended, a friend remarked that, “I liked that ad, but maybe they should have left MLK out of it.” Other students agreed, but I stayed silent. In American culture, any explicit acknowledgement of race or civil rights is subject to controversy. This is healthy to an extent, and generates good conversation on a certain level, but it is problematic to restrict cultural figures like King to specific contexts. Confining his legacy into one singular topic limits his prospective audience. Some students feel these restraints at Princeton. Questions of authority and appropriation surround most conversations about race, ethnicity, and religion. This can contribute to the feeling that one can only engage in or discuss these topics as they relate to their own background. Because of this, students of varying backgrounds may not engage with figures like King as much as they should. Sometimes it takes a public display, like this commercial, to expose students to topics they would not normally seek on their own, due to any factors, from fear to laziness. By incorporating King’s legacy into a casual, far-reaching depiction such as a Super Bowl commercial, his universality and relevance are highlighted and permeated through many aspects of American life, racial and non- racial. I’d rather students hear one of King’s sermons than none at all. Ram presented a new audience with an opportunity, and I appreciate its effort. Rachel Kennedy is a first-year from Dedham, Mass. She can be reached at rk19@princeton.edu.
Letter from the Editor: Why I won’t publish the word “n****r” Marcia Brown
Editor-in-Chief
I
n the first week of the 142nd Editorial Board of The Daily Princetonian, we wrote an article describing an incident in which an anthropology professor used the word “n****r” in his class to make a point about hate speech, blasphemy, and other oppressive cultural symbols. He then used the full word repeatedly, according to a recording of the class obtained by the ‘Prince.’ Students in the class — particularly some black students — found it appalling that he chose not only to use the full word, but also to continue to use it after they vocally objected. When we broke the story that night about the student’s reaction, we had to decide if we would print the word “n****r.” Because the
story was explicitly about the word’s use, many expected that we would print it. In fact, some college newspapers have. We chose not to. Words have power, so we should be deliberate in our use of them. But at the same time we also don’t want to be afraid of words. Choosing not to publish this word, however, is not an indication of fear. Rather, it is an homage to the respect and duty we have to and for our readership. We want to be sensitive to the needs of our community. Our community needs us to cover this issue, but it doesn’t need us to print the word in full for the discussion to be had. The word is distinct from profanity in its historical significance and bloody weight. We don’t even usually publish profanity in full. Using asterisks doesn’t prevent us from making
our stories clear, however. As the campus newspaper, we help set the tone of the conversation, and we want it to be one of respect. We want the conversation to be about the incident and reactions, not about our coverage. Our coverage shouldn’t distract from the serious discourse that’s occurring about free speech, respect, and the use of certain words. Our job is to be the paper of record at the University. It’s a job we have performed for 141 years already, and while that job is always changing, it includes making decisions about what is harmful — without some benefit — to our community. Of course, we will publish and have published reporting that makes Princeton look far from stellar. Our job is to hold our community accountable. Publishing the word n****r isn’t necessary to do that job.
The ‘Prince’ is a historical reference for many who have come before us and the many who will come after us. Our country and our University is growing more diverse, and we need to reflect that in how we respect each other. Deciding not to publish the word in full, to me, is not an act of censorship. In fact, we’re doing as much as possible to promote a full discussion about these issues throughout our publication. We want to have this conversation, but we want to have it with respect. We don’t fear words, but we do fear a world without respect for our fellow human beings. Marcia Brown is Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Princetonian. This letter represents the views of the Editor-in-Chief only; she can be reached at eic@dailyprincetonian.com.
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Ryan Gizzie ’19
BOARD OF TRUSTEES president Thomas E. Weber ’89 vice president Craig Bloom ’88 secretary Betsy L. Minkin ’77 treasurer Douglas J. Widmann ’90 Kathleen Crown William R. Elfers ’71 Stephen Fuzesi ’00 Zachary A. Goldfarb ’05 John Horan ’74 Joshua Katz Kathleen Kiely ’77 Rick Klein ’98 James T. MacGregor ’66 Alexia Quadrani Marcelo Rochabrun ’15 Richard W. Thaler, Jr. ’73 Lisa Belkin ‘82 Francesca Barber trustees emeriti Gregory L. Diskant ’70 Jerry Raymond ’73 Michael E. Seger ’71 Annalyn Swan ’73
142ND MANAGING BOARD managing editors Isabel Hsu ’19 Claire Lee ’19 head news editors Claire Thornton ’19 Jeff Zymeri ’20 associate news editors Allie Spensley ’20 Audrey Spensley ’20 associate news and film editor Sarah Warman Hirschfield ’20 head opinion editor Emily Erdos ’19 associate opinion editors Samuel Parsons ’19 Jon Ort ’21 head sports editors David Xin ’19 Chris Murphy ’20 associate sports editors Miranda Hasty ’19 Jack Graham ’20 head street editor Jianing Zhao ’20 associate street editors Danielle Hoffman ’20 Lyric Perot ’20 digital operations managerSarah Bowen ’20 associate chief copy editors Marina Latif ’19 Arthur Mateos ’19 head design editor Rachel Brill ’19 cartoons editor Tashi Treadway ’19 head photo editor Risa Gelles-Watnick ’21
NIGHT STAFF copy Lydia Choi ’21 design Dante Sudilovsky ’21
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Opinion
Wednesday February 14, 2018
page 7
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }
Blood donation at Princeton: We’re running low Matthew Kritz
Guest Contributor
W
e are lagging. Here at Princeton, a university devoted to serving the nation and all humanity, an institution with students committed to being change-agents in our world, we are falling behind. While our student body does its part in donating time, energy, winter coats, children’s books, and monetary support, Princeton is running low on blood donations. And with the February blood drive coming up just next week, it’s time for us to think about what that means for us as a community. Three times each year, the American Red Cross, in conjunction with a team of student leaders, runs blood drives specifically for students (separate drives are
organized for faculty and staff, though all drives are open to both populations and the general public). These blood drives are part of the Red Cross’s broader efforts to collect units of blood on university campuses, which continue to be an important source of donations. College students, more often than not, have more flexible schedules than the average working American, enjoy easy access to event advertising and donation sites, and tend to be young and in good health, in addition to being often altruistically minded. With all this in mind, one would expect that donation rates on campuses would be higher than the national average. But not so at Princeton. The American Red Cross estimates that although thirty-eight percent of Americans are eligible to donate,
only about ten percent do so in a given year. Extending to Princeton, whose undergraduate student body is 5,400 strong (leaving aside graduate students), one might hope to collect at least 500 units for each drive, or at the very least to collect that many over the course of a year. Yet internal records from the past fifteen years of blood drives in Princeton indicate the contrary. From 2003 to 2011, two-day blood drives often brought in close to 200 donations, even reaching 266 units in December of 2006. Yet around 2011, numbers of donations began to decrease, coming in at around 100 or fewer, with a record low of 56 units at the student drive last April – that’s one percent of the student body (ignoring the fact that many who donate at the drives are graduate students, faculty, staff, and
community members). Yet the need is not declining. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the number of blood units donated instate has steadily decreased in recent years. So much so, in fact, that the report notes that “New Jersey continues to have an annual blood collection deficit and must regularly import blood from other states to meet the transfusion needs of our citizens.” Those citizens (and non-citizens) face a range of needs: they are victims of serious accidents, people who have undergone extensive surgery or childbirth, cancer patients (including those suffering from angiosarcoma, like our friend Jacob Kaplan ’19 of blessed memory), and others going through various sorts of medical treatment. All these people benefit in different ways from
the 43,000 units of blood used in the United States each day. Thankfully, the campus American Red Cross team, under the leadership of McKenna Brownell ’20, is working to slowly bring those numbers back up; the December drive brought in 108 units, and the goal for the February drive (taking place in Frist next Monday, Feb. 19 and Tuesday, Feb. 20) is 180 units. Even that number only gets us a third of the way to the 540-unit threshold that would put us at ten percent, but it’s an important first step for the student body’s responsibilities toward those in dire need of the gift of life in New Jersey and beyond. Matthew Kritz is a senior from Silver Spring, Md. This article represents his views only. He can be reached at mkritz@princeton.edu.
Saving for a rainy day Nathan Phan ’19
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Sports
Wednesday February 14, 2018
page 8
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } F E AT U R E
ESPN voice Rece Davis and son Chris weigh in on baseball, life at Princeton By Chris Murphy associate sports editor
On Feb. 6, ESPN broadcaster Rece Davis made one of his first trips to Princeton as a commentator, getting the chance to cover the Tigers and Penn Quakers’ face-off on the basketball court. Later on this year, Rece will add to the many trips he has taken as a parent to watch the Tigers square off in their baseball home opener against the Harvard Crimson and to cheer on his son, sophomore outfielder Chris Davis. Rece Davis, the host of College GameDay, is no stranger to big games and even bigger sports personalities. Covering everything from the current Clemson and Alabama dynasties to Michael Jordan’s epic final years in the NBA and meeting some of the greatest faces of sports — from Lou Holtz to Richard “Digger” Phelps — Rece experiences college and professional sports in ways of which the average fan can only dream. Yet to Rece, all of that pales in comparison to watching his son play baseball for the Tigers. When asked about the opportunity to watch his son play, Rece said that “[he and the rest of the Davis family] are willing to move heaven and Earth
to get to one of Rece’s games.” He added “being up in the stadium as a parent, living and dying with every pitch of the game — it doesn’t get much better than that.” Chris Davis ’20 of Wilson College has been raised with a unique perspective, being able to see both sides of his dad. On the one hand is the man who worked his way up from local radio in Alabama to what’s now the biggest sports news organization in the world, and on the other is a father who Chris says has “always been the one willing to throw me batting practice and hit me fly balls.” Playing three varsity sports in high school — football, basketball and baseball — Chris believes he owes part of his decision to choose baseball to experiences with his father. “I think part of [choosing baseball] has to do with, you know . . . my dad covers mainly football and basketball, so baseball was the time where he was around most,” he said. “It was something we were able to bond over, him being able to come to all of my games, and we have such a strong relationship to begin with; I think being him being there supporting me all the time at baseball games
COURTESY OF CHRIS DAVIS
Rece and Chris Davis take “selfie” together at Princeton baseball game.
really fostered my love for baseball.” Now as a Division I athlete, Chris is able to share those same experiences with his dad. When asked about the University’s unique outlook on sports, both al-
luded to the opportunity it provides that other schools — some with sports programs much more prestigious than Princeton’s — cannot offer: the chance to compete at an elite level both on the
field and in the classroom. Rece praised the student athletes at the University during his time on campus, noting the “very demanding schedule.” “It’s an extreme chalSee DAVIS page 4
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Women’s Basketball beats Penn, takes Ivy League lead
COURTESY OF GOPRINCETONTIGERS.COM
Women’s basketball defeated Penn in front of home crowd at Jadwin.
By Jack Graham associate sports editor
In a matchup between two teams tied atop the Ivy League standings, the women’s basketball team made a strong statement Tuesday night with a 60– 40 win against Penn in front of a home crowd at Jadwin Gymnasium. The
Tigers dominated on both ends of the court throughout, taking an early lead and never allowing Penn back into the game. With the win, Princeton moves into sole control of first place in the Ivy League. Leading the way for Princeton on both ends of the court was sophomore forward Bella Alarie. Ala-
Tweet of the Day Carlie Littlefield has been selected as the @IvyLeague Co-Player and Rookie of the Week Princeton WBB (@PrincetonWBB)
rie scored 18 points, while also securing 15 rebounds and anchoring the interior of Princeton’s defense with 3 blocks. Despite scoring just 2 points, senior forward Leslie Robinson played a crucial part in Princeton’s offense, finding open players from the high post and finishing with 10 assists.
Bench scoring was also key for Princeton, with 30 of Princeton’s points coming from bench players, 17 of these from freshman guard Abby Meyers. The two teams were closely matched for the beginning of the game. Through the first quarter, Princeton held a narrow 18–15 lead. From there, however, the Tigers grabbed control of the game. Princeton held Penn to shooting 13.3 percent from the field in the second quarter, while shooting 41.2 percent themselves to take a 34-20 lead into the locker room at halftime. Princeton’s offense played with far more pace in the first half — the Tigers scored 11 points on the fast break, compared to 0 from Penn. Despite a small rally early in the third quarter, Penn was never able to mount a serious comeback effort. Penn began the third quarter on a 10–5 run to cut the lead to 39– 30, but Princeton quickly stopped them and entered the final quarter with a 46–37 lead. In the fourth quarter Penn scored just 3
Stat of the Day
.942 Save percentage of women’s ice hockey goalie Stephanie Neatby
points, as Alarie and Meyers knocked down a series of baskets to secure the win. Princeton flexed its defensive muscle, demonstrating why it leads the Ivy League in points allowed per game this season. The Tigers held the Penn team, who had been averaging 67.9 points per game, to just 40 points. Penn shot 16–62 (25.8 percent) from the field and 2–17 (11.8 percent) from the three-point line, struggling to find and make open looks against a stifling Princeton defense. Guard Anna Ross led Penn in scoring with 14 points on 6–14 shooting, and forward Michelle Nwokedi added another 12. No other player for Penn scored more than 4 points. Princeton will continue its Ivy League schedule this weekend with a pair of games against Cornell and Columbia, as the team looks to secure a No. 1 seed for the conference tournament. More than halfway through Ivy League play, Princeton has proven itself the team to beat in the conference.
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