November 13, 2018

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Tuesday November 13, 2018 vol. cxlii no. 100

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CPUC discusses Ban the Box initiative, Service Focus, innovation opportunities

By Marissa Michaels Contributor

MARISSA MICHAELS :: PRINCETONIAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The CPUC meeting discussed the implications of asking for criminal records on applications.

President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 announced at a meeting last Monday that the University will likely continue to ask admission applicants about their criminal records.

Monday’s Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting provided a rare glimpse into administrators’ opinions regarding current student activism like the Ban the Box campaign. Meeting organizers also discussed initiatives like the Pace Center’s new Service Focus program, and scientific innovation on campus.

There are six CPUC meetings every year, each of which provides an opportunity for departmental representatives and administrators to better understand the current state of campus. Meetings also function to provide advice to Eisgruber, who leads discussion, and are

official avenues through which students can express grievances and bring arguments before campus decision-makers.

The most tense moment of Monday’s meeting occurred when Eisgruber informed the room that he will likely decide to continue the practice of asking about conviction status on the University’s undergraduate application, which the campus’ Ban the Box campaign vehemently opposes.

The national campaign argues that colleges and universities should stop asking questions about applicants’ criminal records. They say this will help make the college application process more inclusive.

Eisgruber defended the practice of asking questions about applicants’ criminal records by saying that such questions help maintain safety on campus and promote positive values among students.

“I think there are some kinds

of criminal activity that may be related to risks that could occur on the campus. So we take those risks seriously,” Eisgruber said. “We look at a number of positive indicia and evidence that students have done well in relationship to leadership and values that they have and we also look at things like school disciplinary records when we do that. I don’t see reasons to … ignore entirely evidence that somebody has engaged in criminal activity.”

In the meeting, Ban the Box aimed to convince CPUC that the University undergraduate application should not ask about an applicant’s conviction status.

Student presenter Nathan Poland ’20 argued asking for conviction status “systematically discriminates against students with conviction status.”

Ban the Box presenters argued that even if a history of conviction does not necessarily See CPUC page 2

Kognito program teaches mental health bystander interventions STUDENT LIFE

By Haleigh Gundy Contributor

On Nov. 11, designated as “Kognito Day,” first-year students participated in Kognito, an online simulation designed to help students identify signs of psy-

chological distress in others and intervene.

Implemented this September, the Kognito program highlights skills and phrases students can use to work with peers in emotional distress.

Kognito is a 35-minute train-

ing program meant to teach students how to recognize signs of mental health distress in their peers and effectively intervene.

The program uses avatars to lead students through role-play situations, teaching them how to respond to the needs of their

COURTESY OF KOGNITO.COM

Kognito encourages students to learn through simulation.

STUDENT LIFE

friends and effectively connect them to support resources.

Dr. Calvin Chin, head of Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), said that the impetus for including a program on mental distress within the First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program became clear when analyzing what other programs were available.

“While we cover high-risk drinking and sexual assault [on campus], one issue we weren’t covering was mental health and distress,” Chin said.

Drinking and sexual assault programs, such as AlcoholEdu and Not Anymore, are currently required to be completed by firstyear students before arrival on campus. However, until last September, no program on psychological distress was mandatory.

According to Chin, the main sources of psychological distress for students are stress and anxiety, followed closely by depression.

Though the signs of these issues may be visible to other students, those who notice the signs may not speak up due to their prevalence on campus, Chin said.

Kognito aims not only to bring awareness to the signs of stress, anxiety, and depression, but also to emphasize the importance of seeking treatment before the effects of psychological distress impact a student’s academic and social life.

“There are a lot of different things that [the University and CPS have] been doing … to promote the idea of actively caring for yourself and others,” said Chin. “The message that we’re putting out is … to continue bystander intervention.”

The University officially implemented the program in September, but decided to postpone first-years’ participation in the program until now, after they’d had a chance to settle in.

According to Chin, “Kognito See KOGNITO page 3

ON CAMPUS

Bechdel Film Club ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ founder undeterred reimagines roles through race Contributor

A student club designed to invigorate women will likely die out after its founder graduates next spring.

On Saturday night, the Bechdel Film Club screened “Two Days, One Night” in the Women*s Center to a conference room almost empty of people. But founder and leader of the club, Teresa IrigoyenLopez ’19 was cheery as ever as she set up catered food, welcomed the one other attendee, and sat down to watch the film herself.

Irigoyen-Lopez, along with Tess Jacobson ’19, started the Bechdel Film Club about three years ago to create a space that screens films which pass the Bechdel test — criteria prescribed by artist Alison

Bechdel according to her idea of the realistic representation of women. For a film to pass the Bechdel test, it must feature two named women who speak to each other about something other than a man.

The club meets every other Saturday night. The number of attendees can range from two to 20, depending on the week. The club aims to expose students to not only films that represent women, but also to films from a variety of cultures.

According to Irigoyen-Lopez, there is an inherent challenge in getting students to attend a club meant to expose them to different ideas. She said one of the biggest underlying reasons for the club’s fluctuating attendance is that peoSee BECHDEL page 3

By Silma Berrada Contributor

University students are redefining the charismatic rendition of a perky California dream girl by casting a person of color for lead character Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde, The Musical.”

This version of the classic musical, based on the famous novel and subsequent film of the same name, is led by people of color, beginning with Tamia Goodman ’19 as director. Will Alvarado ’19 (Paulette Bonafonté) and Jasmeene Burton ’19 (Elle Woods) are featured, and Alexandra Palocz ’19 is the lighting designer. Together, the four wanted to challenge the limits of this story of acceptance and social stereotypes.

Originally, Elle Woods, the pres-

ident of the fictional Delta Nu sorority, is stereotypically portrayed as a pink, prom queen-type, pretty woman with ocean-blue eyes and long, luscious blonde locks. However, this production invites the audience to explore the world of an underestimated and grounded woman through a non-traditional cast that features a woman and man, both people of color, as the lead roles.

During her first year of theater at the University, Burton questioned why the demographics of the United States are not represented on the stages of the country.

Alvarado and Burton jokingly proposed pouring color in the whitest roles, such as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, to challenge whiteness in American theater, during their first year at the University.

In Opinion

Today on Campus

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Noon: Mixed-Martial Arts the Politics of Russia and the 12 p.m.: Men’s Squash willand play against Trinity University in a Caucasus. game that will be crucial for the team to move back into the ‘A’ flight CSA team championships this season. The game Louis of A. the Simpson International Building 144 will take place in Jadwin Squash Court.

Columnist Gabe Lipkowitz argues that architecture can relieve students from constant computer use, and senior columnist Leora Eisenberg reflects on whether “coolness” translates to meaning.

Three years later, this concept became reality, allowing a cast to address what happens when race is not a limiting factor in casting roles.

However, challenges arose throughout the rehearsal process.

The script was embedded with racial and gender stereotypes that conflicted with the diverse identities within the cast. Certain phrases and words, such as “the bend and snap” and “off da hizzle,” shifted their connotations through the lens of a person of color, therefore changing the identities of the characters.

Particularly, the famed attention-grabbing maneuver in “Legally Blonde,” called “the bend and snap,” through the perspective of a black woman, raised the idea of See BLONDE page 2

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Prentice: Corporate sponsorships are possible in the future CPUC

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mean a student will be rejected, research shows the presence of the question deters people with convictions from applying. Ban the Box said this perpetuates racial and class inequalities because certain populations systematically face a higher conviction rate in the United States.

Poland also argued that admission officers’ biases negatively affect convicted students’ chances of acceptance.

“It’s been shown that implicit bias leaks into people’s decisions in moments when they rely on heuristics…. People are more likely to go with socially accepted notions of what is right and what is wrong, which will often lead to previously convicted students receiving rejections rather than acceptance regardless of the rest of the content of their application,” Poland said.

In response, Eisgruber told the presenters he will explore how the University can “ask the

question better so that it mitigates some of the detriments you referred to.”

Ban the Box presenter Amanda Eisenhour ’21 appreciated Eisgruber’s response.

“Now that we know his arguments, we can better devise a strategy for the future,” she said. Eisenhour also said that now, Ban the Box will find “research that can specifically address [Eisgruber’s] concerns.”

After Ban the Box’s presentation, many students left the meeting, creating murmurs throughout the faculty.

The meeting also opened discussions about investing in graduate student and faculty innovation.

Provost Deborah Prentice discussed the University’s broad goals for increasing innovation. As stated in her presentation, the University’s goal is “to facilitate innovation, entrepreneurship, and partnerships that will enhance the quality and impact of Princeton’s research and teaching.”

Prentice argued that corporate sponsorship of the University’s innovation will have

a positive impact on the world.

She said, “Intel labs has sponsored some cutting-edge work, collaborative between Princeton Neuroscience Institute and computer scientists in order to get real time output from functional magnetic resonance imaging so that you can actually see what people’s brains are doing in real time.

That was an enormous computing problem. It’s a fantastic research discovery and it wouldn’t have been possible without Intel support and in kind contributions in the form of the processors.”

“Increasingly corporate sponsorships are actually involved in this colocation, especially in the tech field. So that could be a possibility for us in the future,” she said.

Her presentation also attempted to demonstrate the positive role ‘innovation spaces’ can potentially play in the new expanded campus that will be built south of Lake Carnegie.

Prentice’s opinions about the University’s innovation was met with intense scrutiny from the mechanical and aero-

space engineering major Noah Schochet ’21.

Schochet expressed frustration in the lack of infrastructure to support undergraduate innovation, citing his inability to build his own products before senior year.

“You admit students because they’re innovative, but I have a feeling and experiences that show you don’t support student innovators,” he said. “As someone working on a startup myself, I found a huge lack of resources, tools, and opportunities.”

Prentice responded by saying she would like to hear feedback from students and work towards more student innovation.

The meeting also promoted new service opportunities at the University.

The Pace Center’s Kimberly de los Santos and Yi-Ching Ong, and three students presented Service Focus, a new program from the center that connects students’ academic life with service.

De los Santos said that through hands-on meetings

with small groups on specific service projects, summer internships, and a required service-related course, the program bridges service and learning.

Jimin Kang ’21 spoke about how she got involved with Service Focus last year and now focuses on promoting locally sourced food with the program. She said Service Focus helps her do service through academic topics which she’s always loved. For example, last summer she was engaged in a service journalism project related to promoting local food.

Student presenters argued Service Focus expanded their definition of service. Before, they worried they didn’t have time for service. Now, the program has taught them how to incorporate service into their existing schedule. They want other University students to learn how to do the same.

Monday’s meeting was the second of six annual CPUC meetings, and was held in Betts Auditorium. The next CPUC meeting will be Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. in the same location.

Alvarado: We want to push shows’ boundaries BLONDE Continued from page 1

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the sexualization of black bodies in America. Those involved in the production found that, because pop culture today fetishizes black women’s bodies, when a black Elle Woods does “the bend and snap,” the challenge of not reiterating the misinformed caricature of black women emerges.

While the script could not change, the deliverance of the lines could, and did.

For the cast, rehearsing for the musical was a learning experience that not only taught theater but also enabled exploration of race.

Throughout the process, the cast uncovered new depths to their own racial identities and those of others.

“It is interesting learning the struggles of marginalized groups by putting them into spaces that they never would be in,” Burton said. “People’s identities carry different baggage [in different places].”

Confronting a predominantly

white environment by combining a script written for certain races with a cast that does not confine to those expectations altered the portrayal of characters. Burton aimed to reform Elle Woods’ ditzy persona into a headstrong character.

Furthermore, Alvarado redefined Paulette Bonafonté, originally known as a brash and comical female who longs for romance.

He portrayed Paulette as a transgender woman that hides behind “crazy, excessive stuff” because she does not see her own power.

Alvarado and Burton hope the audience admires the power of this non-traditionally cast show.

Burton said, “I want to tell my story for people who aren’t able to put it in this space.”

“We want to be inclusive. We want to push the boundaries of what shows do,” Alvarado added.

“Legally Blonde, The Musical” was performed at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center on Friday, Nov. 9, with a further show on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m., and three shows on Thursday, Nov. 15 through Saturday, Nov. 17, all at 8 p.m.

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Four seniors wanted to challenge the limits of this story of acceptance.

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Johnson: Kognito well de- Irigoyen-Lopez: People would rather be signed for average student entertained by than learn from movies KOGNITO Continued from page 1

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was the problem that had the most data on effectiveness and success” in educating students to have conversations surrounding mental health.

In addition, Kognito was piloted on campus and positively reviewed by a number of student leaders.

The students who piloted the program shared that they learned basic skills of how to structure conversations about mental health, according to Chin. He added that students who participated in this initial run of the program stated that they could “better help their friends.”

Deshawn Cook, Director of Student Life of Butler College, highlighted the importance of efforts to inform students about holding conversations on sensitive topics.

“It’s a common experience that [students] don’t know how to approach the subject or approach that friend,” said Cook. “You don’t want to upset them or cause any tension within the relationship.”

Cook explained that the program allows students to develop the skills to first recognize the signs that someone is in need of help and then start difficult conversations.

Although “Kognito Day” is aimed toward first-years, Cook emphasized that the program is open to all undergraduates, and he strongly encouraged all students to take the training.

Apart from direct education, the goals of Kognito extend to helping create an atmosphere in which conversations about mental health can be had openly. Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Mellisa Thompson stated that she hopes that completing the program and debriefing with RCAs afterwards will help firstyears continue the conversation surrounding mental health.

“We want [mental health] to be part of the fabric of conversation around campus.”

After completing the training, students found Kognito’s points basic, but important nonetheless.

Helen Reeves ’22 stated, “I think a lot of the things they covered were relatively obvious … but at the same time I think that … it was good to have some sort of training available since some students have more training than others.”

“It’s important to have a foun-

dation for discussing these issues,” she added.

Thomas Johnson ’22, who previously received mental health training through the military, expressed similar views.

“We did a lot of that type of training [in the military], like [identifying] people that were at risk,” said Johnson. “I think [Kognito] was well designed for the average college student who might not have had exposure [to mental health training] before.”

Abby de Riel ’22 believed that, though helpful, the simulation could have been more realistic.

“The conversation was very brief and had a formality to it that was very unrealistic of how that type of conversation might really go,” explained de Riel. “I don’t think big mental health issues are ever resolved in one conversation, and there is usually much more frustration coming from the person who is suffering.”

“It is not that simple in real life, but for a simulation, I think Kognito did a good job,” de Riel said.

Reeves reiterated that the scenario highlighted issues that are relevant to students: “I think … the combination of academic stress and interpersonal relationships and issues with his parents … are really relatable to everyone in college.”

Johnson agreed, stating, “The different situations they talked about and the kind of situations they put them in seemed realistic, specifically at Princeton with the classes and the social environment.”

Students had mixed feelings surrounding its timing this late in the semester.

Reeves stated, “I think the timing … could have been at the beginning of the year but having it further in the year is helpful since we’re really in the thick of it now so it might be more relevant now than [earlier].”

Alternatively, having been trained as a medic in the military, Johnson believes that earlier is better. “I thought it should have been done earlier, just because … to have this training held off was kind of pointless because you need to identify the signs early to do something about them.”

Kognito is currently open to interested or concerned students, who can complete the training on their own by going to kognitocampus.com and using an enrollment key provided by the University. Students are also encouraged to discuss signs of mental distress in peers with CPS staff.

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ple would rather be entertained by movies than learn from them.

“I show movies from a different country every time, so I feel like just because the nature of this club is exposing people to things they aren’t normally exposed to, it’s not a club that will bring a huge audience because people are not interested in that kind of thing,” she said.

But Irigoyen-Lopez remains unfazed by this reality.

“In the beginning that was sad to me, and I’d be kind of disappointed, but it kind of makes sense,” she said.

As a Spanish citizen who at-

tended high school in Norway before coming to the University, Irigoyen-Lopez has been using film to learn and educate about other cultures for a long time.

“Films were such a great way to get to know other people’s cultures since they’re so impactful,” Irigoyen-Lopez said. “The nature of movies is to tell a story that’s not your own but that you might identify with in some way, and even if you don’t, it might open your mind to new ideas, new perspectives, and new realities, so I think it’s so linked to the idea of getting to know other cultures.”

Anna Phung, the new Program Coordinator at the Women*s Center said that they appreciate that the club provides a forum for thinking critically about films,

even those that pass the Bechdel test.

“It’s really important to highlight films and be able to push back,” Phung said. “Even though films can pass the Bechdel test [that] doesn’t mean that it’s the best representing film for women in general.”

Irigoyen-Lopez said she thinks the Bechdel Film Club is likely to stop meeting after she graduates.

“People come and go,” she said.

“People have their own projects, their own ideas.”

Regardless, Irigoyen-Lopez will leave Princeton having impacted the Women*s Center.

“Since I started the club, the Women*s Center has gotten more involved in introducing film into their events,” Irigoyen-Lopez said.

YAEL MARANS :: PRINCETONIAN CONTRIBUTOR

The club will likely stop meeting after Irigoyen-Lopez graduates.

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Opinion

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Leora Eisenberg

Definitely not too cool for school

Senior Columnist

My fifth-grade brother had to take senior prom pictures with me in high school because I wasn’t very popular and had no friends. Sure, I didn’t drink and I didn’t party. I was a nerd and a teacher’s pet.

But I also wasn’t very nice. I rejected my peers because I thought I was smarter than they were. I never spent time with classmates outside of school. I corrected people’s grammar in public. I was the lowest rung on the food chain, and I knew it.

Now, as a junior in college, times have changed.

I go out occasionally, have friends, and have experienced massive psychological growth: I now no longer reject people outright and have stopped correcting people’s grammar. I have a healthy social life and meaningful relationships with peers across campus.

But I’m still not cool.

I am not a stylish politics major in Tower Club and I am not a model-esque athlete in Cannon Dial Elm Club. I’m not an artsy Bridge Year kid and I’m not in a sorority. I’m a history nerd whose goal is to visit every country in Central Asia by 2025. I bought my

glasses on sale at Walmart, and I can’t play sports to save my life. Again, I’m not cool.

The miserable high schooler in me wants to change these superficial things — join a sorority, become athletic, go out more — so those around me would consider me “cool.” But the burgeoning adult in me realizes that no one really cares.

Over the past years, I’ve come to realize that no one pays attention to you and your habits nearly as much as you think they do. They’re far more interested in their own lives.

Notwithstanding arbitrary categorizations of coolness, whether sister or teammate, there are plenty of people who will be friends with me. My status as a sister doesn’t affect them; what affects them, however, is my treatment of them as an individual.

Take eating clubs: I was extremely conf licted about joining a sign-in club, in large part because I thought it made me lame.

But now, as a proud member of Quadrangle Club, I’m very happy, have made excellent new friends, and lost no old ones. No one seems to care that I am “less cool” for joining.

They notice that I’m happy.

They stick around because

I’m kind, caring, and patient.

Does it sometimes bother me that I’m not “cool”?

Of course it does. There are days when I would give anything to be the type of person who fits in at Ivy Club or would rush Kappa Alpha Theta. But thinking with my grown-up brain, I’m pretty happy with myself. I have great friends, I enjoy my classes, and I’m learning and growing every day — with or without these superficial markers of popularity.

Other people don’t care either. My friends in other eating clubs seem to like me regardless of which one I’m in or what sorority I didn’t join. They’re not paying attention to these things, because they’re paying attention to how I listen to them, spend time with them, and make them feel valued. People don’t notice the things about you — they notice the things about them.

We’re young —and it’s normal to be preoccupied with our image. But other people aren’t. The “cool kids” in your head aren’t necessarily good friends or good listeners; they’re just the ones who do certain things that we’ve prescribed as “cool.” But the real cool kids are the ones who treat you well.

You won’t remember the stain on someone’s pants, and you won’t remember what eating club someone’s in. You’ll remember how someone gave you a hug on your bad day, and you’ll remember how someone listened to you during a conversation. Coolness might seem like it’s a measure of how much you drink or party or what eating club/ frat/sorority you’re in, but, in reality, it’s a measure of how you make people feel.

I often think back to my senior prom and how truly unpopular I was. Some of it is attributable to my not playing sports or partying, but mostly, it was because I wasn’t very nice. I didn’t value the people around me, but I’m happy to say that times have changed, at least in some ways. I guess I’m still not cool for my externalities — but I like to think that my friends think I am for how I make them feel. And I’m glad for that: Now I won’t have to ask my brother to be my date.

Leora Eisenberg is a junior from Eagan, Minn. She can be reached at leorae@princeton. edu.

This piece originally appeared in The Prospect, The Daily Princetonian’s online culture forum.

It’s time to Ban the Box SPEAR

Guest Contributor

Earlier this year, the Common Application announced to its member institutions that, starting in the 2019–20 admissions cycle, it will no longer ask applicants about their criminal history. The decision marks a major victory for the national civil rights campaign known as “Ban the Box,” which is focused on eliminating discrimination against people with conviction histories.

However, individual colleges and universities will still have the ability to put the checkbox asking whether an applicant has been “adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony” on his or her own application forms. Checking “yes” is understood to be grounds for highly probable, if not immediate, rejection, discouraging most students with conviction histories from even applying.

By the end of this academic year, the University must decide whether to follow the lead of the Common Application in banning the box. On Monday, Students for Prison Education and Reform (SPEAR) presented this issue at the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting and was

met with resistance from President Christopher Eisgruber ’83. We call upon University students to join the Ban the Box campaign in pressuring the University administration to keep questions about criminal convictions out of the undergraduate application supplement.

What is the importance of banning the box? The box perpetuates structural racism and classism in American society. By tying educational access to a fundamentally unfair and discriminatory criminal justice system, the box creates a formidable barrier to institutions of higher education that primarily impedes low-income and non-white students. Its presence on applications does not translate into increased safety on college campuses; it undermines the ability of qualified students to pursue their education if they are poor or people of color. For example, black and Hispanic men receive longer sentences than white men for the same drug offenses, and fewer than one in five low-income people living in the United States who are facing legal problems can also afford adequate legal representation.

Many proponents of the box argue that students with criminal records are dangerous, and that their

exclusion promotes the safety of the college community as a whole. Yet, according to a study conducted by the Center for Community Alternatives, colleges that do not collect or use criminal justice information are no less safe than colleges that do. Moreover, 96.7 percent of students who commit misdemeanors during their time at college have no prior conviction histories, while only 8.5 percent of students admitted with prior conviction histories go on to engage in misdemeanors. Finally, all 10 campuses belonging to the University of California, whose application does not ask about criminal records, have a lower rate of sexual misconduct than the University does.

Promoting campus safety through the construction of a safe community is of the utmost importance, but it has become clear that putting the box on college applications is not the way to do it.

Therefore, since poor and non-white people face more severe punishments for misdemeanors, more targeting from law enforcement officials, and less access to legal resources so disproportionately, conviction history ceases to be a useful or even meaningful metric of character, culpability,

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142ND MANAGING BOARD managing editors Isabel Hsu ’19 Sam Parsons ’19 head news editors Claire Thornton ’19 associate news editors Ariel Chen ’20 Ivy Truong ’21 associate news and film editor Sarah Warman Hirschfield ’20 head opinion editor Emily Erdos ’19 associate opinion editors Jon Ort ’21 Cy Watsky ’21 head sports editors David Xin ’19 Chris Murphy ’20 associate sports editors Miranda Hasty ’19 Jack Graham ’20 digital operations manager Sarah Bowen ’20 chief copy editors Marina Latif ’19 Arthur Mateos ’19 Catherine Benedict ’20 head design editor Rachel Brill ’19 cartoons editor Tashi Treadway ’19 head photo editor Risa Gelles-Watnick ’21

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or criminal tendency. Especially odious is the fact that prospective students with enough financial means can pay to expunge misdemeanors from their records, which gives them the ability to check “no” when presented with the box. It could not be more obvious that the box serves the function of a racial and socioeconomic collegiate gatekeeper more than anything else.

Lastly, educating people with criminal histories is one of the most effective measures that we can take to prevent recidivism, the rate of which is currently at around 75 percent in the United States. The University, an institution that declares itself to be “in the nation’s service and the service of humanity,” must reaffirm its commitment to equity, diversity, and educational accessibility by banning the box. The University, an institution that wields international prestige as one of the best and most well-known universities in the world, must also lead the ongoing fight against systemic discrimination by banning the box.

Students for Prison Education and Reform (SPEAR) is an undergraduate organization, established at the University in 2012, that educates, advocates, and agitates against mass incarceration.

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Opinion

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Architecture as antidote to digital fatigue Gabe Lipkowitz Columnist

We all know the feeling.

It’s one o’clock in the morning. You’ve been staring at your computer screen for hours writing an essay, sending emails, programming, or doing anything else in our lives as students for which we use our laptops. At some point you notice you’re growing tired. The screen’s brightness starts to hurt your eyes. The inconstancy of its images becomes tiresome. Its endless notifications are overwhelming.

There’s no point in trying altogether to avoid this “digital fatigue,” as I call it. Computers are too integral to our lives today. They provide faster and more efficient ways of communication, information storage, and learning.

I am no Luddite.

At the same time, it’s undeniable that there is something unsettling about spending hours and hours cut off from physical reality, immersed in a digital “environment.”

This is a problem we’ll be facing not only as students but in our working lives as well. The problem of digital fatigue confronting our generation demands a solution.

One fix many have proposed is a periodic return to nature. It’s a good one. Taking a walk in the woods, going on a hike,

swimming in a lake, or doing anything else in the natural world is rejuvenating and refreshing for the senses. One need not read Thoreau to appreciate this!

But let’s be realistic. In the hectic, busy life of a Princeton student during the semester, there’s simply not enough time.

Walking down to Lake Carnegie, let alone going on a hike or camping trip, is impractical. We need a more feasible solution to our problem of digital fatigue.

The answer, I propose, is something that already surrounds our daily activities and frames our indoor lives: architecture.

To demonstrate this, I’ll turn to a highly inf luential text on architectural theory: “De architectura” (“On Architecture”), written sometime between 30 and 15 B.C. by the Roman architect and engineer Marcus Vitruvius Pollio.

In it, Vitruvius articulates three fundamental elements of architecture, one of which is called “firmitatis.” Firmitatis roughly translates to commodity, stability, or solidity. Architecture, Vitruvius asserts, must have firmitatis to endure the elements: a building is nothing if it is not able to withstand the passage of time.

Firmitatis directly contrasts with the inconstancy of the computer screen. Whereas

everything on a screen is perpetually changing — you can move a “window” with a swipe of a finger, zoom in and out with the scroll of a mouse, create words and destroy them with the peck of a key — a well-designed structure stands for years, decades, even centuries. A building’s walls, its ceiling, its f loors are today what they were yesterday, and will be tomorrow what they are today. Not all buildings are fortresses (though Firestone Library does look like one), but compared to the f limsiness of the digital world, even the most ramshackle hut becomes a beautifully lasting creation.

A building’s firmitatis therefore stands in stark opposition to the sickening mutability of the screen, with important implications for our experience of the world that can rescue us from the digital world. I can think of three.

Firmitatis grounds us in a specific time and place.

When viewing our lives as framed by a physical structure, rather than a mutable screen, we are rooted in a particular, geographically specific location. On the screen we may browse a webpage created and constantly modified from across the world, but the physical space which we inhabit is very much particular to our own lives. It is our

home, it is our workplace, it is our place of social life.

Firmitatis allows us to observe the world more insightfully than is often possible on the screen.

When an object in the world remains for longer than a few seconds, even minutes, we can begin to see subtleties in it that are otherwise lost in the passage of time. In a building, we might see subtle details in the arrangement of certain features like its windows, its corners, its entryways. We might realize interesting patterns in the structure itself, like how its columns or its beams are arranged in space.

Firmitatis encourages us to think about the world in a more thoughtful way than we can on the screen.

When we think about an object that possesses permanence, we adopt a fundamentally different epistemology from the frenetic pace of thinking we must adopt when interacting with the computer.

It is a slower way of thinking, in which conclusions do not arise immediately from the click of a button but evolve from steady and persistent observation.

We become more patient, thinking about multifaceted questions like how elements in space relate to one another, how people move within space, and how space and objects delineate each other. These

Average vs. Super Tiger Zaza Asatiani ’21 ..................................................

questions invariably take time to answer, but architecture’s firmitatis affords us that time to gradually come to answers.

How then can we, as students, take advantage of architecture, and specifically its firmitatis, to relieve our digital fatigue?

Imagine yourself once again at your laptop at 1 a.m. You want a break. Instead of checking the news or going on Facebook, try standing up from your computer. Take a short walk in the building. Look at the walls, the ceiling, the f loor, the entryways.

Make one observation about something peculiar you notice. Then go back to work at your computer.

After another hour or so, when you need another break, stand up again. In all likelihood, the building hasn’t changed (thank you, firmitatis). Now, pick out another feature of the building. Think about how it relates to the one you found in the first walk around.

Contemplating a building in this way, I argue, is not just enjoyable. More importantly, such an exercise restores and reorients us to physicality and reality. Architecture — firmitatis — will liberate our generation from the chains of digital fatigue.

Gabe Lipkowitz is a senior concentrator in molecular biology. He can be reached at gel@princeton.edu.

The Daily Princetonian

page 6

Tuesday November 13, 2018

Sports

Tuesday November 13, 2018

page 6

{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }

MEN’S HOCKEY

No. 18 men’s hockey defeats No. 12 Union Dutchmen in ECAC Quarterfinal rematch

By Chris Murphy head Sports Editor

Last season, a showdown in the ECAC quarterfinals saw the Tigers (3–0–1 ECAC Hockey, 3–1–1 overall) down their conference foe Union (3–3–0, 7–3–1) as part of a miraculous run to the ECAC tournament title. Looking to extract revenge against Princeton, the No. 12 Dutchmen were turned away once again by the Tigers after junior defenseman Derek Topatigh scored in overtime to give Princeton a 4–3 win.

Facing two ECAC foes at Hobey Baker Rink this past weekend, the Tigers won both to remain unbeaten in ECAC play. Princeton won handily on Saturday night, defeating RPI (3–3–0, 6–3–0) 4–1 after jumping out to a three-goal lead in the first period. However, the marquis matchup occurred Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd as Princeton looked to extend its winning streak against Union to three. Prior to this past postseason’s pair of wins, the Tigers had only won once against the Dutchmen in the previous 19 meet-

ings.

Princeton defeated Union last year by playing scrappy defense and making the most of moments when it had the upper hand. It continued that trend to start Friday’s game, when senior forward Alex Riche converted a Princeton power play goal just two minutes into the game.

From there however, Union would dominate possession and shots on goal for the remainder of the period. Aside from a shot by senior captain Max Veronneau that went just wide of the net and an odd-man rush at the end of the period that resulted in no shots on goal, the Tigers could not find a way to sustain possession against the big, physical Dutchman defense. On the flip side, Union set up numerous plays at the Princeton end and converted twice on rebounds coughed up by sophomore goalie Ryan Ferland. At the end of the first, Princeton had tallied only five shots on goal compared to Union’s 15 and trailed 2–1.

Rallying in the second period, the Tigers scored just 57 seconds into the next frame

after senior forward Ryan Kuffner executed a perfect dangle to give him a wideopen goal. The goal was Kuffner’s fifth of the season, and after a two-goal performance on Saturday, the captain leads the team with seven goals in just five games. Tied at two apiece, Union looked poised to retake the lead after back-to-back Princeton penalties gave the Dutchmen a five-on-three opportunity for nearly 90 seconds. However, the Tiger defense stood tall and only gave up one shot on goal, which was stopped

by Ferland. It was the second great save in the period for Ferland, who earlier turned away a beautiful shot

by Union to keep the score knotted at 2–2. With multiple defensive stops and very few offensive chances, it looked as if the next team to convert would win the game.

However, defense gave way to offense in the third period, as what was once a gritty, slow-paced game turned into a face-paced contest between two teams looking to flex their offensive muscles. For the first time in the game, Princeton seemed to be put-

SHELLEY M. SZWAST (GPT)

Princeton celebrates on the ice after Topatigh’s game winning overtime goal vs. Union

ting continuous pressure on Union. Riche had an early opportunity to give Princeton the lead, but his wrist shot was saved by Union without a rebound. With 11:48 left, both teams received twominute minors; Princeton was called for hooking, while the Union victim was also sent to the penalty box for embellishment. The four-onfour opportunity gave the teams much more room to play, which the home team took full advantage of. Junior forward Jackson Cressey launched a wrist shot towards goal and freshman teammate Christian O’Neill redirected it past the Union goalie to give the Tigers a 3–2 lead. For O’Neill, it was his first career goal as a Tiger, and could not have come at a better time. Just a few minutes later, a shot trickled through the Union crease, but Princeton could not get a stick on what would have been an easy fourth goal.

Nonetheless, the Tigers were suddenly having their way with the Dutchman defense and looked poised to win the game in the third.

However, that plan was be foiled with under five minutes to play. Having played incredible defense throughout the period, the Tigers finally faced sustained pressure, and the congestion down low allowed Union to sneak a goal by Ferland, who never even saw it. Once again tied, Princeton had one last push with a flurry of offensive shots just as the final horn sounded; Union’s defense kept the Tigers at bay.

Treated with an instant regular season classic, the fans were gifted with free hockey in the form of overtime.

Princeton won overtime from the get-go, thanks to immense pressure on Union from the opening face-off.

After stealing the puck away, Topatigh wound up from the

blue line and fired a snipe past the Union goalie to end the game and send the Tigers storming onto the ice. For the first time since 2008, the Tigers had beaten Union in the regular season. Ferland — who had been incredible in the playoff run last season — stopped 33 shots in the Princeton victory and was one of the big reasons why the Tigers remain unbeaten in ECAC play.

The win over Union, coupled with the win over RPI, gives the Tigers an early season lead in the ECAC standings. Princeton is currently two games clear of secondplace Dartmouth in the loss column and as of the latest NCAA Coaches Poll, has climbed to No. 15 in the nation. Union, meanwhile, fell to fourth in the ECAC, behind RPI who already beat twice them this season. In the poll however, Union stood pat at No. 12.

For the Tigers, the game signals that they can contend with anyone in the ECAC and looked poised for a high seed in the postseason tournament. With the current third-best offense and fifthbest defense in the 12-team league, Princeton has so far passed both early season tests by tying Harvard (1–2– 2, 1–2–2) and besting Union.

The win also makes that second match against Union in February and a potential rematch in the ECAC tournament all the more riveting.

Up next for the Tigers is a weekend road trip, where they will take on Colgate (0– 1–1, 2–6–1) on Friday and Cornell (2–0–0, 4–2–0) on Saturday. Colgate has lost three in a row, while Cornell has rattled off four straight wins.

For Princeton, the showdown with Cornell pits the ECAC preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams against each other and will prove to be another crucial early season test.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

Women’s hockey sweeps Syracuse to remain atop the ECAC

By Owen Tedford

Senior Staff Writer

This past weekend, the women’s hockey team (4– 2–2 overall, 3–0–1 ECAC Hockey) traveled up to Syracuse, N.Y., to take on the Syracuse Orange (4–7–1) in two games. In the first game, on Saturday, a close affair ended in a 1–1 tie after overtime.

The game started quickly with each team scoring its goal in the first period, before the goalies turned into stonewalls defending the net. The Tigers’ sophomore goalie Rachel McQuigge was under pressure all game and played well, racking up 30 saves over the course of the game.

In the second game, on Sunday, Princeton jumped out to an early lead with two goals in the first period and never looked back, going on to win 5–3. The Orange never tied the game over

the next two periods, as the Tigers always found a way to respond whenever Syracuse closed the gap a single goal. Again, Princeton’s depth was on display as the Tigers’ five goals came from five different skaters: sophomore forward Sharon Frankel, freshman forward Maggie Connors, sophomore forward Sarah Verbeek, senior forward Karlie Lund, and senior defender Stephanie Sucharda. Verbeek also had the Tigers’ lone goal in their game on Saturday.

One skill that served Princeton well this past weekend was its ability to win face-offs. On Saturday, the Tigers won 46 of 62 draws, and they won 43 of 63 on Sunday.

“If you’re able to start the play with possession by winning the draw, you get a lot of momentum,” junior forward MacKenzie Ebel commented, regarding the Tigers’ success on

Tweet of the Day “NCAA bound: It’ll be Princeton at Michigan Thursday, winner to play Notre Dame” Princeton Men’s Soccer @TigerMensSoccer

face-offs.

This coming weekend, Princeton will return to its home ice at Hobey Baker Rink, where it looks to extend its unbeaten streak to eight. Since losing to No. 1 Wisconsin in the first two games of the season, the Tigers have yet to lose. Their games next weekend will see them return to conference play as well, with a game against Colgate (7–4–1, 3–1) at 6 p.m. on Friday evening and against No. 6 Cornell (4–1–2, 3–1) at 3 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Friday’s game is also when the Tigers will look to “Blackout Baker” and will be giving free T-shirts to the first 500 fans at the game. Ebel said that Princeton has “had some really exciting games against [Colgate]” in the past and expects this one to be no different.

These will be Princeton’s first games against ranked opponents since opening weekend. In ad-

dition, these games will be important for the Tigers as they try to maintain their conference lead.

They currently sit atop the standings with seven points so far, with Colgate, Cornell, and Quinnipiac (3–5–2, 3–1) all just behind them with six points each. Looking ahead fur-

ther, after a break for Thanksgiving, Princeton will play Quinnipiac in a home and away series the weekend of Nov. 30.

The next four games will definitely give the Tigers a good idea of where they stand in the conference as they face some of its best teams.

COURTESY OF SHELLEY M. SZWAST (GPT)

Freshman Maggie Connors tallied a goal and an assist in the 5–3 win over Syracuse

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Prior to Princeton’s win over Union Friday night, its last regular season win against the Dutchmen came on Nov. 15, 2008.