Archive – December, 2006
George recognized for outstanding contributions
Posted December 29, 2006; 12:00 a.m.
Robert George, the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, has been awarded the 2006 Sidney Hook Memorial Award by the National Association of Scholars in recognition of outstanding contributions to academic freedom and excellence.
Ebel named director of leadership gifts
Posted December 29, 2006; 12:00 a.m.
Liz Ebel, a development office staff member for the past three years, has been promoted to director of leadership gifts.
Schäfer chosen for Mellon award
Posted December 22, 2006; 02:12 p.m.
Peter Schäfer, the Ronald O. Perelman Professor of Judaic Studies at Princeton, has been selected by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as one of four winners of its Distinguished Achievement Awards.
'Rare Earth' author to deliver lectures, Jan 9-11
Posted December 21, 2006; 04:52 p.m.
Peter Ward, co-author of the bestselling book "Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe," will deliver a series of lectures at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 9-11, in McCosh 50.
King Day celebration focuses on music, Jan. 15
Posted December 21, 2006; 04:05 p.m.
The University will commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with its annual King Day celebration at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, in Richardson Auditorium of Alexander Hall.
Branker hits high note in leading jazz program
Posted December 21, 2006; 12:10 p.m.
Anthony D.J. Branker, director of Princeton’s jazz program, spent the fall 2005 semester helping the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre develop its jazz studies curriculum. For Branker, a 1980 Princeton graduate, the challenge hearkened back to his own return to campus in 1989.
As a music student at Princeton, Branker envisioned one day coming back to help transform the University’s small jazz program. He has fulfilled that goal by broadening course offerings, bringing in notable musicians to teach and perform with students, and entertaining audiences at Princeton and beyond with the award-winning University Jazz Ensembles.
Newsletter offers updates on campus events
Posted December 20, 2006; 01:03 p.m.
Monthly updates on performances and other events at venues across campus are now available through a new electronic newsletter offered by University Ticketing.
Suckewer wins prize for laser research
Posted December 20, 2006; 12:58 p.m.
The American Physical Society has selected Szymon Suckewer, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and co-director of the Program in Plasma Science and Technology, to receive the 2007 Arthur Schawlow Prize in Laser Science.
Gallo to receive MLA book award
Posted December 20, 2006; 12:50 p.m.
A book by Rubén Gallo, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese languages and cultures at Princeton, has been chosen for the Modern Language Association's Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize.
Princeton coaches and athletes to speak, Jan. 11
Posted December 18, 2006; 09:07 p.m.
The head coaches of four Princeton sports teams will discuss their programs at a luncheon set for noon Thursday, Jan. 11, in the Class of 1956 Lounge, Princeton Stadium.
Early admission offered to 597 students for class of 2011
Posted December 18, 2006; 04:00 p.m.
Princeton University has offered admission to 597 students from a pool of 2,276 high school seniors who applied through early decision for the class of 2011.
Three faculty members selected as AAAS fellows
Posted December 18, 2006; 12:57 p.m.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has selected three Princeton faculty members as fellows in recognition of their "efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished."
Student sows seeds of community-helping technology in Africa
Posted December 18, 2006; 10:40 a.m.
Since her arrival at Princeton, junior Ishani Sud has made a difference by thinking inside the box. Not just any box, but rather a solar-powered oven she designed her freshman year with classmate Lauren Wang, under the guidance of Wole Soboyejo, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Powered by the sun’s energy and constructed with locally available materials, the ovens can be built and used in developing nations, thereby allowing advancement while preserving the environment and local economies. In many communities, the ovens could slow deforestation that results from harvesting wood for cooking fires.
Living coral reefs provide better protection from tsunami waves
Posted December 15, 2006; 03:36 p.m.
Healthy coral reefs provide their adjacent coasts with substantially more protection from destructive tsunami waves than do unhealthy or dead reefs, a Princeton University study suggests.
Letter to the editor of the Providence Journal
Posted December 15, 2006; 03:20 p.m.
A slightly altered version of this letter to the editor was published in the Dec. 15, 2006, Providence Journal:
Your editorial “unaccountable nonprofits” seriously mischaracterized the lawsuit that was brought against Princeton University four and a half years ago by descendants of Marie Robertson, who donated $35 million to Princeton in 1961.
Palestinian diplomat to speak, Jan. 15
Posted December 15, 2006; 11:18 a.m.
Afif Safieh, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization Mission to the United States , will offer his perspective on the relationship between Palestine and Israel in a lecture at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, in Dodds Auditorium of Robertson Hall. The free event is open to the public and hosted by the Department and Program in Near Eastern Studies.
Princeton is top finisher in genetic machines contest
Posted December 14, 2006; 06:23 p.m.
A Princeton-led team of students who are programming stem cells to treat diabetes ranked third in the world in a recent competition to build working “genetic machines” out of DNA building blocks.
Winter Holiday Festival celebrates world cultures
Posted December 14, 2006; 11:20 a.m.
Music, food and crafts celebrating holiday traditions from around the globe filled the Frist Campus Center at the annual Winter Holiday Festival on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Nassau Street entrance closed, Dec. 15-Jan. 2
Posted December 13, 2006; 11:25 a.m.
The Nassau Street entrance to campus for vehicles will be closed during University's winter recess, from 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, until 7 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Ronald Kinchla, longtime professor of psychology, dies
Posted December 12, 2006; 03:25 p.m.
Ronald Kinchla, who introduced generations of Princeton students to the science of psychology as a legendary teacher of "Psychology 101," died Dec. 8 at his home in Princeton from a heart condition. He was 72.
Two seniors win Sachs award to study in Europe
Posted December 11, 2006; 03:45 p.m.
Joshua Goldsmith and Emily Stolzenberg, two seniors with extensive backgrounds in foreign languages and cultures, have been named recipients of the 2007 Daniel M. Sachs Class of 1960 Graduating Scholarship, one of the highest awards given to Princeton undergraduates.
Kakinuma creates massive artwork for campus-wide use
Posted December 11, 2006; 11:45 a.m.
Koji Kakinuma, a renowned calligrapher and lecturer in Princeton's Department of East Asian Studies, exhibited the Japanese art of calligraphy known as Shodo in a performance titled "Tygers" on Saturday, Dec. 9, on the south lawn of the Frist Campus Center.
Talk on pension reform canceled, Dec. 13
Posted December 11, 2006; 09:15 a.m.
A talk by Guillermo Larrain Rios, superintendent of pension funds for the government of Chile from 2003 to 2006, set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, has been canceled.
French theater workshop to perform, Dec. 13
Posted December 7, 2006; 04:17 p.m.
L'Atelier, Princeton's French theater workshop, will present "Fragments VI," a student recital of scenes from classical French theater, at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in the Matthews Acting Studio, 185 Nassau St.
Alumnus funds pedestrian bridge to link two sides of campus
Posted December 7, 2006; 12:26 p.m.
Real estate executive John Harrison Streicker, a member of Princeton's class of 1964, has given the University a gift to fund the construction of its new pedestrian bridge, which will link the two halves of the southern part of campus separated by Washington Road.
Clothing drive, other activities planned
Posted December 6, 2006; 03:03 p.m.
Members of the University community will have the opportunity to share the holiday spirit through a clothing drive and several other community service initiatives being coordinated through the Office of Community and Regional Affairs.
Award-winning poet to read, Dec. 11
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:55 p.m.
Award-winning poet and author Ralph Angel will read from his translation of the works of Frederico García Lorca at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, in 219 Burr Hall.
Lecture focuses on survey interviews, Dec. 11
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:50 p.m.
A lecture titled "Envisioning the Survey Interview of the Future" is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, in 16 Robertson Hall.
Audience invited to join in 'Messiah' sing, Dec. 11
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:46 p.m.
The University community is invited to celebrate the holiday season by singing Handel's "Messiah" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, in the University Chapel.
Winter Holiday Festival planned at Frist, Dec. 13
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:42 p.m.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to celebrate the winter season at the Frist Campus Center's annual Winter Holiday Festival from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13.
Post-midterm politics is topic, Dec. 13
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:36 p.m.
"The Midterm Elections of 2006 and the Future of American Politics" is the topic of a lecture set for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in 6 Friend Center.
Talk set on pension reform, Dec. 13
Posted December 6, 2006; 02:29 p.m.
The former head of Chile's much-studied pension system will speak at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, in 16 Robertson Hall.
Memorial service planned for Junker, Dec. 16
Posted December 6, 2006; 01:32 p.m.
A memorial service is planned for Saturday, Dec. 16, for Dr. Margaret Junker, known for her pioneering role as the University's first female physician after it became a coeducational institution.
Four seniors named Marshall Scholars
Posted December 5, 2006; 11:35 a.m.
Princeton seniors Tamara Broderick, Neir Eshel, Tianhui (Michael) Li and P.G. Sittenfeld have been awarded 2007 Marshall Scholarships for graduate study in England. They are among 43 students from U.S. colleges and universities to win the prestigious awards, which cover the cost of living and studying at a British university of the recipient's choice for two or three years.
Kakinuma to give art performance, Dec. 9
Posted December 4, 2006; 04:54 p.m.
Koji Kakinuma, a renowned calligrapher and lecturer in Princeton's Department of East Asian Studies, will exhibit the Japanese art of calligraphy known as Shodo in a performance titled "Tygers" at noon Saturday, Dec. 9, on the south lawn of the Frist Campus Center.
Labyrinth bookstore to open in Princeton as Micawber closes
Posted December 4, 2006; 12:30 p.m.
Labyrinth Books, one of the nation's leading scholarly bookstores, will open a store in Princeton in the fall of 2007 in the Nassau Street property currently occupied by Foot Locker, and the Princeton University Store will open a satellite apparel and insignia store on Nassau Street in space currently occupied by The Children's Place and Micawber Books. These moves follow a decision by the owners of Micawber Books to sell their business to the University after 25 years serving the Princeton community.
Seeing culture through technology and technology through culture
Posted December 4, 2006; 11:16 a.m.
It was 7:30 on a recent Wednesday evening and nine freshmen were taking their seats in Room 121 of Forbes College while Szymon Rusinkiewicz, assistant professor of computer science, displayed their art projects for the week on a wide screen. The students’ inspirations may have been great painters like Braque, Dali and Hockney, but their canvas was a computer and their palette Photoshop, version 8.0.
Promising scholar Ricardo Krauel dies at age 40
Posted December 4, 2006; 10:53 a.m.
Ricardo Krauel, an emerging scholar of modern Spanish poetry and gender studies, died Nov. 22 in Princeton at age 40 after a battle with cancer. Krauel had been an assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese languages and cultures at Princeton since 1998.
Two groups honor Smits for his contributions
Posted December 1, 2006; 03:49 p.m.
Alexander Smits, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will receive two major awards in 2007 for his work on turbulence and fluid mechanics.
Meryl Streep talks about the 'mysterious' art of acting
Posted December 1, 2006; 12:03 p.m.
"I'm here under false pretenses," actress Meryl Streep told a packed crowd at Princeton University on Nov. 30. "My achievement, if you can call it that, is that I've basically pretended to be extraordinary people my entire life, and now I'm being mistaken for one."The Academy Award-winning actress was invited to Princeton as the Belknap Visitor in the Humanities, a program that brings distinguished writers and artists to campus for one or two days to interact with students, faculty and members of the community. The program was created in memory of Chauncey Belknap of the class of 1912, and the event was presented by Princeton's Council of the Humanities.