Social Resources and Opportunities for Involvement

At Princeton there are numerous resources and opportunities for getting involved, including many of special interest to students of color. Students are encouraged to participate in student government, clubs, and organizations, which provide excellent opportunities for leadership development and for service.

Undergraduate Student Government

Members of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) are elected by their fellow students. They help develop University policy and are responsible for sponsoring a variety of programs and activities benefiting undergraduates. The purposes of the USG are to:

  • • serve as the representative of the undergraduates of Princeton University to the faculty, administration, and trustees of the University;
  • • represent the undergraduates of Princeton University to persons or groups outside of the University whenever such representation is called for;
  • • exercise leadership in all activities affecting the life of the undergraduates of Princeton University;
  • • provide services for the University and members of the University community; and
  • • discuss, deliberate, and vote on any question relating to or affecting undergraduate life at Princeton University, or any other question of interest to the undergraduates. (www.princeton.edu/usg)

USG organization

Student Senate. This is the official caucus of the USG. The voting members include seven executive officers, six senators, and 10 U-councilors (members of the Council of the Princeton University Community). The senate meets every two weeks to discuss campus issues and upcoming events.

Core Committees. These are the Academic Committee, the Undergraduate Life Committee, the Social Committee, and the Campus and Community Affairs Committee.

Members of the Undergraduate Life Committee meet monthly with the vice president for campus life and faculty to review policies and make recommendations regarding nonacademic life. The Academic Committee represents undergraduates in matters of academic policy and offers academic-related services, such as the Student Course Guide, to the undergraduate student body. The Social Committee sponsors a wide variety of social events for undergraduates. The Campus and Community Affairs Committee works to improve town-gown relations.

University-wide committees also offer interesting and important opportunities for leadership development, as well as the chance to be involved in University governance and to work with faculty and administrators. Students serve as representatives on departmental committees and on judicial committees (the Committee on Discipline, the Honor Committee, the Judicial Committee of the Council of the Princeton University Community), and on other standing committees of the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC). More information on the CPUC and its committees is available in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities.

The Projects Board. The Projects Board makes grants and loans of more than $30,000 each semester for University-recognized student organizations.

Class Officers. In April, each returning class elects a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and social chair. They are mostly responsible for coordinating social and service activities for the class they represent. Elections for the freshman class officers will be held in October. If you are interested in running for office or serving on any of the various USG or class committees, consult the USG Web page for information regarding elections and committee appointments.

Also, each residential college has an elected college council, whose members propose allocations of student activity funds, plan trips and study breaks, and organize cultural activities within their respective colleges.

Clubs and Organizations

The USG recognizes more than 250 student organizations. For a complete listing of organizations and how to form a new one, check www.princeton.edu/odus/student_organizations.

In addition to the organizations listed below, students frequently organize ad hoc, one-time-only programs such as conferences and symposia, often in response to current events. Students who are interested in such opportunities should contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. (258-5750)

Academic and Career

  • • Minority Business Association
  • • National Society of Black Engineers
  • • Paideia
  • • Pre-Med Society
  • • Princeton Achievement Alliance
  • • Society of Women Engineers

Ethnic/Cultural and Identity-Based

  • • Acción Latina y Amigos
  • • Akwaaba
  • • Arab Society
  • • Asian Pacific American Heritage Council
  • • Asian American Students Association
  • • Black Student Union
  • • Black History Month Planning Committee
  • • Carl A. Fields Center Governance Board
  • • Chicano Caucus
  • • Chinese Students Association
  • • Filipino Association of Princeton
  • • Hawaii Club of Princeton
  • • Hellenic Students Association
  • • Hillel (Center for Jewish Life)
  • • Hong Kong Students Association
  • • International Students Association
  • • Ismaili Students Association
  • • Japanese Club, Princeton
  • • Korean American Student Organization
  • • Latino Heritage Month Committee
  • • Multi-Ethnic Student Alliance
  • • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
  • • National Council of Negro Women
  • • Native Americans at Princeton
  • • Organizacion Latino America
  • • Organization of Women Leaders
  • • Persian Society of Princeton
  • • Polish Club
  • • Pride Aliance
  • • Princeton Association of Black Women
  • • Russian Club
  • • Singapore Society
  • • South Asian Students Association
  • • Southeast Asia Society
  • • Taiwanese-American Students Association
  • • Thai American Student Organization
  • • Turkish Students Association
  • • Vietnamese Students Association

The Arts

  • • Ballet Folklorico de Princeton
  • • Black Arts Company
  • • Culturally Yours
  • • Gospel Ensemble
  • • Princeton Shakespeare Company
  • • Princeton South Asian Theatrics
  • • Princeton Triangle Club
  • • Princeton Undergraduate Musicians Association
  • • Kruller
  • • The Prism
  • • Quipfire!
  • • Theatre Intime

Service

  • • Black Men’s Awareness Group
  • • Black Student Union
  • • Ghana Education Project
  • • LAMP
  • • Onyx
  • • Oxfam America
  • • Princeton University Mentor Program

(This list represents just a sampling of student organizations.)

Alumni Associations

Association of Black Princeton Alumni (ABPA). ABPA intends to strengthen the relationships among all African Americans and people of color within the Princeton University community through networking, mentoring, and fostering of a sense of community and mutual support. For more information on ABPA programs and activities, please visit: www.princeton-abpa.org.

Asian American Alumni Association of Princeton (AAAAP). AAAAP serves the needs of Asian American and Asian alumni and students and the broader Princeton community by bringing greater focus to topics related to Asian American and Asian affairs. For more information on AAAAP, please visit: www.a4princeton.org.

Fund for Reunion/Princeton BTGALA. The Fund for Reunion is the Bisexual, Transgendered, Gay and Lesbian Alumni (BTGALA) association of Princeton. It was founded in 1986 and has been active ever since as a voice for the students and alumni of the University. Through activities both on and off campus, the BTGALA is devoted to improving the quality of life for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people at Princeton University and to strengthening their ties as alumni with each other and with the University. More information is available at: alumni.princeton.edu/~ffr-gala/.

Latino Alumni Association of Princeton (LAAP). The mission of LAAP is to support and enhance the role and presence of Latinos at all levels of the University community, including students, faculty, and administration, and to build an effective Latino alumni network. For more information on LAAP, please visit: www.princetonlatinos.org.

top | July 2007