Web Exclusives: PawPlus

July 6, 2005:

Voices of Reunions 2005: ‘Princeton is a very important home for me’

A selection of quotes heard at various locations during Reunions 2005:

Charlie Rose ’50, grand marshal of the P-rade, speaking to Old Guard members at lunch: “You are the rock upon which our tradition is based. … Take all the time you need [getting through P-rade] – you’ve earned it.”

Silvia Bennet w’30, at the Old Guard luncheon: “I married the place [Princeton] in 1941.”

Ronnie Baldwin ’05: “I don’t want to leave it [Princeton]. I love it all.”

Cora Monroe ’80, who traveled from Puerto Rico, where she teaches French literature and language at the University of Puerto Rico, to stay in 222 Dodge-Osborne, her room for three years at college: “Princeton is a very important home for me. All the good and bad habits I had here, I still have.”

Shelley deButts ’80: “The goofy costumes take all the pretension and materialism away.”

Arnold Hyndman ’74, professor and dean of Livingston College at Rutgers University, speaking at a panel discussion sponsored by the Program in Teacher Preparation: “I happen to believe that in the best spirit of Princeton in the nation’s service, education is a high calling.”

Professor Stanley Katz, at a panel on alumni-student collaborations to promote public service: “This university has entered a new era. The Tilghman era is a very exciting era … there is more risk-taking. Things are being shaken up, and that’s a good thing.”

Gary Bass, professor of politics and international affairs, reacting to the array of Reunions jackets worn by alumni during a panel on the Princeton Project on National Security: “It’s great to welcome you all here. It looks like some sort of freedom rally in the Ukraine.”

Ralph Nader ’55, speaking about his class’ decision to launch Princeton Project 55: “I’m very proud of our class … Imagine if a thousand classes around the country, 30 years out [from graduation], did the same thing. There would be an immeasurable strengthening of our democracy.”

Paul Sigmund, professor of politics, emeritus, at the “Tribute to Teaching” dinner sponsored by the Association of Princeton Graduate alumni: “Many things have changed for the better [since I arrived at Princeton]. But other things have changed for the worse. Students used to wear gowns to dinner, and we had high table. … Maybe we can bring that back.”