November 13, 2017

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Monday November 13, 2017 vol. CXLI no. 100

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USG discusses resolution on Puerto Rico

By Jacob Gerrish contributor

The Undergraduate Student Government discussed potential changes to the academic year and the possibility of a resolution on Puerto Rico along with other issues in its weekly meeting Nov. 12.

In response to the effects of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on Puerto Rico, U-Councilor Diego Negrón-Reichard ’18 brought forth the prospect of a USG resolution on the disaster.

He has decided to put to a vote on Nov. 19 a request that the University admit a select number of university students in Puerto Rico for the 2018 spring term at no cost.

According to Negrón-Reichard, the adoption of this resolution by the University would have an “impact on people’s lives and futures.”

Peer institutions, including Cornell University, Brown, and New York University, have all agreed to receive, tuition-free, over 50 Puerto Rican students for the 2018 spring semester.

This policy is precedented in the enrollment of 24 Tulane University students at the University tuition-free following Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

However, other members articulated objections to Negrón-Reichard’s proposal on the grounds that unilateral resolutions from the Senate to the University administration have often backfired and that the desired expansion of such a program to ONLINE

Mexico and the U.S. Virgin Islands would ultimately prove unfeasible. Members discussed issues of housing accommodations and culture shock.

“We have to be pragmatic in terms of how many resources the University will be willing to spend and pick our battles,” U-Councilor Ethan Marcus ’18 said.

Deputy Dean of the College Elizabeth Colagiuri and Calendar Committee and Academics Committee members Olivia Ott ’20 and Connor Pfeiffer ’18 presented a new update on the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on Calendar Reform.

Pfeiffer is a member of The Daily Princetonian editorial board.

Composed of faculty members, two undergraduate students, and one graduate student, the Calendar Committee plans to conduct surveys in January after gathering feedback in the preceding months. In March, it hopes to submit a definitive proposal to the Faculty Advisory Committee on Policy.

“If we were to get a calendar approved at the end of this academic year by the faculty, I anticipate we would have another two years under the current calendar before the new calendar would go into effect,” Colagiuri said.

In stark contrast to the University’s calendar, peer institutions start in late August or early September and end the first semester in DeSee USG page 2

STUDENT LIFE

Video of U. Film Festival

PAJ hosts DACA day of action

seniorwriter

contributor

High school students from across the country came to the University for the inaugural Princeton University Film Festival (PUFF) held on Nov. 11. The all-day event featured talks by producers, including Jay Stern and Vicki Horwitz, TV executives such as Armando Polanco and Mark Kang, workshops, panels, and screenings of students’ work.

PUFF received over 250 film submissions from high school students. The 60 accepted films were run all day in Guyot 010 and McCormick 101.

“It’s an amazing event that brings together over 100 kids from high schools from as far away as Texas and Iowa and North Carolina to meet with professionals in the industry, ranging from producers of hit TV, movies, and Broadway shows to photographers and performers,” said Ryan Ozminkowski ‘19, director and founder of PUFF. “In the years to come, we hope to make it one of the most exciting entertainment conferences on the east coast that brings together the best of academia and professionalism,” he added.

For video coverage of the event, go to dailyprincetonian.com

Students from a broad array of progressive groups on campus came together to rally behind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy on a Day of Action on Nov. 10.

“Today is about two things: One, showing Princeton students that they have the capacity to effect change as citizens and individuals, and two, supporting our fellow DACA students who are directly affected by the current administration’s attempts at terminating the program,” said Diego Negrón-Reichard ’18, treasurer of the Princeton Advocates for Justice. “This current political time demands active engagement.”

The event was hosted by PAJ and many partners, including the Asian American Students Association, Princeton DREAM Team, the Whig Party, Princeton Latinos y Amigos, and several others.

The event was held in response to the Trump Administration’s Sept. 5 decision to end the Obama-era program, which shields young, un-

By Sarah Warman Hirshfield

In Opinion

By Benjamin Ball

See DACA page 3

Senior columnist Max Grear denounces President Eisgruber’s bid for Amazon’s HQ2, and contributing columnist Dora Zhao analyzes the unequal power structures in academia. PAGE 6–7

ON CAMPUS

VICTOR HUA :: PRINCETONIAN NEWS STAFF

Zack O’Malley Greenburg talked about the economics of being famous.

TEDxPrincetonU hosts diverse discussions at U.

By Victor Hua contributor

How can we optimize the happiness of others, given that our actions directly contribute to the well-being of those in need, through traveling? Why are male athletes perceived to be aggressive and arrogant? How much do we really know about marijuana? Questions like these were posed at TEDxPrincetonU, which featured speakers from different backgrounds and disciplines on Nov. 11.

TEDxPrincetonU, which was started in 2010, brings together a panel of professors, undergraduates, graduates, entrepreneurs, and researchers, from both within and outside of the University community, to speak about topics ranging from drug policy and the economy to the implications of language

and the effects of television in today’s culture. This year’s theme was “Panoptic,” chosen to reflect the event’s goal to promote creative discussion on a variety of topics.

The first session, which featured the first four speakers, followed immediately after an introductory video explaining the purpose of TEDx talks.

Sociology professor Matthew Salganik gave the first presentation, “Beyond Big Data.” According to Salganik, there exist two types of data in the research world. Custom-made data is collected from research and surveys conducted specifically for the purposes of a social study, whereas ready-made data exists in many forms that are frequently overlooked as useful information. He went on to explain that ready-made data, though currently an un-

tapped resource, is up to ten times faster and fifty times cheaper to collect than custom-made data. In the future, he said, both will be utilized for social research.

“Companies are potentially sitting on lots of valuable information that they are not currently utilizing,” said Salganik. “Big data sources can help address important social problems.”

Christoph Winter’s talk focused on “The Ethics of Traveling.” While today’s travel industry generates most of its capital from wealthier countries like France, he claims that travelers should frequent low-income countries more often, since they would benefit more from the same revenue based on scientific models relating money and happiness. He encouraged travel to low-income counSee TEDX page 5

ON CAMPUS

HackPrinceton brings 600 programmers to campus

By Nick Shashkini contributor

Seven hundred developers and designers from colleges and universities across the continent attended HackPrinceton from Nov. 10 to 12.

The hackathon involved a 36hour period in which teams of up to four students worked on both software and hardware projects.

“The goal for the weekend is to just to meet other people in the tech industry who are passionate about tech, learn new things, and take the initiative to do something you might not have done before,” explained David Fan ’19, co-director of HackPrinceton. But competing for the various prizes up

for grabs isn’t the event’s only allure. The event also has plenty of food options and extra activities like therapy dogs and soccer darts.

The hackathon, a marathon event for software and hardware project creation, was sponsored by well-known tech firms including Microsoft and Facebook, which offered workshops and prizes for projects.

The winners in each of the categories hailed from several schools besides the University.

GoWithTheFlow, a project by Anna Verkhovskaya, Corbin McElhanney, and Morris Chen, students at the University of Waterloo, that applies deep learning to calculate traffic flow won the Best Overall award as well as the Best Ma-

Today on Campus 4:30 p.m.: Council of the Princeton University Community meeting open to entire University community. Submit questions to cgage@princeton.edu by noon. Friend Center 101

chine Learning Hack and the Amazon Web Services — Best Use of AWS category. According to its project description, GoWithTheFlow is an open source app that allows users to input a video and analyze the flow of objects within it.

The software calculates the number of objects in motion between entry points in the frame. The group claims that this could have useful applications in event hosting, as organizers may benefit from extra information regarding crowd flow.

The Audience Choice and Best Hack for Social Good awards went to TranslatAR, an AR app by Jon Zhang ’18, Nicholas Jiang ’18, and Aravind YeduSee HACKATHON page 3

WEATHER

STUDENT LIFE

HIGH

45˚

LOW

31˚

Showers chance of rain:

70 percent

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The Daily Princetonian

Monday November 13, 2017

USG considers revision to academic calendar USG

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cember. Additionally, final exams and reading periods for peer institutions take place before winter break instead of after.

Adjusting the academic year could create the possibility of a wintersession, a flexible two-week space in January. This period would allow for classes to bridge two interconnected courses, workshops on such subjects as the programming language R, student research, travel, and service.

In addition, the lengths of the fall break, reading period, and final exams also remain in consideration. If the exam week shortens, students may need to take more than one exam in 24 hours. Nonetheless, Colagiuri asserts that the Calendar Committee understands “how many conflicts that would create.”

Questions soon emerged on the delays in the modifications to the academic calendar.

“I must admit I am a little frustrated with this process,” Marcus said. “Why do we need another three months of town halls and another set of surveys?”

Ott maintained that because the calendar has existed in its current form since 1939, the air of tradition has contributed to the process’s

stagnation. According to Ott, much of the faculty opposes any shifts in calendar format.

“It is an exercise in persuading people,” added Colagiuri.

Furthermore, as well as approving the creation of Alpha Omega Ministry, Classics Club, Filipinos Living in Princeton, Hoop Zine, Princeton MedHack, Princeton Student Veteran Alliance, and Princeton University Physics Competition, the Senate voted to confirm George Rettaliata ’21, Yousef Elzalabany ’20, and Sara Hailu ’21 to the Academics Committee and Kevin Liu ’18 to the Honor Constitution Review Committee.

Although the Senate decided to postpone a vote on an amendment regarding leadership and membership to the Subcommittee on Eating Club Diversity, the Senate did successfully deliberate on the addition of a bus for the Boston route this Thanksgiving. The possible future movement of printers from low-traffic areas to high-traffic locations is also now in progress after some positive discussions with the Office of Information Technology.

The vote to call for the University’s admission of Puerto Rican students tuition-free next semester will take place at the next USG meeting on Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

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The Daily Princetonian

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Best machine learning Negrón-Reichard: Students must be at project analyzed traffic forefront of protecting people’s rights HACKATHON Continued from page 1

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vaka ’18 that translates speech in real time and displays subtitles using augmented reality technology. DeepSquat, a project by Arjun Subramaniam ’21 and Seyoon Ragavan ’21, won the Best Health/Environment Hack category for creating a program that provides feedback on the user’s squatting technique. The award for the Best First-Time Hack went to DeVote, a project by Michael Man ’21 and Bevin Benson ’21 that facilitates decentralized, anonymous voting. All of these projects were by University students.

This semester’s HackPrinceton was similar to past editions, though it attracted more participants than recent ones. As in previous years, the event was entirely organized by around 30 undergraduate students.

Mentors from companies or other graduate students from all over the country are also a major part of the hackathon.

“If participants have any issue with a technicality in their program, want to discuss ideas, or just have questions about the tech industry, we have mentors who can help with that,” said Jason Qu ’21, a member of the operations team in charge of finding mentors.

According to co-director Elizabeth Tian ’19, the format involves 10 finalists that are evaluated by a panel of five judges who will pick the best overall project. But there’s an abundance of other categories, such as Biggest Failure to Launch, Best Hardware Hack, and Social Good Hack, the latter of which is awarded to the team that has a project that benefits society the most.

The organizing team’s impressions have been positive.

Organizers said they think that the presentation this year has been more polished than in previous iterations, and information on prizes and other details was better communicated to potential participants.

The hackathon accommodates newcomers with less experience, and even those who

have been afraid of venturing into the competitive world of tech. There are starter kits available, which include relatively simple programming languages, as well as suggestions for projects.

“HackPrinceton gives people a chance to get practical experience, so those who are scared of getting into the tech industry can go to a Hackathon and feel as though they’ve achieved something meaningful,” Tian said.

A number of visiting students from other universities have positively commented on the event. “I don’t know if it’s the space, or the way the buildings are set up … but I think [Princeton’s hackathon] out of all the ones we’ve gone to, including Harvard’s, definitely has a much nicer feeling,” says Tyler Goulski, a graduate of Bridgewater State University.

“I like the size, it feels about just right,” added Eric Wang, a senior at Swarthmore College.

Other firms involved in the hackathon include Stdlib, Ark. io, D.E. Shaw & Co., Facebook, Microsoft, Two Sigma, Capital One, Hudson River Trading, Wolfram, Mixmax, Qualtrics, and Soylent.

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documented children of immigrants to the United States from deportation. The University and its affiliates stood in support of DACA soon after the decision was made and responded promptly, including with a letter by President Eisgruber urging Congress to pass legislation to protect undocumented immigrants. The University itself is suing the administration to preserve DACA, and explicitly promoted the Day of Action on its social media.

Following PAJ’s model from last year, students gathered in Frist 302 for the event and were given a variety of ways through which to contact their representatives in Congress.

Students could write letters, personally call and leave a message, or email their Congress members directly. Students were given sample scripts and contact information so that they could clearly and succinctly convey their beliefs to their representatives.

“What I hope people realize

is how dehumanizing the current climate has been in regards to not only DREAMers but other undocumented immigrants and refugees,” said María José Solorzano ’20, co-president of the Princeton DREAM team.

“The xenophobic rhetoric has blinded us from really looking at what America’s true values are, trying to make a better opportunity for the immigrants that come.”

The event was for more than just students, however. Faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the University and town community were all joined together in the common effort.

“I’m here personally because my parents were immigrants, and I grew up with a lot of immigrants,” said Noemi de la Puente GS ’86. “It breaks my heart that just because a kid doesn’t have papers they don’t have a path to citizenship.” De la Puente is a member of Princeton Progressives, an alumni group dedicated to supporting the progressive activities of University graduate and undergraduate students on campus. “We don’t want to create this brain drain; we don’t want to create an underclass,” she

said. “I’m here to give a voice to them.”

The various student groups sought to make the best use of the resources they had not only as citizens, but members of the University in particular, to make their voices heard.

“As Princeton students, we have a lot of resources on this campus, in our education, the things we’re able to do,” said Soraya Morales Nunez ’18, cofounder of PAJ. “This is a really pivotal moment in our country’s history. To show support is a responsibility. We need to support the University’s unofficial motto, and this is a way to do it.”

Above all, the Day of Action emphasized student involvement in the democratic process.

Staying involved, Negrón-Reichard emphasized, is key for every member of a democracy, and for students in particular.

“We have to be constantly engaged to ensure we don’t take a step back,” added Negrón-Reichard. “That requires a lot from our students, but they can do it. Students have to be at the forefront of any resistance when it comes to protecting people’s rights.”

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Monday November 13, 2017

Campus waste audit: Students sort through trash NOSHIN KHAN :: PRINCETONIAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

EcoReps invited members of the campus community to join them in sorting through recycling in the landfill bags from across campus. The waste audit measured and analyzed U. waste streams. Volunteers calculated the percentage of recylables that were found in landfill bags. The resulting data will be used to improve U. recycling rate.

The Daily Princetonian

Monday November 13, 2017

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Sergio Marrero discussed his startup journey to increasing access to higher education.

Topics included Muslim TV characters, tourism, procrastination TEDX

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tries, emphasizing that travelers will be more inclined to empathize with those in poverty and will be more likely to take action.

Melana Hammel ‘18 gave the next presentation, “What Slay and Swagger Reveal about the World of Athletics,” which involved the use of slang such as, “slay,” and, “swagger,” to describe social constructs such as the dynamic female image in athletics and hypermasculinity.

“Slay is used to represent the evolution of the dynamic female athlete identity,” Hammel said. “But we need to shift the focus onto the static male athlete identity that entails aggression, homophobia, and emotional detachment.”

Kevin Sabet gave a presentation about the legalization and criminalization of drugs like marijuana. Sabet, director of the Drug Policy Institute and professor at the University of Florida, discussed the culture around these issues among young people. In his presentation, “The False Dichotomy of Legalization and Criminalization,” Sabet discussed how younger generations view marijuana use as completely safe despite the lack of sufficient research to draw any concrete conclusions. There are striking similarities between the commercialization of tobacco during the rise of the tobacco industry and marijuana today, according to Sabet. He asserted that commercialization of marijuana needs to slow down until further research can shed light on its true psychological and physical effects.

“Right now, there is a massive industry with special interest lobbyists that see this [marijuana] as their next big way of getting rich,” Sabet said. “We shouldn’t fall into a dangerous, false dichotomy that our only two choices of dealing with the situation are legalization or criminalization.”

The second session also included a range of diverse speakers, including Anhar Karim ‘18, who explored the misrepresentations of Muslims on television in his talk, “You are What You Watch.”

Another speaker, Zack O’Malley Greenburg, a senior

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editor of media and entertainment at Forbes Magazine, discussed how celebrities attain their Hollywood status and how others can learn from their success in his presentation, “Stardust: Making the Fame Economy Work for You.” Several talks in the second half addressed concerns specific to the academic environment, such as Nic Voge’s presentation. As senior associate director of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning, Voge explored the complicated history of procrastination in students and how people can break the habit in his talk, “Self Worth Theory: The Hidden Key to Understanding and Overcoming Procrastination.”

Simon Cullen, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, questioned traditional classroom learning and discussion in his presentation, “Are We Hearing the Best Ideas at the Table?” and Sergio Marrero, an entrepreneur, facilitator, and researcher, spoke about the diminishing value of a college degree and the importance of other educational factors in his talk, “The Degree is Dead.”

Jack Miron ‘21 found the event particularly intriguing.

“I enjoyed all of the talks, as they covered some very interesting topics,” Miron said.

“It’s important that more people can hear the viewpoints presented in TED talks, and they’re great for communicating complex problems to people who don’t have degrees in specific fields.”

This year’s TEDxPrincetonU was run by Princeton Social Innovation (PSI), the University’s social empowerment organization that promotes social responsibility, according to Victor Guan ‘21, a TEDx Officer for PSI. Guan said PSI spent many hours putting the event together, and was pleased with the turnout.

“PSI hosts this event every year to bring TED talks to Princeton students,” Guan said. “It was nice to see the commitment of the current officers of PSI to bring in interesting people to talk at the event.” :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: PSI plans to host the event again next year, bringing to- The Daily Princetonian is published daily except Saturday and Sunday from September through May and three gether more speakers from times a week during January and May by The Daily Princetonian Publishing Company, Inc., 48 University Place, Princeton, N.J. 08540. Mailing address: P.O. Box 469, Princeton, N.J. 08542. Subscription rates: Mailed around the world. in the United States $175.00 per year, $90.00 per semester. Office hours: Sunday through Friday, 1:30 p.m.

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Opinion

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Eisgruber’s hypocrisy on Amazon Max Grear

senior columnist

P

resident Eisgruber argued earlier this year that “petitions emphasize conformity” because “their logic suggests that since so many have signed, nobody should think otherwise.” He expressed reticence about taking stands on the University’s behalf that could “chill discussions that it is our responsibility to promote.”

In light of the administration’s typical aversion to taking any kind of stand — even when it comes to “issues such as climate change, white nationalism, the rights of transgendered [sic] people and immigrants” — Eisgruber’s defense of “discussion” against “conformity” was unsurprising.

However, only a month after these words were published, Eisgruber made a 180-degree public turn away from such cautionary sentiments.

In September, Amazon announced its plans to establish a second headquarters (in addition to its base in Seattle) and local officials across North America to submit proposals explaining why Amazon should come to their cities and regions. Since then, 238 cities and regions have competed to offer the biggest tax breaks and other benefits in what some commentators have called a “race to the bottom.” In the midst of this scramble, Eisgruber has publicly weighed in in with a letter to two Amazon executives urging the company to locate its second headquarters in New Jersey. In this letter, Eisgruber exemplifies the stifling logic of conformity as he enthusiastically places the University at Amazon’s disposal. “My colleagues and I are prepared to help in any way we can,” he generously

promises.

What is most troubling is that Eisgruber’s optimistic endorsement of the “innovation ecosystem of New Jersey” precludes the possibility that some members of the University community might object to such rosy visions of corporate “synergies.”

Eisgruber seems unable or unwilling to recognize that some individuals on campus may disagree with his implicit suggestion that what is best for Amazon is best for New Jersey’s people. And in putting his support so solidly behind Amazon, Eisgruber hypocritically “chills discussions” around the issue.

Is Eisgruber aware of the probability that Amazon’s presence would significantly gentrify a New Jersey city, in the same way that the company’s original headquarter complex has in Seattle? Does he consider the dangerous precedent set by this nation-wide competition to offer bigger and bigger tax breaks —especially given the degree to which these corporate incentives undermine social spending on schools and infrastructure and the extent to which federal, state and local governments already cater to corporate interests? Might Eisgruber be concerned about the implications of such a public display of unconditional support for a private company’s endeavors — a company which, by the way, is known for its poor environmental record, toxic work culture and destructive impact on independent publishers and shipping rates?

These are all undeniably valid and important questions, regardless of one’s individual sympathies. Inevitably, negotiations over Amazon’s next headquarters involve controversial political as well as economic concerns. Eisgruber’s reference to the “innovation

ecosystem of New Jersey” does not include specifics; however, Amazon’s Request-for-Proposal refers to “cultural” factors as well as corporate benefits like tax credits/exemptions and public-private real estate partnerships. Tax codes and real estate policies are highly political issues, as battles against corporate tax havens and gentrification illustrate. Meanwhile, a word like “innovation ecosystem” provides a convenient euphemism for these trends, a sort of wink and nod at the promise of lower taxes and techie-friendly neighborhoods.

When Eisgruber endorses the possibility of an Amazon New Jersey headquarters, he sides by default with the political agenda of those who place corporate special interests over the public good. That is to say, Eisgruber further emboldens the self-serving corporate executives and powerful government officials who, if given their way, would force tax-payers to subsidize corporate expansions and replace long-time city residents with highlypaid tech workers.

Ultimately, any form of University support for Amazon’s activities implicates political sympathies — even if expressed implicitly — alongside economic considerations. Such support must therefore be subject to serious discussion among the University community.

Unfortunately, Eisgruber’s letter explicitly speaks on behalf of Princeton University and thus does much to “chill discussions that it is our responsibility to promote.” After reading Eisgruber’s letter, it would not be unreasonable for a scholar researching the harmful social impacts of corporate tax benefits or urban gentrification to feel out of step with the University as an institution.

In isolation, Eisgruber’s letter might not be shocking in itself. Undoubtedly, a large part of Eisgruber’s job entails contact with ultra-wealthy alumni like Jeff Bezos, and a congratulatory tone can’t hurt the flow of donations. However, Eisgruber’s public letter to Amazon conspicuously contradicts his own dogged rebuttals to student concerns about University associations with private companies.

Over the past few years, students and faculty have called attention to a wide range of unethical business practices, and have challenged the University to reconsider its associations with the companies in question. Whether the companies targeted are responsible for fueling climate change, servicing an illegal occupation, or perpetrating human rights abuses against immigrants and incarcerated individuals, Eisgruber has responded time and time again that the University as an institution cannot publicly criticize such business practices without compromising its political neutrality.

So why do critiques of business practices constitute political statements, but enthusiastic endorsements are considered apolitical? It would be one thing if Eisgruber conceded that business practices with large-scale social consequences (such as corporate welfare or gentrification) may be inherently political, or if he clearly defined the difference between a political statement and an evaluation of a company’s ethical strengths and weaknesses. It’s the inconsistency that is most troubling.

Max Grear is a Spanish and Portuguese major from Wakefield, R.I. He can be reached at mgrear@princeton.edu.

What sex & power have to do with academia Dora Zhao

contributing columnist

W

hen accusations against Harvey Weinstein were first brought to light this October, it seemed like another stand-alone case. After the media cycle moved on to another story, the film industry would return to its normal ways, waiting until the next Weinstein was revealed.

This has been the expected pattern. We live in a culture that has permitted men like Harvey Weinstein to exist, to take advantage of their positions of power. Eventually, Weinstein would just be another name on a list of powerful men who would get a pittance of a punishment for his egregious crimes.

But, this time, the story seems to have changed.

Weinstein’s case has spread the seeds of change within the media industry.

Executives in companies including Amazon, Vox, and Nickelodeon have either resigned or been fired due to sexual assault allegations. As more victims step out, this toxic system of power is slowly crumbling.

But, the film industry is not an exception to the norm. The next step we have to take is seeing the same reform in other professional fields — one being academia.

Even though it exists outside of public scrutiny, the same endemic issues with sexual abuse are echoed in academia. It almost seems unlikely that the very halls that boast tenets of egalitarianism and intellectual discourse could also house such blatant examples of disrespect. Yet, the many cases of sexual assault raised against faculty members at institutions including the University of California, Berkeley, Columbia University, and the University of Rochester suggest otherwise.

Beyond the fact that it is a male-dominated field, academia also contains a strict hierarchy that runs from tenured professors to graduate students, forming a structure of power imbalance where sexual abuse can take root.

In May of last year, the sudden departure of two female graduate students from the German department at the University prompted a town hall meeting to discuss inclusivity. According The Prince’s coverage of an anonymous survey circulated at the town hall, female graduate students had reported hearing comments about their appearances in addition to “uncomfortable touching from certain faculty and emeritus faculty.”

This problem is not sequestered to the German department. Results from the We Speak survey, con-

ducted by the University in 2017, state that approximately 8% of graduate women experienced sexual harassment during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Furthermore, almost a quarter of these incidents were reported to have involve a co-worker, professor, staff member, or postdoc.

Even though cases of sexual harassment are evidently prevalent within academia, the perpetrators are usually not apprehended. Victims — especially graduate students and early career researchers — are unlikely to speak out, fearing that it may ruin any opportunities for career advancement. As one of the graduate students at Princeton recalls, one of her professors told her before the town hall meeting that “speaking out will only do you harm.”

In a competitive environment like academia, the choice to remain silent is completely rational, especially considering that universities have a long track record of letting these offenders off easily. The assailants are swaddled by their power, protected by the promising nature of their careers, whereas the victims are often treated as expendable, with nothing to cushion their fall.

At the University of California, Berkeley, Tyann Sorrell sued her boss, Dean Sujit Choudry, on accounts

of sexual harassment, after suffering through inappropriate touches and advances on an almost daily basis. The settlement allows Choudry to retain his faculty position until 2018 when he will voluntarily resign as a faculty member “in good standing.” Rulings like this prioritize protecting the careers and reputations of the perpetrators over bringing justice to the victims Thus, when the only justice you may get is watching your attacker voluntarily resign or slip comfortably into a sabbatical, sacrificing your career does not seem worthwhile.

Yet, doing so permits their assaulter to walk free, and usually without any consequences.

Within this toxic culture that has allowed harassers to continue their work while victims suffer for misdemeanors they did not commit, we need reform.

As we have learned from watching the Weinstein case unfold, the quickest way we can change this culture of sexual assault is by having victims speak up.

But, to make this happen, we have to make sure they feel comfortable in doing so.

The first place to start is promising greater justice for victims. Universities have to ensure that those found guilty under Title IX investigations receive punishments equal to their ac-

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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

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NIGHT STAFF copy Daniel Te ’21 Jade Olurin ’21 Armani Aguiar ’21 Marina Latif ’19

tions. They must be clear that there is a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment, not only because it hinders work productivity, but also on the grounds that sexual harassment is just not acceptable.

We have failed these women (and men), but we cannot continue doing so for any longer. These stories —both the ones that have been shared and the ones that long have been kept secret — deserve to be heard. Much like the film industry has reacted in light of Harvey Weinstein, it is time for academia to change its narrative.

Dora Zhao is a first-year student from Newtown, Pa. She can be reached at dorothyzhao@princeton.edu.

Opinion

Monday November 13, 2017

{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }

Kevin Spacey and the art of confessing when convenient Aparna Shankar

contributing columnist

I

choose now to live as a gay man,” Kevin Spacey solemnly acknowledged in a tweet. By “now,” he means the crucial first moment after he was accused of sexual assault by a man who was, at the time, a minor.

By “now,” he means when it is most opportune. After reports surfaced of Spacey allegedly molesting Anthony Rapp in 1986, when Rapp was 14, the world awaited Spacey’s statement with bated breath, wondering how the notoriously private actor would respond to the explosive allegations. The answer, perhaps, is best summed up by comedian Billy Eichner on Twitter, “Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.”

As college students in an institution that makes the effort to put us through programs like Not Anymore! to reduce interpersonal violence, we are educated enough to know for certain that some things Spacey did were not acceptable. For instance, his apology, while seemingly sincere, pertains merely to “inappropriate drunken behavior,” and we are taught repeatedly that alcohol acts as neither a cause nor an excuse for assault. But beyond this, it is unlikely that all students would be able to pinpoint other problematic aspects of the situation, as in different backgrounds, the amount of education provided on such issues differs vastly. However, as complex issues such as gender identity or sexuality and preferences become

more pertinent topics of conversation, these are as crucial to include in sensitivity training programs as issues of interpersonal violence.

First and foremost, while Spacey’s identity as a gay man is not invalidated by the time he chose to come out, his announcement shifted focus from his admittance of child molestation to his sexual orientation. Multiple news outlets chose to report the story as one of a celebrated actor being gay. Interestingly, Reuters began with the headline “Actor Kevin Spacey Declares He Lives Life as a Gay Man” and soon updated it to read “Kevin Spacey Apologizes After Actor Describes Sexual Advance at 14”. This, in essence, was Spacey’s objective, whether with malicious intent or not.

He used his status and the public intrigue that has always swarmed around his personal life to shift focus from serious allegations to issues that, whilst not petty, are personal. It creates an awkward contradiction in which he associates his identity with his assault and fuels harmful rhetoric around the LGBTQ community. For instance, a commonly heard criticism used to delegitimize LGBTQ persons is that they are ‘playing the minority card’ or using their identity to gain leverage or deflect criticism. Undoubtedly, this narrative is counterproductive to society’s progress towards the equal treatment and perception of LGBTQ persons. Thus, it begs the question of whether Spacey is helping or harming the LGBTQ community he claims to be a part of. It is

not his prerogative to further their cause, but the inauspicious moment he chose to appropriate their marginalized status fed into the narrative working to keep them on the fringe of acceptance by conflating homosexuality and pedophilia.

Choosing the moment he is accused of child molestation to come out as gay has connotations that feed into ageold stereotypes that plague homosexuality. Earlier this year, this topic became relevant when former Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos defended relations between older men and young boys as sources of security, safety, “love and a reliable sort of rock.” While the connection Spacey created is far less direct and malicious, the associations that it raises in its audience’s minds feed into the same myths of homosexuality, sexual deviancy and pedophilia that have been historically weaponized to oppose LGBTQ rights.

The idea of there being a “right” time to come out is dangerous. Still, the timing of Spacey’s confession is pertinent for it illustrates the existence of a “wrong time”.

However, an alarmingly miniscule section of people receive the education that is required to understand and recognize social issues of identity and preference. In the varied environment that college invariably is, this is clearly an issue. Gender identity, sexuality, and other topics of this ilk are more widely discussed today than ever before. College students come from varied cultures with different standards of awareness and acceptance regarding these issues, but

it is no longer possible to pretend they will not be exposed to a discussion surrounding them in their lifetimes. It is time that colleges play their role as stalwarts of education in mediating this discourse.

Not Anymore!, SHARE, and other resources on campus create a safer, more supportive environment and are important first steps.

However, the University must look towards making information on sensitivity to issues like gender, sexuality and identity more widely available, ideally even mandatory, in our sensitivity training programs. Currently, resources that exist on campus such as the Women’s Center or the LGBT Center provide support to those students that choose to seek them out. But, a counterpart to this process of supporting LGBTQ people is the education of fellow students, their potential allies. The University has a chance here to pioneer the most important step towards creating real change in society: education.

It can choose to help students from different backgrounds receive the support and perhaps the information they need. Whether this is to help them grapple with personal identity issues or at least be enlightened in issues that others they meet in college or life might struggle with, it is no longer sufficient to stick our heads in the sand and pretend social issues are niche enough to bypass entirely.

Aparna Shankar is a firstyear from New Delhi, India. She can be reached at as78@princeton.edu.

Truer Words Have Never Been Spoken tashi treadway ’19 ..................................................

page 7

Letter to the editor: Pyne prize nominations Kathleen Deignan

guest contributor dean of undergraduate students

I

write to solicit nominations for the Pyne Prize, the highest general distinction the University confers upon an undergraduate, which will be awarded on Alumni Day, Saturday, February 24, 2018.

In thinking about student nominations, I would ask that you consider the following description: M. Taylor Pyne Honor Prize.

A prize awarded annually to the senior who has manifested in outstanding fashion the following qualifications: excellence in scholarship, character, and effective support of the best interests of Princeton University. Founded in 1921 in remembrance of the life and character of M. Taylor Pyne, Class of 1877, Trustee of Princeton 1885-1921, by his cousin, Mrs. May Taylor Moulton Hanrahan, the prize is the highest general distinction the University confers upon an undergraduate. The prize consists of the income from this fund up to the prevailing comprehensive fee for one academic year.

We are eager to receive letters of nomination from members of the University community. Please send letters to pyneprize@princeton.edu by Monday, January 8, 2018.

Kathleen Deignan Dean of Undergraduate Students

Sports

Monday November 13, 2017

page 8

{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } FOOTBALL

Bonfire hopes end, losing streak continues as Tigers suffer another heartbreaking loss injury-riddled Princeton defense. Yale quarterback Kurt Rawlings threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 24-14 at the half, giving the Bulldogs momentum heading into the locker room.

Princeton struggled to contain Dudek, who carried the ball 35 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns, including a 4-yard run to give Yale a 35-31 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Princeton drove down into Yale territory on its final possession, but their hopes were dashed when Kanoff’s desperate heave on 4th and long was intercepted with a minute remaining.

Saturday’s game continued Princeton’s season trend of losing incredibly tight games. Over the course of its Ivy League schedule, Princeton has lost four games by a combined total of just 11 points. The team would probably be justified, then, in saying that it has not enjoyed the greatest of luck.

Though the Ivy League title is now officially out of reach, Princeton will have one more chance to reverse its fortunes this season, in its finale next Saturday at Dartmouth. “We just [need to] find that one play, that one call, whatever that is, to get that feeling again,” said Surace. “And we’re going to fight like hell to get it next week.”

By Jack Graham staff writer

With 67 combined points, over 1,000 yards of total offense, and no shortage of big plays, Saturday’s Princeton-Yale game was as exciting as could be expected for a matchup between the Ivy League’s two best offenses.

For the fourth time this season, however, Princeton wound up on the losing side of a thrilling game, falling 35-31 at home to Yale. The Bulldogs overcame a 17-point deficit in the first half to deny Princeton what would have been its first bonfire since 2013.

Even in defeat, Saturday was a record breaking affair for the Princeton offense.

Throwing for 454 yards, senior Chad Kanoff set his personal best for passing yards in a game and left himself positioned to break the Princeton records for most passing yards in a single season and in a career, both held currently by Doug Butler ’86. Kanoff also broke the Princeton record for touchdown passes in a season with 26, breaking the record on a third-quarter TD pass to junior wide receiver Jesper Horsted. Horsted also broke the Princeton record for receiving touchdowns in a season on that same play, catching

JAMES CURRAH :: STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Despite a strong performance, the Tigers were unable to hold off Yale as they surged in the second half.

his 11th of the year.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Bob Surace ‘90 expressed satisfaction with the way his team played against Yale, which secured at least a share of the Ivy League title Saturday. “Our guys were amazing … I couldn’t be more proud of the way we played,” he said. “That’s one of the great defenses in our league,

nationally they’re ranked in every category, and our offense played extremely well.”

Princeton took advantage of a series of big plays in the first half to leap out to an early 24-7 lead. The Tigers opened the scoring with an 88-yard touchdown pass from Kanoff to Horsted in the first quarter and added another score on an 18-yard pass to junior receiver

Weekend review Men’s hockey: Lost Friday 4–3 (OT) @ Union and won Saturday 6–2 @ RPI The Tigers finished a long conference road trip this weekend and came home with a 1–0–1 record for the weekend. On Friday, Princeton lost 4–3 in OT against Union in the first meeting since last year’s ECAC quarterfinals, when the Dutchmen ended the Tigers’ season. Junior Ryan Kuffner had himself a wonderful game, scoring two goals and adding an assist, while freshman goalie Ryan Ferland stopped 40 shots — a career high. On Saturday, offense led the way for the Tigers in their 6–2 win against RPI. All four lines registered a goal for the Tigers and 13 players came away with at least a point in the game. Senior Eric Robinson had two goals and an assist in the win, giving Princeton three point-scorers in back-to-back games. The Tigers will be at home next Friday/Saturday competing against Yale and Brown.

Women’s soccer: Won 4–0 vs. Monmouth Women’s soccer won its opening round NCAA tournament game, dominating fellow New Jersey school Monmouth 4–0. The Tigers dominated the MAAC champions from start to finish, outshooting the Hawks 28–6 over the course of the game. Junior Mimi Asom had two goals and an assist in the game for the Tigers, including the opening goal just five minutes into the game.

Senior Vanessa Gregoire also had two assists for the Tigers, giving her 25 career assists — one off of the school record. Based on Saturday’s results, the Tigers now play NC State in the second round of the tournament this Friday at a site to be determined. For a more in-depth recap of this game, check out our website.

Stephen Carlson. After Yale freshman Zane Dudek broke a 47-yard run to get Yale on the board, Kanoff connected with sophomore receiver Tiger Bech for a 58-yard touchdown pass, extending the margin to 24-7 with just under two minutes left in the first half.

From there, the Yale offense began to drive down the field with relative ease against an

Performances of the week Ryan McCarthy Determined to keep her Princeton career alive, McCarthy played a fantastic game. In the second half, McCarthy fired the penalty stroke past the UVA goaltender and tied the game up at two. Then, as the second overtime was winding down, she took the feed from her teammate and fired a perfect backhand shot to send the Princeton sideline into a frenzy and the Princeton season onto the NCAA quarterfinals.

Women’s field hockey: Won 3–2 (2OT) vs. UVA In a game that lasted nearly 95 minutes, the No. 11-ranked Tigers upset the No. 5-ranked Cavaliers in Charlottesville. Senior Ryan McCarthy had two huge goals for the Tigers: the equalizer in the second half to tie the game 2–2 and then the game winner in double OT. The Tigers struck first with a goal by freshman Elise Wong, but saw their lead turn into a 2–1 deficit by the end of the first half. Sophomore goalie Grace Baylis had 10 saves in net for the Tigers and was impressive all day in holding off the UVA offense. The Tigers will play next Sunday in Charlottesville, this time against the No. 4-ranked Tar Heels in the NCAA quarterfinals; Princeton played UNC earlier this year and lost 2–0. For a more in-depth recap of this game, check out our website.

Women’s volleyball @ Harvard W 3-0 and @ Dartmouth: L 2–3 Despite falling in a 2–0 hole to start the match against the Big Green, the Tigers clawed their way back into the game with two dominant sets. Unfortunately, Dartmouth would claim the exciting fifth set to seal the game. The Tigers will share the Ivy League title with Yale this year and will face the Bulldogs for the NCAA tournament bid.

Women’s basketball vs. George Washington: W 72–52 The women’s basketball team scorched George Washington with four Tigers scoring in double figures. This was a marked improvement from last year, when the Orange and Black managed only 45 points on 30.4 percent shooting. The Princeton team will travel to Seton Hall to face the Pirates in its next game.

Men’s soccer vs. Yale: L 0–1 OT The Bulldogs spoiled the season finale with a 95-minute goal in overtime that ended the Tiger’s six game unbeaten streak. Despite the loss, the Tigers will finish third in the Ivy League, tied with Brown. Despite a strong defensive performance, Yale’s offensive advantage eventually translated into a late goal to edge out the Princeton squad.

Tweet of the Day “Kanoff, Horsted had record-setting afternoons in a wild 35–31 loss to Ivy League leader Yale” Kareem Maddox (@ KareemMaddox), basketball

Mimi Asom The junior forward had herself another great game, scoring two goals and adding an assist in the Tigers’ dominating win over Monmouth.

Asom fired the opening goal five minutes into the game when she got past a defender and fired the turnaround shot. She then put the game out of reach when she recovered the penalty shot rebound and her shot blew past the Monmouth goalie.

Maggie O’Connell Reigning Ivy League rookie of the year Maggie O’Connell led the Princeton offense with 18 kills, and added three digs and two blocks. The Orange and Black swept the Crimson to secure a share of the Ivy League title. This will be the 17th Ivy League title in program history.

Stat of the Day

11,229 fans 11,229 fans cheered the Tigers on at Powers Field this Saturday in the tight 35–31 loss to Yale.

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