April 23, 2015

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Thursday april 23, 2015 vol. cxxxix no. 53

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M A J O R D E C L A R AT I O N S

Major Declarations by Discipline

60 percent

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In Opinion Columnist Nicholas Wu talks about kale, and columnist Max Grear discusses political correctness on campus.

PAGE 7

In Street This week in Street, Street Editor Emeritus Catherine Bauman explores Earth Day at Princeton, Senior Writer Caroline Hertz reviews “Dog Sees God,” Contributor Jacqueline Levine goes behind the scenes “La Cage Aux Folles” and Contributor Joy Dartey covers PUB’s “Art in Motion.” PAGE S1-S4

STEM declarations were up and social sciences declarations were down compared to 2014, while humanities declarations stayed the same.

Social Sciences

363 total new concentrators in 2015, down from 393 in 2014 ECO

8 p.m.: Princeton University Players and Theatre Intime present “La Cage Aux Folles,” a play directed by Morgan Young ‘16. Theater Intime.

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News & Notes Yale to implement carbon emissions charge

Yale became one of the first universities to charge a price on its carbon emissions on Monday, according to the Yale Daily News.

The Presidential Carbon Charge Task Force released a 36-page report on Monday recommending that Yale adopt an internal fee on the carbon dioxide emissions of the university’s buildings and facilities.

Yale’s president Peter Salovey announced the implementation of carbon charge pilot shortly after, explaining the pilot is part of Yale’s commitment in researching, teaching and designing solutions to climate change.

The carbon charge pilot is to begin in 2015-16 academic year, and the pilot will be evaluated after five years to determine the efficacy of the program. For the 201516 academic year, the charge would be set at $40 dollars per each ton of carbon dioxide emitted, which would result in approximately $12 million dollars of carbon charge revenue per year for Yale.

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AUSTIN LEE :: DESIGN EDITOR

363 declare social science majors, down from 393

By Jessica Li staff writer

Three hundred sixty-three sophomores declared concentrations in the social sciences as of Wednesday, compared to 393 at the same time last year.

The most dramatic change was the decline in Woodrow Wilson School enrollment, from 155 last year to 109 this year.

Wilson School departmental representative David Wilcove deferred comment to undergraduate program administrator Jan Burch, who declined to com-

ment.

Charles Kanoff ’17, who is concentrating in the Wilson School, was also considering ecology and evolutionary biology, A.B. computer science and economics when finalizing his choice of major.

“I was very undecided on my major up until the last moments,” Kanoff said. “The Woodrow Wilson School lets me take classes in all of the departments I was considering majoring in, while also getting to learn about current relevant problems through the independent work.”

Seventeen sophomores signed in to the new neuroscience concentration this year, according to Asif Ghazanfar, co-director of the Program in Neuroscience.

It was hard to have any expectations for enrollment because sophomores did not have the chance to plan how they were going to fulfill the concentration’s prerequisites in their freshman year, Ghazanfar said. “[The sophomores] I met with, basically, were very, very thankful, because they were trying to figure out some other kind of route to pursue their neuroscience interest,” Ghazanfar said.

The Program in Neuroscience asked incoming sophomores which department they would have joined. Five people

would have concentrated in molecular biology, four in psychology, three in an independent concentration, and the rest in engineering, mathematics, chemistry or economics, Ghazanfar said.

Nicole Katchur ’17, who is concentrating in neuroscience, said she started out majoring in chemical and biological engineering and then in molecular biology.

“None of them were really related to neuro,” Katchur said.

“I always wanted to do neurorelated research, because when I was younger, my sister had a brain injury.”

Lauren Berger ’17 said she plans to attend medical school but originally intended to major in molecular biology. She said she later decided to declare neuroscience as her major because she happened to have See STEM page 3

Foreign languages see slight increase in enrollment

284 total new concentrators in 2015, up from 280 in 2014

April 23, 1999 The University and the town of Princeton hold the 30th Communiversity event. Nassau Street and upper campus featured performances, food vendors, visual art displays and more.

WWS

By Jacob Donnelly

0

Today on Campus

ANT, ECO, POL, SOC, WWS

17 sophomores first to declare neuroscience

Quentin Becheau ’17, another Woodrow Wilson concentrator, noted that the program aligns with his career aspirations, which are potentially to work with North Atlantic Treaty Organization or with the French Ministry of Defense or Foreign Affairs.

“I chose [the Wilson School] because the department provides access to incredible resources from faculty to seminars and conferences that are not necessarily offered by the department of Politics, the See SOCIAL SCIENCES page 2

By Do-Hyeong Myeong senior writer

The Spanish and Portuguese department experienced a significant increase with 16 new concentrators this year compared to three sign-ins last year, according to Spanish and Portuguese department representative Germán Labrador Méndez said.

He said that this year’s increase in Spanish and Portuguese majors could be explained by the ongoing internationalization of the University campus, noting that many of the concentrators the department received this year speak multiple languages or have international backgrounds.

He also explained that the increase in enrollment reflects the growing importance of the Spanish language in the United States.

“Spanish is really getting important in the States,” Méndez said, ”especially in real life and in future jobs in the field of medi-

cine, in the field of law, in the field of international relations or in the field of business.”

The department’s interdisciplinary nature suits many students, whether they are interested in the sciences, humanities, arts or politics, Méndez added.

Mary Hui ’17, an aspiring foreign correspondent, explained that the Spanish and Portuguese department’s small size and flexibility, as well as her love for Spanish language, convinced her to join.

“Originally, I was thinking about [being a] politics major with a Spanish certificate, but I realized it wouldn’t be enough [for me to master the language],” Hui said. “The flexibility afforded by a small department would allow me to do something more creative and have more flexibility for my independent work.”

Other language departments also experienced an increase in enrollment this year. Both the See HUMANITIES page 5

STUDENT LIFE

LOCAL NEWS

Board of Health raises Schneider ’17, Jayanti ’17, Schneider GS age to buy tobacco to 21 to represent U. at computing competition

By Melissa Curtis contributor

The Princeton Board of Health adopted an ordinance on Tuesday raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco and other smoking products to 21.

Princeton is the seventh town in New Jersey and the first in Mercer County to have implemented such an ordinance. The statewide minimum age to purchase tobacco in New Jersey is 19.

The adoption of the ordinance follows a recommendation by the Board of Health last month by approving the introduction of the ordinance.

Mayor Liz Lempert said she supported the new ordinance.

“The longer you can put off someone taking their first puff the more likely it will be that they’ll never start,” Lempert said.

The feedback Lempert has

received on the anti-smoking measure has been highly positive, Lempert said.

“I think it’s more that we’ve tried to be practical in Princeton and a leader in the state when it comes to creating a smoke-free environment in our parks and outside of our municipal buildings,” Lempert said.

In 2013, the town of Princeton enacted a ban on outdoor smoking on municipal property, including municipal buildings, parks, pools and town-owned recreation areas, becoming the first town in Mercer County to do so. The town has the ability to issue fines for violations of this ban.

However, Jorge Armenteros, owner of the cigar shop A Little Taste of Cuba, said he actively opposed the ban at a town council meeting.

“The saddest reason that I was opposing it was specifically about the Princeton See TOBACCO page 4

By Zoe Toledo contributor

Eric Schneider ’17, Siddhartha Jayanti ’17 and Jon Schneider GS will represent the University at the upcoming Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest in Marrakech, Morocco this May. ACM is an educational and scientific computing society comprised of computing educators, professionals and students.

The contest allows hundreds of teams, each consisting of three students, to work together and solve a series of problems with mathematical algorithms.

A total of 2,534 universities and 38,160 contestants from 101 countries participated in the regionals-level competition. A series of regional competitions qualify teams to participate in the world final.

This past November, the University had four of its teams participate in the greater New York area regional competition, Eric Schneider said.

“Team Schneidartha,” as it is called, came first out of 43 teams, which included teams from Columbia, Cornell, Yale and New York University.

Mike Zhang ’17, competition chair of the studentrun Princeton ACM group, organized an inter-school qualification round to determine teams for the regions, Eric Schneider said.

Zhang deferred comment to Adam Schneider, the current team coach. Adam Schneider, Eric Schneider’s father, volunteered to be the chaperone and coach for the team after Zhang, the original coach, found that he was unavailable to accompany the team to the world finals.

Both Adam Schneider and Eric Schneider are not re-

lated to Jon Schneider.

Jon Schneider did not respond to requests for comment.

Adam Schneider said his role would mainly consist of coordinating transportation, finalizing approval for funding as well as keeping in contact with the ACM contest.

“Other universities will have a whole program and process that focuses on this competition and trains for this program,” Adam Schneider explained. “Usually, the coaches are professors or the chair of the computer science department.”

In preparation for the upcoming ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest World Finals competition, Eric Schneider said the team aims to improve programming speed and accountability by learning different algorithms and techniques, which are See COMPETITION page 6

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Thursday april 23, 2015

WWS declarations drop to 109 from 155 last year SOCIAL SCIENCES Continued from page 1

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other I considered,” he noted.

Sixty-eight sophomores are politics concentrators, Adam Meirowitz, acting chair of the politics department, said, compared to 70 politics concentrators at this time last year.

“We do observe that the count is rough at this point,” Meirowitz noted. “Some students declare after the deadline.”

A politics concentrator, Kathy Chow ’17, explained she was attracted to the politics department

over the Wilson School by the specificity of academic programs offered by the politics department.

“I realized that my main passion was ethics, political theory and American politics, so it made a lot of sense for me to join the Politics Department with a Values and Public Life Certificate,” Chow said. “I think concentrating in a specific field like politics, as opposed to WWS, which is a lot broader, allows you the unique opportunity to really dive into one field and know it really, really well.”

There are 34 new sociology con-

centrators, sociology deparmental representative Robert Wuthnow said. Forty-two declared at this time last year, but Wuthnow noted he had a different final count from last year of 37. “[We’re] just where we want to be,” Wuthnow said. Despite the stable numbers for the sociology department, the department experienced significant growth from two years ago when only 22 sophomores declared a sociology concentration.

The social sciences major with the largest concentration was economics at 130, which is up from 112 last year.

Economics professor Uwe Reinhardt explained that the number of economics concentrators isn’t unusual, as the department has grown increasingly popular in recent years.

“Students see that it is a portal to go to Wall Street,” Reinhardt said, explaining that after the economic crisis of 2008, firms on Wall Street became more selective in hiring and recruitment, placing greater demands on a candidate’s quantitative skills.

Anthropology saw 22 concentrators this year, only one more than the number of sophomores who declared last year.

LAPTOPS

YICHENG SUN :: PHOTO EDITOR

The Princeton University Laptop Orchestra presents MEDI3V@L DR3@MS, using electronic instruments built at Princeton.

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday april 23, 2015

COS overtakes CHM as third most declared STEM STEM

Continued from page 1

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an academic adviser affiliated with the program.

The expected impact on molecular biology enrollment was not as large as expected, molecular biology department representative Elizabeth Gavis said.

Molecular biology had 50 sophomores sign in, compared to 60 at this time last year.

“We’re very pleased that we’ve taken essentially a relatively minor hit,” Gavis said, adding that 50 sign-ins was within the typical range of students who sign in to the department.

Nine sophomores signed in to astrophysical sciences, which, combined with the program’s 10 rising seniors, makes the undergraduate program the largest it’s ever been, Neta Bahcall, director of the undergraduate astrophysics program, said.

Arianna Lanz ’17 said she knew coming into Princeton that she wanted to study astrophysics.

“The department here is ranked number one of the National Academy of Sciences, and the department very much prides itself on being very small,” Lanz said, adding she was thinking about pursuing graduate study in data science after graduation. “A lot of people like myself major in astrophysics because they’re very quantitative people.”

Jin Soo Lim ’17 said he was originally going to major in architecture but became fascinated by the endeavors of the company SpaceX and efforts to colonize Mars.

“I wanted to potentially do it, as part of the team, but then I was like, ‘I don’t know anything about space,’ so I decided to get some insight into it,” Lim said, adding he had no prior background in physics but enjoyed the introductory astrophysics class.

Geosciences had 18 sophomores sign in, departmental representative Adam Maloof said.

That number is almost identi-

cal to the 19 who signed in last year. Nonetheless, the year-toyear comparison does not tell the full story of the growth of geosciences, Maloof said.

“A couple years ago, we had a group of really excited and charismatic undergrads that majored in GEO, and ever since, they’ve been ambassadors,” Maloof said. “Most people come to Princeton, they’ve never heard of GEO.” Mackenzie Dooner ’17 said the subject matter of geosciences appealed most strongly to her.

“I really like chemistry, and I really like physics, and the Earth to me is the most interesting and dynamic system at hand that you can apply those fields to,” Dooner said. “I like to hike.

I like to swim. I like the ocean. I love engaging with the physical planet, and if I can do that in an academic setting, that’s pretty cool.”

Two years ago, 10 students declared a major in geosciences, and, Maloof said, seven years ago, there were only four concentrators total.

Shannon Osaka ’17 said she knew she wanted to do something in the sciences and that the faculty in geosciences seemed to be the most engaged with undergraduates and committed to helping them do research.

“I felt they recruited me and wanted me to be in that department, as opposed to me trying to meet with a professor and not getting very much attention that way,” Osaka said, who is also waiting to hear back about her proposed independent concentration in environmental studies but either way will be taking a number of geosciences classes.

Sign-ins from other departments in the natural sciences and mathematics included 45 in ecology and evolutionary biology, compared to 54 at this time last year; 31 in mathematics, compared to 30 last year; 37 in A. B. computer science, compared to 22 last year; 23 in physics, compared to 23 last year; and 35 in chemistry, compared to 44 last year.

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page 3

CORRECTION Due to a reporting error, an earlier version of the April 22 article, “Though search continues, Asian American Studies professorship still vacant,” misstated the number of faculty members associated with the Asian-American studies program. There are no faculty members at the University associated with the program other than Anne Cheng and Beth Lew-Williams. The ‘Prince’ regrets the error.

page 4

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday april 23, 2015

Local cigar shop owner says town leaders did not seem open to opposition TOBACCO

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students,” Armenteros said, adding he develops a rapport with University students who return year after year and enjoys interacting with them at his shop. “We have a lot of fun selling cigars for … celebratory events.”

Town leadership did not seem very receptive to opposing viewpoints on the ordinance, Armenteros said.

“It seemed like a done deal,” Armenteros said.

Tom Davies GS questioned what kind of effect the ordinance would have.

“My experience from my home country is that minors don’t tend to start smoking at 18,” Davies said. “They don’t tend to get access to their tobacco through legal means in the first place. I’m not sure that a law moving

the age of buying tobacco … to 21 would have any effect.”

Tianay Zeigler ’18 similarly said access to cigarettes should not prove difficult for interested students.

“I don’t really think it would make a difference either way because you could always probably get your hands on cigarettes,” Zeigler said. “Someone could go and buy it for you and hand it off. It’s basically the same way with alcohol.”

Karen Feng ’18 said there was a parallel situation between smoking ordinances and alcohol prohibition.

“I mean my opinion is that this is similar to what they’re already doing for the policy for alcohol and that clearly hasn’t really worked based on how the social scene at Princeton works, so I don’t think that this will be an effective policy,” Feng said.

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Thursday april 23, 2015

The Daily Princetonian

page 5

History receives most concentrators in humanities, SLA receives fewest

PROTEST

HUMANITIES Continued from page 1

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German and the French and Italian departments received seven concentrators this year, increases from last year’s five and four, respectively. Slavic languages and literature received three, an increase from last year’s one signin.

Seventy-five students declared a concentration in History, according to History department representative Yair Mintzker.

Although the number of concentrators decreased this year compared to last year’s 90, the number still makes History the most popular department in the humanities.

Mintzker said that although the number of Class of 2017 concentrators decreased compared

JESSICA LI :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Protestors gathered on Frist’s North Lawn to commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians killed in genocide during WWI.

to last year, it is still in accordance with the department’s numbers from previous years.

The Class of 2015 had 78 history concentrators.

With 48 concentrators, the English department has the second-largest number of Class of 2017 concentrators, according to estimates from the University’s College Facebook. The enrollment in the English department remains the same as last year.

Tamsen Wolff, the English department representative, did not respond to requests for comment.

Philosophy, which received 35 student sign-ins, experienced an increase in enrollment, compared with last year’s 23 concentrators, according to Philosophy department representative John Burgess.

According to department

representatives, enrollments in other humanities departments included eight in religion, compared with 10 last year; eight in Near Eastern studies, compared with last year’s 12; seven in East Asian, compared to nine last year; 22 in Art and archaeology, compared with last year’s 20; seven in Music department, which is the same number as last year; 14 in Classics, compared with last year’s 11; 10 in architecture, compared to 11 last year; and 17 in Comparative Literature, compared to 16 last year.

Overall, 284 students in the Class of 2017 declared concentrations in the humanities by the end of the sophomore concentration declaration period on Tuesday. The number is a slight increase from 280 in the Class of 2016.

page 6

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday april 23, 2015

Computing competition to take place in Marrakesh, Moracco this summer

LAST LECTURE

COMPETITION Continued from page 1

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important to performing well in the competition.

“If you are constructing a building, you work things out on paper and then add the specifics, perhaps modifying things as you go,” Eric Schneider said to explain how algorithms play

into the problem-solving process. “We first figure out how to solve the problem and then make the code that does it.”

Jayanti said knowing theoretical algorithms helps competitors understand the various components of the problem.

“The algorithms are the basic problems that everyone knows how to solve,”

Jayanti said. “It comes down to putting them together in the right way.”

The 39th Annual World Finals of the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, sponsored by IBM, will take place from May 16 to 21. Mohamed V University, Al Akhawayn University, Mudiapolis University and the Moroccan ACM will host the competition.

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Call (609)258-8110 or Email business@dailyprincetonian. com THEO DIMITRASOPOULOS :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Professor Daniel Kahneman gives the fourth Class of 2015 last lecture on “Thinking Fast and Slow.”

Let’s talk about kale Nicholas Wu

contributing columnist

K

ale is beloved by hipsters and foodies across the country, making it one of the most stereotyped vegetables on the planet. Any casual observer will have noticed the influx of kale into the dining halls. Its spread is unstoppable, seeping into the salad bar (yummy), infiltrating the hot food line (mixed results — kale on pizza is not an ideal combination) and, given time, might even migrate into the dessert area. Kale-flavored ice cream, for its part, has made fleeting appearances at the Bent Spoon, while Starbucks has been selling kale-infused smoothies. One wonders if Big Kale is in cahoots with Campus Dining Services.

Admittedly, I actually enjoy the taste of kale and appreciate its nutritional benefits.

However, there is a fine line between caring about the taste and nutrition of a food item and lapsing into fallacious arguments about its chemical contents.

In one corner of the Internet lies the blog of Vani Hari, who goes by the pen name of “Food Babe.” Major media outlets first covered her during the controversy about Subway sandwiches and yoga mat chemicals. Her blog had petitioned Subway to address the particular chemical azodicarbonamide. The problem is Hari’s claims were based entirely on nonexistent science, scaring people for nothing. NPR, generally a friend of American liberals like Hari far and wide (Hari was a 2012 Democratic National Convention delegate), reported that “outside of occupational exposure, there’s no evidence that there’s any risk at all to consumers” and the allegedly harmful chemical was just used to improve the dough. In any case, Subway went and removed the chemical from its breads to avoid any more bad press.

Hari’s blog has accrued a fair amount of press lately, with critical articles about her in the Atlantic and the New York Times, among others, published in the last few months. The popularity of Hari’s blog, according to the New York Times, is entirely driven by a fear among young people of the influence wielded by big companies and the adulteration of products, perfectly rational fears that have been whipped into hysteria. It’s like the classic joke about people being scared about “dihydrogen monoxide” exposure. Dihydrogen monoxide is just another way of saying H2O or water, but it can be very easy to scare people with foreign-sounding scientific concepts.

There can be severe health consequences of subscribing to these unfounded claims. To return to my earlier point about kale, Hari’s blog says, “The enzymes released from kale go in to your liver and trigger cancer fighting chemicals that literally dissolve unhealthy cells throughout your body. Animals with tumors are given a diet of kale and their tumors actually shrink.” It’s a risible claim. If that really were the case, it’s time to stop the production of all cancer-fighting drugs and replace them with kale. No citation is given for that claim on her website. It is to be accepted as scientific fact, delivered by Hari for consumption by the followers of her blog and her nearly one million Facebook likers. This is unacceptable from a public health perspective. Members of the scientific community have called her the “Jenny McCarthy of food” (given her prominent role in spreading fears that vaccination causes autism), but such an approach will not convince her thousands of followers otherwise.

For a minute, let’s take Hari’s logic and run with it. Microwave ovens cause cancer.

Donuts cause cancer because of the chemicals in them. Non-organic yogurt causes cancer.

Bread preservatives cause attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In essence, everything you eat is bad for you or carcinogenic, according to Hari. Good-bye, readers of the Daily Princetonian. It’s time for me to put on a tinfoil hat and hide in a cave, never to eat anything again except for free-trade, organic kale, irrigated only with the finest glacial water from the Himalayas.

There’s certainly a point to be made about regulatory capture and the effectiveness of food safety agencies. But the hysteria caused by blogs like Hari’s distracts from real food safety issues like salmonella outbreaks in eggs, spinach and peanut butter, which were some of the major recall targets in recent years. Congress passed the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act in 2010 in response to the salmonella outbreaks, but just last week, the New York Times reported that the FDA has received less than half of the money that it needed to implement those regulations. Now that’s a better place to start. The ire of Hari’s blog would be better directed toward the legislators in Congress that fail to give regulatory agencies the resources they really need to keep Americans safe from actual poisons. Those bacterial outbreaks are the real threat to people, as opposed to the imagined threats that Hari conjures up, and addressing this issue requires a shift in priorities. Kale has not yet been the subject of a salmonella outbreak. Let’s keep it that way.

Nicholas Wu is a freshman from Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich. He can be reached at nmwu@ princeton.edu.

Opinion

Thursday april 23, 2015

page 7

{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }

Princeton’s laboratory animal research program Pablo G. Debenedetti guest columnist

T

wo articles published recently in The Daily Princetonian, “U. accused of violating Animal Welfare Act in marmoset monkey incident,” by Cassidy Tucker (published on April 13) and “Opaque Transparency: What we (don’t) know about Princeton’s animal experimentation,” by Courtney Buoncore ’18 and Gwyndolyn Goldfeder ’18 (published on April 20), prompt me to write about Princeton’s outstanding laboratory animal research program. As members of a world-renowned research university, Princeton scholars explore the frontiers of knowledge in fields ranging from East Asian studies to physics, from history to civil and environmental engineering. Just as research in history requires the use of historical documents, research in some areas, such as the life sciences, includes work with animals.

Animals are used in research only when no alternatives exist to address specific scientific questions. Neuroscience, for example, aims to understand how the brain works and to discover treatments for complex neurological disorders — both of which are impossible without the use of animal models.

The study of animals is also essential for exploring many basic biological and behavioral processes, understanding animal ecosystems and modeling human disease.

Many medicines, devices and treatments that we heavily use and rely upon today were discovered, developed or perfected thanks to laboratory animal

research, including asthma inhalers, magnetic resonance imaging, the tetanus vaccine, modern anesthetics, blood transfusions and insulin, to name but a select few.

Some examples of fundamental questions being pursued at Princeton involving the use of animals in research include uncovering the mechanisms underlying the establishment of leftright asymmetry in the vertebrate body plan, understanding the relationship between short-term memory and an animal’s ability to navigate its environment and elucidating the manner in which individual cells integrate biochemical and mechanical signals to direct the development of organs such as lungs and mammary glands. The fruits of this research are reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals in the form of articles that have always provided detailed, open and transparent information on the work conducted at Princeton.

While the majority of Americans support research and even medical testing involving animals, there will always be persons who oppose research with animals despite the clear benefits to society. At Princeton we acknowledge and respect such differences of opinion, and we are committed to the humane and responsible use of animals in research.

Throughout the nation, research with animals is conducted according to a set of high standards developed by veterinary professionals, ethicists, scientists, community members and regulators, and most such research is also conducted in accordance with additional voluntary international accreditation standards.

Princeton is no exception. The standards set forth by the community and

agreed upon by Princeton’s researchers are publicly available to Princetonians through the Office of Research Integrity and Assurance website: http://www. princeton.edu/ria/animal-research-protectio/ As Dean for Research, I am committed to ensuring that there is strong leadership and infrastructure to support and oversee research involving animals and to provide the best care and welfare as students and faculty make discoveries that contribute to knowledge and societal wellbeing. I am proud of the extraordinary quality of our laboratory animal research program and of its outstanding record of compliance, which includes three consecutive unannounced inspections by the Department of Agriculture (USDA) with no findings of non-compliance and a very recent successful accreditation visit by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALACi). The latter was a voluntary accreditation exercise, reflecting Princeton’s commitment to exceeding the standards of animal care, husbandry and treatment mandated by law.

Princeton’s laboratory animal research program contributes in a major way to advancing the frontiers of knowledge and to saving and prolonging the lives of countless human beings (and animals). It does so while upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and of humane and responsible treatment of animals.

vol. cxxxix

Anna Mazarakis ’16 editor-in-chief

Matteo Kruijssen ’16 business manager

139th managing board news editor Jacob Donnelly ’17 opinion editor Benjamin Dinovelli ’16 sports editor Miles Hinson’17 street editor Lin King ’16 photography editor Yicheng Sun ’16 video editors Leora Haber ’16 chief copy editors Caroline Congdon ’17 Joyce Lee ’17 design editors Julia Johnstone’16 Austin Lee’16 web editor Clement Lee ’17 prox editor Rebekah Shoemake ’17 intersections editor Jarron McAllister ’16 associate news editors Ruby Shao ’17 Jasmine Wang ’17 associate opinion editors Jason Choe ’17 Shruthi Deivasigmani’16

Pablo G. Debenedetti is a professor of chemical and biological engineering and the dean for research at the University. He can be reached at pdebene@princeton.edu.

It all balances out jon robinson GS

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associate sports editors Sydney Mandelbaum ’17 Tom Pham ’17 associate street editors Harrison Blackman ’17 Jennifer Shyue ’17 associate photography editors Natalia Chen ’16 Christopher Ferri ’18 Sewheat Haile ’17 associate chief copy editors Chamsi Hssaine ’16 Alexander Schindele-Murayama ’16 editorial board chair Jeffrey Leibenhaut ’16 Cartoons Editor Terry O’Shea ’16

NIGHT STAFF 4.22.15 staff copy editors Jessica Ji ’18 Winny Myat ’18 news Do-Hyeong Myeong ’17 Katherine Oh ’18

Reconsidering political correctness Max Grear

columnist

W

hen it came time a few weeks ago for administrators at Kean University to pick a commencement speaker, I imagine that Common seemed like a safe choice. He has always been lauded as a “conscious” rapper (whatever that implies) who starred in a romantic comedy, happens to be a pescatarian, wrote a book about his mom, has a charity dedicated to supporting underprivileged youth and, of course, co-wrote the song “Glory” with John Legend for the movie “Selma.”

Somehow, though, someone managed to take offense — New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association president Chris Burgos called the invitation a “slap in the face” to police officers. Apparently, Burgos had managed to dig up a fifteen-year-old song dedicated to Assata Shakur, the controversial figure condemned by some as a terrorist while vigorously defended by others. Around the same time that Princeton students were rallying against Big Sean, a police organization was protesting against another artist of color from a working-class background in a struggling Midwestern city.

This incident is an example of what Paul Krugman refers to as “right-wing political correctness.” This kind of conservative correctness may have hit

its peak in the early days of the Iraq War, when Congress actually voted to rename cafeteria french fries “freedom fries.” Then there are countless instances of fundamentalist Christian groups rallying against portrayals of homosexuality in entertainment. Apparently even AP US History is under fire.

These are cases where certain words or phrases become unacceptable not because of the way they demean marginalized groups, but because of the way that they question an established “American” norm — a set of traditional nationalistic, Christian or free market values. Of course, when people try to make language more inclusive of and welcoming to members of marginalized groups, they become politically correct “social justice warriors.”

But language designed to make “job creators” (a term that many conservatives use in place of “the wealthy”) more comfortable somehow just qualifies as the common decency to refrain from class warfare.

I mention all this to call into question the assumptions behind the phrase “political correctness,” since I’ve heard it thrown around on campus a lot recently. Julius Dixon ’16 probably captured the feelings of over four hundred students who liked his Facebook status when he wrote: “To the PC police and all other butthurt parties — the world is not here to cater to you.”

I have also observed a large amount of conservative correctness. The fact that columnists Newby Parton, Chris-

tian Wawrzonek, Steve Swanson and the Editorial Board all felt compelled write very similar columns in The Daily Princetonian criticizing the protest of Eisgruber’s speech suggests that certain language — such as “cultural appropriation” or “racism” — makes some people at Princeton uncomfortable beyond a mere philosophical commitment to free speech.

I personally differ somewhat from the protesters in my interpretation of Eisgruber’s email, and I too tend to adhere to a fairly liberal standard of free speech — but the fact that these writers all took the opportunity to criticize a small group of brave students demonstrating on behalf of peers who were also hurt by events on campus suggests not only that they actually take this kind of protest as a serious threat against free speech. This kind of reaction also implies a deeper kind of discomfort with serious discussion about problems for minorities on campus.

Wawrzonek writes, “I was dismissed because of my race and insulted because my opinion did not align with an absurdly overhyped narrative.” He says that he’s not looking for sympathy, but he must have felt injured enough by a few Facebook comments to write a substance-free column about not “fighting discrimination with discrimination.”

Meanwhile, all four parties ignore what the real threat to free speech is: those ugly, reactionary instincts that manifest themselves under the cover

of anonymity and threaten those students brave enough to exercise their freedom of speech. It’s hard to explain the ugly reactions that appear under the cover of anonymity any other way than to directly call out the sensitivity of those of us with privilege who find that conversations about race, class, gender or sexuality make us feel personally uncomfortable.

Anonymity — whether it comes in the form of posting on Yik Yak or tearing down pro- and anti-divestment posters — severs speech from accountability. It also enables students to single out individuals like Joanna Anyanwu ’15 who, by vocally calling attention to the problems that minority students face on campus, apparently make non-minority students feel “victimized.” Free speech cannot fulfill its promise as long as students like Anyanwu who choose to use this freedom face intimidation from their own peers.

To an alarming degree, I’ve heard many students like Wawrzonek and Yik Yak users justify their complaints about campus dialogue with narratives of reverse-discrimination — the biggest excuse for self-pity and oversensitivity around today. Conservative correctness is strong among our student body, and in combination with anonymity it represents a serious threat to our freedom of speech.

Max Grear is a freshman from Wakefield, R.I. He can be reached at mgrear@ princeton.edu.

Sports

Thursday april 23, 2015

{ www.dailyprincetonian.com }

Men’s Tennis

by Yash Huilgol :: Contributing Photographer Last weekend, the no. 36 men’s tennis team (19-7 overall, 4-3 Ivy League) concluded it’s regular season, falling to Columbia before defeating Cornell in the final match of the season. Senior Zack McCourt had a great season, finishing with a no. 79 individual ranking and a no. 48 doubles ranking, along with sophomore Tom Colautti. While the Tigers did not recieve the Ivy League automatic bid, it is likely that the Tigers will be chosen to compete in the NCAA tournament when the selections are decided next Tuesday.

Tweet of the day

‘Kylie Jenner’s lips look pretty natural to me. Idk what everyone is talking about’ Haley Hineman, sophomore infielder on the princeton softball team

Follow us ‘Prince’ Sports is on Twitter and Instagram!

Follow us at www.twitter.com/princesports for live news and reports and @princetoniansports for beautiful sports photos!

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The Daily Princetonian

Thursday April 23, 2015

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THE ORANGE, THE BLACK AND

PAGES DESIGNED BY LIN KING :: STREET EDITOR

THE GREEN CATHERINE BAUMAN Street Editor Emeritus

O

n April 22, people around the world celebrated and recognized Earth Day, and this Saturday, Princeton’s green groups, students and community will gather on the Frist North Lawn for an Earth Day Picnic complete with student performances, free coffee cupcakes — and a chance to learn more about environmental and sustainability work at Princeton.

The Earth Day Picnic is important in raising widespread awareness and consciousness on campus; for many student leaders planning the event, however, environmental work on and off of campus extends far beyond a single day. The Office of Sustainability founded the GreenLeaders Consortium in 2006 to provide a space for sharing the plans and passions of various environmental groups on campus. In addition to collective efforts, Princeton green groups also pursue specific campaigns and approaches to sustainability on campus and within the University community.

Street had the opportunity to speak with a few student leaders to hear about their groups’ work.

SURGE Students United for Responsible Global Environment (SURGE) was founded in 2006 and promotes a transition from environmental awareness to activism, focusing especially on policy and legislation related to sustainability. SURGE helped to coordinate student involvement in the massive People’s Climate March this past fall. The group also regularly runs campus campaigns like “Pull the Plug” and “Do It in the Dark,” as well as tabling and petition efforts throughout the year.

The “Do it in the Dark” campaign is an annual energy-saving competition among the residential colleges. The campaign is coordinated by SURGE in conjunction with the Office of Sustainability and Wattvision, a technology energy start-up founded

by Savraj Singh ’03 in 2008. Wattvision offers live feedback on energy use, measured with a sensor connected to an electricity meter and wireless Internet. Using Wattvision technology, SURGE measured residential colleges’ energy use from March to April to establish an energy use baseline for each college. From April 8 to April 24, the colleges’ electricity consumption is recorded and compared to its baseline to determine which college achieves the largest usage reduction. Students can track hourly and daily usage as well as comparisons to

the baseline by building and by college.

According to SURGE president Leigh Anne Schriever ’16, this year’s competition engages more with social media and live data. Students can use #pulightsout on Twitter and Instagram to be included in a raffle for a clap on/clap off light. The residential college with the greatest overall energy reduction against their own baseline will be announced at the Earth Day Picnic on Saturday and will receive their choice of a college-wide study break.

“There is a fair amount of consciousness on this campus about environmentalism but there isn’t excitement about it, and that is what student groups really need to work on,” Schriever said.

GREENING PRINCETON Greening Princeton (GP), founded in 2003, specifically targets practices on campus to promote a better relationship between the University and the environment. One of GP’s campaigns that came to fruition this fall was the campus-wide implementation of single-stream recycling.

This allows all recyclable materials to be disposed of in the same bin rather than separated by material type, which simplifies the process and facilitates greater recycling participation.

Following this success, GP’s focus this semester has shifted to preparing for the Earth Day Picnic and creating a strong foundation for the following school year.

Co-presidents Susan Farrell ’17 and Zachariah DeGiulio ’18 hope for the group to address the sale of plastic water bottles in Frist, promote composting at all eating clubs and integrate sustainability practices into Frosh Week orientation.

“Students here are so involved and passionate about their causes, but sometimes it often feels there is a sense of apathy when it comes to climate change and environmental concerns on campus,” Farrell said.

“But I do not believe it is for a lack of caring.

It’s for a need to prioritize. I would love to try to raise the campus culture around sustainability and make that a point of community at Princeton.”

GREENING DINING Greening Dining is working closely with Dining Services to promote more sustainable food practices on campus, in both individual and collective capacities.

Greening Dining’s past campaigns have brought reusable food containers to Café Vivian (which is still currently an option) and worked with Dining Services to in-

crease the use of local food and purchases from farms that use fewer pesticides.

Greening Dining chair Réka Zempléni ’16 noted that Smitha Haneef, the new Head of Dining Services, has brought a number of changes to Princeton dining and has been open to conversation and collaboration with student groups.

For the past year, Greening Dining’s primary focuses have been increasing vegetarian and vegan options in the dining halls and reducing food waste. Zempléni noted the sustainability benefits of plantbased diets as well as the group’s goal to increase the diversity of options in the dining halls.

“There are many vegetarian and vegan students on campus who find it hard to eat in the dining hall every night,” Zempléni said. “Imagine if you walk into the dining hall and all you can eat every night is peanut butter, bread or the same cold salad. We have been talking to Dining Services about this and things have been improving.”

Vegetarian nights, also known as Vegetarian Plus nights and Flexitarian nights, are also ongoing projects under the group.

Vegetarian nights began in 2011 in Forbes College and have expanded to other dining halls over the past few years. To accommodate non-vegetarian students, the grill remains open on Vegetarian Plus or Flexitarian nights so that meat is still available.

“The point is not to force anyone to do anything or tell people what to do. It is to have more options,” Zempléni said.

In addition to dining hall food options, Greening Dining is also targeting food waste in the dining halls. The group’s primary focus is on student awareness and practices rather than changing the policies of Dining Services, as the latter has its own system for predicting accurate quantity production and food donation. Starting in May, Greening Dining will be running a pilot program where leftovers will be disposed in a clear container on top of a scale.

When students dispose of their leftover food, they can see not only the total but also the impact of their own food waste.

Zempléni emphasized that this was not to suggest that there cannot be any food waste, but rather to encourage practices that minimize waste and raise consciousness of how much waste is produced by students at each meal.

PRINCETON GARDEN PROJECT Managing the Forbes College Garden, Forbes Greenhouse and Frist Garden is a year-round job. The main planting season occurs over the summer, with harvesting and planting happening in the fall, working in the greenhouse and managing two beds in the winter and transplanting in the spring. The garden provides a variety of vegetables, berries, herbs and flowers.

The Princeton Garden Project recently restructured its management for a more holistic approach that is modeled off the established garden program at Yale University.

The project shifted to an application-based selection of five general managers rather than separate positions responsible for specific tasks such as planting and harvesting.

COUTESY OF PRINCETON SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE According to general manager The Princeton Sustainable Investment Initiative advertises their petition for a holistic investHannah Kraus ’17, the garden is ment process that shifts away from companies with unsustainable environmental practices. looking to provide more produce

COUTESY OF PRINCETON OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY

On April 16, in honor of Earth Month, the Princeton University Campus Dining Bake Shop made cupcakes shaped into the Princeton Office of Sustainability’s logo.

COUTESY OF PRINCETON SURGE

Princeton students at the New York People’s Climate March on September 21, 2014.

for campus co-ops, build on their existing relationship with the Mathey Real Food Co-op, and partner with Forbes College on special nights like Vegetarian Nights. The group is also interested in providing independent students with an opportunity to buy sustainable produce.

CAMPUS CLIMATE The student leaders noted a general awareness of environmental concerns on campus but reiterated that it does not always translate into action. The green groups want to raise that awareness through their various individual pursuits — but also in collaboration. Kraus is also the GreenLeader coordinator and serves as a liaison between the various group leaders and the Office of Sustainability. She noted that in addition to space for group leaders to communicate, she would like to develop an open forum for students who are interested in environmental issues but not actively involved with a group to share ideas.

Kraus has also been involved in the development of “Investigating an Ethical Approach to Sustainability at Princeton,” a cross-listed ENV/CHV class that will be offered next fall. Kraus and Jenna Spitzer ’17 proposed the class through the Princeton student-initiated courses program. They have worked with Semenov and Office of Sustainability Director Shana Weber, who will teach the course, to develop a curriculum that enables students to focus on the ethical frameworks surrounding environmental concerns at Princeton.

“We molded and tried to figure out how best to incorporate student input into the campus plan. What is really cool is that it is an environmental ethics course, which adds something unique to the current course offerings,” Kraus said.

The course will bring guest lecturers and University administrators and staff to report on the state of various sustainable spheres at Princeton. At the conclusion of the semester, the class will present the out-

comes of their evaluations of priority areas and propose directions to the University Campus Planning committees. The goal is for the class to be offered every year, Kraus said.

The desire for conversation and dialogue between the student body and University administration is also evident in the Princeton Sustainable Investment Initiative (PSII). Led by undergraduate and graduate students, PSII calls for the formation of a committee of students, faculty and administrators to conduct research on how to make Princeton’s investment both sustainable and effective on returns.

PSII originated from conversations surrounding divestment from specific certain harmful companies, but has taken a broader approach that aims to change the mentality and long-term framework of investment policy, rather than just specific investments.

“That shift happened last spring....A couple of drafts were written and this fall, after the climate march, was when we did the collective editing and started gathering signatures,” Schriever said.

The two-page proposal, drafted by 20 graduate and undergraduates students, has received 1,600 signatures. PSII’s next step will be determined based on the response of the Resource Committee as to whether the conversation will continue at a Trustee level.

The upcoming class, PSII, and the green groups’ campaigns are the products of students coming together to enact change and promote sustainability on Princeton’s campus, as well as with policies that have global effects. However, each is also the product of personal actions, and they have been made successful through the conscious investment of individuals.

“I strongly believe that in your everyday actions you should be mindful of [the impact of] what you are doing,” Zempléni said. “The small things do add up.”

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday April 23, 2015

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PUB’s ‘Art in Motion’ defies boundaries between art forms JOY DARTEY Contributor

I

n one of the many collaborative pieces from Princeton University Ballet’s “Art in Motion,” Alice Frederick ’17, co-president of the Ellipses Slam Team, stands in the middle of the stage and performs Shane Koyczan’s slam poem “Instructions for a Bad Day.” As she speaks, four dancers standing in the four corners of the stage depict the poem’s instructions through the graceful motion of their bodies.

PUB’s spring production, titled “Art in Motion,” is being brought to Princeton from April 21 to April 23. Jiae Azad ’15 and Marisa Remez ‘16, the current co-presidents of the company, explained that what

OSAMA HASSAN :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

really makes this year’s spring show stand out from previous ones is not only that this show has 21 pieces, but that the show is truly diverse in dance forms and art forms.

“In addition to all of our dancers, we also have a huge range of collaborators,” Azad said, reflecting on the different art forms in the production.

“Art in Motion” is very diverse in the sense that it has long and short pieces, pieces set to classical music, pieces set to a viola and a piano, and excerpts from very traditional ballets, as well as pieces choreographed to poetry. It showcases pieces that have dancers moving to songs performed by the Princeton Wildcats and Pam

Soffer ’15, to name a couple.

In addition to the guest performers from Princeton’s campus, Azad and Remez brought in two guest choreographers, Bennyroyce Royon, the artistic director of his own dance company in New York, and Joseph Morrissey, the Director of Artistic Planning and Touring for the Hong Kong Ballet, to direct one piece each. The remaining 19 pieces in the show are all choreographed or staged

by PUB’s dancers.

Not only does “Art in Motion” incorporate a wide variety of talent, but it also meets PUB’s mission to make ballet accessible to the members of the Princeton community, according to Remez.

“We are really doing this by bringing in more collaborators, because we are bringing in more people who usually wouldn’t come see ballet,” Remez said. “We are getting the chance to show what we are capable of and to showcase and further the art that’s on campus.”

OSAMA HASSAN :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Azad agreed with Remez’s sentiment, especially considering traditional perceptions of ballet.

“We also really want to change people’s stereotypical idea of what they think ballet is because the ballet world is often perceived as a very traditional art form, and that’s not true at all anymore,” Azad said.

Azad and Remez explained that a lot of major ballet companies do more contemporary and interesting work that people do not always notice. By bringing in artists that one would not associate with ballet performances, PUB strives to provide a contemporary twist to ballet.

“Art in Motion” is longer than PUB’s previous performances, lasting an hour-and-ahalf. Traditionally, PUB shows are one hour long. Putting on

OSAMA HASSAN :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

a longer production, on top of incorporating modern twists to ballet, has not been without its challenges. Azad and Remez agreed that performing to live music can be challenging, because live music is always a little different from the actual recording.

“Live music always brings

something new,” Remez said.

“A lot of our dances haven’t really done that much to live music before so we are getting used to that.”

Azad stressed that coordinating all the artists involved was challenging.

“There is also the coordination with all the different groups of people,” Azad said.

The co-presidents are excited for the Princeton community to see this production, as they hope it will be memorable because of the collaborations with other artists.

“We are so thrilled to be incorporating these other artists into our show and showing what the art community on campus is capable of,” Remez said.

Azad built on that, highlighting what makes “Art in Motion” so different.

“I think there are a lot of mediums on campus that showcase all the different art groups individually but a lot of them don’t encourage putting these different art forms together,” Azad said.

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday April 23, 2015

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PSAT TRAVELS ABROAD NATALIA CHEN Photography Editor

I

t’s gener ally advised that when one travels abroad, they acquire the necessar y paper work wel l in advance. In case that fails, Princeton South Asian Theatrics’ spring show, “How to Get a Visa in 10 Days” may have your answer. Written and directed by Neeraj Bajpayee ‘17, Neamah Hussein ‘17 and Naman Jain ‘17, the show concerns the experience of Anjali, a young woman w ith big dreams and an awesome life but runs into a few snags when she enters the real world. “How to Get a Visa in 10 Days” w ill run Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m., Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 25 at 6 and 9 p.m. in the Wilson Black Box Theater.

NEXT WEEK IN STREET

SPRING 2015

FIT TIPS hydrating & why it matters

LAWNPARTIES A PREVIEW SEE YOU THURSDAY.

NICOLE BUNYAN Staff Writer

h, water. that thing we can’t live without, and all that jazz. While we all know that water is essential for functioning, our daily H2O intake isn’t something that many of us think about on a daily basis. Let’s be honest, when you wake up in the morning, the first thing on your mind probably isn’t anything along the lines of: “I’m so excited to drink my daily amount of water today!”

In reality, you’re probably looking forward to a delicious brunch. In fact, water is probably one of the last things on your mind as you go about your busy day — instead remembering your coffee for that energy jolt and your bagels and toast because they’re delicious and you’re hungry.

How can water compare? It’s tasteless! And unless you’re severely dehydrated, water often doesn’t seem like a necessity.

However, you may be unaware that water can in fact do much more good for you than you realize, including but not exclusive to providing you with energy, and eliminating those hunger pangs! While there are many benefits of drinking water, here are a couple of my

top reasons and tricks to stay hydrated!

Reason: Helps keep your energy levels up. You know that afternoon slump that hits around 2-3 p.m.? I’ve found that drinking water consistently throughout the day helps me to avoid this post-lunch crash.

Staying hydrated also helps me feel more motivated to have a good workout. If I’m tired before hitting the gym, I’m much less likely to put myself through a hard workout, when in reality, if I had a tiny bit more energy beforehand, I could probably mentally push through.

Reason: Flushes out toxins and salt. No, you don’t have to go on a juice cleanse to “get rid of toxins” — water can do the job! Furthermore, it helps counteract the bloating effects of the high-sodium foods you may be consuming.

Trick: Match each cup of coffee with a bottle of water. Coffee is great for your energy — until it runs out and leaves you feeling a little depleted. Ever noticed how coffee makes you go? That, friends, is the effect of a diuretic — aka something which drains water from your body. Try counteracting coffee’s water-sucking powers by drinking it alongside a bottle

of water. Yay for more energy!

Trick: Put time-labels on your water bottle. If you are one of those people who remembers to bring their water bottle everywhere, but forgets to drink out of it, try this tip: Using a pen or marker, draw horizontal lines on your water bottle (best if it’s a disposable one, I suppose), and label each line with a certain time.

For example, you could mark the lines at 2-hour intervals (9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., etc).

This tactic can help you keep on track, especially if you miss your target and realize how many hours behind you are.

Trick: Think water before food. Before you eat anything (whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a snack), try drinking a glass of water.

Drinking water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is a great way to wake up your body gently and to start off your day on a healthy note! During the day, if you find yourself reaching for a snack or an unhealthy option at the dining hall, drink a glass of water first. This can help reduce your initial hunger pangs, making it less likely for you to fill up on fast, sugary options, or to overeat.

ASK THE SEXPERT

This week, she discusses Viagra for women.

Dear Sexpert, I am a girl and recently I feel like I have no libido. My friend recommended that I take Viagra. Can girls take Viagra? Will it improve my sex drive?

— Low Libido

Dear Low, Having sexual intercourse sThese are great questions.

While Viagra is a commonly used prescription drug in the United States, popular culture often perpetuates misconceptions about its clinical use.

Viagra is the brand name of a drug called Sildenafil (there are other brand names, as well).

Most commonly, Viagra is approved for use to treat erectile dysfunction in men. It is also used to treat symptoms of high blood pressure in both men and women. So the short answer is yes, women can take Viagra.

You ask whether Viagra is a possible solution for your decreased libido —the answer is

no. Contrary to popular belief, Viagra does not improve sexual desire in either men or women. Viagra works by improving blood flow. In men with erectile dysfunction, this improved blood flow helps them to achieve an erection. There have been some studies that suggest that a similar effect may be achieved and help to improve sexual performance in certain groups of women (specifically post-menopausal women and women on anti-depressants).

However, this does not increase sexual desire. Furthermore, all uses of Viagra are associated with potential side effects: visual disturbances, headaches, indigestion and muscle pain, to name a few. In sum, Viagra is not an appropriate treatment for low libido and is associated with a host of other risks.

So what can you do? Low sex drive can be caused by a myriad of factors: physical, hormonal, psychological and social. Certain medications, low estrogen levels, anxiety and depression can all impact

sexual desire. While variations in sexual desire are normal, if this is a persistent concern you may want to consult a healthcare provider. You can schedule an appointment with Sexual Health and Wellness Services at University Health Services by calling 609-2583141 or online at www.princeton.edu/MyUHS. While this resource is confidential, you can also consult a provider off-campus at Planned Parenthood, which has numerous clinics across New Jersey.

A list of health centers can be found by searching here: http:// www.plannedparenthood.org/ health-center.

— The Sexpert

Interested in Sexual Health? The Sexpert is always looking for members of the community to join the team of sexual health educators who, along with fact-checking from University health professionals, help write these columns. Email sexpert@ dailypr incetonian.com for more information and questions about sexual health. Don’t be shy!

The Daily Princetonian

Thursday April 23, 2015

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‘Dog Sees God’ explores teenage despair, hope and life after Snoopy CAROLINE HERTZ Senior Writer

G

rind Arts Company’s production of Bert Royal’s parodic play “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” directed by Steven Tran ’15, takes on an irresistible premise: What would happen to Charlie Brown and his Peanut friends if they grew up?

It’s about 10 years later, and — prepare yourself — Snoopy has been put to sleep after ripping Woodstock to shreds in a rabid rage. Pigpen has cleaned up into “Matt,” a violently germophobic, homophobic, misogynistic nightmare of an alpha male. Linus, now known as Van, is a stoner who smoked the burnt remains of his beloved blanket. Lucy, known only as Van’s sister, is a lithium-addled pyromaniac. Schroeder, now known as Beethoven, is so viciously bullied that he considers bringing a gun to school.

The story, which begins and ends with funerals, has as much in common with “Heathers” as it does with the Peanuts comic. Don’t come here looking for nostalgia; this play is brutal.

Our guide through this world is, of course, the man himself, here called “C.B.” (Manuel Marichal ’16). Snoopy’s death has sent C.B. into a downward spiral of despair. He travels from troubled peer to troubled peer, asking, “What do you think happens when we die?” The answers he receives are as strange as they are unhelpful: Maggot food. Wiccan reincarnation. Who cares, fuck as many sluts as you can while you’re alive.

The script leaves much to be desired.

Though teenaged Marcy (Cameron Platt ’16) complains about the obligatory cafeteria scene in every high school movie — you know, the one that tells us that jocks sit there, cool kids sit there, drama geeks sit there — there are times when this play feels like a 90-minute extension of that same tired routine. And there are times when Royal’s text feels like a dirtied-down, cliché-riddled remake of an anti-bullying special. There’s drinking and drug abuse, abortion, mo-

lestation, suicide, bullying, prejudiced jocks, popular girls, bulimic girls, a talented, tortured, quiet boy and more. A nominal storyline ties all this together — someone’s secretly gay! — but the writing relies too heavily on tired shockvalue (ooh, those girls just did drugs and now they’re having a threesome with Pigpen). There’s no issue this play addresses that hasn’t been handled more creatively elsewhere.

Furthermore, some plotlines are just plain confusing. When C.B. kisses Beethoven at a party, everyone panics that they’ll catch the “gay disease.”

Marcy, who just let seven ecstasy-riddled teens have sex in her parents’ bed, chirps with sudden alarm: “My parents will kill me if they find out I let a homosexual in the house!” The play was written in 2004 and is set in modernday, but it can feel archaic in moments like these.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ‘Dog Sees God’ Pros: Generally compelling

performances, innovative direction.

Cons: Lackluster text, performances

are occasionally clichéd

darkness, you’ll feel all of your 14-yearold’s angst come rushing back.

Though they occasionally fall into stilted clichés, this fine group of actors delivers a dryly funny and emotionally resonant performance overall. As Matt, Ross Barron ’17 serves up hilarious, horny swagger edged with hideous, terrifying cruelty. When he witnesses the kiss between C.B. and Beethoven, the mask of clenched-jaw hatred that claps over his face suppresses his wild-eyed grin and might give you chills, if you’re watching closely. Marichal’s C.B. is appropriately introverted and conflicted, a Good Man who’s developed a bit of a mean streak after remaining passive in the face of cruelty for so long.

Nico Krell ’18 is the beating heart of this show as the wry, outcast Beethoven.

Krell doles out a refreshingly tough (and jaw-droppingly good) monologue when C.B. barges into his piano practice room to wax at philosophical length about Snoopy’s death. “You haven’t spoken to me in years,” he explodes, “and all of a sudden I get a stream of consciousness monologue about your dead dog?

Forgive my bluntness, but I could give two shits about you or your vacant mind or your morbid curiosities or your dead fucking dog, so why don’t you just

leave?” Stanley Mathabane ’17 is charming as ever as the sage and comparatively normal Van, who can see possibilities in a fistful of nothing but air. Abby Melick ’17 has a particularly scrumptious moment as C.B.’s Sister when she presents a one-woman performance art piece about a caterpillar who believes that, if she stays in her cocoon long enough, she can become anything she wants to be: a butterfly, a sparrow, a platypus or a human being. “I will be an extraordinary creature,” she resolves with breathless excitement — and her outsized teenage aspirations are so delightful that you root for her.

Though the play revels in gratuitous profanity and vulgarity, underneath the hyperbolically grim surface are familiar faces. Charlie Brown is still full of questions and existential crises. Linus is still philosophical. Schroeder still faithfully plays his piano while people talk at him.

Lucy is still full of unsound advice. And this production succeeds on a very important thematic front. I won’t give away the ending, but C.B.’s melancholy search for meaning is resolved with a startlingly poignant gesture. Is there a design to it all? Is anyone up there looking out for us? Don’t despair; the cast and crew of Dog Sees God tell us there’s hope.

COURTESY OF GRIND ARTS COMPANY

Nico Krell ’18 as Beethoven, the grown-up, tortured Schroeder in “Dog Sees God.”

Contributor

I

Herman from the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret. Before the musical was created, the play had already been adapted into a French film, which was remade in 1996 as “The Birdcage,” starring Robin Williams and directed by Mike Nichols. Strasnick described the plot as a timeless, heart-wrenching love story with a modern twist — the central couple is gay. One of the central characters, Albin, has an alter-ego named Zaza (both played by Camel) who is a drag star, and the story is interwoven with colorful, glitzy musical numbers that take place at a drag club in St. Tropez owned by Albin’s partner, Georges (played by Strasnick).

In discussing their experiences as the leads of “La Cage Aux Folles”, Strasnick and Camel explained some challenges they faced in playing their roles.

Strasnick talked about his difficulty maintaining neutrality in his own feelings for the way his son Jean-Michel (Georges’ biological son, raised by both Georges and Albin) treats Albin. As Jean-Michel is about to marry a woman with very conservative parents, he asks that Albin not be present at a dinner meeting between the two families. In this moment, Georges feels conflicted.

Camel has been able to execute his role quite naturally, as he feels he and Albin are somewhat similar. Howev-

er, it was difficult for him to accurately portray the ad-libbed nature of the stand-up portions of certain drag scenes, he said. He described the format of a drag show, which consists of musical numbers interspersed with interactive stand-up monologues. Camel said that it felt strange to have the stand-up scenes written out for him as if they were being improvised.

According to Kaseta, one of the show’s gems is the orchestration of the music, which is more complex than it sounds. The pit consists of eight musicians, and is situated behind the stage of the Hamilton Murray Theater, with a wall in between the singers and the musicians. Kaseta explained that although the setup presented a challenge, the pit is a key component to the life of the musical, and the musicians have overcome this obstacle.

The production premiered last week, and is also showing this Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Hamilton Murray Theater. On Thursday night, English and theater professor Stacy Wolfe will facilitate a “talkback” after the show with the cast and crew members. According to Young, Strasnick, Camel and Kaseta, Wolfe has fantastic insights that will add a lot to the viewing experience. So keep your wig on, and see “La Cage Aux Folles” this weekend.

HEADLINERS AND HEADSHAKERS headlines you didn’t read this week DAILY PRINCETONIAN STAFF

Yik Yak considers disabling service from U., service of all nations Lindy Li ’12 files paperwork for congressional candidacy, friends literally everyone on Facebook, Twitter, Tinder and MySpace Neither News Nor Notes: Yale to increase undergraduate student weight by 15 percent by introducing two new unhealthy dining options

Industrial Relations Section vs. women’s rugby.

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Princeton Surf Team vs.

Giving What They Can. Club Cricket vs. Tapcats

The Daily Princetonian vs. varsity football. (Ugh.)

Terrace vs. Wilson School.

Mathey RCAs vs. the Real Co-Op of Mathey.

ROTC vs. Beekeeping Team.

Songwriters Society vs. BAC: Dance.

Orange Key vs.

Return of the SHAB.

MUSICAL PRINCETON TRIANGLE CLUB PRESENTS “A WRINKLE INTIME”

JACQUELINE LEVINE

Folles” is for the show to metaphorically “keep on the wig.” Young is fascinated by drag as a performance art, she said. In Princeton University Players’ and Theatre Intime’s joint production of “La Cage Aux Folles,” Young presents drag as more performance than visual spectacle. Despite that, she and cast members Carey Camel ’17 and Evan Strasnick ’15 still appreciate that the show’s set and costumes are aesthetically gorgeous.

A few days ago, Street sat down with Young, Camel, Strasnick and music director Sam Kaseta ’15 to discuss some behind-the-scenes production details. Young submitted her proposal for “La Cage Aux Folles” last year, and the project was jointly picked up by both Princeton University Players and Theatre Intime. In January, Young held auditions, and rehearsals began in February, with an intense tech week leading up to opening night last Friday, April 17.

“La Cage Aux Folles” the YICHENG SUN :: PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR musical was adapted by playCarey Camel ’17 as Albin, one of two central charwright Harvey Fierstein and acters in the 1983 musical “La Cage Aux Folles.” lyricist and composer Jerry

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Dodgeball Match-ups

CAMPUS PICKS

Keep your wig on: Behind the scenes of ‘La Cage aux folles’ n typical drag shows, the performers traditionally remove their wigs at the end of a set as a final flourish. Director Morgan Young ’16’s vision for “La Cage Aux

TOP TEN

Duke vs. Wisconsin.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: All that being said, there’s something deliciously fun about Tran’s production of this underwhelming text — it’s ruthlessly youthful, it’s drenched in profanity, it mercilessly skewers Charles Schulz’s beloved characters and it vigilantly pushes against triteness. The adaptation is set in the Forbes Black Box — a fantastic underground hide-out, where memorials left by previous inhabitants have been scribbled on the chalkboard walls (the blue-spotted giraffe on the back wall was a personal favorite).

Between scenes, when tracks like Evanescence’s “Going Under” and Britney Spears’s “Piece of Me” rip through the

STREET’S

ILL NO LONGER HUMANITIES SEQUENCE W ILL STILL REQUIRE APPLICATIONS, W NTS OF READING OU AM NE MA HU IN E IR QU RE Newly formed student group Valley Academy wins Battle of the Bands, but will it win the Battle for Middle Earth?

Within Ivy League, Princeton among lowest in celery gap between vegetarian options

Whitman College Class of 1970 Theatre Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

It’s a dark and stormy night, and you simply can’t fall asleep from anticipation for the next installment of “The Hunger Games,” “Divergent” and “The Maze Runner.” Solution: ditch the newfangled stuff and go back to the basics — Madeleine L’Engle’s classic “A Wrinkle in Time,” revamped with song, dance and many jokes about disembodied brains. If you still daydream of being Megatron in your free time, if you have an inkling that your professor is secretly IT or if you just appreciate a masterful Princetonthemed pun, join Triangle this weekend in their Spring Show, directed by Maddy Cohen ’16.

EVENT THE NASSAU LITERARY REVIEW’S SPRING LAUNCH Small World Coffee Thursday, 10:30 p.m.

Life is capricious, but thankfully there are some Princeton things you can count on not to change. One thing you can expect like clockwork is Nass Lit’s launch party at Small World, complete with live musical performances, student readings and free coffee (for the first 200 guests).

Copies of the Spring 2015 Nassau Literary Review will also be on hand — so many free things and reasons to swing by Princeton’s semesterly imitation of a hip Brooklyn coffeehouse!

MUSIC PUO AND GLEE CLUB PRESENT “THE STUART B. MINDLIN MEMORIAL CONCERTS” Richardson Auditorium in Alexander Hall Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

Two mainstays of the Princeton musiccreation-on-a-very-large-scale scene join forces this weekend to bring you the Verdi Requiem. If the fact that both the Princeton University Orchestra and the Princeton Glee Club will be performing the same music at the same time in Richardson Auditorium isn’t enough to get you to this show, then really, what will? If the preview video is any indication, this is going to be a night of epic music.

EVENT: PRINCETON TRUCKFEST Prospect Avenue Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

Food! In trucks! They’re back — and there are more of them than ever before. This year, Princeton TruckFest, co-sponsored by all 11 eating clubs and the Pace Council for Civic Values, will be hosting over a dozen trucks. Highlights include extravagant hot dogs, Puerto Rican cuisine and ice cream waffles.

Worried about the lines? Don’t be. On-site entertainment will include BodyHype, Sensemaya, Princeton Magicians’ Club and many more. All proceeds will go to the Send Hunger Packing Initiative and the Meals on Wheels of Trenton/Ewing.