FRESHMAN YEAR 20192020

The Class of 2023’s freshman year was one of the most dramatic in Princeton’s history – three fourths of the way through, the world changed forever with the COVID-19 pandemic. As students scattered across the world, faculty adjusted to a course of study conducted almost entirely online. The University ex- tended the pass/D/ fail option to all undergraduate spring courses as a result of the pandemic.

The Ivy League canceled all spring athletic events and internships under the International Internship Program were also canceled, disrupting the summer plans of many first-years. For the first time since it was established in 1876, The Daily Princetonian held production all summer.

Another major event took place on campus, after dozens of students, including members of the Class of 2023, were accused of cheating in MAT 202: Linear Algebra with Applications after a TA intentionally posted a false solution on the website Slader. The incident merited significant discourse on the FacebookTigerConfessions page.

The Class of 2023 also saw the end of a long time quirk in Princeton’s academic calendar. They were part of the last class to have finals after winter break. The next year, finals were moved before winter break and Wintersession was created.

Over the summer of 2020, protests erupted across the country after the killing of George Floyd. Over 1000 community members protested outside FitzRandolph gate, calling for systemic change.