Bahcall: “This committee was formed recently due to the situation that has been happening over the last year on campus.”
PCAF
“It was in the wake of this attempt to entrench statements at every level that a number of us became galvanized, eventually taking a cue from colleagues at Harvard and Columbia, and decided after a series of informal discussions to form PCAF,” he added. Harvard adopted institutional neutrality in September, and Columbia is currently considering it.
“This committee was formed recently due to the situation that has been happening over the last year on campus,” addd PCAF member and Professor of Astrophysics Neta Bahcall, pointing directly to the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” and Clio Hall sit-in that occurred last spring. “Faculty gather to vote on various topics that are not really under their jurisdiction.”
Bourbohakis clarified in a follow-up email to the ‘Prince’ that PCAF would not have objected to a proposal granting students amnesty for students arrested for their participation in the Clio Hall sit-in, but would object to the faculty proposals for calling for the University to divest and dissociate from Israel, cultivate affiliations with Palestinian academic institutions and create a Program in Palestinian Studies, and publicly support ceasefire.
He stated that PCAF believes these proposals are “outside the bounds of the jurisdiction of the faculty as a voting body and which would have raised fundamental questions of academic freedom, had they been permitted to come to a vote.”
Notably, a non-binding resolution calling for amnesty passed at the May 20 faculty meeting, but the others did not make it onto the agenda. Two similar pro-Palestine referenda — calling for the creation of an ad-hoc committee to review the University’s response to protest in Spring 2024 and the establishment of an initiative to support Palestinian, Arab, and Arab-American University community members — were introduced at the Oct. 21 faculty meeting by Professor of Classics Dan-el Padilla Peralta ’06. Faculty voted to postpone the consideration of these measures until the Apr. 28 faculty meeting.
Padilla Peralta did not respond to a request for comment.
“I understand why some faculty associated with the protests surrounding the conflicts in the Middle East regard PCAF with suspicion, since our efforts would effectively prevent the kind of proposals they have been championing,” Bourbohakis wrote. “But our objection is not to the specific political content of those proposals but to any proposals of this kind.”
“The [U]niversity should not have a foreign policy, and faculty meetings are not intended for freewheeling political debates on the rights and wrongs of the Middle East or broadly social and political matters,” he continued. PCAF has been particularly active in recent weeks. At the Oct. 21 faculty meeting, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs Jonathan Mummolo, who also serves as a PCAF co-chair, put forward a PCAF-backed proposal that would amend the Rules and Procedures of the Faculty to prevent facultywide statements.
According to Bourbouhakis, Mummolo’s measure was backed by PCAF because as
long as faculty-wide statements are allowed, meetings will “devolve into a fractious political arena simply because any group of faculty choose to force a vote on any matter they feel passionate about.”
More recently, PCAF members wrote a column criticizing the use of faculty meetings to declare political positions. This came less than two weeks before faculty were asked to vote on the aforementioned pro-Palestine referendum proposed by Padilla Peralta.
Besides their goal to defend institutional neutrality and academic freedom, Mummolo told the ‘Prince’ that a second goal of PCAF is to promote civil discourse, writing, “We
also plan to promote and host events that model civil but critical debates on contentious issues.”
“Personally, I do not think we have enough events like this on campus presently,” he added. “Universities should lead the way in modeling civil disagreement even on the most sensitive of issues, and I am hopeful PCAF can play a role in that.”
Achilleas Koukas is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Olivia Sanchez is an associate News editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from New Jersey and often covers the Graduate School and academic departments.
CANDACE DO / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN McCosh Hall 50.
Trenton Arts founder, manager departs after nine years, peers reflect
By Jake Miller News Contributor
After nine years as director of the Trenton Youth Orchestra (TYO) and five years as manager of Trenton Arts at Princeton (TAP), Lou Chen ’19 is leaving for Stamford, Conn. He will be working as the CEO of INTEMPO, a non-profit organization that aims to bridge the divide between immigrants and music education.
The University has yet to officially fill his position, but will soon launch a search for potential candidates. In the meantime, current staff, including some students, Trenton Arts fellows, and University faculty will continue his work.
Chen assured The Daily Princetonian in an interview that the program has been left in good hands.
“Many people are banding together to help with this transition, showing just how invested everyone is in the program,” he said.
Chen’s passion for music education began at a young age.
“Growing up, I had a real passion for music education. I was among the very few students in my public school system who could afford private lessons,” he explained, adding that he recognized his privilege in “being able to access what a lot of my classmates couldn’t.”
Chen told the ‘Prince’ that after his experience with Community
Action (CA) — one of Princeton’s first-year orientation programs — he started to notice the similar disparities between the artistic environments of his hometown of San Bernardino, Calif. and Trenton. This inspired him to create a six-person orchestra that connected Princeton volunteers with Trenton High School students. In his senior spring, the University hired Chen to extend the reach of the program.
Under Chen’s supervision, this six-person orchestra expanded into TAP. He highlighted the Saturday Morning Arts (SMArts) program to the ‘Prince’ as one of the most successful elements of TAP.
“TAP … now encompasses a variety of programs, the largest of which is our Saturday Morning Arts, or SMArts, program, which includes not only the orchestra at this point, but also singers, dancers, and theater,” said Chen.
SMArts “is a community of over 100 Princeton University students, faculty, and staff, as well as Trenton public school students,” Chen said. Through SMArts, Trenton students meet with Princeton volunteers for rehearsals every Saturday in the Lewis Center for the Arts. The program includes free breakfast, lunch, and bus transportation.
Chen added that, in his view, the program has strengthened community bonds and creativity and noted the breadth of people who have contributed to the success of the program — includ-
ing faculty members and volunteers from both the Princeton and Trenton communities.
“They’re doing all this not because they’re paid, but because they’re deeply invested in their students’ artistic and emotional well-being,” he said.
Vivian Clayton ’28, who has been working with SMArts and Trenton Youth Singers (TYS) since the beginning of the semester, described Chen’s welcoming presence. Chen “remembers everyone’s name” and “really wants to make sure that everyone feels seen,” Clayton shared. “His presence will be missed.”
Rowan Johnson ’27, a TYO string teacher training assistant, also described Chen’s caring presence.
“Lou is someone who cares truly and deeply about making meaningful connections through art. His passion is radiant and infectious, and he made Saturday Morning Arts one of the most warm and joyous spaces I’ve found on campus,” he said.
Jenia Marquez ’25, who has been involved with TYS and TAP during all four years of her Princeton career, will serve as one of the interim conductors in Chen’s absence.
“I will always maintain that being a Trenton Arts Fellow was my favorite thing I’ve done at Princeton, and Lou was a huge reason why,” Marquez said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “He [Chen] has taught me so much about teaching and conducting
with compassion and empathy first, and, as one of the interim conductors of TYO in his absence, I know I have huge shoes to fill,” she added.
“He’s going to be sorely missed, but I know that the strength of the community he’s built will ensure that TAP will continue to thrive in his absence,” Johnson added.
Chen said he will take lessons from his work at Princeton with him into his next venture.
“This experience taught me two things: First, you have to be attentive to students’ hidden talents. Often, it’s these small, spontaneous moments that create oppor-
tunities. And second, you have to work with people. Early on, I might have been more inclined to push my own vision, but some colleagues taught me the importance of building consensus and listening,” he explained.
Chen expressed that he has faith that TAP will continue to flourish.
“I feel confident leaving now because the program is rooted in a strong team effort, and I know it will continue to grow and thrive,” he concluded.
Jake Miller is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
Haitian Creole language courses coming to Princeton’s French and Italian department in the next year
By Isaac Bernstein News Contributor
The Department of French and Italian will add a Haitian Creole course taught by Lecturer Johnny Laforêt in Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. The new course follows interest in the language by students who attended Laforêt’s Haitian Creole language tables over the past several years.
“The need is there. A lot of students want to take it,” he explained in an interview with The Daily Princetonian.
“I cannot even do it at a dining hall because there are too many people: how can you sit down with 30 students at a table? It’s almost impossible,” he added of his experience leading the tables. Gil Joseph ’25, a sociology student from Haiti who is pursuing research on migration within the global South with a focus on Haiti and Haitians across Latin America, told the ‘Prince’ that he hopes “language is just the beginning of what I hope can be a deeper engagement with Haitian history and Haitian politics today.”
The course has been long in the making. In late 2019, the student organization Princeton Caribbean Connection (PCC) contacted Laforêt about collaborating on the Haitian Creole language tables he ran in the dining hall. With PCC’s involvement, the tables began to grow more popular.
Laforêt had already developed a Haitian Creole course at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he completed his PhD. As the language tables grew in popularity, creating a similar course at Princeton began to
seem more feasible.
Joseph highlighted the significance of the new course. “The interest is there from the students and the community,” he said, noting that he and Laforêt have been discussing the creation of a Haitian Creole course since Joseph’s first year at Princeton.
The curriculum will begin as a 100-level course, although Laforêt hopes to expand into 200-level electives for students wishing to explore the culture and language in greater depth.
PCC co-president Mya Ramhi ’26, a student in the African American Studies department and a native Haitian Creole speaker, told the ‘Prince’ that she has always had the desire to connect more deeply with her Haitian culture and Caribbean heritage.
She discussed her time in PCC, explaining that the organization “make[s] space for Caribbean students at Princeton to feel welcome and be in community with other Caribbean students and also give[s] the wider campus community an opportunity to learn about the Caribbean.”
Ramhi has worked with Laforêt to popularize the Haitian Creole language tables and expressed her excitement about the Haitian Creole course’s development. Referring to the tables, Ramhi shared that “there has been a large demonstrated interest across campus among students to learn the language as well.”
Laforêt told the ‘Prince’ that there are “more than 70,000 Haitians living in New Jersey, and [Princeton] is close to New York and Philadelphia where there are a lot of Haitians.”
He envisions Haitian Creole courses having a strong emphasis on community immersion and integration. To do
so, he plans to incorporate interactions with the vibrant Haitian immigrant community in Trenton into the course.
Both Joseph and Laforêt discussed how working with local Haitian communities could foster increased language acquisition and cultural immersion.
Joseph added that “we would be doing ourselves a disservice if we don’t take the time to really understand the community,” which he said includes numerous University employees within facilities and dining staff.
Sensing an eagerness from students to immerse themselves in Haitian culture and the Haitian Creole language, Laforêt has already developed a noncredit Haitian Creole course for this year’s Wintersession. “We will have two weeks of Haitian Creole where everybody can come if you’re a part of the Princeton community,” he said. “You can come and learn the language without... having a grade [or] having to take exams.”
Joseph tied the new Haitian Creole programming to broader developments in the Princeton community like student body expansion.
“As a Haitian myself, I really admire the work that Professor Laforêt has been doing to push for this language course,” he said. “We are in serious need of more diversification of our course offerings in light of the expansion of the student body.”
“We are trying to attract talent from communities that historically have not been represented on campus, so I hope our courses are representative of that,” he concluded.
Isaac Bernstein is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Pittsburgh, Pa.
Tate: “Princeton is not for everybody.”
FEEDERS
Continued from page 1 .............
The ‘Prince’ found that several prominent schools historically identified as “feeders” appear to have shifted away from sending students to Princeton. In the Class of 2027, only three students came from the Lawrenceville School according to the count of the ‘Prince,’ compared with an 11 student average for the Classes of 2003–16.
In a statement to the ‘Prince,’ the University did not comment on why certain schools are admitted at higher rates, nor directly acknowledged the existence of feeder schools.
“Many factors that contribute to its holistic review of an applicant; however, no one factor, like the high school a student attends, is the basis of the team’s decision-making process,” University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote.
Thomas Jefferson High School, a magnet school in Northern Virginia routinely ranked among the best public high schools in the country, used to supply 10–20 Princeton students on average every year in the early 2000s. But beginning with the University’s Class of 2019, six or fewer incoming students a year came from Thomas Jefferson. Over the analysis period, Thomas Jefferson averaged more students per year than any other school aside from Princeton High School.
Josh Stephens ’97, a college counselor based in Los Angeles, noted that college applications have gotten far more competitive.
“These schools do not have a monopoly on bright, ambitious, accomplished applicants, by any stretch,” he said. “It might be more refreshing for Princeton to take a student who’s strong from some random high school they’ve never admitted a student from than to dip into what can often be, let’s be honest, ‘cauldrons of anxiety’ at some of these more famous, traditional feeder schools.”
But Jonathan Baker ’80, a college counselor in private Mass. high schools for decades, also pushed back on the notion of modern “feeder” schools altogether.
“‘Feeders’ is just wrong,” he said. “It’s just not what’s happening because it’s got an active verb connotation to it. That was reality some generations ago.”
However, Princeton High School — just a 20-minute walk from campus — has sent at least nine students to Princeton every year since 1999, including 16 members of the Class of 2027.
Dean of Admission Karen Richardson ’93, in fact, oversees admissions from one “region” made up of just Princeton High School. Richardson did not respond to questions regarding this practice.
“A lot of people who go to Princeton High School have connections to Princeton University. Maybe their parents went to Princeton and settled in Princeton, or maybe their parents who work at Princeton University,” said Ned Erickson ’27, who attended Princeton High School. “Then also, there are a lot of students from Princeton High School who have taken courses at Princeton University.”
Students from Princeton High School can enroll in the University’s math, biology, physics, chemistry, languages, computer science, and music classes if they have exhausted the available high school classes.
Erickson added that Princeton feels “a bit more attainable just because it’s right here in our backyard.”
The furthest feeder school from Princeton is Hwa Chong Institution in Singapore. Seventeen of the 250 schools are located outside the United States in 10 countries, predominantly in the United Kingdom and East Asia. The ‘Prince’ did not identify any schools in South America, Africa, Australia, or New Zealand.
The list of 250 schools compiled by the ‘Prince’ comprises roughly 40 percent public schools and 60 percent private schools. 15 percent of the public schools on the list are selective. This proportion of feeder schools matches closely to Princeton’s total undergraduate body — close to 14 percent of Princeton frosh over the last two years reported they attended a selective public school, according to the Frosh Surveys conducted by the ‘Prince.’ About 20 percent of the private schools offered some sort of boarding or overnight residential option.
Many of the private schools also did not come cheap. The median annual tuition of the 132 domestic private schools which offered a day rate — excluding room and board — was $47,434 for the 2024–25 year. Twenty-two schools charged more for tuition in the 2024–25 school year than Princeton, which ran at $62,400.
Some private schools have offered increasingly substantial financial aid programs in recent years, as does the University. At 31 of the private schools on the list, at least one-third of the student body was on some form of financial assistance. One school, Archmere Academy in Delaware, advertised that 75 percent of students received tuition assistance during the 2024–25 academic year.
Sasha Mykhantso ’27, an international student from Chortkiv, Ukraine, attended the Lawrenceville School on full financial aid.
“I’m glad to be here, but I can definitely not relate to all these people whose parents actually afford to pay this much,” he said of his time at Lawrenceville.
While the full cost of boarding at the Lawrenceville School is $79,500, families with an income under $125,000 paid an average of $703 to attend, according to the school.
“I think it is very likely the schools like Princeton are finding some of those strongest, underrepresented applicants from these feeder schools,” said Stephens.
James Clavel ’27, who attended Phillips Exeter Academy, posited that Exeter’s high matriculation rate to Princeton resulted from an already academically strong student body. Exeter accepted 14 percent of applicants during the 2021–22 cycle.
“They already did it once, and they think they can do it again,” said Clavel.
But that does not mean that admission to Princeton from a well-known private school is a given. Over the course of the last six admissions cycles, on average, 12.5 percent of Exonians who applied to Princeton were accepted, according to documents obtained by the ‘Prince.’ For the Class of 2025, Princeton admitted 4.38 percent of all applicants. The University no longer promotes its acceptance rate.
“Because there’s such a large pool of talented kids, you can’t send every kid from one school to an Ivy League school,” Lillian Auth ’28 said. Auth attended Deerfield Academy and was recruited to compete for women’s lightweight rowing.
Deerfield Academy is another consistent top sender to Princeton and is the high school with the seventh most current athletes competing for Princeton. In fact, approximately half of the 250 schools have a former student currently playing for a Princeton varsity team.
“I think in some cases, things can backfire in these … competitive, high-pressure environments,” Stephens noted. “That undermines would-be applicants who often get so wrapped up in the competitiveness that they don’t become very appealing applicants in various ways.”
Several public high schools also topped the list, notably Princeton High School and Thomas Jefferson.
“I do feel like [Thomas Jefferson High School] prepared me in a way that another high school couldn’t,” said Chinmay Bhandaru ’27. “I think last year, freshman year of Princeton, was easier than my junior year or senior year of high school. I think that’s just because of how much rigor I put myself in.”
“When you look at schools like [Thomas Jefferson] and Stuyvesant, you have to test into those schools, so the kids who are going to the schools are already high test takers, they’re smart kids, they are naturally gifted in academics,” said Allison Slater Tate ’96, director of college counseling at a small Florida private school and college consultant. “Empirically, those are the kinds of kids who are going to do well in the metrics that end up leading you to places like Princeton.”
But Princeton and other Ivy League universities have also made efforts to host admissions events in areas of the country that don’t traditionally attract as many applicants. As part of an initiative called Small Town Outreach Recruitment and Yield, University representatives recently attended events in Gallup, N.M. and Grand Junction, Colo.
“Retention and graduation rate are two very big numbers in enrollment management,” Slater Tate said, yet noted she could not speak for the admissions office. “Sometimes it takes one kid getting in and going from a school, and if that kid does well, [University admissions] can see that they were prepared. They can kind of trust [the high school] more.”
Trakker French ’27 hails from McPherson, Kan., a town an hour outside of Wichita, and is one of three students in the Class of 2027 from Kansas. He expressed that many of his peers simply did not believe that attending an Ivy League university was within reach — both financially and culturally.
“You don’t really get any information unless you go searching for it. And I think that’s a big
reason why rural people don’t even try to come to schools like this,” he said.
“They don’t know how good the financial aid is [at Princeton],” French added. “I know several people that could have gotten in just as easily as I did, they just didn’t apply because they thought, ‘it’s just too expensive for me.’”
But for now, a substantial portion of Princeton’s student body continues to matriculate from New York, New Jersey, California, and other coastal areas. Nearly half of the feeder schools identified by the ‘Prince’ were located in those three states.
“I think [for] any inequity that we might identify in feeder schools, we have to acknowledge that those inequities are far more vast and run far deeper,” said Stephens.
“I don’t know that it’s a bad thing. I think it’s a thing,” said Slater Tate on feeder schools. “I think that going back to the same high school, you have to look at it as those schools are going to have a higher volume of students who are prepared for
the work at Princeton, which I think we can all agree is pretty high paced and hard.”
“It’s not for everybody. Princeton is not for everybody.”
Miriam Waldvogel is an associate News editor and the investigations editor for the ‘Prince.’
Andrew Bosworth is a head Data editor and staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince.’
Alexa Wingate is an assistant Data editor for the ‘Prince.’
Grace Zhao is a senior Data writer for the ‘Prince.’ Assistant News editor Chris Bao contributed reporting.
www. dailyprincetonian .com } {
We must dispel the myth of Princeton’s economic diversity
Raf Basas Contributing Writer
Outside of the Orange Bubble, the popular conception is that Princeton is a school of rich kids. This reputation shouldn’t surprise anyone. In 2017, The New York Times reported that 17 percent of Princeton students were from the top one percent of the income distribution, while less than 14 percent were from the bottom 60 percent — a ratio that was common among the Ivies.
But at Princeton, we often forget the sharp difference in income distributions between Princeton and the nation as a whole. The media spins a tale of great improvement: Though Princeton had once predominantly served America’s economic elite, it has done well in shedding the specter of affluence that has haunted it for centuries. After all, a whopping 65 percent of Princeton students receive some level of financial aid.
This is a persuasive narrative, but make no mistake: Princeton’s “economic diversity” is a myth. Although the numbers have improved since the 2017 article from The New York Times, just 30.8 percent of Princeton’s Class of 2026 is from the bottom 60 percent of U.S. households.
Princeton’s administration must implement a class-based affirmative action system to create a domestic student population which is socioeconomically representative of America. In the meantime, effectively serving
the nation and humanity involves a realistic understanding of the world’s socioeconomic dynamics — and it starts with us recognizing that Princeton’s population, when compared to the nation as a whole, is not economically diverse.
The belief in Princeton’s supposed diversity starts before students even begin their first classes here. In their Frosh Survey, the Class of 2028 were asked if Princeton is “racially and economically diverse.” Incoming firstyears tended to agree: 16.8 percent of respondents answered “very true,” while 51.5 percent answered “somewhat true.” Only 10.9 percent answered either “somewhat untrue” or “very untrue.”
Something’s wrong here. Is it representative for a demographic which makes up 60 percent of the American population to make up only around 30 percent of Princeton’s student population? Absolutely not — that’s a diversity disaster.
But Princeton’s administration buries the true scope of this disaster through deceptive statements and statistics. Yes, two-thirds of Princeton students are on financial aid, but here at Princeton, even households making $300k per year receive some level of aid. In other words, students from the 95th percentile of American households could receive financial aid at Princeton.
Instead of emphasizing the disastrous state of Princeton’s socioeconomic breakdown, Princeton’s administration diverts to a narrative of improvement. President Christopher
Eisgruber ’83 attests that Princeton is “more diverse than ever in its history,” which is true, but not that impressive given Princeton’s massive shortcomings in the present moment.
Of course, Eisgruber still claims that “we have work to do” and avoids outright describing Princeton as economically diverse. But Princeton’s current failures are lost to many: The fact that roughly 70 percent of Princeton’s Class of 2028 believe that Princeton is “economically diverse” shows this.
What can be done about the underrepresentation of lower-income students at Princeton? Though not a perfect solution, class-based affirmative action can bridge some of the gaps within Princeton’s income distribution. Detractors of class-based affirmative action often cite the massive cost of providing financial aid for lower-income students, but this is Princeton: With our $34.1 billion endowment, we can certainly afford it.
To an extent, Princeton already does use class-based affirmative action: Admissions considers Pell-eligibility and household income. But Princeton’s current goals aren’t ambitious: It aims for 70 percent of the student population to be on financial aid and 22 percent to be Pell-eligible. We can do better than that.
In our admissions process, we should aim for near-perfect representation, broken down into more exact income groups — like deciles. It’s simple: The bottom 60 percent of American households should compose around 60 percent of Princeton’s domestic student population.
This shouldn’t be difficult: each year, Princeton considers about 18,000 of its applicants to be “well-qualified.” From this large pool of “well-qualified” applicants, Princeton can absolutely create an economically representative student population.
But an economically diverse Princeton won’t happen overnight. In the meantime, we need to understand and acknowledge that Princeton — as it stands — has a massive lack of economic diversity — a recognition that we need in order to understand the class dynamics of what we’re being taught.
When we delude ourselves that Princeton’s student population, at least on a socioeconomic level, is somewhat representative of America as a whole, we permit it to become the model for America’s socioeconomic conditions.
And that’s a problem. Rich people, as a whole, are more sheltered from America’s worst problems. Wealthy households have higher consumer sentiment and an easier time affording housing and healthcare. Perceptions of the economy between economic classes are just different.
If we believe Princeton’s affluent student population is representative of America, we set ourselves up for failure by absorbing false, out-oftouch perceptions about the nation we seek to serve. When we do this, we fail to understand that the struggles of middle-class Americans are much more ubiquitous than we think.
Soon, we will exit the Orange Bubble and be forced to confront the
struggles of the rest of America. Our understanding needs to begin now. We must become civic leaders who fight on behalf of working-class people. We must become engineers who produce wonderful infrastructure for under-developed communities. And regardless of our career paths, we must become empathetic people who understand folks from all walks of life. If you want to understand the nation, you need to understand that this place represents the nation’s richest: Our “average” students in terms of income are in the nation’s top 20 percent. To understand the reality of the United States, look for friends who come from more modest economic backgrounds — relative to people in the nation and the world as a whole, not just Princeton — and listen to their experiences.
Most importantly, look beyond the Orange Bubble. Because here, between ivy-covered walls and ivory towers, you won’t find a true reflection of the world’s living conditions. Leave this place when you can and meet people. We don’t go to a diverse school, but we live in a diverse world — a world that’s worth understanding.
Raf Basas (he/him/his) is a first-year student from Elk Grove, Calif. intending to major in English, Politics, or SPIA. He participated in FSI, a program for first-gen/ low-income students, where Princeton felt as though it lived up to the socioeconomic diversity that people claim it has.
Mineral extraction is destroying the Congo. Princeton must source sustainably.
Luqmaan Bamba Contributing Writer
The University’s construction efforts are tearing the whole campus up, and for good reason. To quote the title of an article by my colleague Alex Norbrook, “For climate, we need construction everywhere, all at once” — green construction efforts at Princeton reflect an increasing commitment to sustainability by the University.
Over the past few years, several such projects have emerged, ranging from the large-scale installation of nearly 400 geo-exchange bores on Poe Field to smaller-scale infrastructure updates to optimize energy consumption and reduce Princeton’s carbon footprint.
Indeed, with its ever-increasing advancement in sustainable infrastructure, the University has positioned itself as a major player at the forefront of the green-energy transition. However, as the University continues to push the boundaries of sustainable development, it must also grapple with the complex ethical considerations that come with its global supply chains. Specifically, Princeton must look to the Democratic Republic
of the Congo, where key materials and minerals for sustainable construction are overwhelmingly sourced; it often exploits its workers in the process, which eventually contributes to the region’s ensuing armed conflict and humanitarian crisis. Moving forward, Princeton must take a more active role in establishing standards of equitable sustainability for the processes in which materials are sourced for University construction projects.
Cobalt, in particular, plays a significant role in the renewable energy landscape. It facilitates the synthesis of superalloys which are central to turbine efficiency, decarbonization, and even Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) processes because of its chemical resilience.
Copper, too, is important in the heat pumps and small traces of tantalum can be found in the electronics controlling these transfers. Princeton has 16,000 solar panels located in West Windsor Township. It has electrified its entire bus fleet in 2022. Tungsten, tantalum, tin, and lithium can all be found in these technologies. Cobalt can be found in several different emergent technologies, from lithium-ion batteries to more complex hydrogen generation lab processes. In addition, across a complex network of supply chains, the extraction and production of these minerals are often riddled with exploitative practices — meaning that the
University’s sourcing of “sustainable materials” is often deeply intertwined with exploitative practices in the regions which they are sourced from.
In all its frenzy for the climate technology of tomorrow, the University has forgotten that the sustainability of today needs to be advanced with a wider ethical lens in mind.
In October, the Black Student Union (BSU) hosted an event with researchers and experts from Friends of the Congo to raise awareness of this issue at Princeton. According to the Friends of the Congo’s Primer: since the 90s, “Over 6 million Congolese people have died and another 7 million [have been] internally displaced, 25 million face starvation.” Additionally, 70 percent of Congo’s inhabitants live on less than $1.25 a day. The BSU’s event posed a question that Mariah Morgan ’27, the BSU’s Co-Advocacy Chair, articulated: “Is the transition to clean energy good for the planet if it harms the people who make it possible?”
Let those numbers sink in. These conditions persist because of multinational corporations and mining companies that forcibly evict communities to make way for mining operations, employ child labor, or pollute rivers with waste acid. The abuses go on and on. Major tech companies have been linked to the crisis. This state of the global supply chain necessitates greater due diligence
on the part of institutions like Princeton to avoid complicity in this system of exploitation.
The Congo is like other developing countries that bear and, will continue to bear, the brunt of the worst effects of global warming.
Accelerating the climate transition is necessary to protect these countries’ futures. On the other hand, the reckless acceleration of mineral extraction has detrimental effects right now on these communities. But we can have it all: We can and should bring international efforts to reform the state of extraction. Ethical treatment of workers and commitment to ethics from actors can ameliorate the crisis.
The University has done some work related to understanding issues and its academics have produced much research on conflict minerals. Princeton NuEnergy started at Princeton, is in a critical position to recycle batteries driving sustainable sustainability.
As an important and influential institution in the global green energy transition, Princeton’s role is to commit, and commit actively, to that vision of ethical sourcing for its climate infrastructure. Leading by example is to inject a more responsible vision for the current global supply chain.
Even if the University is complying with existing rules and regulations around these ethically contentious minerals, the current legal codes are insufficient
to thwart the global system of its unethical trajectory. Princeton must do more.
Princeton should conduct regular audits of its supply chain, invest in conflict-free technologies, and endorse initiatives like the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) to show a commitment to responsible sourcing. Accordingly, this framework should be explicitly incorporated into climate communications, research, and documentation to establish these standards. Despite my requests for the University to disclose their policies related to sourcing, they declined to share details, much less comment on whether any exist at all.
This is a call to students as well. Our peer institutions domestically and globally outstrip us in activism on this issue. This is especially pertinent to those of us who plan to enter into renewable and technical sectors. We need to be aware of the ethical implications of these global events on our profession.
As a collective community, we have a responsibility to raise awareness about how the University is complicit in enabling the plight of the Congo. Only then can we start building sustainability that is truly sustainable for everybody — at Princeton and beyond.
Luqmaan Bamba is a sophomore from Ghana and New York studying Electrical and Computer Engineering.
editor-in-chief
Eden Teshome ’25
president
business manager Aidan Phillips ’25
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Thomas E. Weber ’89
vice president David Baumgarten ’06
secretary
Chanakya A. Sethi ’07
treasurer Douglas Widmann ’90
assistant treasurer
Kavita Saini ’09
trustees Francesca Barber
Kathleen Crown
Suzanne Dance ’96
Gabriel Debenedetti ’12
Stephen Fuzesi ’00
Zachary A. Goldfarb ’05
Michael Grabell ’03
Danielle Ivory ’05
Rick Klein ’98
James T. MacGregor ’66
Julianne Escobedo Shepherd Abigail Williams ’14
Tyler Woulfe ’07
trustees ex officio
Eden Teshome ’25 Aidan Phillips ’25
148TH MANAGING BOARD
Ryan Konarska ’25
Naisha Sylvestre ’25
director of outreach
Lia Opperman ’25
Accessibility
Tess Weinreich ’25
Lucia Wetherill ’25
creative director Mary Ma ’26
strategic initiative directors
Christopher Bao ’27
Education
Charlie Roth ’25
Financial Stipend
Elaine Huang ’25
Sections listed in alphabetical order. public editor Abigail Rabieh ’25
’26 Kerrie Liang ’25 Associate Archives
Elizabeth Clarke ’27
head audience editor
Paige Walworth ’26
associate audience editors
Amparo Sanchez ’27
head copy editors
Nathan Beck ’25
Bryan Zhang ’26
associate head copy editors
Lindsay Padaguan ’26
Elizabeth Polubinski ’25
head data editors Andrew Bosworth ’26
Suthi Navaratnam-Tomayko ’26
head features editors
Sejal Goud ’25
Molly Taylor ’25
associate features editor
Raphaela Gold ’26
head graphics editors
Luiza Chevres ’26
Noreen Hosny ’25
head humor editors
Spencer Bauman ’25
Sophia Varughese ’26
associate humor editors
Sam McComb ’25
Mya Koffie ’27
head news editors
Bridget O’Neill ’26
Annie Rupertus ’25
associate news editors
Olivia Sanchez ’26
Miriam Waldvogel ’26 (Investigations)
head newsletter editor
Sunney Gao ’27
associate newsletter editor
Victoria Davies ’27
head opinion editor Eleanor Clemans-Cope ’26
community opinion editor Christofer Robles ’25
associate opinion editors Thomas Buckley ’26 Wynne Conger ’27
head photo editors Louisa Gheorghita ’26 Jean Shin ’26
associate photo editor Calvin Grover ’27
head podcast editor Vitus Larrieu ’26
associate podcast editors Senna Aldoubosh ’25
Theo Wells-Spackman ’25
head print design editors Avi Chesler ’25 Malia Gaviola ’26
head prospect editor Isabella Dail ’26
associate prospect editors Russell Fan ’26
Regina Roberts ’26
head puzzles editors Sabrina Effron ’26
Joah Macosko ’25
associate puzzles editors Wade Bednar ’26
Lindsay McBride ’27
head sports editors Cole Keller ’26
Diego Uribe ’26
associate sports editors Tate Hutchins ’27
Hayk Yengibaryan ’26
head web design and development
editors
Yacoub Kahkajian ’26 Vasila Mirshamsova ’26
148TH BUSINESS BOARD
assistant business manager
Jessica Funk ’26
business directors
Gabriel Gullett ’25
Andrew He ’26
Tejas Iyer ’26
Jordan Manela ’26
chief technology officer
Roma Bhattacharjee ’25 lead
Sanh Nguyen ’26
Anika Agarwal ’25 Carter Costic ’26 Jessica Dong ’25 Vishva Ilavelan ’27
Pathologizing men is unproductive. We should invest in better men-focused spaces
In her Oct. 22 op-ed, Julianna Lee ’25 argued that male-only spaces could better Princeton’s campus by building “encouragement, empowerment, and friendship for men.” Columnist Ava Johnson ’27 responded on Nov. 4, contending that male-only spaces fail to address men’s problems and “[run] the risk of breeding misogyny and bullying.”
These opinions come at a time when Donald Trump made surprising inroads with young male voters. While Democrats have support from young voters across genders, the 2024 election saw Gen-Z men swing 15 percentage points to the right from the 2022 election cycle. And as Richard Reeves — the president of the American Institute for Boys and Men — is quoted as saying in a recent Guardian article, the temptation after the election to do what Johnson’s piece does — “double down on attacks on patriarchy and toxic masculinity” — could be “disastrous.”
We should ask better questions than “What do male-dominated spaces get wrong?” Johnson’s piece highlights how the answer to this question is already painfully obvious. Instead, we should ask ourselves: How can we cultivate healthy, nurturing male-centered spaces so young men don’t take refuge in the misogynistic, hyper-masculine, far-right milieu of Trump and Andrew Tate?
I want to be clear: Female solidarity is essential given the severity of obstacles women have faced and continue to face, especially in light of regressive cultural and legal developments. We’re also not far removed from the time when universities like Princeton were exclusively available to men. Given the severity of historical and current challenges facing women, a discussion of male-focused spaces might appear to distract from the significant and pressing challenges facing women. Additionally, it might be difficult to envision how a malefocused space at Princeton could enable different conversations than what’s typically found in Xbox chats or machismo locker room banter.
Robert Mohan ’26 Kok Wei Pua ’25 My Ky Tran ’26
project managers Jason Ding ’25 Kaustuv Mukherjee ’26
Li ’26
Liu ’27
’26
’27
’26
’26
Yeow ’26 (UI/UX) Brett Zeligson ’24
But if the 2024 election has shown us anything, it’s that writing off male-focused spaces as ill-advised havens for chauvinism robs men of a vital outlet for self-education and improvement and pushes them to seek advice from actual chauvinists who seek to weaponize their masculinity. To shape men who will be loving fathers, brothers, and sons capable of collaborating with women to produce a more equitable and just society, we need to imagine better male-focused spaces.
Male-focused spaces at Princeton should flourish alongside female spaces, which provide women with invaluable networks in traditionally male-dominated academic and professional environments. It’s also reductive to assume that these male-focused spaces will devolve into misogyny and bullying. Yes, this dynamic can emerge when our paradigm of male-only spaces is limited to, as Johnson cites, the fraternity house. However, with Princeton’s reputation and funding, a student organization committed to building a positive community among men could be dynamic and multifaceted. The Princeton Black Men’s Association exists as just one iteration of this kind of group.
But the fact that nearly 80 percent of suicides today are committed by men suggests that more Princeton students could benefit from spaces to connect with other men and discuss issues of masculinity. The National Institutes of Health has tested multiple kinds of male-focused support groups and found that men reported feeling less isolated after attending these sessions. True, existing male-only spaces like sports teams and fraternities might help some men feel less alone. But these spaces do not generally induce men to think critically about their masculinity.
In high school, dynamic speakers and groups — such as Matt Bellace and The Mask You Live In — came to my all-boys school to discuss everything from the limitations of traditional masculinity to the breaking of racial barriers in sports, confronting the male suicide rate, and discussing how to prevent substance abuse and addiction. By hosting a wide variety of speakers and leading thoughtful, small-group discussions, my
school created a positive environment that showed boys as young as five the full range of how men can be loving figures for positive change in their communities.
At Princeton, male-focused student organizations could organize discussions with experts on the cutting edge of research into masculinity and mental health, host weekly dinners to foster connection among male students, and arrange group volunteering experiences. These groups could also implement a mentorship program: for example, upperclassmen could meet informally with underclassmen to trade life experiences and advice. These elements would create a space for conversations that help men feel less alone, equip them with tools to understand themselves better, and foster nourishing life-long relationships.
This kind of male-centered programming could improve gender relations more broadly. For instance, another one of Lee’s columns highlighted how women report disproportionately negative impacts from casual sex. Women shouldn’t be solely responsible for addressing this nor for other problematic gendered dynamics. A male-focused space could incorporate programming on managing and fostering healthy relationships in high-stress college environments, promoting a healthier culture surrounding sex and intimacy for everyone.
The lack of avenues for men to talk about masculinity is not an excuse for problematic behavior. But when discussing the challenges facing men involves pathologizing them and blaming their struggles on their own toxic masculinity, we suggest that masculinity is inherently problematic and cannot be expressed in a healthy way.
In the absence of positive malefocused spaces where men can speak candidly about their challenges and learn from role models, men will continue to retreat from these conversations to places where they feel seen: to Trump and Tate and other figures seeking to weaponize masculinity.
Nick Manetas is a sophomore and prospective English major from Richmond, Va.
Nick Manetas Guest Contributor
‘Disadvantaged for being international’: Princetonians on F-1 visas weigh post-grad plans
By Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode Staff Features Writer
The moment Jhonelle Moore ’25, a senior from Jamaica studying computer science, walks through FitzRandolph Gate in May, the clock will start ticking. After receiving her hard-earned diploma, Moore — like other international students on an F-1 visa — has a 60-day grace period to find employment. Otherwise, she will be legally required to exit the United States.
For many Princeton seniors, planning for post-graduation can be daunting. Beyond balancing the demands of the senior thesis, there are looming deadlines for job, fellowship, and graduate school applications along with multi-round interviews. While college students worried about their future career paths are often met with advice reminding them their major selection doesn’t have to determine their post-grad plans, international students face a different reality.
The appeal of better job opportunities and salaries leads many international students to want to remain in the United States after graduation. To do so, F-1 visa holders usually turn to the Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows temporary employment for up to 12 months. However, OPT can only be granted for temporary employment directly related to the student’s major area of study. Students with degrees in the STEM field can extend this OPT employment by two years.
For students interested in following this path, Moore advises that “it’s better to be thinking about it literally as soon as you come out of the womb.”
Choosing a Major
Taking into account the possibility of a two-year OPT extension, along with her existing interests, Moore decided on a STEM major.
“I really wanted to major in something where I could easily get a job after college and really good sponsorship from a company that could consider getting me a work visa within my three-year OPT,” Moore told The Daily Princetonian.
Like Moore, Ananya Grover ’24, a recent graduate from India, noted that her decision to study computer science at Princeton was a blend of personal and practical considerations.
“I didn’t know what my plans or life was going to be like, so I did want to make sure that if I used the OPT, I would have the STEM extension available to me,” Grover said.
In the past, international students have written in the ‘Prince’ about the need for the University to expand its departmental classifications to better accommodate international students as well as increase its advocacy for international students interested in pursuing the humanities and other non-STEM fields.
While Esset Teshome ’25, a student from Ethiopia in the SPIA department, ultimately majored in the social sciences, she recognized why many international students choose the STEM path.
“[STEM] departments can offer a sense of security,” Teshome reflected. “As an international student, especially as a firstgeneration low-income one, that sense of security and stability is so important.”
Finding Internships and Jobs
The non-immigrant nature of the F-1 visa sets out the expectation that international students will return to their home countries immediately after graduation. However, many of these students would like to remain longer, citing better job compensation and career development opportunities Klea Tryfoni ’25, a Neuroscience major from Greece, explained that her career pros-
pects are better in the United States because of the difference in industry opportunities.
Tryfoni noted, “The neurotech, neuroscience and AI field is developing right now in the [United States]. The neuroscience field is not very well-developed in Greece.”
Though Tim Gubskiy ’25, a senior from Canada in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, would be able to find a software engineering position back home, he is enticed by the salary difference in the US compared to Canada.
“For almost the exact same work, in the [United States], the salary is much higher,” Gubskiy said.
In order to increase the likelihood of remaining within the country after graduation, some international students begin planning for the post-grad job search as early as freshman year.
“You really need that junior year internship if you want that senior year offer,” Moore said. “The crazy thing is, if you really want that junior internship, your resume looks better if you have had a sophomore internship.”
After his past summer work experience, Gubskiy mentioned he wanted to build a better relationship with his summer employer by doing some remote work for the company over the fall semester. Gubskiy’s plans couldn’t go through because he later learned that the University does not offer work authorization over the semester work or winter break.
Students are able to obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, which allows F-1 students to pursue a summer internship, practicum, or employment in a field directly related to the student’s major area of study, through the University’s Summer Internship Milestone Credit.
“The University must follow all United States laws, which are clear about the circumstances under which a University can offer students Curricular Practical Training (CPT) work authorization,” Rebekah Peeples GS ’09, Associate Dean for Curriculum and Assessment in the Office of the Dean of the College, explained in a written statement to the ‘Prince.’
“Princeton is more constrained in its ability to offer CPT than other institutions because we do not offer course credit for internships for undergraduates, and we do not offer courses on a credit hour system.”
“The Summer Internship Milestone Credit was developed several years ago to give students an opportunity to earn academic credit for qualifying summer internship opportunities,” Peeples continued. In the spring, she added, the Faculty Committee on the Course of Study will consider whether and how a Wintersession Internship Milestone Credit might be established in the future.
In response to the University’s policy, a recent survey circulating on the Princeton campus is aimed at gathering information needed to advocate for the University to provide work authorization. Such changes could allow international students like Gubskiy to gain work experience through the CPT during the winter break.
Peeples wrote, “I will be very interested in seeing the results of this survey, and will be happy to share them with the Faculty Committee on the Course of Study,” which will discuss the potential for a winter-break CPT authorization program.
Gubskiy noted that he felt “disadvantaged for being international” after being unable to acquire work authorization for part-time, remote work off campus during the school year because of difficult work authorization requirements.
Moore also acknowledged challenges associated with being an international student while navigating the standard recruitment process.
“It is very difficult to enter certain pipelines for certain companies, or even be called back for an interview, as an international student,” she said. “I had a situation where a recruiter reached out to me and I passed the interview, and then I filled out a different questionnaire, but it turned out they didn’t sponsor [visas for international students], so they rejected my application.”
Gil Sander Joseph ’25, a Sociology major from Haiti, explained that international students “start to look into finance, consulting or tech” because firms in these particular industries “have a very robust system to sponsor international students.”
Finding Support
Even when students try to follow Moore’s advice to plan ahead, the process comes with an added set of barriers for international students.
Teshome noted that career events organized by the Center for Career Development such as the Fall HireTigers Career Fair can be a challenging experience for international students as many employers present do not sponsor international students.
“I remember feeling so disappointed,” Teshome said. She remembered asking herself, “What am I supposed to do now? Is this really what’s going to be there for me when I am a senior?”
In response to international student frustrations, Kimberly Betz, Executive Director of the Center for Career Development told the ‘Prince,’ “We really, really strive to be here for all students, and to be here for students from, you know, all backgrounds, whatever their identities. We want to work with students in ways that are respectful and supportive of who they are as individuals. And again, really the best way we can do
that is just strongly encouraging students to come and talk with us.”
Acknowledging the difficulties experienced by international students, Betz added, “We always encourage students to be really knowledgeable about their own rights or visa regulations, basically … by going to meet with Davis International Center staff members, their website has a lot of great information. They also have information sessions. What we do is basically partnering with them.”
In reflecting on changes to the support system available to international students, Tryfoni stated that she would like to see more career fairs specifically designed for international students. She recalled a STEM-specific career fair at Princeton where companies open to sponsoring international students also had “insanely long lines of [non-international] students who could talk to all the other companies,” that made it difficult for her to meet potential employers.
Joseph explained that international students who are still deciding on their choices of majors “could benefit from a bit more transparency” and should be offered more sessions to understand the implications of certain decisions.
Grover also expressed that she would like to see a change in the campus culture over career discussions.
She said, “I think just a more supportive [space] for openly discussing these things should be a normal part of your college life.”
Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode is a staff Features writer for the ‘Prince.’
Coffee Club has unveiled its new and anticipated holiday menu: a lineup of festive drinks specially crafted to keep spirits bright and energy levels high.
3. The Frostbite
erages served with tonic water over ice. However, for those who do, this drink was incredibly well made. The espresso itself was strong, but not too bitter, and I appreciated the sweet tartness of the pomegranate syrup.
Espresso tonics are an acquired taste, which I have yet to acquire — and I doubt I ever will. But if your taste buds are more developed and sophisticated than mine, The Persephone may be the drink for you.
4. The Grinch
As an avid matcha enjoyer and a selfproclaimed Grinch apologist, I was excited to try this peppermint matcha named after the grumpy, yet beloved, green thief of Christmas. Upon first sip, I was caught off guard by the flavor — specifically, the way the mint complemented the matcha’s earthy flavor. I was hesitant to give it another try, but after a few minutes, I was glad I did. It was a lot more “planty” than I expected, which I tend to prefer. Available iced or hot, I opted for the hot option and chose to have it with some oat milk. The beverage ended up being a very soothing warm experience that was emphasized by the creaminess of the oat milk and distinguished by its minty flavor. The character of the Grinch taught us about the importance of second chances, and I am certainly glad I gave the drink one. I would definitely order this again and recommend it as a calming and cozy choice to accompany a lateafternoon study session.
The Frostbite is a cherry vanilla latte, available iced or hot with either soy or oat milk. As long as you like cherry, you cannot really go wrong with this drink. I opted for the iced oat option and really enjoyed it. The cherry flavor was very subtle and blended well with the rest of the drink’s notes. Coffee Club’s lattes are always very dependable — proven by perfectly balancing the strength of espresso, the creaminess of milk choice, and just the right amount of sweetness. I will say, though, that the Frostbite was on the sweeter side, due to its combination of cherry syrup and vanilla flavoring, but I did not mind this at all and
look forward to purchasing the beverage anytime I am craving a sweet treat after lecture.
2. Naughty but nice I was pleasantly surprised by the hot honey fog, complete with chai, honey syrup, steamed milk, and a dash of cayenne pepper. My spice tolerance tends to vary — although I enjoy the warming spices commonly found in chai, like cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, I can be more sensitive to sharper notes, so I was a bit worried about the cayenne’s strength prior to my first sip. However, the drink was delicious. The spice of the chai was perfectly offset by the vel-
vety steamed milk and sweetness of the honey. The cayenne added only a slight kick at the end, quickly soothed by the next sip.
1. The Snowtorious I love peppermint-flavored drinks — especially a good peppermint mocha — so I was very excited when the Snowtorious, a peppermint mocha, available hot and iced with any milk, was announced as the final addition to Coffee Club’s holiday menu.
I hear Santa values honesty, and to ensure I stay on the nice list this year, I am going to be upfront and admit I was unable to try this drink myself due to my early departure from campus. Although I do not have to try this drink to know it is delicious: I sent out my trusted friend, and roommate, to sample this drink for me. Despite her distaste for mochas, she really enjoyed its flavor. She opted for a hot cup, which she described as a perfect refuge from the cold weather and credited the subtle peppermint note as an exemplary finishing touch.
Coffee Club’s holiday drinks are the perfect remedy for the long, chilly days and the stress of finals season. Whether you’re seeking a dependable caffeine fix or a chance to indulge in something new and cheerful, I highly recommend stopping by one of Coffee Club’s two locations. Embrace the holiday magic, and let Coffee Club’s menu be your coziest companion this season.
Natalia Diaz is a member of the Class of 2027 and a staff writer for The Prospect at the ‘Prince.’
Shall we dance?: A ‘breakdown’ of BAC’s ‘After Hours’ performance
As I waited in the clamoring line outside Frist Theater, I could feel the frenetic energy rise as each person scanned their tickets. The excitement surrounding me was palpable. I watched as groups of students and adults chatted loudly, brimming with infectious liveliness. One by one, people disappeared through the door into the dark theater. Making my way slowly but surely to the entrance, I started to hear the sound of blaring music. After a five-minute wait, I scanned my ticket and entered. The speakers pounded with the sound of distorted 808 bass and hi-hats. The theater’s animated energy was a result of the Black Arts Company (BAC) “After Hours” performance. I attended their early Saturday night show that featured an impressive twentysix songs over eight themes. These themes, “Bring the House Down,” “TikTok Rizz Party,” “truth || dare,” “Sneak Dissin’,” “Lollipop,” “All For You,” “Midnight Rage,” and “Get Busy,” contained a diverse selection of R&B and hip-hop, from the boom-bap pop of Janet Jackson’s “All for You” to the headbanging mosh pit of Playboi Carti’s “On That Time.”
BAC, also known as the Black Arts Company, is one of Princeton’s oldest hip-hop dance groups, founded in 1990 with the hope of “spreading cultural awareness of the African Diaspora through dance.” The group performed “After Hours” both Friday and Saturday evening: two shows each. Attending my first dance performance, I was completely unsure of what to expect. Luckily, I was not disappointed in the slightest. As the lights turned low, the performance began with a projected video showing various BAC members in a smoky speakeasy bar accompanied by elegant jazz in the background. Introducing the performance’s overall theme, “After Hours,” the video quickly transitioned into an intentionally absurd, yet hilarious skit about a world where dancing was outlawed. While I was uncertain throughout the performance about how the various skits and “After Hours” theme related to the diverse styles of dance and music performed, it did not negatively impact my feelings on any part of the performance. Although the performance’s title and initial skit hinted at a more laid-back, sultry style of music, the truth couldn’t be more different. In fact, from the very first performance, “After Hours” was a thrilling, nonstop flurry of energy. Dance after dance, BAC delivered exceptionally executed performances that, in all honesty, blew me away.
While the group was able to cover a wide range of dance styles within some smaller subgenres of hip-hop and R&B, each dance also felt as if it owned its own distinct identity — something incredibly challenging to do through such an extensive list of songs and choreography. Covering the irresistible rhythmic beats of Tyla, uplifting highs of Beyonce, and dueling sides of the viral “rap beef” between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, “After Hours” was an equally unpredictable yet consistent performance.
After a brief intermission, “After Hours” featured a succinct, yet enjoyable appearance from the R&B and soul a capella group “Old NasSoul.”
One of the night’s most exciting elements was a section in which three BAC members rounded up “volunteers” from the crowd to have a “dance battle.” What followed next perfectly encapsulated Princeton students’ unbelievable range of talents.
Between improvised backflips and hard-hitting dance moves, each volunteer left me incredibly impressed.
In all, “After Hours” was a relentless and exceptional example of BAC’s raw talent, hard work, and showmanship. Despite the performance lasting over two hours, I can honestly say there wasn’t a single moment during the event when I felt bored. In fact, after each performance, I was excited about what song would be performed next. When the group’s eruption of dances finally ended, I couldn’t help but want more. While I may not have known what I was getting myself into beforehand, I know I will be first in line for BAC’s next performance.
NATALIA DIAZ / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
chalkboard menu at Coffee Club’s Campus Club location.
Gavin McLoughlin, a member of the Class of 2028, is a contributing writer for The Prospect.
By Gavin McLoughlin | Contributing Prospect Writer
JESSICA POON / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Black Arts Company (BAC) dances onstage.
MEN’S FOOTBALL
Princeton Football awarded 10 All-Ivys, no first team selections
By Alex Beverton-Smith Assistant Sports Editor
Princeton Football’s disappointing 2024 season ended on a high as the Tigers beat Penn 20–17 on Nov. 23, the team’s Senior Day. Following the conference’s final games, the Ivy League announced the All-Ivy awards, honoring 10 Princeton players — four second-team honors and six honorable mentions.
This year marks the first in the tenure of head coach Bob Surace ’90 that the Tigers ended the season with no first Team All-Ivy selections. The last time this happened was during the 2009 season under former head coach Roger Hughes. In that season, Princeton finished with a 4–6 record.
“It’s always great to see our players get recognition from the Ivy League and our head coaches, especially in a year with such parity,” Surace wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “I was very happy for each one to receive these prestigious individual accolades.”
“They certainly earned it with their outstanding off-season work and
preparation, followed up with the success they had on the field this fall,” he continued. Princeton finished with a 2–5 record this season.
Senior guard Tommy Matheson was the sole Tiger awarded with offensive Second Team All-Ivy recognition. Matheson has been a stalwart player for Princeton for the last three years, locking down the position and playing in every game. Prior to the season, he was recognized with preseason First Team All-Ivy.
On the defensive side, senior defensive lineman Jack DelGarbino, junior linebacker Marco Scarano, and junior safety Nasir Hill were nominated second team All-Ivy.
DelGarbino ranks ninth in the Ivy League’s active individual leaders in tackles per game across all career games played. He received an honorable mention in the 2023 All-Ivy selection starting every game last season and ending this season with 50 tackles to his name.
Scarano stepped up for a very impressive campaign after the Tigers came into the season having lost star
linebacker pair Ozzie Nicholas ’24 and Liam Johnson ’24 to Duke and Cal, respectively.
Scarano led the Tigers in tackles for loss with 11.5 and placed second in the Ivy League overall. Additionally, he was eleventh in the Ivy League for total tackles with 68, just behind fellow Tiger sophomore linebacker Chase Christopher, who came seventh with 72 tackles.
Hill has been a vital part of the Princeton secondary since his first year at Princeton — a rarity for the football program that is traditionally upperclassman heavy. This is his second consecutive season being awarded Second Team All-Ivy, and this year, he proved pivotal once again for Princeton, ending the season with 59 total tackles as well as an interception against Brown.
The other Tigers given All-Ivy honorable mentions were senior guard Nick Hilliard, senior running back John Volker, sophomore linebacker Chase Christopher, senior kicker Jeffrey Sexton, sophomore punter Brady Clark, and senior wide receiver and
punt returner AJ Barber. Senior defensive lineman Collin Taylor was also nominated for the Academic All-Ivy team ending his season with 30 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
Hilliard played another big role for Princeton this year, partnering up at guard once again with Matheson and appearing in every game for his third consecutive season. Volker ended his Tiger career impressively, ranking 5th in the Ivy League in yards per game (57.1), whilst getting another over-100 yard rushing performance under his belt as well as six touchdowns.
Christopher ranked 7th in the Ivy League in tackles per game (7.2) and played all 10 games despite only being a sophomore. The kicking pair of Sexton and Clark also displayed their special teams skills. Sexton went 7–7 on field goal attempts this season with a stunning 51-yard kick, ranking as Princeton’s highest this century.
Clark punted for 42.55 yards per game — 2nd in the league — capping off another impressive year for him.
Barber – usually known for his skills on offense – was nominated for
special teams All-Ivy with a highlight coming from a 46-yard punt return against Lehigh. This was in addition to his 437 receiving yards and 3.5 receptions per game.
A surprise exclusion from the awards this year was senior wide receiver Luke Colella, whom the Ivy League front office deemed not better than the seven other wide receivers nominated ahead of him. This is despite Colella’s 562 total receiving yards and five touchdowns on the year — ranking him sixth in the Ivy League.
Nevertheless, the Tigers were fairly well represented with awards this year in recognition of bright spots in an otherwise dim season. Other special mentions should go to junior safety Tahj Owens who had 65 tackles and three fumble recoveries, first-year linebacker AJ Pigford who dominated across all categories, and sophomore running back Ethan Clark.
Alex Beverton-Smith is an assistant Sports editor for the ‘Prince.‘
