The Daily Princetonian: November 14, 2025

Most grad student cohorts will see reductions this cycle, but departments won’t

say how many

By Nika Schindler & Nikoloz Inashvili News Contributors

Most graduate program cohort sizes will see a “modest reduction” in the 2025 admission cycle, according to University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Morrill attributed these changes to uncertainty about the University’s budget and research funding. All departments and academic units have been directed to cut 5 to 10 percent of their budgets this academic year, and the University has been rocked by hundreds of millions of

Princeton men’s basketball set to tip off 2025–26 season after an offseason

By Hayk Yengibaryan Senior Sports Writer

On December 29, 2024, with Princeton trailing the Akron Zips by double digits and thenjunior forward Caden Pierce out of  the game with an ankle injury, then-sophomore guard Dalen Davis took control.

With 1.8 seconds left on the clock, Davis took one dribble and buried a triple to seal a 76–75 win in Jadwin Gymnasium. The shot brought Jadwin to its feet and hinted at the passing of a torch that felt far away then. Fast-forward 312 days.

Xaivian Lee is at Florida, Pierce is sitting out this season, former Associate Head Coach Brett MacConnell is at the farm with the

Stanford Cardinal, and Davis, now a junior, has the keys to the team ahead of the season opener against, fittingly, Akron.

“No pressure,” Davis said about his new role. As a leader on the team, his emphasis will be on “attention to detail” and leaning on his teammates “a little bit more this year.”

After back-to-back Ivy Madness semifinal exits, Princeton men’s basketball enters the 2025–26 season with a rare profile: no seniors, two new assistant coaches, and three junior captains leading the largest first year class for the program since 2013.

“I feel great right now,” Head Coach Mitch Henderson ’98 told

federal cuts to its research funding (although about half of those grants have been restored).

Graduate school admissions at the University are already small, with many departments enrolling only a handful of students in a cohort.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Opinion What Eisgruber gets wrong about student protest

By Frances Brogan Head Opinion Editor

In a recent op-ed for Time Magazine, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 ostensibly affirms the value of student protest. But reading between the lines, his piece is at best an ambivalent defense of campus activism, vacillating between qualified praise and condescension.

The piece suggests that student protests are just manifestations of misguided youthful zeal, and that, as a vehicle for social change, they’re always inferior to his ideal of rational discussion. Eisgruber describes student movements and protesters, by turns, as “naive,” “ill-considered,” “oversimplified,” and “irritating” — never as courageous, virtuous, or necessary. This is a radical misinterpretation of American history. Of course, student protests at Princeton and elsewhere run the gamut from substantive to frivolous. But Eisgruber dismisses them all as youthful dalliances, overlooking mo -

ments when discussion was not enough to precipitate progress.

Eisgruber tepidly praises the gumption of student protesters — “even when their views are naive or ill-considered” — but never acknowledges that administrators might have something to learn from them. When students sat in at Nassau Hall in 1978 to protest Princeton’s investments in South Africa, University President William Bowen expressed disbelief that the end of apartheid “[was] going to be aided by the withdrawal of a set of corporations and people from South Africa.” History proved him wrong. And few today would condemn the moral vision or tactical strategy of student anti-apartheid protesters — even if they were sometimes disruptive. The notion that protests aren’t nuanced is particularly important for Eisgruber. He recalls participating in just one as a Princeton undergraduate and writes, “I found it deeply unsatisfying; marching behind plac-

See PROTEST page 10

Please send any corrections requests to corrections@dailyprincetonian.com.

With returning and healthy starters, women’s basketball on the rise for the 2025–26 season

By Emilia Reay Staff Sports Writer

Last season, Princeton women’s basketball did not emerge victorious in the Ivy League, falling to Harvard in the conference tournament. They didn’t make it deep into the post-season either, losing to Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. But with most of its key starters returning and senior guard Madison St. Rose back from last year’s injury, the team is looking to resume its Ivy League dominance in the 2025–26 season.

This season, the motto is “putting the team before ourselves,” junior point guard Ashley Chea, a 2025 First-Team All-Ivy player, told The Daily Princetonian. “And it’s already feeling that way.”

See BERUBE page 16 See GRAD STUDENTS page 2

The team’s first test of the season is at Georgia Tech this Sunday.

Perhaps the biggest story of the Princeton pre-season is a newly recovered St. Rose, who might be the Ivy League’s best player, as ESPN proclaimed preseason. The Tigers’ sharp shooter had her season cut short last year after she tore her ACL against Quinnipiac, but now she is back and ready to go.

The senior captain will likely be a starter this season, and has already gained some outside recognition. Last month, St. Rose was named to the 2026 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Watchlist presented by the Her Hoops Stats, and most recently, she was named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award’s preseason watch list.

“I dedicated so much time into

my rehab and basketball workouts so that I felt prepared once the season started,” St. Rose told the ‘Prince.’ “When the days got hard, I would watch films of myself playing in previous games as a reminder that I would be back on the court. The journey hasn’t been easy, but I feel so prepared heading into the first game of the season against Georgia Tech.”

While St. Rose was out, nowjunior guard Skye Belker picked up most of the scoring slack for Princeton. In the 2024–2025 season, she produced 20 double-digit showings. Belker kept busy this offseason by playing for the German National U25 team.

With Belker and St. Rose locked in, three other starting positions

This Week In History ” CURRENT CINEMA “

VEENA KRISHANARJ / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN

‘Morrill declined to share the specific departments instructed to cut graduate admissions and the scale of the reductions, and dozens of departments individually declined or did not respond to requests for comment.’

GRAD STUDENTS

Continued from page 1

Because Ph.D. students usually remain enrolled for five or more years, temporary reductions may not noticeably reshape the size of a department’s graduate population.

Morrill declined to share the specific departments instructed to cut graduate admissions and the scale of the reductions, and dozens of departments individually declined or did not respond to requests for comment.

Several graduate studies directors across departments told the ‘Prince’ that

they have received specific instructions regarding new admission numbers.

Joshua N. Winn, Director of Graduate Studies in the Astrophysical Sciences department, said the department has a lower graduate admissions target this year. “But it’s a modest decrease — we are aiming for an incoming class of six instead of seven,” Winn said.

Similarly, Daniel HellerRoazen, Director of Graduate Studies in the Comparative Literature department, told the ‘Prince,’ the department will see “a slight reduction to [their] graduate fellowship offers.”

Adam Goldstein, Director

of Graduate Studies in the Sociology department, said the department “will have a reduced Ph.D. cohort target size.” He said these reductions are not as large as those at Princeton’s peer institutions and are not expected to have a significant “qualitative impact” on the doctoral program.

Despite Princeton’s comparatively smaller admission cuts, Goldstein added that the mandated decrease in admission numbers “fit a broader pattern in which the attack on higher education is having real and unfortunate consequences at Princeton.”

However, not all depart-

ments’ futures are clear. Yael Niv, Director of Graduate Studies in the Psychology department, said the department has not received their target numbers for the year at the time of publication.

Niv explained that, typically, departments set their annual admissions targets by “assessing the last three years’ average yield and the number of students in the program at this point, compared to the desired program size.”

Representatives from various departments within the Graduate School — including Civil and Environmental Engineering, Quantitative and

Computational Biology, Plasma Physics, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and Chemistry — declined to comment on admission trends or targets.

All other departments did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication.

Nikoloz Inashvili is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Parsippany, N.J. and can be reached at ni5710[at]princeton.edu.

Nika Schindler is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Woodside, Calif. and can be reached at ns1295@princeton. edu.

Linguistics moves towards becoming its own academic unit following vote at faculty meeting

By Isaac Bernstein Staff news writer

Faculty voted unanimously to approve the Linguistics Program becoming its own independent academic unit at their meeting on Monday.

Previously, the program was known as the “Program in Linguistics in the Council of the Humanities,” but now it will stand alone as the “Program in Linguistics.” The Program in Linguistics also now has the capacity to host tenured and tenure-track faculty appointments outside of the Council of the Humanities.

This change also relocates the program from the humanities to the social sciences for “purpos-

es of representation on Faculty committees.” For now, however, the Linguistics Program will remain a program, rather than a department. Currently, students wishing to major in linguistics must apply for an independent major.

Dean of the Faculty Gene Jarrett wrote in the memo proposing the change that the shift “would provide the administrative framework for future recruitment, research, and teaching, while aligning the program more directly with its future academic vision.”

This change was first proposed in the 2023–2024 academic year. In a memo presented to the Academic Planning Group on Nov. 7, 2023, Linguistics Chairs

described a theoretical expansion “touching on such areas as phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics,” according to Jarrett.

The Office of the Provost, the Office of the Dean of the Faculty, and the Office of Human Resources all collaborated directly with the Program in Linguistics and the Council of the Humanities to work towards the change.

During the faculty meeting, the Committee on Appointments and Advancements for the Professional Researchers and Professional Specialists was renamed to the Committee on Appointments and Advancements for the Academic Professionals.

The committee, nicknamed

C7, “advises the Dean of the Faculty on appointments, promotions, salaries, and terminations of academic professionals at Princeton and the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory,” according to the memo voted upon. The inclusion of the “Academic Professionals” language emerged due to a new position, “Academic Research Manager,” which was approved during the 2024–25 Academic Year. Now, “Professional Researchers,” “Professional Specialists,” and the newly-defined role, “Academic Research Managers,” are all included within the umbrella term of “academic professionals.”

The faculty also voted to shift

the selection process for C7’s members from an ad-hoc selection process by the Office of the Dean of the Faculty to a nomination one. Nominations will be carried out by the Committee on Committees. Additionally, the Faculty Committee on Classrooms and Schedule proposed the 2029–30 academic calendar, which was voted upon and approved at the meeting.

Isaac Bernstein is a staff News writer for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Pittsburgh, Penn., and typically covers academic department happenings, faculty and graduate student research, and alumni news. He can be reached at ib4473[at]princeton.edu.

Princeton food pantries gear up to feed families amid SNAP benefits crisis

By Sena Chang Senior News writer

At 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday — three days after the Trump administration said it would halt funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits received by more than 40 million Americans — volunteers with the Princeton Kindness Food Project bustled in and out of a dim storage room, cluttered with a humming refrigerator and stacks of food trays.

Community members lined the driveway of the Princeton YMCA, choosing from an array of Terhune Orchard pies, fresh produce, prepackaged meals, and ziplock bags of bread. Many had arrived right at 2:30 p.m., when food pick-ups began.

As SNAP benefits remain in limbo amid the ongoing government shutdown, food pantries and food banks across Princeton are bracing for a surge in demand. A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund benefits for November on Thursday, but questions over how much recipients will receive and when they will see the aid remain.

The uncertainty “hasn’t hit this little corner in Princeton yet,” Lois Hilimire, a volunteer for the Princeton Kindness Project, told The Daily Princetonian. However, she emphasized that the group, which serves an estimated 100 people a week, is focused on keeping a steady supply of food from donat-

ing farms and local businesses amid the shutdown.

“We were afraid that TASK [Trenton Area Soup Kitchen], who provides the hot trays, would have to cut back, because they have a central facility, and more people would be calling on them,” Hilimire said. She added that luckily, this did not seem to be affecting Princeton Kindness Food Project’s food supply.

President of Send Hunger Packing Princeton (SHUPP) Ross Wishnick told the ‘Prince’ that the organization has not seen a significant increase in demand for food since SNAP funding was paused. However, he noted that SHUPP received more food than usual from Mercer Street Friends, one of their regular providers, likely anticipating an increase in demand.

“The reason we’re getting so much food from Mercer Street Friends is that the Governor allocated about $42 million of state monies for food distributors — pantries and banks — to pick up the slack that the federal government should be doing,” Wishnick said.

Alongside an increase in the supply of food, Amy Lansky, the president of the Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, said that she has seen an increase in support from the local community.

“Many people have reached out to us and asked how they can support us,” Lansky told the ‘Prince.’

“We also have had every[one] from

churches and gyms and restaurants and the local school systems — everybody has asked me how they can support us.”

“It’s been really wonderful. We’re very fortunate that we live in a community like Princeton, where there are so many organizations who will be able to support our families,” Lansky added.

Other food organizations like Arm in Arm, which operates across New Jersey, have seen a marked increase in people visiting their pantries. “We’ve estimated that we will see 250 new families per week which will cost us $50,000 per month to sustain,” Arm in Arm wrote on Facebook.

“They’re anticipating serving about 250 more families than normal, which obviously is a financial and time burden,” said Ingrid Nilsson ’26, who coordinates campus volunteers for Arm in Arm. Currently, Nilsson is trying to recruit more volunteers by promoting opportunities in group chats and collaborating with other clubs to organize food drives.

The Princeton Mobile Food Pantry, which packs groceries and delivers them directly to residents’ doorsteps, is preparing to fill more than 360 orders next week — a major increase from 265 at the same time last year. Still, Lansky cautioned against attributing the increase entirely to the SNAP funding freeze.

Nilsson agreed, noting that demand typically increases as the holidays approach. “In my experience as a volunteer, [Arm in Arm] always seemed busier around Thanksgiving in November,” she said.

Wishnick said that uncertainty over whether rulings challenging the withholding of SNAP benefits will be obeyed has pushed SHUPP to prepare for the worst. This uncertainty, alongside the reduction of fresh produce available as winter approaches, has put food pantries in a difficult position.

According to Wishnick, volunteers would keep an eye on how fast pantries are depleting, and adjust accordingly. “We don’t know whether or not our government will adhere to the judge’s orders … therefore, we’re all gearing up to

help,” he told the ‘Prince.’ “[Food] will be reduced in the winter, because the farms won’t be producing that much. So we never know what’s going to come, and then we may just supplement it with our own personal contributions just to keep the program going,” Hilimire said.

On campus, Arm in Arm takes donations at the food pantry located in the basement of 61 Nassau St.

“It’s right on campus, if people have packaged foods or extra snacks that they’re not going to use,” Nilsson said.

Sena Chang is a senior News writer and Features contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She typically covers town topics and campus unions. She can be reached at sc3046[at]princeton.edu.

New policy will broadly prohibit recordings of University settings, events without explicit approval of all attendees

By Cynthia Torres & Benedict Hooper Associate News Editor & News Contributor

Correction: A previous version of this piece did not include the fact that the policy specifically prohibits recording conversations, in addition to meetings, “occurring in an educational, residential, research or workplace setting,” without the consent of all participants. The ‘Prince’ regrets this error.

The Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) voted overwhelmingly on Monday to prohibit any recording of a broad category of campus activities without the permission of all participants, with few exceptions.

“Princeton prohibits the installation or use of any device for listening, observing, photographing, recording, amplifying, transmitting or broadcasting sounds or events occurring in any place where the individual or group involved has a reasonable expectation of being free from unwanted surveillance, eavesdropping, recording or observation without the knowledge and consent of all participants subject to such recordings,” the policy reads. Violations may result in disciplinary action, although it was not immediately clear how the University would enforce the policy or whether it is in effect.

This includes secret recording of any meeting or conversation that occurs “in an educational, residential, research or workplace setting, including off-campus University sponsored activities.” Additionally, the policy states that recording can also be prohib-

ited at public meetings or events “when it has been explicitly stated that recording is not permitted.”

Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun said that the University had been weighing changes to recording policies since 2019, although they were interrupted by the pandemic.

University administrators have previously attempted to limit recording at CPUC meetings (although the new policy extends into informal settings as well). In April 2024 during the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” Provost Jennifer Rexford ’91 proposed a motion to ban independent video recording of CPUC meetings, although the push ultimately failed.

The University couched the new policy in terms of preserving privacy. According to Calhoun, the policy aims to ensure that the use of recording devices does not violate community members’ “reasonable expectation of privacy” in order to promote a “mutually respectful environment.”

The exact language of the policy was shared only with CPUC members, although Calhoun did provide an overview of its key points.

The policy included several exceptions, such as Public Safety body cameras and recording devices, recordings approved as accommodations for disabilities, and those used in University investigations.

The new policy follows the leak of recordings of two Residential College Advisor training sessions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion to the National Review, a conservative news outlet. That specific incident was not brought up at the CPUC meeting.

The University did not clarify

how the prohibition would be enforced, although Calhoun implied that community members could bring complaints about the policy.

“We’re not surveilling or patrolling all of these platforms. The likely scenario is that someone will have [an] objection to a violation or what they perceive to be a violation,” she said.

There will be no disciplinary committee specifically for the violation of the updated policy, according to the meeting packet given to CPUC members, which said that disciplinary action would depend “on the severity of the particular infraction and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.”

Many CPUC meeting attendees expressed concerns about the policy’s potential to exacerbate power imbalances between meeting organizers and attendees. “It reads together that the intent is that the prohibition on the recording is mostly for people who are not conveners, because essentially, the convener or any meeting can actually override that,” said Jim Bosch, a senior professional specialist in the Department of Astrophysical Sciences.

“I think everything you said is true,” Calhoun replied, adding that meeting organizers are responsible for including attendees in the decision to grant or bar recording.

When other attendees asked for clarification on the new policy, Calhoun pointed them to forthcoming FAQs that have not yet been released.

After 15 minutes of questions from CPUC members and from public participants, Eisgruber called a vote from the council

members to approve the updated policy, which passed overwhelmingly with no votes against. There was at least one abstention, from U-Councilor Genevieve Shutt ’26.

At Monday’s meeting, the CPUC also approved changes to the University’s discrimination and Title IX policy. The changes include a new definition of “objectively offensive conduct,” as well as new language about protecting speech in academic contexts.

“Accordingly, the adjudication of possible violations of this policy will take into account that expression occurring in an academic, educational or research context is considered a special case and is broadly protected by academic freedom, and that such expression will not constitute harassment unless it: (a) satisfies all of the requisite elements, (b) targets a specific person or persons, and

(c) serves no bona fide academic purpose,” the discrimination policy now reads. Silent protestors for the post-doc union also sat in on the meeting. Around ten postdoctoral researchers held signs claiming negotiations over sexual harassment had stalled, including “Princeton U Community Wants Union Protections 4 Post Docs” and “Current Title IX Processes Hamper Sexual Harassment/ Assault Trauma Recovery.”

Cynthia Torres is an associate News editor, and Archives contributor. She is from New Bedford, Mass. and typically covers University administration. She can be reached at ct3968[at]princeton.edu.

Benedict Hooper is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Greenwich, Conn. and can be reached at bh3193[at]princeton.edu.

COURTESY OF JENNIFER LEA COHAN FROM PRINCETON MOBILE FOOD PANTRY Food bags for Princeton’s families in need.

COURTESY OF JENNIFER LEA COHAN FROM PRINCETON MOBILE FOOD PANTRY Protestors

Anti-Trump protest with campus activism groups draws about 100 attendees

By Devon Rudolph Associate News Editor

Over a hundred students and community members gathered outside Firestone Library on Friday to protest authoritarianism and the Trump administration. The event, primarily organized by Sunrise Princeton, featured eleven speakers addressing a wide range of issues, including ICE raids, climate change, support for Palestine, and academic freedom.

This is the first major student-organized protest on campus of the semester, and follows other anti-Trump demonstrations in the area under the umbrella of the “No Kings” movement.

Zachary Goldberg ’28 told The Daily Princetonian that he thought it was important for a coalition to present unified support in response to authoritarianism.

“[The protest] should also really speak to students, both who were able to come, or who weren’t able to ... that progressive activism and organizing on this campus is a community,” Goldberg said. Protesters began arriving at 5 p.m., with the first speaker, Ana Paola Pazmiño, Executive Director of local immigrant advocacy group Resistencia en Acción, taking the megaphone at 5:15 p.m. Pazmiño spoke about the fatal shooting of a Guatemalan immigrant woman working for a house cleaning company in Indiana who accidentally entered the wrong house.

“Today, we mourn her loss,” Paola said at the protest. “The racial tension that we see … [is] within this administration that is constantly oppressing immigrants, constantly oppressing people of color, constantly trying to censor our speech.”

Andrew Cole, a professor in the English department, addressed academic freedom, including the deals made by Princeton’s peer institutions with the Trump administration. The rally took place just hours after Cornell University announced a deal to restore $250 million in research funding in exchange for a $30 million fine to the federal govern-

ment, among other terms.

“Cornell University succumbed to extortion from this administration to the tune of $60 million,” Cole said at the protest. “When academic freedom is strong, we are strong. When we are strong, there is democracy.”

In the middle of Cole’s address, one person loudly booed the crowd and walked into the chapel. Neither Cole nor any of the protestors present addressed this individual. There were no other counterprotesters.

Co-President of Students for Prison Education, Abolition & Reform (SPEAR), Kristin Nagy ’27, also spoke, criticizing both the University and the Trump administration’s expansion of immigration detention and deportation.

“We all face the same obstacles, a government which is unafraid to be unabashedly fascist at the expense of our communities, and a university administration steeped in money interests that would like us to ‘Keep calm and carry on,’” Nagy said, referencing an informal slogan from University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 in February about his general philosophy to immediately responding to Trump’s executive actions.

Jabari Lawrence GS, who spoke at the rally representing Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), also criticized the University.

“The majority of students on this campus are very against the authoritarian, fascist encroachment that’s going on at the federal level, all the way down to the University ignoring referenda,” Lawrence said in an interview. Student-passed referenda on a range of issues, from allowing a pass/D/fail for language classes to divestment from companies linked to weapons manufacturing, have not been implemented; University administrators, including Eisgruber, have maintained that referenda do not automatically trigger changes and have no official role in University governance.

Executive Director of the Climate Revolution Action Network Benjamin Dziobek also spoke, discussing

Princeton’s continued financial relationships with fossil fuel companies, despite a referendum passed last year calling for the University to sever ties with fossil fuel company BP.

Nagy and Mira Eashwaran ’26 concluded this section of the protest by performing several songs, including “Heavy Foot” by Mon Rovîa and “The Times They Are AChangin’” by Bob Dylan. After the songs concluded, the protesters marched through East Pyne Hall and gathered on the north side of Nassau Hall, where three additional speakers addressed the crowd.

Eashwaran is an associate Features editor for the ‘Prince.’

Postdoctoral research associate Jessica Ng, the first speaker outside Nassau Hall, expressed her disappointment that “instead of shoring up job security for postdocs so we can keep doing our research, Princeton proposed layoffs to get rid of postdocs in the middle of our appointment.” Ng and the postdoc union are currently in contract negotiations with the University, including over potential language that would allow postdocs to be laid off with a few months’ notice — one month for a one-year appointment, or longer depending on the length of the contract. The union has counterproposed that postdocs cannot be laid off within the first year of employment, and any layoffs must occur with nine months’ notice.

Concluding the protest, Isaac Barsoum ’28, co-coordinator of Sunrise Princeton, reflected on the past year, with the protest taking place approximately a year after Trump was elected.

Barsoum is an Opinion columnist for the ‘Prince.’

“One year ago, we were afraid. But today, we are optimistic about our vision,” Barsoum said.

The protest concluded at around 6:30 p.m.

Devon Rudolph is an associate News editor and staff Sports writer. She is from Fairfax, Va., and typically directs investigative coverage. She can be reached at dr7917[at] princeton.edu.

Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III awarded James Madison Award in Whig-Clio Ceremony

By Andrew Arthur Staff News writer

Former U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia received the James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service on Saturday afternoon from the American Whig-Cliosophic Society.

Whig-Clio hosted a ceremony in McCosh Hall 10, which seats about 350, in front of an audience of 70 students, faculty, parents, and staff.

The event recognized Manchin III for more than four decades in public life. He served as West Virginia’s governor from 2005 to 2010, before being elected to the Senate from 2010 to 2025. Up until he left the Hill in 2024, he was West Virginia’s only congressional Democrat.

Past recipients of the award include former Supreme Court Justices Earl Warren and Antonin Scalia, President Jimmy Carter, General Mark Milley ’80, former Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir, and Senator Ted Cruz ’92.

Samuel Kligman ’26, president of Whig-Clio, opened the event’s proceedings by reaffirming the University’s commitment to freedom of expression, emphasizing that the James Madison Award “lies at the heart of our [the society’s] mission to honor those who dedicated their lives to the betterment of society.”

Following Kligman, Whig-Clio Vice President Khoa Sands ’26 introduced Manchin, describing him as “a public servant who has never shied away from bipartisanship, even in an increasingly po-

larized era.” Sands also highlighted Manchin’s “devotion to both environmental sustainability and economic growth”.

In his acceptance speech, Manchin told the audience his understanding of public service grew from the values instilled in him by the community of his hometown, Farmington, W.Va.

“When I think about public service, I don’t think about Washington, D.C., the Senate, or Congress, or any other political arena. I think about my old town,” Manchin said. “I want you to think about where you came from, because you are who you are because of where you were raised. That’s been my North Star.”

Manchin also attributed much of his political outlook to his grandparents, immigrants from the Czech Republic who owned a small grocery store. He reflected on one of his grandmother’s aphorisms: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

The former senator mixed humor with reflection, calling his West Virginia upbringing “privileged,” because he was “born to a loving family.”

In his last years in the Senate during the Biden administration, Manchin was the most conservative member of the Democrats’ fragile caucus. With only 50 Democratic votes, Manchin’s defection was enough to sink any bill.

Manchin was also a staunch defender of the filibuster, a procedural threshold in the Senate that effectively requires a bill to have 60 votes to pass. On Saturday,

Manchin defended his decision to preserve the filibuster, referencing a 2021 opinion he published in the Washington Post.

“I guarantee on the life of my children and grandchildren, I’ll never vote to get rid of the filibuster,” he said. “That’s how much I believe in checks and balances,” he said.

Additionally, Manchin called for sweeping institutional reforms, including term limits for both chambers of Congress.

“Senators shouldn’t be there longer than two, six-year terms. Congress should be capped at 12 years total, and the president should serve one six-year term,” Manchin said. “A president should never run for re-election. Do your job from the first day as commander in chief to the last day. And the Supreme Court should be one 18-year term period.”

Manchin had previously articulated this position during his last year in the Senate.

During a question-and-answer session, students and other attendees probed Manchin on issues ranging from energy policy to gun violence.

In response to a question on balancing environmental goals with economic livelihoods, Manchin said there must be “a balance” between the two. Addressing the current national debate over fuel sources sometimes framed as a “war on coal,” Manchin told the audience the Obama administration had set clean energy benchmarks the country “couldn’t hit because the technology wasn’t there.”

Manchin expressed his belief that increasing focus on renewable energy could have profound consequences on coal industry employment.

“You’re driving people out of their job, and you’re not replacing it with anything,” Manchin said.

“You can’t leave people behind, especially those who have a historical background of bringing this country to where it is.”

He pointed to his work on the Inflation Reduction Act as an example of that balance.

“I knew that we could produce the energy that we needed better, using fossil [fuels], and cleaner than ever’s been used in the world today,” he said.

After the question and answer session, Manchin was greeted with warm applause and joined attendees for a reception in the

Princeton graduate student passes away

By Sena Chang Senior News Writer

Content Warning: The following article includes mention of student death.

University Counseling services are available at 609-258-3141, and the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 988 or +1 (800) 273-TALK (8255).

A Crisis Text Line is also available in

the United States; text HOME to 741741. Students can contact residential college staff and the Office of Religious Life for other support and resources.

Maria Bowling GS, a first-year graduate student in the Department of History, passed away on Sunday, according to a campus email from Rodney Priestley, Dean of the Graduate School, and W. Rochelle Calhoun, Vice President for Campus Life.

Bowling held an M.A. in Political Science and a B.A. in International Studies, with at least one from Sorbonne University in Paris. Her research centered on Angola, and her interests included “diplomacy of non-state actors during decolonization, state and nation-building in civil conflict, language in postcolonial Angola, and family histories,” according to Beyond Borders, a Ph.D. scholarship program.

A gathering will be held on

Monday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room of the Carl A. Fields Center, where deans from the Office of Religious Life, counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services, and Graduate School staff will be available.

“We plan to share more about Maria in a remembrance on the University website in the coming days,” the email said.

The email did not specify a cause of death. Bowling’s death is

Whig Hall lounge. In an interview with the ‘Prince’ following the event, Kligman spoke more about the significance of the award, which is traditionally given to an individual “who has dedicated their life and their career to public service.” Sands, who coordinated much of the event, said it took “many months of work with the University and with the Whig-Clio trustees.” He expressed gratitude to the University’s Office of Government Affairs for logistical support in bringing Manchin to campus.

“We try to give the award to people who serve as a model for students of what a life in public service looks like,” Kligman said.

Andrew Arthur is a staff News writer from London, England and is on general assignment.

the eighth of a current student at Princeton in the last four years. The ‘Prince’ will be writing an obituary for Bowling. Please contact news[at]dailyprincetonian. com if you have memories you’d like to share.

Sena Chang is a senior News writer and Features contributor for the ‘Prince.’ She typically covers town topics and campus unions. She can be reached at sc3046[at]princeton.edu.

ANDREW ARTHUR / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN

Former West Virginia senator Joe Manchin III presented the James Madison Award for Distinguished Public Service.

Thomas Emens ’25, MPA ’29, elected as mayor of Jamesburg following special election

By Hayk Yengibaryan head news editor

Thomas Emens ’25, MPA ’29, has won the special election for mayor of Jamesburg, N.J. Emens defeated Republican candidate Shannon Spillane, receiving 57 percent of the vote and nearly 1,000 votes. Jamesburg is a small town of about 6,000 residents in Middlesex County.

Emens will be sworn in just after Thanksgiving and will serve until Dec. 31, 2027.

“It is a real honor and very humbling to have been elected mayor of my hometown. This campaign was won by the residents and for the residents,” Emens told The Daily Princetonian in a phone interview.

Emens — who ran on the slogan “Progress for Jamesburg” — was elected alongside borough councilmember Samantha Rampacek and Jamesburg residents Tracey Madigan and James Kozee.

“If I didn’t have a team that I felt would be able to not only win, but also deliver the results that we need in Jamesburg, I wouldn’t have run for mayor,” Emens said.

“It’s been a very worthwhile journey because there’s a lot of meaning behind the work that we do and the campaign that we ran. It was fantastic,” he added.

Emens framed his campaign

around fiscal responsibility, professional standards in borough operations, affordability, and everyday quality-of-life fixes. He said that small-town politics can drift toward patronage and uneven service delivery, and that his team ran explicitly on raising the bar.

“We want to make sure that our tax dollars are being spent wisely and that there are true investments in the neighborhoods, in town, and also to straightening out our finances because we have some significant financial problems,” he said.

Jamesburg’s budget pressures, he noted, are acute. “This is the first year that our expenses exceeded our revenues,” Emens said, pointing to lost ratables and the borough’s limited geography for large-scale development.

He said his administration will pursue “meaningful economic development” while tackling cost drivers like health insurance contributions in a way that “is an investment in the employees, but is also living within our means.”

Emens is a current Scholars in the Nation’s Service Initiative (SINSI) scholar. The program consists of a two-year MPA program with a full scholarship. After their first year, students participate in a two-year fellowship with a government agency

and return to the University for their final year of school.

He says there is a “real possibility that [the two-year fellowship will] just be my mayoral duties.” However, he has not yet had a formal conversation with SINSI director Gregory Jaczko.

“Given the uniqueness of this particular case and the need to expand what it means to be in the nation’s service and in the service of humanity, I think this is a very compelling case to be my rotation,” he said.

Emens graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Politics after earning an associate degree with high honors from Middlesex County College in 2022. He was a recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

At Princeton, he served as the President of the Princeton Transfer Association and worked at the Emma Bloomberg Center for Access and Opportunity, where he supported firstgeneration and low-income community college students and military veterans.

Emens emphasized how influential the transfer cohort has been, saying, “they are people who will be friends of mine for the rest of my life.” He added that many of them played a big role in his campaign, such as campaigning door-to-door in support of his candidacy.

His thesis, advised by Professor Nolan McCarty, explored how tax levies are affected by mayoral election cycles in New Jersey. He ultimately won the department’s Philo Sherman Bennett Prize.

“We found that when there is a mayor up for re-election, or there is a mayoral election period, tax levies tend to be less when a mayor is on the ballot than they are in non-election years,” Emens explained.

Emens first won a seat on the Borough Council while at Princeton and took office in 2023. He served a three-year term, and the council selected him as council president in 2024 and again in 2025.

After Republican mayor Thomas Gibbons resigned at the end of 2024, Emens became the acting mayor of Jamesburg. He ultimately ceded the role to Spillane, as the law required a Republican mayor until the next special election.

“When we consulted with the election law attorneys, they said it’ll follow the same procedure for someone who was a nominee of their political party,” Emens said. “The local Republican organization put three names forward for the council to consider for appointment, and ultimately we picked Mayor Spillane.”

When asked how he plans to balance studies and mayoral du-

ties, he said that the “role of mayor really is a 24/7, 365 job,” but it “really does come down to time management.”

He added that he will lean on the Jamesburg council members but acknowledged they also have other commitments. Jamesburg’s government is a “weak mayor, strong council” format, with more power reserved for the council members.

“I really wouldn’t want it any other way,” he said. “I would not be as successful as I am as a student or as a public official if I wasn’t actively involved in learning new things and prioritizing growth as a student, but also being actively involved in service.”

Emens sees his future as a “combination of elected and appointed office.”

“The Democratic Party has forgotten about the working class and blue-collar communities like mine. I think we need to refocus that and do that work and really care about people,” Emens said. “I put a very high premium on public service because there’s a real need for it in our country.”

Hayk Yengibaryan is a head News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif. and typically covers breaking news and profiles. He can be reached at hy5161[at] princeton.edu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIN ZIMMET ’26

Thomas Emens ’25 following his election win.

Hum r

Yes, please, Sliwa our Princeton

By Maggie Stewart, Isaac Barsoum, & Raf Basas Contributing Humor writers

The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional.

Last Tuesday, Curtis Sliwa ’36, the Republican candidate, won the New York City mayoralty by a narrow margin, receiving 92 percent of the vote to Zohran Mamdani’s eight percent. Andrew Cuomo received only two votes, one in his home precinct, Midtown East, and one in the Bay Ridge neighborhood in South Brooklyn.

Among Sliwa’s policy proposals is a promise to levy a 40 percent endowment tax on all universities with fewer than 3,000 parades a year, a demand that Princeton promises to meet.

Astoundingly, in the wake of Sliwa’s victory on Tuesday, all of the Princeton College Republicans converted to socialism except for one.  The lone holdout told reporters at The Daily PrintsAnything, “Not to glaze Sliwa, but his dedication to hating Italians is admirable.”

Sliwa’s hate for Italians dates to his time at Princeton, when he founded the Princetonians Against Italians Nearby. Sliwa was also a staff writer for The Nassau Weekly and The Princeton Progressive during his stint on campus, and was notoriously the University’s first “Long-Term Persona Non Grata.”

Sliwa, the first president of Terrace Club and social(ist) chair for the Young Democratic Socialists of America, was far more liberal on campus. He even started

wearing his red beret during his time at Princeton after a nine-year-old Che Guevara, a future leader of the Cuban Revolution, gave a speech at Princeton advocating for sharing candy on Halloween.

Sliwa was not a particularly popular figure on campus at the time because he released 67 feral cats in Millie Bobby Brown Hall (otherwise known as Brown Hall) in response to the hall’s mice infestations. This incident led to Sliwa being barred from walking at graduation.

Furthermore, as an independent major in “Wokeism and Marxism,” he was a notorious enemy of the College Republicans, who shot him five times in the back of the Dinky after he began offering a service titled “Sliwa Lift,” which consisted of him sprinting between Princeton Junction and campus with students on his back for $2.90 a ride.

After Sliwa was cured from the woke mind virus via an experimental vaccine produced by members of the James Madison Program in CHM 362: The Chemistry Between Us, his views drastically shifted.

“In our defense,” said Adumbas FastCyst ’38, “orgo is so confusing that we had no idea what the hell we were making. We were told that it was crack cocaine.”

Sliwa cites his political inspirations as Professor Robert P. George and Elmo, the lead star from “Sesame Street” and “Tickle Me Elmo,” for his steadfast commitment to the color red. As an active alumnus, Sliwa has been spotted back on campus multiple times. You might recognize him from the many lewdness

alerts that came out last year.

Sliwa, the future namesake of Sliwa New College West, donated money to the University on the condition that the college’s mascot will be changed to the lovechild of a fox, a red beret, Pizza Rat, and 50 of his personal cats. Early sketches of the mascot have already been rejected for “being too lifelike” and “causing at least six first-years to cry,” said University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill.

Raf Basas ’28 (he/him/his) is an Opinion columnist and contributing Humor

writer pursuing an independent major in “Wokeism and Marxism.” He plans on asking Professor Robert P. George to be his thesis advisor. You can reach him at raf.basas[at] princeton.edu.

Isaac Barsoum ’28 (he/him) is an Opinion columnist and contributing Humor writer who plans to switch his residential college affiliation to Sliwa New College West upon the name change. You can reach him at itbarsoum[at]princeton.edu.

Maggie Stewart ’28 (she/her) is Curtis Sliwa.

Roch thinks his rocks think, but do you?

By Ethan Gotthold contributing Humor writer

The following content is purely satirical and entirely fictional.

Speaking to Roch about the discovery of his pet rocks’ sentience, I came to realize that my own embattled love life may be cursed until I shuffle off this mortal coil.

Many know Professor Ignatius Roch as a kooky geology lecturer, but I know him as a drinking buddy. It was during a raucous night that he snuck into Terrace Club and first told me about his sentient pet rocks, or “friends,” as he calls them.

Acting on my duty as a distinguished member of The Daily PrintsAnything, I sat down with Roch to learn more about sedimentary sentience. Roch’s office is tucked into a back hallway under the stairs in Guyot’s basement. I met him seated on the floor with a large chunk of glistening rock salt, which he appeared to be cradling before noticing my entrance.

When asked about the origin of his collection, Roch mused, “In college, I started collecting rocks while high … on a mountain. The only thing high was the mountain, yeah …” Satisfied with his response, Roch stood up from the floor where he had been sitting cross-legged and grabbed a brown rock from the table.

“This is Rochelle,” Roch said eagerly. “I found her on the mountain that night, I guess that means we’ve known each other for 20 years.” Again, Roch’s words trailed off, seemingly lost in the consideration of his relationship with Rochelle.

“It’s just something I have come to accept, y’know? On late nights in the office I have started to converse with the likes of Rochelle and Sandy.” He responds to what had spurred my visit by pointing to a white, streaky chunk of sandstone. “Sandy was especially insightful when it

came to my relationships. She really helped me through a dark time … ” Again, Roch trailed off, although this time I decided not to follow up.

The comments about Sandy made me reminisce about my own relationships. How would I ever find someone to be the girl pixar volcano to my guy pixar volcano if Roch, an accomplished and appealing professor, couldn’t even find love?

As I zoned back into the conversation from my deep melancholy, I heard Roch continuing to describe his “friends.” “They move on their

own, y’know. Rocks do move, they’re just very slow. The motion, it’s geologic, and alluring.” Before I could ask for context, he blurted in. “Anyway, licking the rock salt helps with my fluid retention.”

Now understanding the wet look of the rock, I asked if it was sentient, too. “Oh, no, it’s not. At least, I don’t think so. I hope not, unless …” Once again, his response trailed off, leaving me thinking of the person who had been my rock. Vanessa, my junior year girlfriend, was the person I went to whenever I had an issue or just needed to talk, but I guess all that did was make me needy when she left me to go “find herself.”

Roch’s final comments wrapped the interview up powerfully. “The rocks are my best friends and I won’t ever forget them. Never forget your friends. Sandy and Rochelle mean the world to me and know how to please me better than anyone.”

Climbing up the stairs from his basement office, I felt the light and thought, maybe for a moment, that I too could find someone to be the rock of my life and keep me grounded. But, as I stepped out and glimpsed at Fine Hall in the distance, I resigned myself to a life of sorrow.

Ethan is a contributing Humor writer and a big fan of rocks. They can be reached at eg0461[at]princeton.edu.

MIDTOWN TRIBUNE (CC BY 3.0) Curtis Sliwa stuns in new selfie.

Prof. Roch loves not just the men rocks, but the women and children rocks as well.

Let’s Zohran our Princeton: the case for organizing that’s fun

Raf Basas Columnist

Earlier this week, Americans had the chance to demonstrate their frustration with the Trump administration at the ballot box, delivering resounding wins in gubernatorial, down-ballot, and referendum races. And in the most impressive race of this cycle, the people of New York City elected Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, to be their next mayor with an outright majority of the vote: 50.4 percent to Andrew Cuomo’s 41.6 percent.

Of course, the population, challenges, and structure of governance of the University differ significantly from New York City. But with this University’s history of defeatism, it’s important to learn from Mamdani’s victory. I believe that it gives Princeton progressives a replicable model for winning, which they can adapt from New York to this University: a people-centered mass movement that builds real community and seeks to genuinely persuade and

excite others.

The traditional, cynical perspective of politics dictated that Mamdani, a Muslim and democratic socialist, should’ve been dead in the water from the moment his campaign began. At the beginning of the campaign, he polled at a mere one percent in the Democratic mayoral primary.

But Mamdani defied the odds, and rose to victory. Key to his improbable win was an army of 100,000 campaign volunteers, including young people who came out to knock on doors and phone bank in droves.

For many Mamdani-supporting New Yorkers, this army of volunteers was more than political voluntarism: It was a way of finding community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Yorkers were virtually isolated from each other, leading many young New Yorkers to describe themselves afterwards as adrift.

They found community, however, in Mamdani’s positive approach to politics. Although Mamdani often criticized Cuomo’s scandals, such as his history of sexual harassment allegations, he also gave

his supporters a hopeful vision of the city for which to strive. To these people, “fast and free buses” and “freezing the rent” were not just policy proposals, but markers of unity. To further foster this community, Mamdani’s campaign organized a wide variety of socials, such as a scavenger hunt and soccer tournament.

This is inspiring, and demonstrates the ability for ordinary people to surpass this country’s traditional powerbrokers by creating welcoming and uplifting spaces. Too often, ordinary citizens can feel powerless and helplessly frustrated by our political system, which seems to disproportionately favor the interests of corporations and special interests over the interests of the public. But how, exactly, does this apply to Princeton?

As my friend Isaac Barsoum ’28 has argued in these pages, Princeton’s supposed culture of “apathy” comes from our belief that organizing has no impact. Although we care about political issues, as demonstrated by our high participation in electoral politics, we are not confident in our power to achieve anything through organizing.

Mamdani’s campaign offers important lessons for those of us who wish to organize at Princeton. First of all, we should advocate for policies that persuade and unite. We cannot just oppose the status quo; we need to create a compelling alternative that people want to strive for. But, especially in the context of a college campus, we have to encourage our hesitant peers to join us through creating a welcoming, uplifting, and empowering community.

I’m a member of Sunrise Princeton, which has been a wonderful community for me. Their agenda is clear, digestible, and exciting. But beyond that, there’ve been fun socials, such as an art build, and many opportunities to get on the ground, work with others, and feel personally bought into their activism.

There’s a saying in the activism world that culture eats strategy for breakfast — that it doesn’t matter how well your movement is organized if people don’t want to hang out with you. On a college campus, that can be life or death for a movement. This principle is all the more important to combat the incorrect perception that college activists

are divisive and intolerant. Imagine a Princeton that pays its staff workers a decent, livable wage: at least $26 per hour, instead of its current starting wage of $21.72 per hour. Imagine a Princeton that invests in environmental justice, instead of fossil fuels. We don’t need to imagine. We can make this all happen.

Today, November 7, there’ll be a rally at Firestone Plaza at 5 p.m. We’ll have music, fun posters, and most importantly, cool people who are ready to inspire you with the promise of the movement — and hopefully, you can inspire us, too! Over a hundred people have already committed to attending. Mamdani’s victory showed us that NYC belongs to the people. Princeton belongs to the people, too. We just need to prove it.

Raf Basas ’28 (he/him/his) is an Opinion columnist from Elk Grove, Calif. intending to major in English. Though he’s no Mayor-elect Mamdani, he hopes to improve the lives of the working class, and build an America that serves the people. You can reach him at raf.basas[at] princeton.edu or @raf.basas on Instagram.

Princeton should put first-year family weekend back where it belongs

Ian Rosenzweig contributing writer

Isaw my family two weeks ago. Thanksgiving is just two weeks away. But the University seems to think that this weekend, Nov. 7–8, is the perfect time to invite firstyear families to campus.

Princeton students have ample time to spend with family and friends during the back end of the fall semester, including a nine-day fall recess and a five-day break for Thanksgiving. Some of my peers managed to both travel to other cities and visit their families at home in October. Even some of my international friends had the chance to visit home. But rather than scheduling family weekend before our two fall recesses, as Princeton has done for the classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028, the University seems to think that first-year students need to see their families the third Saturday after midterms. Or, more likely, this was more convenient scheduling for the University. Much like the recent dining plan changes, this subpar scheduling is the University failing to coordinate its administrative planning with considerations for student well-being. Perhaps this placement is a oneoff, but in future years, to truly live up to its student well-being commitments, the University must more intentionally coordinate its scheduling with academic considerations.

September is where the parent visit weekend needs to stay. The first month of the school year is the most homesick time for many students, but this year, students were isolated until fall break, then inundated with family obligations during one of the busiest times of the semester.

While few weekends are particularly free for Princeton students, it seems to me that November — and, apparently, the weeks just after first-year family weekend — are particularly full. My heftiest readings of the semester coincide with my parents’ visit, and I also owe a 25-minute oral report the following Wednesday. Beyond my personal gripes, many first-year writing seminars have a seven-page research prospectus due during this particular November weekend. Considering these typical commitments, the University’s family weekend scheduling is, at best, inconsiderate.

But the new schedule is surely not a random, unconsidered change. Perhaps the University hopes to showcase the newly unveiled Princeton University Art Museum, which opened just this past weekend. Studio hours in this world-class space are featured on the weekend’s event schedule.

Families will also catch Princeton as the leaves are changing, and they’ll hear from President Christopher L. Eisgruber ’83 in the midst of his publicity tour discussing his book “Terms of Respect,” which was published

on Sept. 30. First-year families may even peruse the shelves at Labyrinth Books and pick up a copy while in town. This upcoming weekend’s festivities are perfectly timed to align with Princeton’s institutional priorities, but not so much with the needs of first-year students.

That said, the University is not beholden to student interests in its scheduling. Perhaps there is a different reason for the schedule change than those I suggest above; however, it seems a fairly simple notion to coordinate with the Writing Program and First-Year Semi -

nar faculty to avoid placing undue stress on students who are looking to enjoy time with their families, in what seems like as many weeks.

The University’s Strategic Framework recognizes student well-being as “critical to the University’s mission.” The University has affirmed this commitment many times, in both nominal and substantive ways. But the placement of family weekend represents an institutional failure to coordinate student life, academic priorities, and administrative priorities such that they coexist rather than clash.

In this case, there are fairly simple institutional changes that the University could promote to enhance the student experience with no loss to academic function. A simple extension of deadlines in first-year classes over family weekend or, better yet, a reversion to the previous family weekend calendar placement in future years would be far better for student well-being.

Contributing Opinion Writer

Rosenzweig ’29

RYLAND GRAHAM / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Nassau Hall surrounded by fall foliage, on October 26th, 2025.

vol. cxlviii

editor-in-chief

Miriam Waldvogel ’26

business manager Jessica Funk ’26

149TH MANAGING BOARD

upper management

Eleanor Clemans-Cope ’26

Isabella Dail ’26

director of outreach

Oliva Sanchez ’26

Accessibility

Bridget O’Neill ’26

Bryan Zhang ’26

creative director Malia Gaviola ’26

strategic initiative directors

Suthi Navaratnam-Tomayko ’26

editors at large

Research Andrew Bosworth ’26

Education Hayk Yengibaryan ’26

Sections listed in alphabetical order.

head archives editor

Lianne Chapin ’26

head archives editor

Jillian Ascher ’28

head audience editors

Paige Walworth ’26

Justus Wilhoit ’26 (Reels)

associate audience editors Catherine Ross ’27

associate reels editors

Natalia Diaz ’27

Loreta Quarmine ’27

head cartoon editor

Eliana Du ’28

head copy editors

Lindsay Pagaduan ’26

James Thompson ’27

associate head copy editors

Coco Xu ’27

Song Ting Tang ’27

head data editors

Vincent Etherton ’26

Alexa Wingate ’27

head features editors

Raphaela Gold ’26

Coco Gong ’27

associate features editors

Mira Eashwaran ’26

Valentina Moreno ’26

head humor editor

Sophia Varughese ’26

associate humor editors

Tarun Iyengar ’28

Francesca Volkema ’28

head news editors

Victoria Davies ’27

Hayk Yengibaryan ’26

associate news editors

Thomas Catalan0 ’27

Devon Rudolph ’28

Cynthia Torres ’27

head newsletter editor Caleb Bello ’27

chair

associate newsletter editor Corbin Mortimer ’27

head opinion editor Frances Brogan ’27

guest opinion editor Jerry Zhu ’27

associate opinion editors Preston Ferraiuolo ’26

Siyeon Lee ’27

head photo editors Calvin Grover ’27 Jean Shin ’26

head podcast editor Maya Mukherjee ’27

associate podcast editors Twyla Colburn ’27 Sheryl Xue ’28

head print design editors Kriste An ’28 Juan Fajardo ’28

head prospect editors Mackenzie Hollingsworth ’26

Gavin McLoughlin ’28

associate prospect editors Natalia Diaz ’27

Ysabella Olsen ’28head puzzles editors

Wade Bednar ’26 Luke Schreiber ’28

associate puzzle editors Jasin Cekinmez ’27

Lindsay McBride ’27 Peter Stover ’28

head sports editors Alex Beverton-Smith ’27

Harrison Blank ’26

associate sports editors Lily Pampolina ’27

Doug Schwarz ’28

head web design and development

editors Cole Ramer ’28

149TH EDITORIAL BOARD

Christofer Robles ’26

members Isaac Barsoum ’28

Frances Brogan ’27

Eleanor Clemans-Cope ’26

assistant business manager

Preston Ferraiuolo ’26

Anna Ferris ’26

Ava Johnson ’27 Raf Basas ’28 Bryan Zhang ’26

149TH BUSINESS BOARD

Alistair Wright ’27

directors Andrew He ’26

Tejas Iyer ’26

William Li ’27

Stephanie Ma ’27

Jordan Manela ’26

James Swinehart ’27

Adelle Xiao ’27

Chloe Zhu ’27

business manager emeritus Aidan Phillips ’25

149TH TECHNOLOGY BOARD

chief technology officer

Yacoub Kahkajian ’26

software engineers

Abu Ahmed ’28

Sadat Ahmed ’28

Nicole Deng ’28

Ziya Momin ’28 Kyaw Naing ’28 Minhaz Rajib ’28

Luke Sanborn ’28

Stephanie Sugandi ’27

THIS PRINT ISSUE WAS DESIGNED BY

Juan Fajardo ’28

Kriste An ’28

Marley Hartnett-Cody ’28 Jose Santacruz ’27 AND COPIED BY

Sarah Li ’28

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

president 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

Rohit Narayanan ’24

Marie-Rose Sheinerman ’23

Julianne Escobedo Shepherd

Abigail Williams ’14

Tyler Woulfe ’07

trustees ex officio

Miriam Waldvogel ’26

Jessica Funk ’26

Vote, run, and challenge in USG’s upcoming elections

Oscar Barrios Guest Contributor

The upcoming Winter USG election cycle will determine the majority of the organization’s leadership for the year ahead, shaping how USG works with the University administration. Sixteen of 26 senate seats — including the president, vice president, treasurer, seven committee chairships, and six class senate positions — are up for election.

USG exists to represent the student body to the University, yet few students know who actually sits in the room for day-to-day policy discussions and only turn to USG in the face of major controversy. Unfortunately, this disengagement begins earlier: in the elections themselves.

In the last winter election cycle, only 2,690 undergraduates — just 47 percent — cast a vote in the presidential race. Down-ballot races saw even lower turnout. While higher than in previous years, participation remains strikingly low considering that voting takes only a few minutes through an emailed link.

Of course, convenience alone doesn’t ensure engagement. Many students likely don’t have the time or motivation in their already busy schedules to learn about the candidates and make informed votes. Still, at a University that prides itself on civic and intellectual engagement, it’s worrying that nearly half of the student body does not prioritize the elections of their own representatives.

After my second year in USG, I have a clearer sense of how the organization works with the University and why those processes matter. While USG rarely has the final say on major decisions, it remains the administration’s first touchpoint for student input. Most importantly, the representatives students elect are the ones who begin those conversations and can push the priorities on which they campaigned. Your vote is your chance to make your voice heard across the myriad levels of the Princeton administration.

USG can and has repeatedly brought administrators into contact with student perspectives. When the University announced new dining policy changes on Sept. 28, USG brought administrators to its Sunday senate meeting within days to directly address student concerns. Earlier, when the University decided to eliminate Dean’s Date, USG was consulted in the early

stages so it could provide student feedback on the change. And following the encampment and pro-Palestine protests in Spring 2024, USG facilitated a public conversation with Vice President for Campus Life W. Rochelle Calhoun on free expression.

Furthermore, several meetings take place each week behind the scenes, from conversations with administrators to discussions on University committees such as the University Student Life Committee and the Council of the Princeton University Community. This work has produced tangible results such as early-morning TigerTransit service, reduced therapy copays, and the implementation of “suspension not served” among other examples of successful USG initiatives highlighted in a recent Opinion piece. USG fulfills its role as the student body’s representative by engaging administrators on the issues that affect students most, such as disciplinary processes, religious accommodations, and due process. Even with limited formal power, USG presses administrators to publicly consider — or at least take a position on — student feedback. However, this work depends not only on internal leadership, but also on the democratic process that brings its representatives to office.

For students to feel represented and for that representation to be genuine, elections must have large-scale, informed student participation. The student body must vote for candidates who reflect their views, hold these candidates accountable to the priorities on which they campaigned, and feel empowered enough to run for office themselves.

The problem extends beyond voter apathy. In the last winter cycle, the Chief Elections Manager announced that five of thirteen positions were initially uncontested, including the academic, student life, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) chairships, which are all central to advancing student priorities. Although additional candidates stepped forward after that announcement, joining late left them with little time to campaign or develop platforms grounded in student needs. This is not a one-off. In the 2023 winter elections, five executive positions — including vice president, academic chair, and DEI chair — were initially uncontested.

Uncontested races weaken student democracy. When a candidate runs unopposed, their ideas go unchallenged, and that lack of scrutiny often carries into their time in office.

The attrition becomes even

more pronounced among upperclassmen. In the 2024 cycle, only eight of twenty upperclass candidates who ran for executive roles were new faces to USG leadership. Elections open the door for new ideas and new priorities. In a politically critical moment, students should claim this power.

Princeton is in a period of budget reductions during a turbulent time for higher education, including suspended research grants, threats to tax endowments, and cuts to funding. Incidents involving international students, such as the kidnapping of Rümeysa Öztürk and the blocked attempt to ban international students from Harvard, highlight how external policies can quickly impact student life.

As these pressures against higher education grow, students need representatives who can keep student concerns at the center of every conversation with administrators. This may include working with campus partners to support students as departmental budgets shrink, coordinating with the Davis International Center when outside policies put international students at risk, or developing other solutions that can only emerge through direct conversations with administrators.

Other forms of engagement with administration, like protests and open letters, matter, and they should continue. But that does not diminish USG’s potential to be a forceful advocate for student needs, and this begins with elections.

So I encourage undergraduates to dare to challenge. Learn about USG — the work it does, the spaces it opens for feedback, and the people running to lead it. Vote for candidates whose priorities reflect your own. Bring your own ideas and communities to the table. Better yet, dare to run. Question the priorities of incumbents seeking re-election because, even if their work has been commendable, their ideas and motivations should still be challenged.

The first step is simple: Learn how the process works. If you’re unsure what a position entails, reach out. The USG website lists every current representative. Contact them, ask them what they do, and consider whether you could do it, too.

Oscar Barrios is a junior from Guatemala City studying Civil and Environmental Engineering. He enjoys spending his free time outdoors or photographing street scenes that tell everyday stories and may be reached at barrios. oscar[at]princeton.edu.

‘Eisgruber is right that “today’s activists may become tomorrow’s leaders.” Many of them are today’s leaders, too.’

ards with oversimplified slogans was not for me.” The one example of activism he highlights in the piece is an incident of crude vandalism bearing little resemblance to the organized campaigns populating Princeton’s history.

This creates a false dichotomy between protest and sophisticated engagement with hot-button issues. The students who shout “Black Lives Matter” — a simple claim with no morally defensible counterargument — at a march can then thoughtfully discuss police violence in precept the next day.

Eisgruber’s greatest error, however, is his characterization of protest as inherently juvenile and unrefined, an expression of halfbaked political consciousness. Eisgruber declares that Princeton’s “multiple excellent trustees” who engaged in protests “grew up to be distinguished professionals, model citizens, and influential members of their communities.” Although he commends protesters for their willingness to “take risks … [in] pursuit of a better world,” he suggests that in order to become respectable members of society, they must leave behind protest itself.

He writes that even student

protesters with legitimate grievances sometimes make “dumb mistakes,” and administrators should “show enough leniency that these young people can develop and mature as human beings” — and, perhaps, outgrow the instinct to protest. His supposedly benevolent approach to protest is akin to giving a drunk teenager a stern talking-to rather than kicking them out of the house — still hardly an endorsement of the behavior.

In fact, Eisgruber only encourages tolerance of protest because he sees it as equivalent to “debate club” — a college extracurricular that cultivates applicable skills. But activism is not a playground; protesting is not an educational hobby to be discarded after graduation. Unlike debate, it is not about practicing the skill of persuasion. It is about persuading.

And it concretely impacts University policy. As past student movements make clear, reasoned discussion alone can’t correct egregious political injustices. Sometimes, direct action is more productive.

Eisgruber contends that students who “brashly question authority in their youth will need to temper their impudence if they are to be effective leaders as adults.” But the “[brash]ness” and “impudence” of past student

movements at Princeton was often integral to their success.

In 2015, the Princeton Black Justice League (BJL) occupied Nassau Hall, pressing for an end to institutional racism at Princeton. In “Terms of Respect,” Eisgruber argues that the protest had “undeniably illiberal aspects,” lamenting the “awful behavior” of activists who used bullhorns to shout over people. But their audacity paid off — not only was their story picked up by national publications, but the protesters got audiences with Eisgruber and other administrators, and many of their demands were ultimately met. They won affinity rooms in the Carl A. Fields Center, and in 2020, the advent of a Culture and Difference distribution requirement and the removal of Woodrow Wilson’s name from the School of Public and International Affairs.

The BJL protests engendered substantive change at Princeton, in part because they made themselves impossible to brush aside. In “Terms of Respect,” Eisgruber writes that leaving the doors of his office open for the BJL was a mistake. Of course, nobody wants to have their office occupied. But Eisgruber’s regret that he didn’t do more to stymie the sit-in only corroborates that the most fruitful campus movements are the ones that the administration has no choice but to take seriously.

This applies to the real world, too. If protests are easy for an oppressive government to ignore, there’s no avenue for regular people to voice specific discontents in an organized manner.

It’s true that protests are not always the most effective medium for nuanced political participation. In fact, sometimes they can be counterproductive, alienating University administrators who were already on the brink of complying with student demands, or inhibiting any change at all by asking for too much.

But those “oversimplified slogans” at which Eisgruber turns up his nose aren’t incompatible with deeper political thought. And student protesters aren’t just foolish kids who will inevitably graduate to a more polite form of politics or fade from public life. Eisgruber is right that “today’s activists may become tomorrow’s leaders.” Many of them are today’s leaders, too.

Head Opinion Editor Frances Brogan is a junior in the History department from Lancaster, Pa. She can be reached at frances.brogan@princeton.edu.

Did you hear about the University’s recording policy? Probably not.

Isaac Barsoum Columnist

Princeton has rolled out a new policy on recordings and photography that, as written, will dramatically curtail student ability to access University decision-making processes and further exacerbate the power disparity between students and administrators.

At the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) meeting on Monday, Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun unveiled a new policy on recording events that prohibits the recording of public events or meetings “when it has been explicitly stated that recording is prohibited,” and prohibits disseminating any such recordings.

With this policy, the University retreats even further from the democratization of its decision-making processes. At the meeting, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 did not rule out prohibiting the recording of CPUC meetings, saying he would defer to the body’s Executive Committee. Prohibiting the recording of CPUC and other public meetings would reduce the access of students, faculty, and staff to University policymaking.

In the words of my colleague Alex Norbrook ’26, this would destroy “transparency in one

of the University’s few relatively accessible decision-making spaces.”

Student activists and others seeking change at the University have long relied on forums like CPUC as opportunities to question powerful figures on campus, including Eisgruber and Calhoun. But the CPUC is by nature closed to most students: for instance, there are fewer than 200 seats available in the audience, the meetings are not publicized except on the CPUC website, and the agendas are opaque. To know that today’s changes to recording policy were happening, for example, you’d have to infer them from one bullet point on the agenda, which read only “University Recording Policy [25 minutes].”

And while the ‘Prince’ will continue to cover CPUC meetings, the coverage inherently does not encapsulate the meeting in its entirety: For example, Sunrise Princeton asked two climate-related questions at the September meeting that did not make it into the coverage. As a result, the recording and dissemination of the answers we receive from top University brass — down to the exact word — is crucial for informing our members and the general public to prompt policy changes.

This is not all to mention the glaring threat to that very student journalism: If a writer for the ‘Prince’ wishes to record a

CPUC meeting, which “might otherwise be construed as public,” are administrators empowered to prohibit them from doing so, and discipline them if they do?

Moreover, many crucial elements of the policy remain opaque, although it has been ostensibly enacted. It’s not clear when exactly this prohibition takes effect, nor what kinds of penalties it will entail.

For example, one “exception” to the rule of unanimous consent appears to be when recording is “authorized by a meeting chair.” That could mean that, in a meeting convened by a University administrator with a group of students, the administrator has discretion to permit recording in the meeting, regardless of whether the students consents to the recording, but the students cannot record unless all participants consent.

This would further upset an already unbalanced power arrangement between the University and students. It would hand complete control over recording authorization to administrators, allowing them to decide when they can be held accountable and when they cannot.

This is all in spite of the fact that New Jersey is a one-party consent state, meaning that it is legal to record so long as one — just one — person in the room consents to it being done.

In a time when dissent is re-

pressed and journalism is dying, it is more essential than ever to protect and promote the free flow of ideas and information, the dissemination of truth, and the value of political disagreement. Princeton’s new recording policy harms all three.

In his remarks to the Class of 2029, Eisgruber said that “the free exchange of ideas is essential to the pursuit of truth.”

Prohibiting recordings in this fashion will damage the campus discourse, allowing administrators to limit who gets to access those politics to a small group of particularly engaged students. In doing so, truth may be distorted, as the campus will come

to rely on second or third hand recountings instead of objective recordings.

This authoritarian policy undermines the possibility of a democratic University community and is the latest step toward fully stripping CPUC meetings of transparency and open debate. For truth, ideas, and dissent — for the record — the University must allow us to record.

Isaac Barsoum ’28 is a prospective Politics major from Charlotte, N.C. who nearly failed his MAT104 problem set to write this column. You can read his column here. You can reach him at itbarsoum[at] princeton.edu.

KENZO SALAZAR / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Protesters demonstrating against a visit by Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter near FitzRandolph Gate on April 22.

On exclusive clubs: compete to get in, not to participate

Noah Gezahegn & Audrey Tan Contributing Writers

Imagine this: You, a brighteyed, bushy-tailed firstyear, arrive on Princeton’s campus prepared to try new things, just like students at any other college across the country. But unlike most other colleges across the country, you aren’t actually able to try anything new, because the extracurricular activities you’re interested in only accept one applicant out of nearly 70. While the situation isn’t nearly that dire for most extracurriculars on this campus, many highly sought-after clubs are still worryingly selective.

Given that Princeton already screens students through the admissions process, this unnecessarily competitive club application process only serves to induce stress and encourage Princeton students to perpetuate falsehoods about themselves in order to get into clubs. Instead of manufacturing arbitrary prestige, Princeton clubs should nurture the interests of a wider array of students by hosting workshops and other programming directed at non-members, thereby making the extracurricular process more accessible to all.

This issue is particularly prevalent among Princeton’s most

Ana Boiangiu contributing writer

After committing to Princeton as an international student, I felt uneasy about my arrival on campus. Moving thousands of miles away from home and entering a demanding academic environment were intimidating prospects. Luckily, I had someone to ease these anxieties: my Princeton Pal, then a first-year with a background similar to mine. From small talk about TV shows to questions about courses and workload, he made me feel reassured. To this day, we keep in touch.

Run by the Office of Admission, the Princeton Pals program matches admitted high school students with current undergraduates whose role is to provide guidance and answer questions about life on campus. Pairing is often based on academic interests or home states, creating a foundation upon which the Pals reach out to their prefrosh. While part of the program’s purpose is to convince undecided students to enroll, it also functions as a meaningful source of support for those already committed, as it did for me.

However, after arriving on campus, I learned that not all Pals were as helpful as mine. The opportunity is advertised to Princeton students as “low time commitment,” with the expectation of reaching out at least once for the reward of a free t-shirt. Several fel-

competitive finance clubs. In our experience, overly competitive application processes are ridden with disingenuous coffee chats and polite social events. Hundreds of students crowd around officers and make superficial small talk, shifting the focus of the process from genuine interest and curiosity to trying to make surface-level connections that can hopefully be used to gain access to these clubs, blurring the criteria for what exactly makes a good applicant. Simultaneously, this needlessly formal process pressures students to seem knowledgeable about or experienced in topics they may be trying for the first time, discouraging students from experimenting with activities and projects outside of their comfort zone.

Ironically, many finance clubs purport to be educational in nature: “creating a venue for students to share ideas and learn through hands-on investing,” in the words of one club, or giving members the opportunity to “learn the foundations of investing, pitch long-short equities, and connect with peers and alumni at the world’s top finance firms”, according to another. Or these hyper-competitive clubs hypocritically advertise that no experience is required, when such a fraught recruitment process suggests otherwise. For example, Tiger Con-

sulting advertises throughout information sessions that they do not require experience in consulting, yet their application process culminates in breaking down a random consulting case and providing a recommendation.

A competitive application process detracts from their purpose: their focus shifting from educational and experiential value to the prestige students attain from being a member of these clubs. The latter can in itself still be valuable. But if clubs are all about prestige, they should not put on the facade of educating students, as the current application process shifts their inherent value towards exclusivity.

Finance clubs may be competitive because they do not have the resources to accommodate every applicant that applies. While this is understandable, there are still steps clubs can take to provide greater support and opportunities for inexperienced students. For example, the Princeton Model United Nations (MUN) team also has a fairly competitive application process involving multiple rounds of applications, but they provide opportunities for students who weren’t given a spot on the team to help organize and staff their annual conference for high school students. Through this process, students gain con-

tinued exposure to the club and, if they choose to apply again, get priority during the tryout process at the start of every semester. This approach makes gaining admission to the club tangible and realistic, shifting the focus from false performance to genuine growth.

A few finance clubs have started to implement more support and learning opportunities. Tiger Investments, one of Princeton’s investment clubs, holds open workshops throughout the year on topics ranging from accounting to financial investing and securities. While they don’t guarantee anything in terms of boosting admission chances for those who attend, these workshops allow students to learn about topics of their interest in a low-stakes environment.

If a greater number of competitive clubs on campus — in finance or another field — held open educational workshops and opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop their skills, perhaps students would not feel so stressed about gaining admission from one of them. Still, not enough clubs have caught on to this trend, or if they have, they haven’t advertised these opportunities well, making it near impossible to find ways to interact with these competitive clubs if you’re not a member. These clubs might be attractive because students perceive them

Princeton Pals should do better

low first-years told me they were never contacted. The Pals’ task, however, is incredibly simple: be welcoming, informative, and reassuring. This is neither timeconsuming nor demanding, yet it goes a long way in shaping a positive first impression of the Princeton community.

Though interactions with Pals may not lead to lifelong friendships, they can make a difference. As a first-year, it is easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed with uncertainty, even with the many support systems provided by the University. Older students can offer something no resource quite can: advice drawn from experience and shared without a barrier of formality.

Princeton Pals should take their roles more seriously. Free merch aside, they have the opportunity to make a prefrosh’s day, and choosing not to take it is a missed responsibility. Because of that, they should be held accountable after having signed up. A simple check-in system from the Office of Admission or a feedback form sent to the prefrosh could ensure that things are going well. These measures would not be meant to create rigidity, but to encourage consistency. After all, Princeton prides itself on its close-knit community — we should look to spread this culture long before move-in day.

Unlike other orientation programs, Princeton Pals is well-designed. Contrast this to Summer Engagement Cohorts (SECs). This University-run series of online

as giving a leg up in competitive industries like finance and consulting. But every year, hundreds of Princeton students still manage to enter these fields — 37 percent of the Class of 2024 who immediately entered the workforce went into business, for example. They cannot have all been a member of Tiger Capital Management or Tiger Consulting Group. More expansive programming and openness to non-members would help meet the demand for this broad-based campus interest and alleviate the pressure that students feel to perform for a spot in one of these clubs. Princeton students have the drive, work ethic, and intelligence to be successful in any of their endeavors. Student clubs, therefore, should focus on cultivating and maximizing the potential of as many students to the greatest extent possible, rather than manufacturing prestige through an arbitrarily low admissions rate.

Noah Gezahegn ’29 is a contributing Opinion writer from Roxbury, N.J. He is a prospective Neuroscience major and can be reached at ng5372[at] princeton.edu.

Audrey Tan ’29 is a contributing Opinion writer from Pullman, Wash. She is a prospective Economics major and can be reached at at4887[at] princeton.edu.

meetings with upperclassmen is designed to introduce various aspects of Princeton life and help new students meet one another before the semester begins. In my experience, however, these sessions often felt awkward and loosely organized. The one-onone conversations with my Pal communicated the same information in a much more effective and personalized manner. I think SECs could be discontinued altogether, as Princeton Pals can easily accomplish what these meet-

ings cannot. Moreover, the impact of Princeton Pals has the potential to extend into the academic year. Forming connections with upperclassmen is one of the most exciting parts of the first-year experience. They create a sense of belonging and reliability, offering perspective when everything feels new and uncertain. However, these relationships are naturally quite rare — first-years tend to stick together. That is another reason why Princeton Pals matter:

They can bridge the gap between classes and foster friendships that might not form on their own. Prefrosh deserve Princeton Pals who care enough to show up and try hard. Both Princeton students and the administrators who run the program need to ensure it delivers the connections it promises.

Contributing Opinion Writer Ana Boiangiu ’29 is a prospective Mathematics major from Tulcea, Romania. She can be reached at ab5939[at] princeton.edu.

LOUISA GHEORGHITA / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Inside the Princeton admissions center.

Activism in Palmer Square: A man, a bench, and a sign

By Gabby Reece

Most afternoons, on a bench in Palmer Square, an unassuming man sits with his hands in his pockets. He sometimes smokes a cigarette, but he always has a sign next to him. The first time I truly noticed him, one colorful word stuck out to me on his handwritten whiteboard: “Trump.”

His political signs often center around the president, with phrases ranging from “Trump should shut up and end the shutdown; enough already” to “Henceforth: Letters to Trump should be directed c/o [care of] The White House or what’s left of it,” referencing the recent government shutdown and demolition of the White House East Wing.

As I approached him for an interview, he put out his cigarette and smiled up at me, his blue and green jacket zipped up all the way and a sign to his left with big, bold and capitalized letters.

This man is Patrick Ryan ’68, and the first time he was in Princeton, New Jersey, was as a student in the turbulent late sixties. He played football, he was the president of the Ivy Club, but he was never an activist.

With his Bob Marley “One Love” hat atop of his head, he looked the part of the easygoing sixties guy.

This is how everyone described him to me, even from his time in college. James Regan Kerney ’68 met Ryan as a fellow first-year on the football team, and the two joined Ivy Club together. For Kerney, Ryan was outgoing and popular. “Everybody knew him,” he said.

Jared Roberts ’68, a mutual friend to both Ryan and Kerney and a former Ivy officer, remembers Ryan as “an incredibly per

sonable and friendly person.” Ryan left a lasting impression on his peers: if there was a popularity contest for the Class of 1968, Roberts contends Ryan would have been in the running.

After graduation, Ryan played hopscotch with his career, producing and directing educational documentaries, going to law school (although he has not finished the degree) and working in brokerage, to even becoming the director of the largest art gallery in Charleston in May of 2015.

“I was interested in doing what I wanted to do rather than [climbing] the corporate ladder,” Ryan said. “I could take every letter of the alphabet from A to Z, and I could probably put a paying job I had under each letter.”

From Oaxaca to San Francisco, Santa Fe to Hawaii, his trajectory ultimately led him back to Old Nassau. “No matter where I lived, because I was my own boss, I would always come back [to Princeton],” Ryan said. “It’s home.”

Despite his current activities and his catalogue of a career, one thing that Ryan didn’t do in college was activism. Roberts expressed surprise by his old friend’s new calling, but found that “it fits right in with his personality.” Kerney was unsurprised. “He just loves to perform, and so this is a performance on his part — he throws his heart into it.”

“I wasn’t active in doing anything until last spring,” Ryan himself said, but after 100 days of the second Trump presidency, Ryan, who never considered himself political, was at his “breaking point.” On Apr. 27, he debuted his first sign: “New Book, ‘100 Days of Ineptitude’ by Donald Trump.”

Ryan thought something need

ed to be done. And that was only the beginning.

The impromptu April day has since turned into a near-daily ritual, sitting on the same bench with a new sign three hours at a time to promote his message. Ryan does not work for any activism organization and does not receive compensation for his work — so why does he do it, and why now?

Ryan recalled a tumultuous year in American politics: 1968. With the Vietnam War, the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy, and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago ending in riots, he saw history mirrored in today’s political turmoil due to the second Trump presidency.

“Back then, even with all the chaos, nobody thought that the country was in danger of turning fascist or totalitarian,” Ryan said. “I’m more worried about our country than I have ever been, and that’s why I do this.”

His fear led him to Nassau Street, but Ryan tries to make his signs lighter-hearted than the moment he reflects. “When I first started doing the signs, I didn’t want to make them vulgar, I didn’t want to make them hateful,” Ryan remembered. He expressed that the best way to appeal to an audience is through laughter — so he makes people laugh.

The sign Ryan keeps close to his side changes daily, each day with a new message, usually short phrases or one-liners, never more than a few sentences. Current Princetonians and Nassau Street regulars stop and look, smile and laugh, or may hurry by, but Ryan’s signs certainly invoke curiosity.

A new friend to some and an old one to others, Ryan makes his impact on the city of Princeton,

one sign and one day at a time.

Richard Rein ’69 didn’t know Ryan at all while their time at Princeton overlapped. They were on what Rein described as “opposite sides” of the social scene, Rein being the former chairman (the traditional title for editor-inchief) of The Daily Princetonian and an avid “anti-bicker guy” while he vaguely knew of Ryan as “the dreaded ‘Mr. Club’ guy.”

Now, Rein, an active member of the Princeton community, sees Ryan and his signs regularly. “I think it’s terrific and [represents] democracy, lower case ‘d’,” Rein said.  “Pat is a guy who has really made the best of a liberal arts education and has become a liberal… in his thinking and is open to different ideas.”

The daily signs were his first step in Ryan’s activism, but now, he also participates in short talks inside Palmer Square with a group of kindred spirits who share a similar mindset involving current American politics.“I don’t consider it a job, but when I do get committed to something, I get fired up about it,” Ryan said. His time on the bench and giving speeches provides a sense of comfort for Ryan, no matter the turnout. “We have the satisfaction of knowing that there are other people who feel like we do, ” he said. Ryan credited his signs as the foundation of this like-minded community.

Rein agrees. “[The signs] are promoting community and I think every little bit helps. What do they say? All politics is local.”

“I find the time I spend out here is kind of therapeutic for me,” said Ryan. “Elsewise I’d be screeching like a banshee at the news in my apartment, and that’s not doing anything.”

Among those who have passed

by Ryan’s bench is Dale Caldwell ’82, running mate of Mikie Sherrill, who won the candidacy for New Jersey governor on Tuesday. As I sat with Ryan for our interview, Caldwell and his team passed us. They flashed their cameras at the sign and stopped to chat, praising Ryan’s sign and discussing the upcoming gubernatorial election. The interaction ended with Caldwell posing for a picture with Ryan — together at his post.

“We’ve got to win!” Ryan told Caldwell. “We wish [Sherrill] good luck.”

Along with his support for Sherrill’s campaign comes a “visceral dislike” for Trump and his recent choices.“I will go to my grave not understanding the Trump thing. I’m not only embarrassed for the country, I’m outraged, I’m disappointed,” said Ryan.

He referenced the president’s influence among his followers in particular: “You demonize others, you subvert institutions, you tell a lie, you make it a bigger lie, you make it even a bigger lie, and if you keep telling it to enough people, there will be people who believe you.”

“I don’t think I’m changing a Trump supporter’s mind, but I think I am providing a lighthearted way for people to know that they’re not alone, that other people feel the same way,” noted Ryan.

To Ryan, now is the time to act. He refers to an Edmund Burke quote, as a purpose behind his time on the bench: “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one.”

Gabby Reece is a contributing Features writer for the ‘Prince.’

the PROSPECT. ARTS & CULTURE

The joyous process before eXpressions’ ‘Masquerade’ show

By Monica Zepeda | Prospect Contributor

On Thursday, Nov. 6, eXpressions Dance Company, Princeton’s first student-run contemporary-focused dance group, held one of its final dress rehearsals in preparation for its “Masquerade” shows on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8.

The dance pieces represent “what is the surface and what is under the surface for a person,” eXpressions president Emma Cinocca ’27 said in an interview. She added that “some pieces are really upbeat, like the person you are out in the world,” — or, perhaps, at a masquerade ball — “and there are also some pieces that are the quieter parts of a person.” Artistic director Madeline Rohde ’27 came up with the idea for the show, which then translated into the choreography for the dance pieces.

I had the chance to attend the final dress rehearsal for the show, which gave me a peek into the eXpressions process. For Cinocca, the goal for the group was to make the show “as clean as possible so we can perform it both comfortably and with expression.” The dance group followed through.

When I got to Frist Theatre for the final rehearsal, dancers were warming up with lunges, scurrying to hug fellow dancers, and practicing sequences in individual corners.

As with almost all Princeton dance shows, individual dancers are in multiple pieces, with the average dancer taking on two to three pieces for a given show. Rehearsals, Cinocca told me, were held once  per week, and additional rehearsals were held for “company” — a space where dancers run through their pieces as a group and provide feedback in addition to workshopping in various styles taught by members.

While observing the dancers prepare for the beginning of the show, the close-knit nature of the eXpressions dance community was clear: Dancers helped each other with everything from locating a hair brush to practicing a se-

quence. It was amazing to see the community and love that each dancer shared for each other and for dance in the room that night.

Even at the dress rehearsal, the dancers yelled the eXpressions chant that typically brings the room to silence at the start of the show. As the first piece began, my eyes locked on the stage in awe of the dancers’ ability to deliver movements with fluidity and coordination. The dancers’ facial expressions were vibrant, directly in tune with the dance pieces themselves.

The show consisted of solo and group performances, all of which were choreographed by eXpressions members. Joanna Deng ’29, a newly admitted dancer, noted that “the choreographers put a lot of work in their solos, and it’s always a delight to see everyone’s specific styles.”

The show’s music ranged from energetic tunes like “Oh Ana” by Mother Mother to the melancholic “i love you” by Billie Eilish. Each song, dancer Hope Gantt ’28 told me, is chosen by the choreographer for the piece. The costume design also brought energy: Gantt mentioned that eXpressions has a costume chair who “works with the choreographers to either crowd-source options or look through what we already have in our costume closet.” A full black outfit with a bright elbow-length red glove stood out to me, as well as a sparkly gold sequin shirt that was worn in the “Mas Que Nada” piece. The gold sequin shirt reflected the colored stage lights beautifully and brought the piece to life.

As an audience member, I could see the dancers’ dedication through their confident and fluid motion — delivering graceful yet powerful, bold movements that embodied the theme of the show. Gantt explained that her appreciation for the dance group comes from being able to go to “any eXpressions rehearsal or event and not think about anything other than [her] choreography and having fun with [her] friends.” Without it, she told me, she didn’t

“know how [she] would stay sane.”

Expressing similar sentiments, Heidi Gastorn ’29 shared that her favorite part of being a member of eXpressions was the people, and that “it’s such a nice break from practice-sets and readings and all of that. Everyone is so welcoming and it’s nice to feel that you’re a part of something aside from just academics.”

My favorite dance piece in the show was “Oh Ana” by Mother Mother. The song itself begins with the singer inhaling and exhaling vigorously, which the dancers mirrored with their body movements. The song perfectly embodied the“masquerade” theme, and the choreography mirrored the song’s juxtaposition of grace and desperation. The dancers’ coordinated, fastpaced movements and facial expressions made the piece a true stand-out, with the choreography mirroring the oscillating pace of the song itself.

Attending the eXpressions dance rehearsal reminded me of one of the aspects that makes

Princeton such a wonderful place to pursue the arts. Dancer Hillary Zheng ’29 articulated this, saying, “The most beautiful thing about dance and art in general is that it’s incredibly different depending on who you are and what you’ve been through ... the diversity [at Princeton] whether it be through your major or different experiences really contributes to how a person interprets a dance and how they express themselves through a dance.”

The eXpressions Dance Company delivered a beautiful performance with its “Masquerade” show, encapsulating the duality of a person and their personas. Watching the dress rehearsal impressed upon me eXpressions’ community. As Zheng jokingly mentioned: “If you’re not having fun in eXpressions, you’re not doing it right.”

Monica Zepeda is a contributing writer for The Prospect and a member of the Class of 2028. She can be reached at mz9063@princeton.edu

Broke college student goes undercover: not your average gift shop

Last week, our very own art museum had a grand opening on Halloween, just two weeks after the infamous robbery of an estimated $102 million in jewels at the Louvre. While hopefully the University won’t face any upcoming robberies, the museum’s gift shop provides alternative options to those who want to leave the galleries with their own work of art — granted that you pay for it. Past the welcome desk on the first floor, the gift shop doesn’t initially stand out in a striking way. With its open floor concept, floor-to-ceiling wooden walls, and built-in glass shelves, the shop blends in with the rest of the museum’s aesthetic. Overhead lighting is soft, and the sales counter could miss a passerby’s eye.

Unlike gift shops littered with repetitive postcards or plastic charms, the museum gift shop provides offerings beyond the traditional souvenir. Matching wooden tables hold works dedicated to a specific artist’s work, ranging from ceramics to glass vases to handmade jewelry. Multiple glass cases are filled with collections of handmade jewelry, ranging from $65 for wooden charms to $465 for metal necklaces. There are also a wide range of earrings handcrafted by a variety of artists. Nancy Troske’s collection of gold and mixed metal pieces are a highlight, mimicking the aesthetic of both

Greek gold coins and more abstract designs.

The price tags and labels are hidden and strategically placed to not catch your attention. For a gift shop, it doesn’t really emphasize the second word. Information on the artists’ names and media are displayed prominently. Some tables are even accompanied by information about the artists’ inspiration for the piece or the process that led to its creation. This setup seamlessly mimics the exhibits just beyond its own walls. Yet, unlike in the galleries, you can walk away with the pieces in the shop.

Of course, purchasing handcrafted artworks comes with a price tag. The floor is mostly taken up by sculpted or crafted works. In the back corner hangs an assortment of wool and cashmere scarves consisting of both solid colors and geometric patterns. In the same corner, wool handbags displayed in blacks to browns sit on a shelf — some priced at $145.

The gift shop does not seem to be catered to us students. There is no doubt that the items, especially the fabric pieces, are well-made; however, on a student budget, I wouldn’t consider them worth purchasing. If you really want to leave the store with a keepsake, I might recommend taking a look at the wall full of decorative cards. However, considering that even the cardstock designs come at a steep $23.95 price tag, I would more con-

fidently suggest channeling your own crafting skills through a YouTube tutorial.

Other display tables are littered with small ceramic vases glazed with turquoise, cream, and burgundy hues. Created by Ceramic Artist Max Mustardo, each small vase is priced at $78. If you don’t feel like spending $78 on a small ceramic, the good news is you can actually spend $2,499 on an even bigger ceramic pot. On the same table are related books like “Toshiko Takaezu: The Earth in Bloom,” priced at $100. However, I think the designs would look better in your future minimalist New York City luxury apartment, not a small shared dorm.

Another highlighted artist is Julia Swyers, a New York-based woodworker. Playing with contrasting wood types for her jars, the smooth and minimal designs stack neatly together on the table. There is also a small glass container filled with wooden spinning tops made from a tree that once stood on the site where the museum now stands.

While the gift shop offers more artisan options than the average gift shop, it certainly comes at a cost that isn’t feasible for most students.

Amanda Hugas is a member of the Class of 2027 and a senior writer for The Prospect. She can be reached by her email at ah0942[at]princeton.edu.

By Amanda Hugas | Senior Prospect Writer

The Prospect 11 Weekly Event Roundup

By Amy Jeon, Prospect Contributor

Graveyard Shift by House of Bones Theater Company

Princeton’s Annual Triangle Show: Aisle Be Damned!

Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., Nov. 15 at 8 p.m., Nov. 16 at 2 p.m.

McCarter Theater

Directed by Sam Hay, the annual Triangle Show combines music, choreography, and comedy to create a hilarious show about dysfunctional family drama, marriage, and trust funds. Tickets are required and cost from $35 to $250, with student discounts.

1 2 3 4

Nov. 13, 14, and 15 at 8 p.m.

Wallace Theater, Lewis Arts Center complex

Taking horror, tragedy, comedy, and heavy metal in a thrilling exploration of grief, death, and faith, Graveyard Shift follows fugitive librarians, a gravedigger, and an orphan through their journey with death. Tickets are free but required.

the

heart knows its own bitterness (Manifest): Exhibition by Abigail DeVille

Nov. 11 to Jan. 9, 2026

Hurley Gallery, Lewis Arts Center complex

Princeton fellow and artist Abigail DeVille exhibits coal-covered sculptures resembling anatomical hearts, displayed alongside sound pieces. The exhibit takes direction from documents that contain the names, ages, and physical traits of around 135,000 people sold into slavery. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Embossed Printing Workshop

Nov. 14 at 6–7:30 p.m.

Laporte Family Creativity Lab, Princeton Art Museum

Guided by printmaker Amanda Chesney, participants will take ordinary items, such as paperclips and thread, to create embossed prints. While a selection of objects is provided, participants can also bring their own desired items. The event costs $35 per participant, and registration is required.

5

Jazz and Swing Dance Workshop

Nov. 17 at 2:30–4:20 p.m.

Hearst Dance Theater, Lewis Arts Center complex

Join artist Mickey Davidson in a workshop on “Authentic Jazz and Swing Dance Practices.” The event is free and open to Princeton students and faculty, who can both participate or observe.

6

Story & Verse: a monthly open mic storytelling and poetry reading

Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

Solley Theater, Downtown Princeton

Hosted by artist Brass Rabbit, Story & Verse is a monthly poetry and storytelling open mic, open to the public as performers or audience members. Those interested in performing must arrive by 6:45 p.m. to add their name to the list. The event is free and open to the public.

7

Artist’s Winter Village: Week 1

Nov. 13 to Nov. 16 at 12–6 p.m.

Hinds Plaza

The Artist’s Winter Village is a collective of vendors selling their artistic creations, which range from products like tex- tiles to prints. The Artist’s Winter Village will run from Nov. 13 through Dec. 21, weekly from Thursday to Sunday.

8

Artist Talk: Diana Al-Hadid

Nov. 20 at 5:30 p.m.

Princeton University Art Museum

Join artist Diana Al-Hadid in her discussion with curator Alexandra Foradas about her commission for the museum, “The Ziggurat Splits the Sky.” The talk is free and open to the public.

10

Jersey

Art Meetup (JAM)

Nov. 19 at 7–9 p.m.

Arts Council of Princeton

The Jersey Art Meetup occurs weekly as a social event connecting illustrators, animators, and writers. At the meetups, artists are welcome to workshop, collaborate, or promote projects. The meetups are open to the public.

9

Jennifer Hayden in conversation with Summer Pierre: “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner: Confessions of a Cartoonist Cook”

Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.

Labyrinth Books

Graphic novelist Jennifer Hayden will discuss her new graphic memoir, “Where There’s Smoke, There’s Dinner: Confessions of a Cartoonist Cook.” The book aims to explore the intersection of comedy, food, family, and feminism with cartoonist Summer Pierre. The event is free and open to the public.

11

Frontline Paper, From the Hands of Frontline Arts’ Transformative Papermaking Program

Nov. 15 to Dec. 10

Arts Council of Princeton

Frontline Paper offers a space to create art and write through papermaking workshops, where participants take military uniforms to make paper. The program raises awareness about veterans and their experiences, creating discourse between veterans and non-veterans. The exhibition and workshops are open to the public for free.

‘Maybe we were a little surprised about the changes, but it didn’t affect us.’

ing to do the dirty work, playing extremely hard, and doing whatever it takes to help the team win.”

the Daily Princetonian during a sit-down interview. “[I’m] very much hopeful at the moment and I wouldn’t use those words to describe last season at any point, it was really a difficult year.”

“It was a big challenge and it was hard for everybody, so glad to have moved on from that,” he continued.

After being picked to finish first in the Ivy League media poll for the 2024–25 season, the Tigers struggled with consistency throughout the season. Despite showing glimpses of potential against Rutgers, St. Joe’s, and Penn, Henderson’s squad fell to Yale in the Ivy Madness semifinals.

“It’s disappointing. Our objective is to win the league and go to the tournament,” Henderson said to the ‘Prince’. “You learn a lot from the most painful seasons.”

After former Associate Head Coach Brett MacConnell and assistant coach Lawrence Rowley were asked to not return, the Tigers brought in Mike Brennan ’94 and Matthew Johnson.

“I think they’ve added a lot,” Henderson said. “Mike’s been a head coach for 10 years. Played here. He has an intimate knowledge of the university. This place gave him an opportunity as a player, so I know it resonates within him deeply.”

Johnson spent six years with the University of Connecticut Huskies, winning two national champions in 2023 and 2024.

“He [Johnson] was a big part of that [the national championships]. He’s just got a lot of experience and huge big game situations, and we’re going to draw on that throughout the season.”

Despite the changes within the program, first year guard Landon Clark insisted that Princeton was the place his class wanted to be.

“I can speak for all of us —  None of us thought for a second that, ‘Maybe Princeton’s not the place for us,’” Clark said. “Maybe we were a little surprised about the changes, but it didn’t affect us.”

Clark is a part of a six-player first year class that also includes first year guard/forward Sebastian Whitfield and first year forward Jacob Hammond.

“We’re a really close group. We hang out all the time, so that’s been great,” he said.

Clark is a native of Bangor, Maine, where he was a standout three sport athlete at St Paul’s, playing basketball, football, and baseball. Outside of school, he played for Maine United AAU and Middlesex Magic AAU, which helped him with exposure to the D1 level.

“Playing receiver at 6’ 8’’ probably wasn’t gonna always work for the knees, so it was basketball,” Clark said.

“[He] can do a lot of everything, lefty, very skilled.” Henderson said.

For Clark, the priority is “try-

When asked about the rookies, Davis had only praise. “As a [first year], I couldn’t have done half the stuff they were doing. They learned the offense pretty quick, learned the defense pretty quick. It took me about a year and a half to learn it,” Davis said.

Davis is the only player on this year’s roster with more than 20 minutes of average collegiate playing time, averaging 24.7 minutes across 30 games last games.

“I’m the only one that’s 21 on the team,” Davis said, with a chuckle.

With Lee’s departure , Davis will be the primary ball handler.

“Nothing I’m not used to,” Davis said. “I’ve been a point guard, shooting guard my whole life, had the responsibility of leading the team before, so I think it’s just the same thing.”

Henderson told the ‘Prince’ that “he’s [Davis] doing great [and] loves having the balls in his hands,” adding that he is “not going to carry us in every single game. He’ll have some games where that doesn’t go. But I trust that the group and this team is super connected.”

There is a core group around Davis: junior guard and captain Jackson Hicke, junior forward and captain Jacob Huggins, sophomore forward Malik Abdullahi, sophomore guard Jack Stanton, and sophomore

forward CJ Happy.

“They didn’t get as much of a chance last year, but I knew and we knew that they were going to be terrific players here, and that’s still the case,” Henderson said.

Last year, Hicke started eight games for the Tigers, averaging 5.5 point per game on 47 percent shooting from the field. Huggins started in just three games, though he impressed in the Ivy Madness loss to Yale.

“[Huggins] was really helpful all season, and you know, it was my decision at certain times to not play him but he was terrific when he did [play],” Henderson said following the loss to Yale.

When asked about his three junior captains, Henderson was all positive.

“There’s not a moment where they’re not engaged in the development of the rest of the team so it’s a sharp locker room,” he said. “We’re going to have some highs and some lows, but I think if those guys can keep a level head we’re going to be okay.”

The challenge for the new Tigers begins immediately. The Orange and Black open the season on the road at Akron before playing No. 19 Kansas, Bradley, and Saint Joseph’s in non-conference play.

“It’s likely the most difficult schedule we’ve had, and that’s the intention every single year, to keep challenging ourselves,” Henderson said.

For Davis, the game against Kansas is a full circle moment.

A three star recruit, Davis had

an offer from Kansas before ultimately choosing to commit to Princeton.

“Kansas was my dream school,” he said. “When they told me we’re playing Kansas … it’s a surreal experience.”

Still, for Henderson, the focus won’t be the marquee games, but the daily work of shaping an identity.

“[I hope] that the group continues to find an identity that helps them in the toughest of situations, and that we’re at our very best as we hit league play, or at least we’re nearing it,” Henderson said. “We’re obviously young, so we’ll be putting some guys out there that haven’t had a lot of experience, but that would be ideal again.”

Ahead of Saturday’s opening game of the year, Henderson remains “open minded to finding the right group,” while noting that he doesn’t “see much changing” in terms of style of play — five guys working together to get a really good shot, having terrific spacing, constantly moving and cutting.

During a time where the Ivy League continues to adapt to the broader landscape of college basketball, Henderson’s squad is looking to do the most they can with their current roster.

“At some point that may come up,” Henderson said when asked about the possibility of another Tiger taking the path Pierce chose.

“If I’m thinking about all that, it’s just a distraction from what’s

going on in the court. And what’s going on the court is really fun and special.”

In the Ivy League, the Yale Bulldogs sit atop the preseason poll, with first-team All-Ivy selection Nick Townsend returning for his senior year. Harvard — who brings back reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year Robert Hinton — is predicted to finish second, ahead of the Cornell Big Red. The Tigers come in fourth.

“It doesn’t really matter where the preseason poll puts us, as long as we’re getting better as a group,” Davis said. “We’re a young group but I think we’ve got all the pieces to make it back to March Madness.”

Henderson echoed much of the same, adding that the league is extremely talented. “There’s a lot of really good players, and the teams you just mentioned lost some good players too. Everybody’s been hit by things that have been happening for the rest of the country.”

As expected, Princeton had a tough showing against Akron in their home opener, losing 104–69 on the road. Games against Bucknell, John Jay, and No. 25 Kansas are coming up for the Tigers and give them the opportunity to get their season back on track.

Hayk Yengibaryan is a head News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif. and typically covers breaking news and profiles. He can be reached at hy5161[at] princeton.edu.

Head Coach Mitch Henderson ’98

WOMEN’S

‘That experience of playing in really big games on the national stage will bode well for the start of our season.’

BERUBE

are open this season. Luckily for the Tigers, four of the five starters from last season’s group are returning to the court: Chea, Belker, junior guard Fadima Tall, and junior guard Olivia Hutcherson.

“I believe that having that experience back this season will definitely help. I think they know the standards of Princeton Women’s Basketball, they’ve played a lot

together, and that experience of playing in really big games on the national stage will bode well for the start of our season,” head coach Carla Berube told the ‘Prince.’

That chemistry will definitely come into play as the Tigers start the season with a tough threegame away stretch. After going to Hutcherson’s hometown to contest Georgia Tech, they will travel to play Villanova and then Maryland.

“Our energy during scrimmages and practices has been through the

roof. We are so grateful for the opportunity to be on the court and are super excited to have a challenging non-conference schedule. We are ready to give all that we got for this upcoming season,” St. Rose said.

Belker echoed her teammate’s sentiment. “Our non-conference schedule is tough, which motivates us and shows us that our coaches believe in this team. We’re going into this season with the mindset that we represent the winning principles of Princeton Women’s

Basketball and we have something to prove. We are hyped to step up to this challenge together,” she said.

While these upperclass students will anchor the Princeton team, Berube noted one other player everyone should watch out for: sophomore forward Emily Eadie.

“The work ethic that she brings to the floor — she’s just a rebound machine. She brings some great toughness,” Berube said.

On paper, this Princeton women’s basketball team seems to be a strong group. They were voted No.

1 in the Ivy League Pre-Season Poll. They have their senior star shooter in St. Rose, and they maintain their four-eyed monster in the returning junior starters. All that was left to do was win on Sunday. In a tightly contested battle, Princeton earned a narrow but crucial opening win against the Yellowjackets on Sunday afternoon by a score of 67–61.

Emilia Reay is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince’ and the Spanish Language Pilot Program Director.

Job’s not done: Princeton men’s soccer rises to No. 1

By Matthew Yi & James Li

Assistant Sports Editor &

Writer

On Friday, the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee unveiled its mid-season top 16 rankings, in which Princeton (10–1–2 overall, 4–0–0 Ivy League) was ranked first overall based on games through Oct. 14. The Tigers see this ranking as further motivation to play well in the rest of the season.

Head Coach Jim Barlow ’91, who has led this team for nearly three decades, reflected on this milestone.

“It’s nice to know that people see it when your team’s doing well,” Barlow told The Daily Princetonian. “But that’s all it is right now. What matters is where we’re ranked and seeded at the end of the season.”

Barlow said the team still has work to do and will focus on improving movement in the attack and finishing without compromising their string defense.

Throughout the season, the Tigers have placed high in other rankings.

The RPI ranking, calculated based on the team’s record and the strength of opponents, has Princeton ranked first. Meanwhile, the United Soccer Coaches Poll, determined by polling coaches across the country, currently has the Tigers ranked sixth.

The defense has been the cornerstone of Princeton’s dominance. At its heart is senior defender Giuliano Fravolini Whitchurch, ranked No. 28 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer.

Alongside junior goalkeeper Andrew Samuels, the nation’s No. 35-ranked player, the pair have turned Princeton’s back line into one of the toughest in college soccer.

“From the beginning of the year, it’s been a goal of ours to be really hard to score on,” Whitchurch said.

“It’s a group mentality … everyone who plays in the defense, no matter who it is, knows what their job is and knows what it takes to have success on the back line.”

This “group mentality” has been tested and proven in the Ivy League, where Princeton is currently undefeated. Samuels, who has become one of the country’s most consistent goalkeepers, says the team refuses to let rankings dictate their approach.

“You never want to let a ranking affect how you play,” Samuels told the ‘Prince.’ “It gives us confidence, but at the same time, it puts a target on our back. So, every game, no matter the opponent, is huge. We want to win the Ivy League and go undefeated.”

The recent NCAA Committee ranking has special significance. This Top 16 provides a preview for the seedings for the NCAA tournament, which will be officially determined on Nov. 17. Princeton’s firstplace standing is especially crucial because the top four seeds in the final ranking will have the opportunity to host the quarterfinal games before the College Cup in Cary, N.C.

Barlow credits the experience and leadership behind the team’s success.

“There’s a lot of guys on the team who went through a couple of tough seasons, and they took the lessons from those seasons and figured out what it takes to be successful and made it their business to bring that to the field every day,” Barlow said to the ‘Prince.’

This experience goes beyond just the defense. Senior forward Daniel Ittycheria, ranked No. 53 nationally by TopDrawerSoccer, has led the attacking line this season, scoring in all but two games.

“It’s really just trusting my teammates in giving me the ball in the right situations, and when I’m in those situations, really just executing,” Ittycheria said.

Although the Tigers have played an exceptional season so far, they do not want to stay content and they look to keep their foot on the gas as they head into the final stretch of the season.

“It’s easy to start thinking about the NCAA tournament or who we

might play there,” Whitchurch said. “But we’ve done a good job keeping our eye on the next game … Every game is a chance to prove to everyone why we’re ranked and we deserve to be there.”

This mix of humility and hunger continues to define this team. Following the Tigers’ eventful draw against Bryant on Tuesday, they will look to round out the season with three games of Ivy play against Yale, Dartmouth, and Penn. For the Tigers, each game is worth more than just another win in the winloss column; it’s an opportunity to continue rewriting the program’s history.

“We’re a really good team, and we gotta just keep it going,” Ittycheria told the ‘Prince.’

Matthew Yi is an assistant Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’

James Li is a Sports contributor for the ‘Prince.’

WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY

Tigers claw their way to history: Field hockey wins their first ever Ivy League Tournament

By Emilia Reay Staff Sports Writer

In a series of weekend victories, the Tigers (15–3 overall, 8–1 Ivy League) proved to be the best in the conference, winning the program’s first-ever Ivy League Tournament title. With a 3–0 victory against Yale (12–5, 4–3) and a 2–1 win against Harvard (17–1, 8–1), Princeton secured themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Three goals saw Tigers ease past Yale in first round victory

On Friday, the second-seeded Tigers got it done against the third-seeded Bulldogs in the first round of the Ivy League tournament.

Off their first corner of the game, the plan was for secondteam All-Ivy junior defender Ottilie Sykes to drive the ball straight into the goal, but Yale’s keeper saved the first shot. That didn’t matter though, as sophomore forward Pru Lindsey was able to control the rebound for the redirect straight into the corner of the cage. Princeton led 1–0 at the end of the quarter.

“It felt amazing to get that early goal, it really settled us in and set the tone,” Lindsey told The Daily Princetonian. “There are always some nerves going into a tournament game, but scoring early definitely helped us relax and play our game with confidence.”

Princeton was able to get another point on the board less than three minutes into the second

quarter. This time, sophomore midfielder Anna Faulstich got her goal after a backpost feed from senior forward Ella Hampson.

“I could see the play developing on the right side, so from my position on the left I made sure to get to the back post; that’s something we’ve really emphasized throughout the season,”

Faulstich told the ‘Prince.’ “In training, we actually have a little rule where if you miss a backpost opportunity, you owe ten push-ups, so that was definitely in the back of my mind as the ball came across.”

Luckily for Faulstich, no push ups will be in her future, as the Tigers led 2–0 going into the half. Yale was only able to get one shot off in the first 30 minutes compared to the six shot attempts Princeton had.

“They [Yale] play very direct. We handled that well the first time we played them but fell asleep at the end of that game which almost cost us,” Head Coach Carla Tagliente told the ‘Prince.’ “We approached their directness differently this time — rather than trying to press them aggressively, we sat back and created more layers under the ball. It allowed us to be in better intercept and counter attack positions.”

The third quarter followed the same Princeton dominance of the first half. The Tigers did not give the Bulldogs any lanes to progress the ball.

Princeton ended the quarter with two offensive penalty corners. The first one didn’t yield a

goal, but the second one put the Tigers up 3–0 when senior midfielder Beth Yeager drag flicked the ball through Yale’s goalie’s pads, earning Yeager her 55th career goal and 11th of the season.

Yeager, who was named the coIvy League Offensive Player of the Year last Wednesday, makes history as the first Ivy League player to win four of these awards in a career.

Yeager closed out the scoring, as neither team found the goal in the fourth quarter. Yale failed to earn any offensive momentum against the Tigers, ending the game with a final score of 3–0 in favor of Princeton.

Princeton beats Harvard 2–1 to end their undefeated streak and win the Tournament Princeton versus Harvard. A classic. In Ivy League field hockey, the matchup doesn’t get any better than this.

The last time these two teams met, it was on Princeton’s home turf. The game was supposed to be closer than the score reflected, with Harvard coming out on top in September 3–1.

The latest game was a gritty matchup. Princeton got in the Crimson circle within the first two minutes of the contest, a good sign early on. Harvard didn’t let anything develop, though, leading to constant back and forth in the first quarter. The first fifteen minutes ended with two zeros on the scoreboard.

“We felt very confident going into the game,” said Yeager, who was named the tourna-

ment’s Most Outstanding Player. “Harvard’s obviously a great team, but I think having already played them in the season, we knew what to expect and how we wanted to improve.”

After a neck and neck first quarter, the Crimson received a green card with 13:50 left in the half, putting the Tigers up a player.

Yeager capitalized on the numbers advantage, drawing the first corner of the game. After an official review, the call on the field was changed from a corner to a penalty stroke. Lindsey, an Ivy League all-tournament team selection, took the stroke, sending it straight to the back of the goal to make it 1–0.

The Crimson quickly retaliated, however. With just under three minutes to play in the half, Harvard quickly restarted the ball. Crimson midfielder Lara Beekhuis clanged one in, sending it to the opposite corner of Princeton’s cage as the teams entered halftime.

With the clock ticking on in the third quarter, Yeager secured a Tiger corner, the first of the game. In this game, one corner yielded a second, and Yeager tried her drag flick once more. This time, it found the back of the goal, putting Princeton up one.

The Crimson then received two offensive penalty corner calls of their own, but neither were converted into points. At the end of the third, the Tigers led 2–1.

The urgency built during the last quarter. With one minute

left in the matchup, Harvard made it into Tiger territory and earned an attack corner.

Junior goalie Olivia Caponiti made a timely save, but Harvard managed to get the rebound and fire an airborne ball past her glove. Despite the ball making it to the back of the cage, an official blew the whistle, calling another corner off the original play before the putback.

Harvard wasn’t able to score on that second corner, and that was it. Princeton eliminated the possibility of Harvard’s threepeat Ivy League Tournament champion title, and the Tigers got the revenge they had been waiting for.

“It was the best feeling ever,” Caponiti said. “I’m just so happy and excited because we all knew we could do it. Even though it was a stressful ending, I think that made the celebration even better.”

This win gave Princeton an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason tournament where they were seeded No. 2 and will play the winner of Fairfield (15–5, 9–0 Northeast Conference) and Boston University (8–10, 3–3 Patriot League) on Friday at home.

“This has been three years coming now,” Tagliente explained. “We’ve been in the final, and to push through and win it has been great. This meant a lot to the seniors, to Beth [Yeager]. This team deserves it.”

Emilia Reay is a staff Sports writer for the ‘Prince’ and the Spanish Language Pilot Program Director.

MEN’S WATER POLO

Staying afloat: How I dealt with the physical and mental battles of injury

By Luke Johnston Guest Writer

I actually felt like I could drown. I was baffled. I have played water polo since I was seven years old. I have been held underwater and punched in the face. I have been put in a choke hold and then kneed in the back of the head. I knew someone who drowned. And I knew someone who died during a practice. Still, I never believed I was in danger. But now the injuries had taken a toll on my body — and my mind. When I think of athletics and pain I don’t think physical. I think about missed shots, lost games, and the look on your teammates’ faces when you let them down.

Any sport requires physicality and, of course, the constant risk of injury. The latter alone might drive an athlete crazy. To compete, fear of injury must be in the back of our minds or, preferably, out of our minds entirely.

That is easier said than done.

My experience is not exactly one of a kind. I have gone through two surgeries while a member of the Princeton men’s water polo team and I know several Princetonians who have gone through similar challenges.

Admittedly, this fact is comforting.

Many of us are not ironmen — although I am convinced some of my teammates are. It is comforting to share stories in the “injury sanctuary” of Caldwell Fieldhouse.

During my first week at Princeton, I began having shoulder pain in my throwing arm. It was preseason, and, like any freshman, I was just overjoyed to be at Princeton. The team had just returned from a preseason train-

ing trip in Hawaii where most of us were working on getting back into proper shape.

I competed the entire summer leading into freshman year. Since I was ten years old, I’ve only taken a few weeks off at a time — and that finally caught up to me.

In my first week on campus, there was already uncertainty about whether I could actually play, keep up, and compete at the level that I was expected to.

The beautiful thing about Princeton Water Polo is that you’re expected to contribute as a first-year from day one. But that expectation, which had always been a source of motivation for me, quickly turned into a double-edged sword.

As it became more and more difficult to throw the ball and swim, I looked toward my trainer, Catherine. Our trainers really are the backbone of the team. But after two months of treatment, my training in the pool would always reverse whatever temporary remedy Catherine and I came up with.

There was something structurally wrong with my shoulder.

I eventually got an MRI, which revealed a torn labrum; frankly, after months of uncertainty and frustration, I found relief in knowing what was wrong with my body. Still, the expectation to contribute still loomed over me.

I continued to play the rest of the season, albeit limited by my coaches. When I wasn’t playing, I’d be on the sideline, watching my teammates battle in practices and games.

That was a terrible feeling.

As the season finished up, I had to get surgery. Thankfully, I was extremely positive about it. My mindset, like many athletes at this

school, was “this is why I am here.” It was never a thought to quit. My schedule was already treatment and rehab five days a week — postsurgery would be no different.

I was put in a restrictive sling that prevented me from raising my arm above my head for two months. Everything from opening doors to giving a hug were painful. With the help of my teammates, training staff, and coaches, I did a summer of rehab and looked forward to the next season.

But as my sophomore season began, my shoulder was still not fully healed. I was told it probably wouldn’t feel right for at least another six months. Only now, as a senior, I am comfortable throwing at full strength.

Yet, shoulder health was not the biggest obstacle I would face that year. Soon, I would find myself picking up another serious injury.

In the first month back, I began to feel a sharp pinch around my hip every few kicks while I treaded water. In water polo, treading water literally keeps you afloat and relies on your leg flexibility.

An MRI showed I had now torn my hip labrum.

I was pissed. What now? How was I going to play the season? I considered sitting it out, but I would lose a whole year of eligibility because I had already played in games. I thought I might as well struggle through and ride it out.

It would be brutal, but my teammates would be there for me every step of the way. After getting a steroid shot to help relieve pain, I was able to finish out the year. But I was not happy about it; I didn’t perform how I would have liked to — I left a lot off the table.

Again, I needed surgery in January,

but this time I’d be in a wheelchair for a month, then crutches for another month. On top of three months of recovery, there were only six months until the start of my junior season.

Everyone had to do things for me, from helping me put on socks to getting my food at every meal to even pushing my wheelchair across campus when the battery died.

As my junior season rolled around, it felt like I was fighting two physical battles: one with my shoulder and another with my hip.

I had to relearn how to tread water, and I was struggling just to keep my head above water during practice or games.

I felt like this for about the first month of my junior season. I’d choke on water all the time while running out of breath. The first games of the season were hell.

The lack of confidence in my body converted to a lack of confidence in my mind. A third, mental battle, entered the ring. Worry went straight to my head, affecting my play.

I had to change the way I would tread water because I couldn’t properly kick. The range of motion in my hip had been permanently changed. I wouldn’t be able to move how I used to in the water, and that sucked. I felt like I’d never achieve my potential.

But rather than stay caught up in the negative, I was forced to think neutrally. I couldn’t, wouldn’t, magically play how I once did. I can only play the way my body allows me to now. I have to work through my injuries, taking pleasure in the minor victories.

Sometimes, for athletes that is just it. We are not always going to be in our prime. Coming to terms with that is just as much of the battle as the physical.

Through this mindset, and with time, I have regained my confidence. I have played this entire season, my senior season, without injury.

Luke Johnston is a senior on the men’s water polo team.

‘I’ll Be Back’: A look at movie reviews from the Orange Bubble

By Lucia Zschoche Archives Contributor

“Dick Powell scores pretty high with the dames, we are told, but he gives us something of a pain in the neck. Quite otherwise with Josephine Hutchinson,” reads a 1934 column in The Daily Princetonian.

That year, critics from the ‘Prince’ had headed to the corner of Nassau and Vandeventer to review “Happiness Ahead,” directed by Mervyn LeRoy of “The Wizard of Oz” fame. Despite its irritating leading man, the ‘Prince’ insisted that Princeton students watch the film on the Garden Theatre’s single screen if only to listen to three featured songs. The ‘Prince’ reviewed every film on the Garden’s marquee that week, as well as additional screenings at the since-shuttered Arcade Theatre. Movie critics? At the ‘Prince’? In an age without Letterboxd or IMDb, Princeton students had to learn about the year’s biggest blockbusters somehow. To meet this need, from February 1933 to 1935, the ‘Prince’ ran a small column

called “Current Cinema” every Monday. These critiques were often hidden between cigarette ads and exam schedules. As one student complained in December 1933, many of the reviews in the ‘Prince’ were “too critical and assuming.” J. G. Benziger ’36 picked a similar bone in April of that year. In a note to the editor critiquing the credibility of the critics, Benziger noted in their review of “Die Forsterchristl,” a film set entirely in Vienna, the critics wrote of “nice shots of grand old Salzburg.”

Like the films it reviewed, “Current Cinema” faded into oblivion on Feb. 11, 1935, evolving into the “Screen and Stage” column the next Monday, which consolidated critiques of films with stage plays.

The ‘Prince’ has never fully disengaged with the silver screen and has published some interviews with movie stars, like Princeton native and Superman himself, Christopher Reeve. However, the ‘Prince’ now only sporadically publishes movie reviews, with the most recent being an “Anora” review from March of 2025.

Although the ‘Prince’ is less involved in film, another campus group

is: the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). On most Fridays and Saturdays, the USG Movies Committee rents a screen at the Garden Theatre for students to enjoy a free night out. Showings range from new movies, like “Highest 2 Lowest,” to bonafide cult classics, like “Napoleon Dynamite.”

“We choose [movies] based on what’s hot and on topic,” said Lauren Pak ’27, a member of the Movies Committee.

“Then we also show throwbacks.” Pak is a former head Web Development and Design editor for the ‘Prince.’

The committee occasionally shows early access screenings through a partnership with companies such as Amazon and MGM Studios. The production companies reach out if they want Princeton students to watch and “test” a new movie, providing feedback for the studios.

“It’s a good way for you to pitch in what you thought,” Pak said. “And reading reviews and seeing what other people thought is also really nice to know.”

Students can now review the USG’s current cinema screenings on their Instagram every weekend. “Tiger To-

matoes” is led by Kevin McAllister ’26 (not of “Home Alone” fame) and is a relatively new addition to the Princeton movie-going experience.

“I think it’s a really fun way to get involved and stay engaged with the movie. It especially gives students a platform to be heard and feel heard, [which is] really cool,” McAllister told the ‘Prince.’

Students are invited to rate films out of 100 and write a short review. According to Pak, the funniest and “most memorable” quotes are featured on USG’s Instagram story, and the average Princeton rating is compared to the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes rating.

The committee plans to show “It Was Just An Accident” and “Just Mercy” at the Garden Theatre this weekend. Although students’ opinions on these films aren’t hidden between ads for Chesterfields and library paste anymore, they can still be found peppering social media feeds, tucked between photos from parties and

football games.

Lucia Zschoche is a contributing writer for Features and Archives for the ‘Prince.’

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUKE JOHNSTON. Luke Johnston, in orange, spent time on the sideline cheering on his teammates, while injured.