21 Questions with... Michael Smith '10

PANAMIKE LIKES DEAD SLOTHS, HATES PRE-MEDSName: Michael Smith '10Age: 22Major: MolBioHometown: Corozal, Republic of PanamaEating club/residential college/affiliation: Terrace/ButlerWho’s your favorite Princetonian, living or dead, real or fictional?For some reason I thought Jim Henson was somehow related to Princeton. I dont think that's true... so I'd have to go with Jack Donaghy from 30 Rock.What’s the best meal you’ve eaten in Princeton?I'm quite partial to breakfast sandwiches with Sam Gulland ‘10. They're consistently good, and provide a good platform of Mental Toughness for the rest of the day.In one sentence, what do you actually do all day?Go go go.What is your greatest guilty pleasure?Bicycling around campus. I have a really super 1954 Armstrong bike that I 'rescued' from the Public Safety bike impound. I think my goal for the end of the year is to have nearly run over just about everyone.What’s the last student performance you saw?"Happy Days" with Becca Foresman ‘10. It was really great, and I love spending time on the beach.Do you know all the words to Old Nassau?Yes. But only because of OA.What do you hate most about Princeton?Pre-Meds? Am I allowed to say that? I guess I could generalize that and say people who aren't doing the now for now.What’s your drink?Cuba Libre, with Ron Abuelo Anejo. It's a dangerous experience.What’s your favorite medication?People really answer this? A favourite medication? I'd rather not be on any medication... but Doxycycline really helped me out once. Regardless, I'm for stricter restrictions on antibiotics.What’s hanging above your desk and/or bed?Enough decorations to choke a small child. Some of the prized pieces: a 'Miguel de Espinas' bullfighting poster, D4 Sesame Street, photos of trees, postcards, and a Hindi ceramic piece.Where do you do your best thinking?While gardening, dissecting yeast tetrads, or while in transit.When’s bedtime?Midnight.New Butler or Old Butler?Old Butler. All the way. Honestly, that place had a good number of years left in it. Waffle ceilings—we just had to wait for them to get back into style. Plus, they could have really let us go wild with housing in there. I wanted to have a sledgehammer party freshman year.What do you think of Dean Malkiel?I'm not really in a position to be affected by grade deflation... so I guess I don't have much of an opinion.Where is the best place on campus?The Woody Woo fountain. I'd have lunch by it while here during the summer. It's also a great place for a dip late at night.Where is the worst place on campus?Firestone. But only because I always get lost.Who is your mortal enemy?Sloth. That'd be the sin. Not the animal. Sloths are great. Two or three toes, I don't discriminate. I once carried a dead one home, but my mother didn't partake in the excitement.When’s the last time you used cash?Dinky.In 25 years, I will be…arrested for lewdness attacks on college campuses. (Notice the plural there. I'll be a traveling flasher.) But if that doesn't pan out, I'd like to be doing something with bees. Perhaps I don't have to choose between the two...Where do you go to study alone?West Rose Lab. There's a good sciency vibe. And I can mess about with salmon sperm if I have too.What makes someone a Princetonian?Service. And probably a connection to Princeton in there somewhere...