Week In Review: GRΣΣK Σdition (July 23 - July 29)
Sorry ’16ers, as much as we tried (and boy did we try: liveblog transcript of evidence here), none of you will be able to join a sorority or fraternity this year. As I have no doubt the administration has already alerted you, a full-fledged freshman Greek ban was instated this spring, prohibiting the rush of, and enrollment in Greek organizations during a student’s first year on campus.But considering this year’s 66.7% overall yield, and 89-student increase over the University’s enrollment target (don’t worry; we are “confident that we will be able to accommodate the incoming class comfortably”), this development doesn’t seem to faze you.Rather, this post is concerned with a considerably more ancient Greek tradition: the quadrennial summer Olympic Games, in which the representation of this notable collegiate institution has not let you down.
Spot any Princetonians in the U.S.A, Canada, or Australia crowds Friday night? A total of 17 tigers and former-tigers made their way to London last week to participate in the Games of the XXX Olympiad. This year we can cheer on our favorite athletes as they compete on land and on water, the most popular sports for Princeton Olympians being, unsurprisingly, rowing (8), field hockey (4), and fencing (3), with the addition of Olympic veteran Diana Matheson ’08 competing in Women’s soccer, and first-timer Donn Cabral ’12 racing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, an event in which he already holds a NCAA championship title.Last week’s highlights include the impressive performance on Saturday by rowers Sara Hendershot ’10 and Gevvie Stone ’07, who qualified for Finals and Quarterfinals respectively.Those who planned on passively enjoying the Olympics from the comfort of their couches should think again. Seven of the ten Ivy+ alumni associations (Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, MIT, Penn, Princeton, and Stanford) will engage in some games of their own this summer, competing for “social media supremacy” in a tournament entitled Alumpics, giving alumni of all athletic ability the chance to compete. The online contest consists of battle of “likes,” each alumni association posting an alumni-related picture or “alumpic” on their Facebook page every day from July 30th to August 10th. The likes will be totaled daily and three schools will be awarded a gold, silver, or bronze medal for their placement.It is a well-known fact that what we lack in size we make up for in spirit, and if the number of likes come even close to the number of $$ of the 2011-2012 Annual Giving campaign—or the number of beers consumed each year at reunions—Princeton should have this in the bag.Stuck at school? Those still on campus this summer need not forego their usual dose of the ancient art of drama thanks to the presence of Princeton Summer Theater, a student-founded company housed during the University’s off-season in the Hamilton Murray Theater. PST, a program composed of young professionals from around the community puts on four shows each year, including, this past week, A Little Night Music, and Boeing-Boeing.And a final tip of the hat to classical Greek philosophers as we honor Princeton’s favorite spokesman of democracy, U.S. and University president Woodrow Wilson, with the exhibit “The Election for Woodrow Wilson’s America". As campaign trails blaze across the nation this summer, jump back a century to the 1912 elections, free and open to the public until the end of December in Firestone’s Milberg Gallery.For those not yet on campus, do not fear, for Frosh Week is near!(see how badly we can’t wait to get back !! !<3 ! )
(and it looks like you guys are pretty eager too ;) )