Friday, August 6, 2010
Surviving My First Year at Williams College
Two months after my first year at Williams College and back at SJP as a counselor this summer, I find myself reflecting on the good, the bad, the fun, the stressful, and lazy times at the very small and isolated liberal arts college. Coming from New York City, my first week at Williams was, needless to say, very different from what I was used to. I made sure that the orientation program I chose did not involve any hikes or any outdoor activities involving nature too much. I avoided walking through the grass and made sure I did not partake in the Hopkins Forest rope challenge. I stayed true and loyal to my city mentality. Though getting accustomed to the different environment was one of my biggest challenges, an even bigger challenge was reminding myself that I had earned my way into this elite school, and that I was just as good as everybody else.
There was always something I didn’t understand or had never heard of in every conversation. The first article I wrote for The Williams Record, had been mutilated and destroyed to the point that I barely recognized my article. I spent two days without sleep trying to write my first seven page paper for my Ancient Political Theory class. I never knew what to say in class and the readings were impossible to finish. I just did not feel like I belonged with this group of such intelligent people who wrote their papers and spoke in class with so much ease. I was not as eloquent or as fast as the rest of my freshman class. I was just not going to fit in.
Little by little, however, I realized that though I didn’t always know what people were referring to, there were things I spoke about that people had no idea about either. I remembered that when I had been an editor for my high school newspaper, I had also changed a lot of the reporters’ articles. I noticed that I spent more time on my writing because yes, I had never written such long papers for my high school teachers, but it was more because I was a perfectionist and wanted to fully understand what I was writing about. I realized that the readings were impossible to finish because unlike all the other students, I never skimmed or skipped any parts. Each and every one of us had something to teach the other and it had nothing to do with being smarter or more knowledgeable … it had everything to do with our different backgrounds, experiences, and interests.
Now that the year has ended and the moment has passed, I miss those endless and sleepless nights. I miss the long practices for Sankofa’s (the step team) show. I miss the discussions about diversity at Williams and the parties where I always hoped they would play at least one Spanish song. I miss the lunches with my professors and the time spent with them during office hours.
So yes, I am a Hispanic girl from New York City, but the cultural exchanges that have occurred up in the middle of the mountains with my friends and professors are invaluable.
Little by little, however, I realized that though I didn’t always know what people were referring to, there were things I spoke about that people had no idea about either. I remembered that when I had been an editor for my high school newspaper, I had also changed a lot of the reporters’ articles. I noticed that I spent more time on my writing because yes, I had never written such long papers for my high school teachers, but it was more because I was a perfectionist and wanted to fully understand what I was writing about. I realized that the readings were impossible to finish because unlike all the other students, I never skimmed or skipped any parts. Each and every one of us had something to teach the other and it had nothing to do with being smarter or more knowledgeable … it had everything to do with our different backgrounds, experiences, and interests.
Now that the year has ended and the moment has passed, I miss those endless and sleepless nights. I miss the long practices for Sankofa’s (the step team) show. I miss the discussions about diversity at Williams and the parties where I always hoped they would play at least one Spanish song. I miss the lunches with my professors and the time spent with them during office hours.
So yes, I am a Hispanic girl from New York City, but the cultural exchanges that have occurred up in the middle of the mountains with my friends and professors are invaluable.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Beauty and the (Daily) Beast
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| Students pose before the bright walls of The Daily Beast. |
The hour-and-a-half bus ride was well worth the wait when we arrived in New York City. We visited the city on Wednesday and the office of The New York Times was the first stop on our journalistic tour. The urban architecture of the building gave it the signature New York vibe and the huge New York Times sign was the perfect photo-op.
But the boring offices didn’t really do anything for me (no offense). When we stepped into the Times building, I felt like I could never picture myself there. Cubicles make me uncomfortable. I enjoyed the tour but I eagerly waited for The Daily Beast.
When we drove to the offices of The Daily Beast, I imagined that since The Daily Beast is a smaller company, that the offices would be cramped and modest compared to the The New York Times. But when we walked into the building, the décor screamed art deco and gave the building a great feel and warmth. The offices felt like people actually worked there. The splashes of color danced off the walls and etched into my head. Most of the walls were covered with chalkboards recording the results of the office foosball tournament.
I definitely noticed that the people there worked hard and played even harder. The staff welcomed the group and had no problem talking to us about the issues of journalism. Though not as big as the The New York Times, The Daily Beast took pride in its small but efficient offices. Character shined through on every floor and showed the true artistic and journalistic beauty of The Daily Beast.
Unexplored Backyard
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| Students pose on a set in the CNN newsroom. |
New York! There’s certainly no other state like it, and that’s probably why there are so many successful media corporations there. We hauled out of Princeton and loaded onto a luxury bus headed to downtown New York. I definitely didn’t think heading back to my own town would be any fun, but we visited places I hadn’t had the opportunity to explore before. The day was packed with adventure, the best one by far being the nap on the bus after waking up at 5:45 am! We first arrived at The New York Times. As soon as we walked in, there were artsy electric panels that displayed random messages on an orange wall. The place was bright and colorful, and absolutely inviting to creative outbursts. We saw framed articles that previously received Pulitzer Prizes and we had a chance to speak with some reporters about their experiences and successes with journalism.
After that, we headed over to The Daily Beast, another aesthetically-pleasing atmosphere for journalism. After climbing to the second floor, we reached the comfortable space with an especially delightful food pantry. We spoke to several of the reporters in depth and got to see our counselor Mr. (Ben) Crair’s messy desk. There were a few colorfully designed walls displayed throughout the walk in the office and they were quite appealing. No wonder the visit turned into a short photo shoot!
After that, we went to CNN and took a gander at a few of the sets and the newsroom. Too bad Anderson Cooper was gone for lunch. After our series of tours, we went on an investigative trip to catch a few New Yorkers breaking the law by idling their cars for more than three minutes. This trip just proved that there are always new locations to discover even in your own backyard.
A Conversation With Princeton's President
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| Princeton University president Tilghman addresses the students. |
With a warm smile, Princeton University’s first female president, Shirley M. Tilghman, had a confession to tell us. “I didn’t have to go through the steps to become President,” Tilghman said humorously.
When former President Harold Tafler Shapiro stepped down, Princeton administrators began a search committee that Tilghman shortly joined. She always felt that the university needed a president who had prior experience in the science field. Though Tilghman was on the committee, she still had teaching responsibilities and missed a meeting to teach a class period. Ironically, when she came back, they had nominated her for candidacy.
Six weeks after Shapiro stepped down, Tilghman became Princeton’s first female president on May 5, 2001 and assumed office on June 15, 2001. In order to become a candidate for President at Princeton, candidates usually start as deans, or hold numerous administrative positions first, but she was able to bypass that.
As President, “I had to learn about things I didn’t know much about,” Tilghman said.
Born in Canada, Tilghman arrived at Princeton in 1986 and became the Howard A. Prior Professor of the Life Sciences. As a world-renowned scholar, Tilghman has become a pioneer in the molecular biology field. Tilghman was a part of the Princeton staff for 15 years before she was president. As President, she brings the experience of both a biologist and a teacher who also knows that her new position comes with tough decisions.
“No day is like any other day, I usually only get the big issues to handle,” Tilghman said.
Tilghman has tackled many issues since she stepped in office, spending a fair amount of the time with students and advocating her own beliefs.
“I can’t sit in the office and ask ‘Am I as good as [Woodrow] Wilson?’,” she said.
Recognizing that there was no picture of a woman in the Nassau Hall of Presidents when she first visited the Hall, Tilghman has accomplished one major goal—being the first women president to be a success.
“I want to leave a legacy,” Tilghman said.
Three words (well four): A True New Yorker
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| Students pose before The New York Times building. |
Being woken up by the ‘obnoxious’ knock on the door at precisely 5:45am was no fun. Not hearing the knock on the door and having your roommate wake you up is still another story. Already inching towards that 6:30am meet-up time, I hurried to get ready with a quick shower and threw on some business-casual clothes. It was a bit uncomfortable to say the least, but to be able to go back to NYC was soooo worth it.
I have to say I’m a true New Yorker.
During the bus ride, I was knocked out. But being able to wake up just as we got past the line distinguishing New York from New Jersey should really tell you something.
As soon as we stepped off the bus in the heart of the city, Times Square, I could smell the polluted air, see the trash-infested streets, the overcrowded sidewalks filled with pedestrians, and feel the true rhythm and beat of the city itself.
To some people, NYC may not be the place for them. “It’s dirty. It stinks. The subway ride sucks.” The comments continue. But to people like me who were born and raised in the city itself, it’s become an addiction that I have to come back to no matter where I go.
Bring me to the city parts of any state, any country, and I’ll only have one thing on my mind: “When am I going back to NYC?” Bring me to Washington D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, and nothing will EVER compare to NYC itself. Whoever thinks differently, please enlighten me and take it up with me.
I guess it’s the overcrowded streets, how the overcapacity always exists. I guess it’s how there’s actually a pace you have to master before you can tackle Times Square and knowing what moves to make while walking. You gotta maneuver each of your body parts. Arms to the side, definitely no swinging. Bags clutched tight by your arms. Look straight ahead. And definitely DO NOT whatsoever stop in the middle of the street. Dropped a sweater? NOT WORTH IT. Keep it movin’, it’ll be the best decision you’ll ever make. Don’t believe me? Give it a try and don’t say I didn’t tell you so. Nonetheless, there’s no room for hesitation, you have to keep it pushin’. If you don’t, you’ll get demolished. Shoulder bumping, toe stepping, arguments arising. That’s NYC for you. But that’s what drives me towards NYC the most, being a spectator whilst walking and witnessing these actions happen before your eyes.
It’s the polluted air that characterizes NYC. I don’t find anything wrong with that, honestly. My lungs are probably blackened by that fact and not by second-hand smoke, but it’s become an obsession. I’m obsessed with the city life because I am, in fact, a city girl.
Bring me to Princeton, NJ, and take me out of the city, but you can never take the city out of the girl. That’s exactly how I feel.
If you can’t handle it, don’t come. I can say I’m an advocate of NYC. I could imagine myself in the real estate realm, advocating prospective NYC residents to ultimately move here.
You got to walk the walk, talk the talk—even with that “New Yorker accent” everyone claims you have. Hold your head up high, speed walk for life, and keep it pushin’. If you’re gonna be a true New Yorker, you got to act like the New Yorker. So wear that pride on your sleeve, and wear it right, we have a rep to protect. Seriously.
Life and Friendships at SJP
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| Students share ice cream and stories at The Bent Spoon. |
Coming into a new setting and meeting people is not always easy, especially for those of us that don’t like change. But it’s like these distinctions aren’t made between the kids at SJP.
Everyone gets along and we all actually talk to each other. We are definitely not strangers. Long walks from place to place on campus have created an environment for us to get engaged with each other. I find it comforting that I can walk with a different person each time we go out and still have a comfortable conversation.
And the counselors actually involve themselves as well. They don’t sit outside the realm of the program and just leave us to twiddle our thumbs. They ask us about ourselves, get to know us, and care. They set up these situations that let us know that we’re not in this alone. And it feels good to know that we’re not, especially coming from a place where it’s every man for himself.
Being here makes me feel as if I'm more than myself. It's so emotionally strengthening because they basically tell us that the world is in our hands, and they'll do anything to help keep it there. And now I know I'm important ... I know that I matter. We all do.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Wanted: More Bonding Time
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| Students walk and chat together between workshops. |
While we spend most of our time attending workshops, meeting with our newspaper teams, and writing, I just cannot forget and must include that SJP has oodles of fun outside the world of journalism too.
For example, today had to be the “funnest” day of camp (so far). We finally had the chance to hang out when we met up with everyone after our newspaper team meetings and took a stroll outside of our usual route.
Our destination was the hip mom-and-pop dessert shop, the Bent Spoon, for a late dinner snack. SJP students and counselors crowded the shop outside and inside. After a round of fresh gelato ice cream for everyone, the volume of our laughter and conversations hinted at the happiness and enjoyment we all had.
Everyone sat around the benches, chairs, and tables around Palmers Square. It was quality bonding time for the counselors and students. Stories were shared, laughters were exchanged, and experiences were made.
The workshops and meetings enrich our knowledge and wisdom, but we’ve also been tired from staying up late from our late schedule, and the trip to the Bent Spoon was definitely a nice relaxing treat for everyone.
I just wish we had more bonding times like this. The number of days we have left at the camp is decreasing and we are all getting closer and closer with everyone, so we need to max out the time we have left.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Principle is Principle: Reporting in North Korea
By Stephanie Zhou (Brooklyn, NY)
“Why can’t we take pictures behind the statue?” asked Brian Rokus '99, CNN producer and fellow member of the SJP family.
The North Korean official paused at the question, showing a hint of doubt. It didn’t take long for his eyes to switch gears with a stern sense of authority. “Well, principle is principle.” Clearly, North Korea runs by strict principle.
I can’t believe it’s already day four of the program. SJPers are already very familiar with Friend 109, the classroom devoted to many journalism discussions, debates, and workshops.
After breakfast, Brian Rokus delivered a workshop about foreign correspondence. He described his trip to North Korea with his boss and CNN reporter, Christiane Amanpour. He also showed us the segment that covers the New York Philharmonic's concert in Pyongyang, called “Notes from North Korea.”
North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship, led by Kim Jong-Il. North Koreans have absolutely no freedom to express themselves—no internet, no freedom to travel, and no freedom of speech, the number one right that lives on tip of a journalist’s pencil. When there is that rare occasion that the press is allowed in North Korea, reporters are required to wear a blue armband that reads "reporter."
Brian explained that the North Korean government intended to show off to the American reporters--from the grand feast for breakfast to the newspaper. The entire paper was dedicated to Kim Jong-Il, the “brilliant commander” who celebrates his birthday as a national holiday.
I found it the most interesting when he spoke about the random pedestrians CNN interviewed during their time in North Korea. Many of the people said they hated the United States. Brian explained that people in North Korea are under the impression that the United States started the Korean War and is currently the reason that Korea is still split at the 38th parallel. There was a possibility that they were only saying those things because they didn't want to get in trouble for speaking against the North Korean government. It just goes to show how much governments in different parts of the world can manipulate the power of journalism, the power to educate.
Leaning back, Brian let out a chuckle and his chair let out a squeak.
“When your teacher asks you why you couldn’t do your homework just reply, well, you know, principle is principle.”
“Why can’t we take pictures behind the statue?” asked Brian Rokus '99, CNN producer and fellow member of the SJP family.
The North Korean official paused at the question, showing a hint of doubt. It didn’t take long for his eyes to switch gears with a stern sense of authority. “Well, principle is principle.” Clearly, North Korea runs by strict principle.
I can’t believe it’s already day four of the program. SJPers are already very familiar with Friend 109, the classroom devoted to many journalism discussions, debates, and workshops.
After breakfast, Brian Rokus delivered a workshop about foreign correspondence. He described his trip to North Korea with his boss and CNN reporter, Christiane Amanpour. He also showed us the segment that covers the New York Philharmonic's concert in Pyongyang, called “Notes from North Korea.”
North Korea is a hereditary dictatorship, led by Kim Jong-Il. North Koreans have absolutely no freedom to express themselves—no internet, no freedom to travel, and no freedom of speech, the number one right that lives on tip of a journalist’s pencil. When there is that rare occasion that the press is allowed in North Korea, reporters are required to wear a blue armband that reads "reporter."
Brian explained that the North Korean government intended to show off to the American reporters--from the grand feast for breakfast to the newspaper. The entire paper was dedicated to Kim Jong-Il, the “brilliant commander” who celebrates his birthday as a national holiday.
I found it the most interesting when he spoke about the random pedestrians CNN interviewed during their time in North Korea. Many of the people said they hated the United States. Brian explained that people in North Korea are under the impression that the United States started the Korean War and is currently the reason that Korea is still split at the 38th parallel. There was a possibility that they were only saying those things because they didn't want to get in trouble for speaking against the North Korean government. It just goes to show how much governments in different parts of the world can manipulate the power of journalism, the power to educate.
Leaning back, Brian let out a chuckle and his chair let out a squeak.
“When your teacher asks you why you couldn’t do your homework just reply, well, you know, principle is principle.”
A Primer in College Lectures
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| Professor Brian Kernighan |
The stereotype of college lectures is not one that invites many positive opinions. In lieu of inspired students standing up on their desks reciting Whitman, I picture girls in letters smacking gum and the one boy in the plaid flannel dozing off.
But if movies have inspired my nightmares of the quintessential college lecture, this program has inspired my dreams of interaction and intellectualism. Yesterday we had not one, but three amazing college professors speak to us.
The morning brought us the social media guru Sree Sreenivasan. As a journalism educator at Columbia University, he was able to give us the same tips on social media he gives his graduate students. Much to our dismay, he encouraged us to professionalize our Facebook profiles in addition to using it as a place to reconnect with friends.
Our next guest was Anthony Grafton, a history professor at Princeton. Much to my relief, college history professors seem to be just as entertaining as the ones I have encountered in high school. He was able to connect to students by sharing with us the story of his parents, who as first generation citizens went through much adversity.
Rounding out the night in our amazing lecture marathon was the witty Brian Kernighan. He taught us that the media can twist the facts to promote their own opinions. In so doing, he also rounded out the lineup: three out of three lecturers yesterday were spectacular.
No Laughing in Journalism
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| Professor Sree Sreenivasan |
Just kidding. Actually, that couldn't be further from the truth. Journalists are often portrayed as these very intense, abrasive people. Most journalists that I know personally are quite amiable. Many forget that journalists are people too. Sure, they may be more outspoken than your average Joe, but they are people nonetheless.
Yesterday, we had a great guest speaker at breakfast, Sree Sreenivasan, a journalism educator at Columbia University. He gave us a lot of cool tips about how to use the Internet and social networking sites to our advantage. Although he is all about using these sites for professional uses, he was completely relatable and actually very funny. He had the entire room laughing.
So, yes, journalists do put in a lot of work and are very serious about their passion, but the experience should always be enjoyable for the journalist. When you can talk about your passion and make others laugh, it's priceless.
On Social Networking
Students blog in the Scully Hall common room after midnight.
By Shaiesha Moore (Chicago, IL) Journalism is always changing, with a past, present and future, always evolving to present new styles and techniques. A perfect example of this evolution is this blog post. In the past, journalists wrote specifically for newspapers, but today in a world where technology is constantly producing something new, the possibilities are endless. One man who acknowledges and teaches these changes is Columbia Journalism Professor Sree Sreenivasan.
Professor Sreenivasan taught us how the creation of social networks have become the gateway to advancement in journalism. I learned how to utilize the many networking sites like, Facebook and Twitter, and the benefits they offer when used properly. As a journalist, these networking websites allow the public to produce new ideas, and new ideas lead to great stories.
The world is constantly in motion and so is journalism; we have to always be adaptable and versatile in order to become efficient journalists. Here at SJP, along with lots of sleep deprivation, we are learning just that.
The Importance of Knowing Everything
Professor Anthony Grafton is the Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton.
By Charles Walker (Pasadena, CA)When it comes to the world of journalism, we've have learned a number of things at SJP. A very important aspect of real-world journalism we've learned is to be well-versed in a variety other fields besides journalism, such as economics, math, history, and many other topics. We learned from director Richard Just '01 (Also managing editor of The New Republic) that in order to be an intellectual, an individual must be fascinated by a number of issues.
Personally, history of any sort has been true passion of mine, and I have learned that it can be used as a vital tool in being an every day columnist or reporter. Today's guest speaker was someone who greatly excited me and made me sort of see what I could be like in my future. The guest speaker was world-renowned history Professor Anthony Grafton, who contributes greatly to the humanities and the study of Western European civilizations. One particular part I enjoyed during Grafton's talk was his in-depth citations of early Western European history for an article about torture for The New Republic.
It was really an honor for me to meet someone as brilliant and prolific as Professor Grafton because of my own interest in history.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Opinion Journalism and the Challenges of Debate
Walter Keith Griffin '10 (SJP '05 Alum/SJP '07 Intern) leads the Arizona immigration law debate.
By Bianca Dennis (Atlantic City, NJ)I think that deep down, anyone who wants to be a journalist wants to have his or her voice heard. The great thing about this program is that everyone gets that chance, and sometimes all at once.
Tonight we had SJP '05 alumnus and recent Princeton graduate Keith Griffin talk to us about opinion pieces: how to distinguish between opinions that are still journalism, and opinion pieces that don’t belong in the field. He had us choose a topic and debate amongst ourselves. He served as the much needed referee as we discussed the recent Arizona immigration law with the team. I was on the team against the law, and the other half of the SJPers came up with arguments supporting the law. Long story short: it was a heated discussion with some raised voices and strong opinions, but it was an awesome experience.
Presenting a case, refuting arguments, and debating was a lot of fun, but, like a “supporter" pointed out, it can be hard to argue for something you’re against!
A New Look at New Media
Elizabeth Gonzalez volunteers her Twitter account during the new media workshop
By Elizabeth Gonzalez (El Paso, TX)When someone mentions new media, the first thing that comes to mind is the Internet: how we use it in everyday life and the amount of time spent in social networking sites.
Through the New Media workshop led by Ben Crair and Tasnim Shamma, I gained a new perspective on the voice I can express online and an insight into their work experience at The Daily Beast and Newsweek. Columbia Journalism School Professor and "Tech Evangelist" Sree Sreenivasan also gave a presentation on the importance of using Twitter to stay relevant and keep in touch with the news.
I realized how important it was for newspapers and publications to be online and interact with their audiences, including our publication The Princeton Summer Journal. With social media tools, I can share intellectual information and personal views on subjects happening across the world. Though it sometimes feels like information overload, as individuals, we now have more choices and the ability to decide what is important. It's important of course, for participants in a democracy, to read a wide range of news sources and websites so that we can obtain an accurate picture of the news.
Through the New Media workshop led by Ben Crair and Tasnim Shamma, I gained a new perspective on the voice I can express online and an insight into their work experience at The Daily Beast and Newsweek. Columbia Journalism School Professor and "Tech Evangelist" Sree Sreenivasan also gave a presentation on the importance of using Twitter to stay relevant and keep in touch with the news.
I realized how important it was for newspapers and publications to be online and interact with their audiences, including our publication The Princeton Summer Journal. With social media tools, I can share intellectual information and personal views on subjects happening across the world. Though it sometimes feels like information overload, as individuals, we now have more choices and the ability to decide what is important. It's important of course, for participants in a democracy, to read a wide range of news sources and websites so that we can obtain an accurate picture of the news.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Midnight Discussions: The Insider
By Brenda Duman (Brooklyn, NY)
With the amount of walking we do to and from events, SJPers had plenty of opportunities to admire the Princeton campus and the weather on Saturday. From walking to breakfast to sitting on the steps of the Woodrow Wilson Building with my newspaper team, "The New York Times," I certainly enjoyed the forecast and simply getting to better know fellow SJPers.
Aside from the nice weather and packed schedule, we had the treat of watching a movie in the evening called The Insider. Although we arrived later than expected, SJPers settled down in the last couple of rows of a lecture hall in Friend’s Center to watch the movie.
From the opening scene to the last, we were all riveted by the story of Lowell Bergman (Al Pacino), a CBS reporter with all the characteristics of a good journalist we had discussed in the morning workshop with Richard. The movie essentially consisted of three stories: first, we find Bergman in Lebanon speaking with the Hezbollah for a 60 Minutes special; then we watch as Bergman tries to convince his informant, Jeffrey Wigand, a former chemist for a huge tobacco company, to disclose information about the wrongdoings of the tobacco industry. Finally, The Insider ends with the arrest of the Unibomber.
The movie was a great film choice because it raised many journalistic questions, from what is ethical in journalism to what you would do if you had to choose between upsetting certain (powerful) people or informing the public of a vital public health issue. In general, I would say most, if not all of us, in SJP liked the film. There were times during the movie when we gasped together, laughed together, and snapped our fingers together. (That scene with the Mississippi prosecutor had us doing all three.)
Although we were all tired by the end of the movie, we still managed to hang in there and have a group discussion about the questions raised in the film and the elements we found either realistic or unrealistic. So, a group discussion at midnight? That tells you something about the kind of people SJPers are, I’m proud to say.
Writing About Music: Big Funk
By Melina Torres (Brawley, CA)
Today marks the day when the Summer Journalism Program first started to prepare us for news writing and set us out into the world on the mission of covering our first event. We had to gather as many quotes from the audience as well as the band Big Funk, which was performing in Palmer Square, to meet our deadline.
This was a rather daunting task for some of us who either have never interviewed someone or simply fear rejection. Just going up to someone you've never met and demanding their attention can be scary. Personally, I found the audience to be quite approachable. Of course, it's easier interviewing someone in a small group rather than alone. Right away, we shot questions at the "funky jazz" band Big Funk and they were very friendly. As the band set up, families and people in the band were interacting in the park on this warm, sunny day and some individuals were even playing frisbee. Brian Rokus '99, an SJP counselor and CNN producer, was trying to take photos of a father and son throwing the disc back and forth.
After a while though, the weather began to take a toll on us and most of us were craving ice cream from Bent Spoon, but we had to meet our deadline.
Now back to the band.
Impressively, they mostly used improvisation. The end result is soothing, spunky, melodic music. Most of us are from a generation where jazz and blues are not as popular. But, I think it's safe to say most of us enjoyed the funk genre and writing about music. Besides being musically entertaining, they also had that charisma of being visually entertaining -- the bassist had eccentric facial expressions during the performance. For the first reporting assignment at Princeton, I think it was a success!
An Enlightening Conversation
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| Students Yared Portillo and Alfonso Toro engage in a debate. |
This morning, the counselors rushed down the hallway knocking on our doors and screaming our names for us to wake up. I was already awake. And unbelievably excited, I might add.
As we sat down for breakfast, I looked around excitedly hoping to see Greg Mancini '01, one of the program directors. The night before, Greg noticed that I was debating with Richard Just '01, another director regarding an educational situation. That moment sparked a conversation on the educational system, which was very enlightening. It was the moment I realized I was truly surrounded by great intellectuals.
Greg had agreed to show me and a fellow classmate a book on advisories during breakfast, since we had talked to him about an advisory we were forming at our often disparaged school. As I saw the evidence and perspective Greg brought to our conversation -- I was struck. Is this what Princeton had to offer? If so, Princeton was slowly moving up on my list of favorite schools.
Our suspicions of what a great environment it would be were confirmed as we went on to talk to Richard about our observations in education as we walked to dinner soon, Richard had agreed to put us in touch with a woman who could address our educational questions. Princeton came with hook-ups too!
My growing love for Princeton reached a peak when I learned that today we would learn to make our own documentaries!
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