Princeton University's Class Day ceremony – June 1, 2009
The Class Day ceremony for seniors took place at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 1, on Cannon Green. The program included the awarding of various prizes to classmates, student speeches, honorary class member inductions, a review of the class history, and remarks by President Shirley M. Tilghman. *Note* Katie Couric's keynote address is not featured in this podcast.
Princeton University's Class Day ceremony – June 1, 2009
The Class Day ceremony for seniors took place at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 1, on Cannon Green. The program included the awarding of various prizes to classmates, student speeches, honorary class member inductions, a review of the class history, and remarks by President Shirley M. Tilghman. *Note* Katie Couric's keynote address is not featured in this podcast.
The Future of Conservatism - October 12, 2009
This panel discussion among four conservative thinkers will address the role of conservatism in the current political arena—where it fits in the major parties, what role it may play in the next election, and what will happen to the right and far right. Ross Douthat is an author and blogger. Formerly a senior editor at The Atlantic, he is the author of Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class (Hyperion, 2005) and, with Reihan Salam, Grand New Party (Doubleday, 2008). In 2009 he
The Future of Conservatism - October 12, 2009
This panel discussion among four conservative thinkers will address the role of conservatism in the current political arena—where it fits in the major parties, what role it may play in the next election, and what will happen to the right and far right. Ross Douthat is an author and blogger. Formerly a senior editor at The Atlantic, he is the author of Privilege: Harvard and the Education of the Ruling Class (Hyperion, 2005) and, with Reihan Salam, Grand New Party (Doubleday, 2008). In 2009 he
The Role of Europe in a Multilateral World - November 19, 2009
In his lecture, “The Role of Europe in a Multilateral World,” Romano Prodi will examine the benefits and challenges presented by the European Union’s expansion. Although the enlargement of the union has had significant impact on the democratic transition in eastern Europe and has extended European markets, there is no unanimity on issues of security, energy, and foreign affairs. Prodi maintains that if the EU aims to play a key role on the world’s political stage, it will need to develop
The Role of Europe in a Multilateral World - November 19, 2009
In his lecture, “The Role of Europe in a Multilateral World,” Romano Prodi will examine the benefits and challenges presented by the European Union’s expansion. Although the enlargement of the union has had significant impact on the democratic transition in eastern Europe and has extended European markets, there is no unanimity on issues of security, energy, and foreign affairs. Prodi maintains that if the EU aims to play a key role on the world’s political stage, it will need to develop
The Politics of Homosexuality - February 18, 2010
On the topic of homosexuality, Andrew Sullivan has stated “There are as many politics of homosexuality as there are words for it, and not all of them contain reason. And it is harder perhaps in this passionate area than in any other to separate a wish from an argument, a desire from a denial. This fracturing of discourse is more than a cultural problem; it is a political problem. Without at least some common ground, no effective compromise to the homosexual question will be possible. Matters m
The Politics of Homosexuality - February 18, 2010
On the topic of homosexuality, Andrew Sullivan has stated “There are as many politics of homosexuality as there are words for it, and not all of them contain reason. And it is harder perhaps in this passionate area than in any other to separate a wish from an argument, a desire from a denial. This fracturing of discourse is more than a cultural problem; it is a political problem. Without at least some common ground, no effective compromise to the homosexual question will be possible. Matters m
Alumni Day: Woodrow Wilson Award Recipient
National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Jim Leach, a longtime former U.S. congressman, was given the Woodrow Wilson Award, the highest honor for undergraduate alumni.
Leach, who earned his A.B. in politics with honors from Princeton in 1964, began a four-year term in August as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent grant-making agency of the U.S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.
In his 1
Alumni Day: Woodrow Wilson Award Recipient
National Endowment for the Humanities Chair Jim Leach, a longtime former U.S. congressman, was given the Woodrow Wilson Award, the highest honor for undergraduate alumni.
Leach, who earned his A.B. in politics with honors from Princeton in 1964, began a four-year term in August as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent grant-making agency of the U.S. government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation and public programs in the humanities.
In his 1
'I Am Kinda': Reflections on the Culture of Imperialism Famed linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky delivered a lecture titled "'I Am Kinda': Reflections on the Culture of Imperialism" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 8. Chomsky, a professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a renowned public intellectual who has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The lecture's title refers to a woman named Kinda who int
'I Am Kinda': Reflections on the Culture of Imperialism Famed linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky delivered a lecture titled "'I Am Kinda': Reflections on the Culture of Imperialism" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 8. Chomsky, a professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a renowned public intellectual who has written and lectured widely on linguistics, philosophy, intellectual history, international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. The lecture's title refers to a woman named Kinda who int
Simulations at the Petascale and Beyond for Fusion Energy Sciences - March 10, 2010
Lunch 'n Learn presentation: Major progress in magnetic fusion research has led to ITER – a multi-billion dollar burning plasma experiment supported by seven governments (EU, Japan, US, China, Korea, Russia, and India) representing over half of the world’s population. Currently under construction in Cadarache, France, it is designed to produce 500 million Watts of heat from fusion reactions for over 400 seconds with gain exceeding 10 – thereby demonstrating the scientific and technical fea
Simulations at the Petascale and Beyond for Fusion Energy Sciences PDF - March 10, 2010
Lunch 'n Learn presentation: Major progress in magnetic fusion research has led to ITER – a multi-billion dollar burning plasma experiment supported by seven governments (EU, Japan, US, China, Korea, Russia, and India) representing over half of the world’s population. Currently under construction in Cadarache, France, it is designed to produce 500 million Watts of heat from fusion reactions for over 400 seconds with gain exceeding 10 – thereby demonstrating the scientific and technical fea
The Current State of the Economy
Matthew Taibbi, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and Gillian Tett, the U.S. managing editor of Financial Times, will talk about the causes and possible outcomes of the current financial crisis.
Taibbi, a 1991 graduate of Bard College who finished his studies at Leningrad Polytechnical University, has worked as a freelance reporter in the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan. In 1997 he and writer Mark Ames founded a Moscow-based, English-language newspaper, the Exile, which reported on corruption
The Current State of the Economy
Matthew Taibbi, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, and Gillian Tett, the U.S. managing editor of Financial Times, will talk about the causes and possible outcomes of the current financial crisis.
Taibbi, a 1991 graduate of Bard College who finished his studies at Leningrad Polytechnical University, has worked as a freelance reporter in the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan. In 1997 he and writer Mark Ames founded a Moscow-based, English-language newspaper, the Exile, which reported on corruption
Princeton University's 2010 Class Day ceremony
The Class Day ceremony is planned and presented by the members of the senior class. Although it varies from year to year, the event traditionally gives seniors an opportunity to acknowledge publicly achievements and contributions of members of the class and University community.
The program includes the awarding of various prizes to classmates, student speeches, honorary class member inductions, a review of the class history, and remarks by President Shirley M. Tilghman. Class Day ends with the
Princeton University's 2010 Class Day ceremony
The Class Day ceremony is planned and presented by the members of the senior class. Although it varies from year to year, the event traditionally gives seniors an opportunity to acknowledge publicly achievements and contributions of members of the class and University community.
The program includes the awarding of various prizes to classmates, student speeches, honorary class member inductions, a review of the class history, and remarks by President Shirley M. Tilghman. Class Day ends with the
Peter Ward, University of Washington: Part 1 - "The Undesigned Universe - Designs on Life" - January
Beginning with various definitions of life and a brief history of how life arose and evolved on Earth, the first lecture will consider the diversity of possible life, basic precepts of Darwin's theory of evolution and the theory’s battles with creationism, and finally how life is a series of biological compromises superimposed on historical contingencies and structural constraints. A Stafford Little Lecture
Peter Ward, University of Washington: Part 3 - "The Undesigned Universe - The Construction of the Co
"The Construction of the Cosmos" begins with a brief history of the cosmos and a discussion of the threats to the existence of any galaxy. The notion of "bio-friendliness" and the optimization of life will be juxtaposed with the concept of a "galactic habitable zone," which suggests a finite age for life in the cosmos and thus a refutation of intelligent design. A Stafford Little Lecture
