In this week’s installment of our recurring series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, two members of the Class of 1998 write about how avoiding pork can ease religious division, the student health plan is covering only some gynecological services, and more.

November 5, 1834—The original twelve members of the Class of 1838 assemble for their first recitations in Greek in the basement of Nassau Hall. By the end of the academic year, there will be 24 members of the class.

November 7, 1997—Roben Farzad ’98 and Adeel Qalbani ’98 team up in a tongue-in-cheek editorial calling for pork-free meals at Charter Club, “because pork, or rather our mutual disregard for the nefarious meat, is the link that binds us. … Jews and Muslims stand on the brink of something that promises a new dawn of understanding and coexistence, shattering old dogmas and yaying the many nay-sayers. It’s powerful. It’s pungent. It’s parasite-laden. It’s pork. And we’re living testaments to its unprecedented potential to solve an age-old conflict.”

November 8, 1877—Henry Ward Beecher’s visit to Princeton stirs controversy.

November 10, 1970—Gynecological services are now available free of charge to Princeton students, but the student health plan still does not cover any prescriptions gynecologists might write.

For the previous installment in this series, click here.

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