By April C. Armstrong *14
In this week’s installment of our recurring series, undergraduates are distributing questionnaires for a computerized dating service, students give literal stump speeches, and more.
November 3, 1942—Republican Congressman D. Lane Powers decries criticism from some of Princeton’s faculty, calling the professors “paid patriots.” “I know,” he says, that there are many fine upright citizens on the Princeton Faculty and I feel it unfair to them that a few parlor pinks in their midst should try to tar the whole Faculty with the brush of Communism.”
November 4, 1965—Steven Grossman ’67 heads a group of undergraduates distributing questionnaires for Operation Match, a computerized dating service. For $3 and answers to its 105 questions, Operation Match will send a list of five names and addresses of women “to satisfy your geographical, intellectual, class and sexual needs.”
November 6, 1997—Public Safety posts flyers alerting students of danger following an armed robbery at Sovereign Bank, during which suspects took hostages. Flyers read, “All students are urged to express extreme caution, to avoid going outside unless it is necessary, and report any suspicious person(s) immediately by calling 911.” Dean of Student Life Janina Montero attempts to email students, but does not have access to the undergraduate mailing list, so Undergraduate Student Government president Jeff Siegel ’98 forwards the message shortly after 11:00 p.m.
November 8, 1871—An election returns watch party is organized on Cannon Green, with a large bonfire lit at 7:30 in the evening. Students take turns mounting a stump to give speeches on their views of the vote, and the Princeton Band plays between speakers. Democrat Joel Parker (Class of 1839) defeats Republican Cornelius Walsh for New Jersey governor.
Did you read the previous installment in this series?
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