Author Archives: princetonsjp

Princetonians divided on immigration border crisis

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By Paige Pagan
Bronx, N.Y.

Tens of thousands of undocumented, unaccompanied minors from Central America have recently passed over the United States border. Parents from countries including Guatemala and Honduras have been paying smugglers in a desperate attempt to have their children whisked away to the safety of the United States.

This ever-growing problem is focused in Texas. Containment hotels and refugee camps are being filled by the day, and places to send these incoming children are increasingly running out. Now, some view government officials as babysitters to care for these children. Continue reading →

Hoffman shines in dull spy feature

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Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in ‘A Most Wanted Man’ as a brilliant but troubled spy. This was Hoffman’s final role before his unexpected death in February.

Philip Seymour Hoffman stars in ‘A Most Wanted Man’ as a brilliant but troubled spy. This was Hoffman’s final role before his unexpected death in February.

By Catherina Gioino
Queens, N.Y.

In a society where fears of terrorism are often racially and religiously-charged, there comes a point at which people must rethink their prejudices. Such is the message of “A Most Wanted Man,” a film set in a post-September 11th era when governments are on the lookout for terrorists.

A darkening title card sets the tone for the film, by detailing the German government’s failure to detect Mohammad Atta, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks. Some time later, Issa Karpov (Grigoriy Dobrygin) — a man sought after by counterterrorism officials — mysteriously appears in Hamburg. Karpov, a suspected Chechen terrorist, is the initial subject of investigation by Günther Bachmann (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a troubled and brilliant spy. Continue reading →

‘Boyhood’: A journey from childhood to adulthood

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Courtesy of IFC Productions

Courtesy of IFC Productions

By Jodi Sterling
New York, N.Y.

In his newest feature, writer and director Richard Linklater captures the life of a typical American kid — from dealing with his older sister annoyingly singing Britney Spears to consuming mushrooms on his first day of college. Linklater’s independent film “Boyhood” is a drama that follows a boy through his 12-year journey from childhood to adulthood.

The film tracks Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows up with his struggling mother, Olivia (Patricia Arquette) and his obnoxious sister, Samantha (Lorelei Linklater). Throughout the film, Mason comes face-to-face with many challenges as he tries to figure out the meaning of this thing called life. As Mason grows from year to year, the viewer sees a realistic perspective of a young kid growing up in America, and the ups and downs that go along with it. Continue reading →

Debenedetti discovers dual nature of water molecules

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By Paige Pagan
Bronx, N.Y.

Pablo Debenedetti’s personality is kind of like a pancake: Each side, when you flip it over, has its own distinguished characteristics. One side of him is highly intellectual, a scholar at the top of his field. Another side of him, however, is gentler and more relaxed, befitting a father of two who loves classical, jazz and tango music and enjoys (well, “enjoyed,” as he tells it) playing soccer.

Debenedetti grew up in Argentina and studied chemical engineering at the University of Buenos Aires. He began studying industrial engineering but ultimately decided to pursue chemical engineering instead. Most recently, he has been using a computer model to study the ability of water molecules to spontaneously split. He has received many awards and honors, and in 2008 was named one of “100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era,” by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. But despite his many accomplishments, there is a humility and optimistic air about him. Continue reading →

Vick, Smith vie for role as Jets starting quarterback

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The Indianapolis Colts warm up on Thursday before their preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts warm up on Thursday before their preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

By Amna Nawaz
Brooklyn, N.Y.

For thousands of Jets fans, Thursday’s 13-10 preseason victory was a welcome start to the season, but the game wasn’t mainly about defeating the Colts. Fans were looking to evaluate the play of the team’s two quarterbacks, Michael Vick and Geno Smith. Both Vick and Smith are competing to be the starter, and after last week’s game, it appears that it’s going to be a close competition.

Vick, age 34, was brought to the Jets in part to serve as a mentor to Smith. Their relationship is not just about competition but also collaboration. “It’s great. It’s a great feeling to have a guy like Mike,” Smith said of his work with Vick. “He is a guy I have always looked up to.”

The Jets hope this collaboration helps the 23-year-old Smith’s maturation process. Smith had an up-and-down rookie year, but there were certainly bright spots: According to the Jets’ website, Smith not only had the most passing yards in a single season for a Jets rookie — registering 3,046 yards — but also had the highest completion rate for a rookie, with 55.8 percent. Continue reading →

Press box staff sets positive tone for sports reporters

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The Jets enter MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

The Jets enter MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

By Asia Matthews and Diego Pineda
Queens, N.Y. & Raleigh, N.C.

During the Jets-Colts preseason game on Aug. 8, all one could hear in the press box was the sound of reporters frantically tapping the keys of their laptops. A few fiddled with their recorders or grabbed a bite to eat between plays. It seemed as though everyone was working in complete isolation. But for the staff of the stadium working the press box, it was an entirely different ball game.

A press box is expected to be filled with reserved and elite reporters who strictly maintain professionalism with the stadium staff. But the stadium workers had a different take on what working in the press box is actually like, claiming that working there feels like interacting with family members. Continue reading →

Opinion: Kiss Cam outdated, heterosexist

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The Jets played at the MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

The Jets played at the MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

By Ashley Nava
El Paso, T.X. 

You’re sitting in the stands at a major sporting event, hot dog in one hand, drink in the other. Suddenly, you look up at the jumbotron and see your projected face framed with a heart, and the words underneath read, “Kiss Cam.” Thousands of people anxiously wait for you to kiss the person sitting beside you. The only problem is, they’re your sibling.

This hypothetical situation is the reality that many have faced and will continue to face in the coming years. The assumption that any female and male sitting together are in a relationship, or at the very least are inclined to participate in this mockery of love, is ridiculous. Let’s not forget the awkward instances when they’re just friends. Continue reading →

Colts fall to Jets in preseason opener at MetLife Stadium

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The Indianapolis Colts warm up on Thursday before their preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts warm up on Thursday before their preseason opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

By Najay Greenidge
Philadelphia, Penn.

By the kickoff of the Jets’ first preseason game on Thursday against the Indianapolis Colts, it was no secret that the starting quarterback job was Geno Smith’s to lose. But it was second-string quarterback Michael Vick who ended up stealing the show.

In his only series with the first-string Jets’ offense, Vick led the team on an 80-yard drive downfield, culminating with a touchdown by running back Chris Johnson. The Jets ultimately won 13-10 on the strength of a late fourth quarter field goal by backup kicker Andrew Furney.

For months, there was the looming question of whether coach Rex Ryan would tap Smith or Vick to pilot the Jets, who ended the 2013 season with a respectable 8-8 record. Some argued that after Smith’s uneven performance last year, the team would benefit from the 34-year-old Vick’s veteran touch. Continue reading →

Jets soar over Colts, 13-10

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The Jets enter MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

The Jets enter MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the Colts on Aug. 7.

By Hasani Valdez
Chicago, Ill.

The New York Jets kicked off their 2014 preseason with a 13-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, featuring a touchdown by running back Chris Johnson and a game-winning field goal by Andrew Furney.

The game started out with high optimism for the Colts. Last year quarterback Andrew Luck led the Colts to an 11-5 record before falling to the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional playoffs. Given the Jets’ record of 8-8 last year, the Colts were expected to dispatch with them swiftly. Continue reading →

Henderson hopes to lead Tigers to victory after disappointing season

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Mitch Henderson ’98, who won three Ivy League championships as a player at Princeton, is looking to capture his first Ivy crown as coach.

Mitch Henderson ’98, who won three Ivy League championships as a
player at Princeton, is looking to capture his first Ivy crown as coach.

By Johnny Flores, Jr.
Coachella, Calif.

After finishing 21-9 overall and 8-6 in the Ivy League, Princeton University head basketball coach Mitch Henderson hopes to make his fourth season a winning one.

“The less you’re focused on the littlest of things the better off you are,” he said.

Henderson, clad in basketball shorts and a Princeton University polo shirt, said he’s enjoying his time away from basketball this summer. “August is a pretty good time for us,” he said. “We’re off the road which means we’re not recruiting.” In the off-season, Henderson spends time in the office as well as time with his wife and two children.

While the season doesn’t officially start until November, Henderson is already spending time thinking about the future and setting goals for the upcoming season. “The goal is, we have to be playing together. In sports, life and anything else it’s ‘How do you get people to not think about themselves?’” Continue reading →