Tag Archives: SJP2014

Princetonians divided on border crisis

By Razia Sultana
Brooklyn, N.Y.

The recent crisis at the Southwestern border of Texas has sparked a dialogue within Princeton. On a recent Saturday, residents offered their perspectives on the controversial topic, adding to an ongoing national conversation.

Since last October, there has been an influx of undocumented immigrants entering the United States. According to the New York Times, nearly 63,000 undocumented minors remain detained in hotel spaces throughout the country. Congress continues to debate possible solutions for this humanitarian crisis. Continue reading →

Facts of Gaza conflict elude many in New York

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A demonstrator displays a flag at a gathering for Universal Peace Day, which commemorates the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, on Aug. 5.

By Angela Kim, Amna Nawaz, Nicholas Santiago and Hasani Valdez
with the staff of the Princeton Summer Journal

New Yorkers are known for their global-mindedness, diversity and strong opinions. But in a survey conducted by the Princeton Summer Journalism Program last week in New York, a majority of respondents did not know some of the basic facts of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza.

A large majority of 410 people interviewed around Union Square on Aug. 5 did not know the name of the leader of Hamas, the political faction which governs Gaza and is regarded as a terrorist group by the United States. Although 58-year-old Khaled Meshaal has run Hamas for the past ten years, 99 percent of those surveyed could not name him. Just three percent of those interviewed were aware that the Hamas leader resides in exile in Qatar.

Of those interviewed, just under 25 percent correctly identified the approximate number of Israeli casualties, which numbered 67 as of Aug. 6, according to BBC world news. (Responses within the range of 47-87 were considered correct answers.) Similarly, just under 25 percent of those polled correctly identified the number of Palestinian casualties within a range of 1300-2300. The number was 1,888 on Aug. 4, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. Continue reading →

Proposed pipeline through Princeton draws scrutiny

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By Rashid Binnur, Catherina Gioino and Nelly Mendoza

In recent years, awareness of the environmental hazards posed by pipeline projects has grown, driven in part by the possible construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which would run from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Now there is debate over a proposed pipeline that would pass through Princeton — a 1.3-mile stretch of the partly constructed 10,200-mile Transco pipeline, which would carry natural gas from Texas to New York.

New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, along with U.S. Representatives Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, called for an extensive review of the project’s environmental impact last month. A week earlier, Princeton’s town council had passed a resolution asking the federal government to reject the current pipeline plan. Between concerns over environmental damage and human safety, the project has some residents wondering: Is this pipeline a good deal for Princeton? Continue reading →

Daring to dream of a brighter future

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By the Staff of The Princeton Summer Journal

Ten days ago, we arrived at Princeton University for the start of the Summer Journalism Program. We came from all over the country with different backgrounds and cultures, but we shared a common interest in journalism.

Today, we leave Princeton as friends and as members of the broader SJP family. We have had a once-in-a-lifetime experience and formed long-lasting friendships cemented through long days of workshops and late nights in the newsroom. Continue reading →

Debenedetti finds work-life balance in accomplished University career

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By Vanessa Zamora
Vista, Calif.

Pablo Debenedetti is a man of many accomplishments: Chemical and biological engineer. Dean at Princeton University. Recipient of countless awards. But what does he think is his greatest contribution? “To the world? My two children.”

While Debenedetti is well known for his contributions to the scientific world, he makes it clear that his family is his first priority. In 2012, Anne-Marie Slaughter, also a professor at Princeton, wrote an article entitled “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All,” which focused on the difficulty of balancing a job and a family. Debenedetti, however, shows that men deal with this problem as well. Continue reading →

Princeton public schools to offer healthy lunch options

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By Asia Matthews
Queens, N.Y.

Black bean cookies, squash fries, and maybe even coconut-raisin rice are all menu options landing in Princeton public school cafeterias in the upcoming academic year. These new healthy-sounding treats, provided by the Nutri-Serve Food Management Inc., are meant to put a new twist on old school lunch favorites.

These changes are being implemented by Stephen Cochrane, 53, who took over as superintendent of the Princeton school district in January 2014. Less than a year into his tenure, Cochrane is already taking big steps to help kids internalize healthy habits. When the district’s last food service contract expired, he seized the opportunity to promote more positive nutritional habits. Continue reading →

‘Most Wanted Man’ offers sophisticated plot

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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.

By Nicholas Santiago
Newark, N.J.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, in his final role, plays Günther Bachmann, a hardened undercover German spy hunting for terrorist threats while attempting to maintain his tight circle of informants. Annabel Richter (Rachel McAdams) joins Hoffman onscreen as a humanitarian lawyer defending Issa Karpov (Grigoriy Dobrygin), a Chechen-Russian fugitive haunted by his past as he enters Hamburg in search of a new future. This is Dobrygin’s English-language debut, and may well prove to be his breakout role.

Tommy Brue (Willem Dafoe), a wealthy banker, and Martha Sullivan (Robin Wright), a case officer at the U.S. embassy, are solid supporting characters whose roles become increasingly intertwined with Günther and Issa as the plot thickens.

And thicken it does. With no signs of relief, the characters’ paths continually intersect, and no individual’s true intent becomes elucidated until the final scene. Continue reading →

‘Most Wanted Man’ a slow-burning drama that pays off

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By Justin Park
Queens, N.Y.

Günther is standing in the dark, maintaining his ice-cold demeanor as Tommy yells at him. In a reserved tone, he says, “We have a job to do Tommy; you are going to help me do it.”

The leader of a German intelligence and counter-terrorism unit, Günther always seems to be calmly in control of every situation. Throughout this intense, suspenseful, slow — but highly engaging — film, he proves to be a master of manipulating multiple contacts to achieve his objectives.

“A Most Wanted Man” is a spy thriller, based on the John le Carré novel. It’s the fifth of le Carré’s books to be adapted for the big screen, following most recently the critically acclaimed “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.” “A Most Wanted Man” may be best known at this point because it’s one of the last films to star the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. And in Günther, Hoffman has created an extremely believable, complicated and grim character. Continue reading →

‘Boyhood’ provides a realistic perspective

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By Sania Syed
Los Angeles, Calif.

Despite lacking the cinematic effects audiences have come to expect in major motion pictures, “Boyhood” manages to keep audiences enthralled. A fictional drama directed and written by Richard Linklater, the movie uses an unusual concept: It was filmed over the course of 12 years — using the same actors as they aged in real time to tell the story of a small child growing into a student entering college. As a result, one word encompasses the entire movie: realistic.

The film follows the life of Mason, Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) from age 6 through 18, beginning with his move to Houston with his single mother Olivia (Patricia Arquette) and older sister Samantha (Lorelei Linklater). In the movie, Mason transitions through many situations, ranging from assimilating to new environments to learning how alcoholism contributes to domestic violence. Mason’s character changes from curious to careless in adolescence, but later matures into an intellectual artist. The movie also depicts his improving relationship with his estranged father (Ethan Hawke) and the evolution of his mother’s social standing. Continue reading →

Groundbreaking ‘Boyhood’ does not disappoint

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By Johnny Flores Jr.
Coachella, Calif.

Filmed over the course of 12 years and utilizing the same cast, director Richard Linklater’s movie “Boyhood” has finally arrived and it does not disappoint.

The movie takes the audience on a captivating journey through the eyes of the main character, Mason (Ellar Coltrane), from his boyhood into adulthood. Alongside Coltrane, Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette star as Mason’s parents with Lorelei Linklater featured as Mason’s sister, Samantha.

As we journey with Mason, we experience key moments in his life, such as moving from house to house and constantly transferring schools. Linklater relies on the audience to experience these moments for themselves rather than overdramatizing his characters. Consequently, some critics claim that the lack of emotion makes the characters dull, but instead this strategy illustrates Linklater’s innovation by allowing the audience to determine their own reaction to the events in Mason’s life. Continue reading →