'Shirleypalooza'

Weekend celebrates President Tilghman's passion for the arts .

The first Princeton Arts Weekend, April 25-28, showcased the talents of hundreds of students with nearly 70 events. The last day of the festival coincided with Communiversity, an annual event that brings together thousands of members of the town of Princeton and the University community. Also on Sunday, a student tribute to President Shirley M. Tilghman honored her commitment to the arts.

'The Department of East Asian Studies' .

Princeton's Department of East Asian Studies immerses students in the languages, cultures and history of China, Japan and Korea. Students who major or complete a certificate in East Asian studies develop a skill set that prepares them for a variety of careers.

'Insights With Robert Wuthnow' .

Sociologist Robert Wuthnow and his team of researchers interviewed more than 700 people in small towns around the country for a project that offers new insights into where small towns fit in 21st-century America. While their populations are small, these communities continue to play a big role in American life, he says.

'Playboy Architecture' .

A group of Princeton University Ph.D. students have been involved in a research project led by Professor of Architecture Beatriz Colomina that looks at the influence of architecture on Playboy Magazine from 1953 to 1979, and the magazine's impact on architecture and design culture in the United States through its vision of a desirable contemporary lifestyle.

Freshman Seminar 187: Earth's Environments and Ancient Civilizations .

In the freshman seminar, "Earth's Environments and Ancient Civilizations," students study how to use global positioning systems (GPS), archaeological and geological data, geophysical technology, and computer programs to seek and examine the buried remnants of lost civilizations. The course included a trip to Cyprus, where students collected data for final presentations about how ancient civilizations altered the landscape and changed the environment — and vice versa.

Architecture and independent work .

A central feature of Princeton University's undergraduate education is the independent research requirement for juniors and seniors. In the School of Architecture, juniors take a design studio course each semester to meet the requirement.

'Many Minds, Many Stripes' .

Princeton University is holding a campus conference this week for graduate alumni this week, with more than 1,000 guests expected to attend and reconnect with fellow alumni and the University. On the second day of the "Many Minds, Many Stripes" conference, which runs Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 17-19, organizers premiered a video showcasing the Graduate School's history and the evolution of graduate education, student life and alumni relations, as well as the impact that Princeton has had on alumni's lives.