Princeton Summer Journalism Program

The Princeton Summer Journal: This year’s Princeton Summer Journal is now online! Click on the link here to read the paper our students put together this summer.

By Laila Nasher (Detroit, MI) After up-and-coming musician Halle Bailey was chosen as the role of Ariel for Disney’s live action movie “The Little Mermaid,” casting critics took to social media to discuss their personal concerns with Disney’s decision. It started on Twitter, as most “intellectual” conversations do, and exploded with the hashtag #NotMyAriel. People had a serious problem with Bailey, a woman of color, playing Ariel, a white mermaid. I tried to understand why this was such an issue to certain people (white people), and each argument I’ve come across was worse than the last.  Argument #1:The story of the little mermaid was written over 100 years ago, with Ariel as a white woman. We can’t change tradition!Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish poet and author, published the original little mermaid story in 1837, and yes, she was a blonde haired, blue eyed white woman. But here’s a quick Little Mermaid history lesson: In Andersen’s original rendition, the Little Mermaid still fell in love with the prince, but the evil witch stole Ariel’s tongue, and made her feet feel as if they’re constantly being stabbed with each step she took. And at the end of the already horrific story, the Little Mermaid, who wasn’t named, didn’t get the prince and was forced to make the decision of either killing him, or turning into sea foam. She chose the latter. You won’t find any of those details in the Disney version.If you’re a tradition nut, and stress over the tradition of a white Ariel, then you should want to follow its true plotline.  Ariel suffered terrible pain, failed to win over the prince and at the end turned into sea foam. I do find Andersen’s original ending much more interesting, though it won’t make much for a bedtime story. Argument #2:Well, what if Disney made the live action films of Jasmine, Tiana, and Mulan played by white women? This is reverse racism.The ethnicities and cultural backgrounds of all the characters listed above are central to their story line. The story of Aladdin was part of a series titled 1001 Arabian Nights, and Jasmine’s leadership and struggles are correlated to where she’s from as a Middle Eastern women, in the make-believe region of Agrabah. Tiana, from the Princess and The Frog, lived in New Orleans during the Jazz Age, and her life was significantly impacted in this era by being a black woman in the United States. In Mulan, her role as a daughter in imperial China prompted her sense of identity. If any of these princesses were white, and based in European countries, the entire plot would be altered.Whether or not Ariel is white doesn’t matter. Ariel is a fish. There is no cultural identity behind her being European. Nothing would change in the story if Ariel had brown skin, because Ariel is literally a fish. Just imagine if the Little Mermaid movie you love so much had a darker-skinned lead character. Would anything change?Argument #3:It would be scientifically inaccurate for a mermaid to have dark skin. There is limited exposure to sunlight under the ocean and since melatonin levels in skin are produced over generations based on geographic location and exposure to sunlight, it would make absolutely no sense for a mermaid to have dark skin.This is my favorite argument because it’s so unbelievably stupid. How desperate does some dude on Twitter have to be to comeup with that idea?First off, I want to find this guy and have a serious discussion with him. Someone needs to take away his cell phone. Where is the science behind a singing, Jamaican crab playing the drums in the middle of the ocean? Or of an evil octopus who steals souls, and uses black magic to hustle people out of their voices? Mermaids don’t exist. There is no such thing as mermaid science, so this last-resort debate point has no basis in reality, is contradictory, and point-blank stupid.No matter what excuse you want to use to stop a woman of color from taking this role, here’s some advice: Stop trying to find something to be mad at. Watch the movie, or don’t, enjoy Halle Bailey singing, and be glad that no one is turning into sea foam.

By Laila Nasher (Detroit, MI) In a light yellow dress shirt and khakis, New Jersey state assemblyman Andrew Zwicker strode into a basement-level classroom at Princeton University to face a group of student reporters and teachers. When he entered the room, Zwicker did something that many high school students do on a daily basis: He tried to take a selfie (with us). He said he wanted to post the picture on Facebook.Zwicker, who represents New Jersey’s 16th legislative district, seems like a hard-working politician. A scientist by training, his policies are moderate, and he steers clear of media controversy. However, as the press conference unfolded, I couldn’t help wondering: Was Zwicker taking us seriously as journalists? Over the span of multiple questions and occasional applause, I came to think of some of his actions — however well-intentioned — as part of a worrisome trend in the way adults often treat young people.The attempted selfie was ultimately prevented by one of the adults in the room. But it made it seem like there was a gap between how Zwicker perceived the event and how we did. He may have looked at it as a class of high school students, but we looked at it through the lens of journalists.Along the same lines, the press conference began in a different way than many of the journalists in the room expected. In a reverse fashion, Zwicker asked the crowd, by a show of hands, who wanted to pursue journalism in the future. Then he asked for our names, ages, cities, and on a more personal note, why we are interested in journalism. “Here’s how it’ll work: I’ll ask you guys some questions, then you can ask me some,” he said. But weren’t we supposed to be conducting the press conference?Despite my reservations about Zwicker’s press conference, it is clear that he has put impressive work into legislating. In three-plus years, Zwicker has helped sign more than 30 bills into law. The topics have ranged from a loan forgiveness program for STEM graduates to amending birth certificates for trans individuals, and they all appear designed to create a better New Jersey for everyone. Zwicker has also sponsored 185 bills, with many focused on assisting the underprivileged: creating a science fellowship program for low-income high school students, helping restrict isolated confinement in prisons, and combating climate change.Indeed, my criticism here isn’t really about Zwicker himself. I’ve noticed in other settings that professionals, no matter the field, often don’t take students as seriously as we deserve to be taken. It’s a problem that I wish adults were more aware of.After the events of the day, Zwicker came back in to grab his forgotten car keys. I like to think it was because we frazzled him with our tough questions.

Hijabi Badminton: A multimedia project on Muslim women in sports: Created by Nellie Ghosheh (Burbank, IL), Sarah Wang (San Gabriel, CA), Bryan Ventura (New Brunswick, NJ), Angela Nguyen (Pennsauken, NJ), Savannah Joyner (Barnwell, SC), Farinna Izquierdo (Hialeah, FL)

By Emily Barrera Cedeno (Miami Lakes, FL)The Eviction Lab is an organization that brings the numbers that people are looking for: eviction rates and total evictions by states and counties. Though the work is qualitative and specific, it is not the original investigation of America’s high rate of evictions.Before there was an Eviction Lab, there was Matthew Desmond’s book Evicted. “The genesis of [the Eviction Lab] came with Desmond chronicling evictions,” said Joe Fish, a research assistant for the lab. Desmond documented the diverse stories of the victims of eviction and how it affected their lives, and the book was majorly successful. It kickstarted an effort to try to understand the scope of the crisis better, through data.Growing up in San Francisco, Fish had seen friends evicted from their homes. He had seen immigrants who had difficulty speaking English unable to defend themselves against their landlords. It inspired him to try to understand the problem better.Evicting tenants is a form of discrimination, putting disadvantaged people on the streets and unable to create a place for themselves in society. Evictions disproportionately affect poor black communities in the South. It’s a class, race, and socioeconomic issue. Among their research, they also found information about the types of people landlords refuse to rent to in the first place. Being evicted previously is enough grounds for them to not call back prospective clients. Households with children were also more likely to be rejected. But most importantly, applicants with a Section 8 voucher, or financial aid for housing given to low-income households, are denied more often than applicants without one.Scott Overbey and MaryAnn Placheril are two interns for the Eviction Lab. The students’ work for the lab can tedious and unrewarding, but its staff of fourteen people are deeply dedicated to finding these numbers. Fish was quick to clarify that a lot of research isn’t glamorous. The process begins by emailing each court individually to ask for records of filed evictions. Some courts take long periods of time to respond. Others don’t respond at all. They then must digitized the data for the website and their database. It’s a process that takes months, and it’s a process that is never perfect.Eviction Lab has counted 84 million evictions from 2000-2016, but they admit that this is a large underestimation. Even if Eviction Lab had access to every single court record, it would not be the full story on evictions in America. Landlords can do off-record evictions, offering tenants money to move out by the end of the week, making it unclear to the tenant that they don’t have to take the money. “Ultimately, I think,” and Fish paused as the words configured in his mind. He corrected himself, steady and firm in his answer, “Housing should be a right.”Desmond was never in the room during these interviews, but his message and his words echoed in every person’s voice. His work has touched and resonated with each of his employees, and, in turn, has resonated with me. The Eviction Lab does important work, bringing to light a gross manipulation of tenants by landlords.“I’m appreciative and grateful that I could learn from literally the expert on this,” Overbey said. Every employee expressed sentiments of how the job had changed them, of how they wanted to help people, and of how they believed that the lab was helping them with this goal.The people who work at the Eviction Lab are passionate, driven by a need to respond to the injustice in the world around them. The ultimate goal of Eviction Lab and its employees is to push for legislation to make housing more accessible for those who most desperately need it. They hope the numbers they gather can begin a movement, and, for the most part, they have. Desmond’s book and the findings of the Eviction Lab have brought housing affordability onto a national stage, making politicians on Capitol Hill assess how to combat the problem. The housing crisis is not over, nor will it be over for a long while. But the long hours put into the Eviction Lab have brought affordable housing closer for those who need it.

By La’Nisha Richardson (Yazoo City, MS)On Saturday, August 3, 16th District Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker attended a press conference in Princeton, New Jersey. He discussed the importance of  diversity in his staff and diversity in career backgrounds of other elected officials. When he’s not working in government, Zwicker is also a physicist that works at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.As a scientist, his outlook differs from candidates with a government background. Zwicker’s work as a physicist allows him to make decisions based on reason and logic rather than his own personal feelings. He uses a scientific approach to any problem by using evidence and always letting “the data decide.” He believes, above all, in science. He is also a firm believer in diversity and stated that “we need a greater diversity of people of all levels of government.” His role as a scientist in the physics laboratory played an important role in him running for office. Zwicker had no experience as a government official prior to beginning his political campaign in 2015, which he won by a margin of only 78 votes. As a result, Zwicker is a strong advocate for ordinary citizens such as “scientists, artists, and journalists,” running for office. He values diverse career backgrounds in government officials because it provides different perspectives and it permits for ideas to be constantly challenged and improved. Zwicker encourages everyone to be more active in government, whether it be through running for office like he did, or simply voting for elected officials. He wants to connect to the public as much as he can, and is hoping to be reelected again in 2019.

By Daniela Bolanos (Miami, FL) Andrew Zwicker is on the run (or more like jogging in place) to maintain his current position as the New Jersey’s 16th Legislative General Assemblyman in the upcoming November election. Although Zwicker is a man of various trades, he is best known for his main focus on the environmental issues that this country faces. His role as a scientist is interesting, if not unexpected, considering that physicists usually don’t become politicians.Because of his unlikely background, Zwicker’s transition into politics has not been smooth. He has described how, in his early days as an assemblyman, he participated in a public forum with current Presidential Democratic candidate, Cory Booker. In the forum, both men were posed a question regarding the environment. Zwicker hit the audience with the statistics and facts. He remembered receiving some claps. In contrast, Booker applied storytelling methods to his answer and received a standing ovation. People were crying by the end of his speech.  Zwicker relayed that the New Jersey constituency thrives off of persuasive and emotionally-charged stories and speeches, explaining why Booker got a standing ovation while Zwicker did not. He also commented, “Without stories, I have no chance.” Zwicker’s anecdote is reflective of a larger trend in current American politics. Voters want to claim that they want authenticity from politicians and the cold-hard facts, but, in reality, they want a relatable person. The public responds better to someone who will feed them heart-felt anecdotes and encouraging statements, but this shouldn’t be the sole requirement to become a good politician. Rather, a politician should also provide concrete results that match their charisma and promise. When asked about his accomplishments, he listed the bills and laws that he has authored and helped pass that have benefitted the residents of New Jersey. Rather than providing evidence, he stated how his impact is “spreading out in ways that [he] cannot see.” In this comment, Zwicker relies heavily on using his charisma, and, thus, fails to provide a direct answer to this important question. For a scientist, one would think he could quantify the ways in which he has made improvements. By relying only on this style of public speaking, Zwicker loses his scientific touch. Regardless of this, he provides an interesting way to address policy decisions. He applies a “scientific approach to everything” that he does. A scientist at heart, Zwicker relies on evidence and data to support his actions. His method provides a unique example that other politicians should consider following as it would shift the focus of policy making from party affiliations to the people’s best interests. If every politician took the approach of evidence over ideology, then maybe they would begin voting for laws based on their impact rather than by the party who proposed it. A marvel in today’s society: conservatives and liberals agreeing with each other.Zwicker might be a wildcard in regular politics. His different outlook on politics is what makes him unique. No one wants a politician who just reads the facts but they also don’t want someone solely with charisma. Zwicker, oddly, strikes a balance between the two. Maybe Zwicker can be the pioneer of objectivity in the political realm, but only if he sticks to his humble science beginnings.

By Zandrea Evans (San Antonio, TX) The pressure for high school students to surpass their peers on all levels has increased drastically in recent years, causing more youth to be subjected to various mental health issues including anxiety and depression. The National Center for Educational Statistics found that in 2009, high school seniors took an average of 3.6 more credits than in 1990. Parents across the country have been pushing their children to attend schools with the most rigorous courses, and often students are not given the tools to handle it.I attend a school with an intensive curriculum. Schools like mine do help prepare students for the challenges experienced in the first year of a higher education, such as approaching teachers for help and developing critical thinking skills. However, they force many students to develop mental health issues at a young age. These issues have far reaching effects that limit the capacity of students to be academically successful and develop healthy relationships throughout the entirety of their lives.Stress is a known origin of mental health disorders. Long-term stress can be a danger to both mental and physical health. The National Institute of Mental Health states that, “Over time, continued strain on your body from routine stress may contribute to serious health problems… as well as mental disorders like depression or anxiety.” Nearly all Gen Zs have experienced some sort of symptom related to stress. According to a study by the American Psychological Association in 2018, Gen Z (ages 15 to 21) are the “least likely to say their mental health is excellent or very good.” While educational experience is not the only cause of stress-related mental health issues, the pressure to outperform peers is something many high school students would identify as a primary origin of stress. You don’t need scientific studies to prove this. The evidence is walking around America’s high schools.My peers and myself suffer from excessive stress that comes from at least five hours of homework a night (not including studying for tests and quizzes). On top of that, the pressure for students to score well on standardized tests like the SAT, AP, and ACT exams heightens stress levels. Some students find themselves stuck taking an immense amount of these exams with little time to study. For instance, as a junior, I needed to study for the ACT and three SAT subject tests on top of the homework that came with my five AP classes. Because of the pressure high school students are constantly put under by themselves and the people surrounding them, anxious and depressive statements are seen as commonplace. There are even memes about the prevelance of suicide jokes made by young adults.This is an issue that should concern schools across the country, many of which are without a designated mental health counselor. An article by the Washington Post reported that, “In U.S. public schools today, it’s estimated there is one school psychologist for every 1,381 students. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends one psychologist for every 500 to 700 students (which itself makes very busy work days for psychologists).” By not giving students the proper tools to deal with their mental health issues, schools negate their efforts to push students to reach higher levels of achievement. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center stated that, “Mental health problems can affect many areas of students’ lives, reducing their quality of life, academic achievement, physical health… and negatively impacting relationships with friends and family members. These issues can also have long-term consequences for students, affecting their future employment, earning potential, and overall health.”The mental health of students is of vital importance, not just for the well-being of the students, but also for the well-being of the future. As cliché as it is, the young people of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. And if the societal pressures that dominate educational policies are allowed to continue harming the minds of the youth, we ensure the instability of the future.

By Amoni Hinton (Essex, MD)The current year is 2019 and anticipation of the year 2020 means most people will not hold back on the subject of politics. Election season is quickly approaching for hundreds of candidates ranging in positions of power. While the presidential elections will be taking place next year in New Jersey, the general assembly elections will be held Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Campaigning has already begun. Princeton physicist and member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the past 4 years, Andrew Zwicker, visited Princeton University’s Summer Journalism Program on August 3, 2019. Zwicker answered various questions from the future journalists and in the end not everyone was satisfied with his responses. Running for re-election for the second time, Zwicker held a level of confidence in his answers and the way he carried himself during the press conference. Simultaneously being the first Democrat to be elected as a General Assembly member for the 16th district as well as a scientist, father, and teacher automatically sets him apart from the rest of the candidates. Since his election, Andrew Zwicker has passed the controversial Dark Money bill, a bill that allows for student loans to be forgiven for students in STEM, and legislation providing $5 million dollars to journalists in the state. Zwicker also highlighted his advocacy for the legalization of marijuana and the expungement of marijuana cases. The assemblyman’s lack of political experience also worries some, which he acknowledges. Zwicker disagrees, believing everyone has to gain experience in some way and that there is a “scientific approach to everything.” Zwicker’s ability to run for re-election a third time also puts into question the importance of term limits. Although he believes it is important for new perspectives to be represented in government, he continues to run for the same position. Election guidelines give new candidates the opportunity to reach the American people and share their hopes and goals for the US.  During the conference, Zwicker’s comments made the audience question his reliability. “I’m making it up as I go,” said the assemblyman. Even though he made that statement, but also provided adequate answers to all questions asked, it leaves someone to be uncertain and question Andrew Zwicker’s intentions for the greater good.

By Francin Vasquez (Brooklyn, NY)The heat waves might be over in terms of weather, but they have just started for the world of politics. Confusion, fear, anger, disbelief, pride, joy, love, patriotism—emotions are running amongst the Princeton, New Jersey residents, many of whom are divided between a political battlefield.Currently, the Republican party has two candidates for the 2020 nomination—William F. Weld, who is the former governor of Massachusetts and former federal prosecutor, and current President Donald Trump.The Democratic party, on the other hand, has more than twenty possible presidential candidates. Each candidate has a unique background, widely opening the options for the Democrats.Between these candidates, the most popular are former Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Bernie Sanders. As the Democrats fight for support on social media, the public seems to be struggling to digest all their different agendas “It’s interesting on the [Democrat] side, mostly the chaos during the debates,” said Christopher Weng, a sixteen-year-old high school student. Indeed, the past four debates have been a bit tumultuous. The twenty candidates were split into two groups of ten. Each group debated on two different nights. Weng stated that he had not had the time to watch the debates, but he followed the news through social media. When asked what he thought about having so many candidates, he responded, “I like the representation on the field. It’s diverse—like not only white males.”Weng’s remark holds some truth, The candidates come from a range of socioeconomic, racial, and career backgrounds. Their ages vary, and their ideas range from moderate to far left on the political spectrum. Weng said the he saw himself on some of the candidates, like Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, and Cory Booker, “because, you know, New Jersey!”Of course, different people have different perspectives. “I like Bernie but no. He’s just too old, just as Trump,” said Jamie Roselynd. Jamie, who is in her early 40s, discusses wanting someone who is experienced, but believes the older candidates do not have very good reputations. Susan Hughes, in her late 60s, has a different perspective. She said that Americans need “someone who knows what they stand for.” In Susan’s perspective, the greatest threat is to have a tyrant in the White House. The next time Americans decide to choose for an official, they need to think of someone who would put America as a whole first.  “I want anyone but Trump, but I do not think Trump is willing to give up power,” said Susan, “He does not follow the rules.” A common fear among liberals is that President Trump will be reelected. Some Democrats are not paying attention to the news because they want to keep their options open.“I do not follow any [Democratic] candidates,” says Jessica M. When asked what she is looking for in a candidate, she replies “I cannot tell you what I think—but I can that anyone but Trump,” and excused herself. __________ August has finally arrived. After all, they have learned how to cope with the weather. The August of 2019 could pass as another end of summer, a faint memory that no one will ever look at again. Well, not today.  The political views separated in two sides of a coin; one craving for self-assurance while the other breathed for sympathy. The side the coin will show is difficult to predict, of course. It was then, and, definitely, now. Just like in the 2016 campaign, politics is crushing American society once more. The extreme suffocating heat waves are (hopefully) over. The breeze is (mostly) cool, the birds are cheerful, and the sky is as blue as it can really be. The August of 2019 has arrived, meaning that fall will soon follow with winter afterwards. The heat is over for the weather—but it has just started for the world of politics. “I am sure the Republicans will vote for Trump,” was Christophers comment over the It is too much work, and therefore, people look for shortcuts—usually familiar faces. 

By the Staff of the Princeton Summer Journal and written by Jhoana Flores, Jarlem Lopez Morel, and JC Villon.  New Yorkers don’t want their mayor running for president in 2020. In a survey of 154 New Yorkers, nearly three out of four voters said they are not happy Bill de Blasio is participating in the […]

This story was reported by the staff of The Princeton Summer Journal and written by Emily Barrera Cedeno, Jasmyn Bednar, Justin Fajar, and Angela Nguyen. Children’s ibuprofen. Pepto Bismol. Contraceptive sponges. These are just a few of the expired products found in an investigation by reporters of The Princeton Summer Journal on the shelves of […]

  By Laila Nasher Detroit, Mich. Acclaimed author Toni Morrison passed away in a hospital in New York on Aug. 5. Over her career, she took readers on countless journeys—from the exploration of the devastating effects of racism and sexism in “The Bluest Eye” to the narration of the extreme psychological effects of slavery in […]

By Audry Themen Jersey City, N.J. On a recent afternoon, reporters from The Princeton Summer Journal scoured the town for opinions on the current 2020 Democratic presidential candidates. Though the youth interviewed had varied opinions on which candidates appealed to them, many of the students also had a limited understanding of the candidates’ proposals. Sophia, […]

By Jarlem Lopez Morel and JC Villon New York, N.Y. and Brooklyn, N.Y. Two sets of Democratic debates and countless candidate interviews have sought to clarify the candidates’ stances on various issues. Yet some Princeton residents interviewed this month said they are still unsure what the 2020 hopefuls believe and what their policies and plans […]

By Rabeya Sultana Bronx, N.Y. Sam knows who he’s voting for in 2020—anyone but President Trump. “Trump doesn’t have anything in his head,” the 48-year-old Princeton resident said. “He cut taxes from us even though he himself doesn’t pay taxes, and most importantly he is racist.” Sam’s views are similar to those of several Princeton […]

  By Jhoana Flores  Queens, N.Y. The election of President Donald Trump in 2016 raised alarm over whether he is qualified for the position because he was a businessman with no political background. However, other elected officials also have no political experience. New Jersey Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat who represents the state’s 16th legislative […]

By Emily Barrera Cedeno  Miami Lakes, FLA. President Trump may be the first person who comes to mind as a politician with zero political background, but the phenomenon started earlier than his campaign. Until 2014, the thought of getting involved in politics had never crossed Andrew Zwicker’s mind. But one day, the physicist’s boss at […]

By Kesia Oliveros Doral, Fla. OBJECTIVE: To find the results of the election of a representative with a doctorate degree in physics and a career as a physicist to the highly energetic environment of the state legislature as well as to determine the effectiveness of experimentation in this environment. THEORY: If one elects a scientist […]

Priya Vulchi (left) and Winona Guo co-founded CHOOSE, which aims to build racial literacy among students. Photo credit: Brenna Kennedy-Moore By Nellie Ghosheh and Yelena Serrato  Burbank, ILL. and Floydada, Texas While walking laps around their high school’s track during gym class, Winona Guo and Priya Vulchi began a conversation that exposed a deep interest in […]