Napoleon
04-22-04, 08:18 AM
This story is in todays New York Times
April 22, 2004
Film Legend Bothered by Use of Name in Stunt at Princeton
By JONATHAN CHENG
RINCETON, N.J., April 21 - Paul Newman has attached his name to salad dressing, popcorn and salsa. But he has drawn the line at a Princeton tradition known as Newman's Day, in which students strive to drink 24 beers in 24 hours.
Newman's Day is scheduled for Saturday, and Mr. Newman has joined a chorus of university officials and residents of the Princeton community calling for moderation.
The day got its name from an apocryphal quote attributed to Mr. Newman: "24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not."
Last week Mr. Newman's lawyer, Leo Nevas, sent the university a letter, quoted in The Daily Princetonian, saying that Mr. Newman was "disturbed by the use of his name in conjunction with this alcohol-related event" and that he "would like to bring an end to this tradition."
Several campus religious groups also purchased two full-page ads in The Daily Princetonian this week that said, "Think about it. Pray about it."
"We don't want to give the impression the Episcopal Church here is opposed to drinking or people having a good time, per se," said the Rev. Dr. Stephen L. White, the Episcopal chaplain at the university, who created the ad. "What we are opposed to is the way in which some people who engage in Newman's Day drinking degrade themselves."
On Newman's Day, students have been known to come to class drunk and with beer in coffee mugs.
The timing of this year's Newman's Day makes the issue particularly touchy because it falls during April Hosting weekend, when the university receives hundreds of prospective students.
In the past, the administration has gotten the university's 11 eating clubs, which serve as the social hub of the campus, not to serve beer for the weekend. But Newman's Day is sponsored largely by fraternities, which the administration does not officially recognize.
"The university does all it can - from alcohol awareness programs to providing grants for alternative social events - to discourage students from participating in activities that encourage alcohol abuse," a university spokeswoman, Patricia Allen, said in a statement.
There is also concern that since Newman's Day falls on a Saturday, many students will observe it on Thursday as well, because part of the challenge is to make it through classes. (Most students do not have class on Friday.)
"The fear is that some will do it on both days,'' said J. W. Victor, a junior and president of the Interclub Council, which oversees the eating clubs. "That's dangerous."
Daniel Silverman, the university's chief medical officer, pointed out in an e-mail message "the irony" of Newman's Day, which he said "overlooks the facts that Mr. Newman never encouraged such behavior and in fact has founded a center, the Scott Newman Center, in the memory of his son, who died of an overdose."
Princeton University Health Services is running an anti-alcohol presentation on the student center's display wall, while the Student Health Advisory Board has urged professors to wear anti-Newman's Day T-shirts on Thursday. The shirts read "Celebrate Newman's Day 2004" on the front, and " {hellip} by honoring Scott's memory" on the back.
Students are split on the administration's response to the practice. Many feel that alcohol and drinking games are an inextricable part of campus life.
"They try to do more than just make rules - which is good - but the perception among the student body is that they're trying to mess with the frats and the eating clubs," said Matt Margolin, a junior who is president of Princeton's undergraduate student government.
Others feel that stronger action would be more effective.
Adam Castano, president of the advisory board, said that Newman's Day is unlike other drinking games because it affects classrooms and lecture halls. He also mentioned the campus uproar five years ago when Princeton banned the Nude Olympics, an event in which naked students gathered for festivities on the night of the first snowfall. Now, he says, students have mostly forgotten about them.
"If they banned Newman's Day, it would be a big deal now," Mr. Castano said, "but pretty much forgotten in four years."
April 22, 2004
Film Legend Bothered by Use of Name in Stunt at Princeton
By JONATHAN CHENG
RINCETON, N.J., April 21 - Paul Newman has attached his name to salad dressing, popcorn and salsa. But he has drawn the line at a Princeton tradition known as Newman's Day, in which students strive to drink 24 beers in 24 hours.
Newman's Day is scheduled for Saturday, and Mr. Newman has joined a chorus of university officials and residents of the Princeton community calling for moderation.
The day got its name from an apocryphal quote attributed to Mr. Newman: "24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not."
Last week Mr. Newman's lawyer, Leo Nevas, sent the university a letter, quoted in The Daily Princetonian, saying that Mr. Newman was "disturbed by the use of his name in conjunction with this alcohol-related event" and that he "would like to bring an end to this tradition."
Several campus religious groups also purchased two full-page ads in The Daily Princetonian this week that said, "Think about it. Pray about it."
"We don't want to give the impression the Episcopal Church here is opposed to drinking or people having a good time, per se," said the Rev. Dr. Stephen L. White, the Episcopal chaplain at the university, who created the ad. "What we are opposed to is the way in which some people who engage in Newman's Day drinking degrade themselves."
On Newman's Day, students have been known to come to class drunk and with beer in coffee mugs.
The timing of this year's Newman's Day makes the issue particularly touchy because it falls during April Hosting weekend, when the university receives hundreds of prospective students.
In the past, the administration has gotten the university's 11 eating clubs, which serve as the social hub of the campus, not to serve beer for the weekend. But Newman's Day is sponsored largely by fraternities, which the administration does not officially recognize.
"The university does all it can - from alcohol awareness programs to providing grants for alternative social events - to discourage students from participating in activities that encourage alcohol abuse," a university spokeswoman, Patricia Allen, said in a statement.
There is also concern that since Newman's Day falls on a Saturday, many students will observe it on Thursday as well, because part of the challenge is to make it through classes. (Most students do not have class on Friday.)
"The fear is that some will do it on both days,'' said J. W. Victor, a junior and president of the Interclub Council, which oversees the eating clubs. "That's dangerous."
Daniel Silverman, the university's chief medical officer, pointed out in an e-mail message "the irony" of Newman's Day, which he said "overlooks the facts that Mr. Newman never encouraged such behavior and in fact has founded a center, the Scott Newman Center, in the memory of his son, who died of an overdose."
Princeton University Health Services is running an anti-alcohol presentation on the student center's display wall, while the Student Health Advisory Board has urged professors to wear anti-Newman's Day T-shirts on Thursday. The shirts read "Celebrate Newman's Day 2004" on the front, and " {hellip} by honoring Scott's memory" on the back.
Students are split on the administration's response to the practice. Many feel that alcohol and drinking games are an inextricable part of campus life.
"They try to do more than just make rules - which is good - but the perception among the student body is that they're trying to mess with the frats and the eating clubs," said Matt Margolin, a junior who is president of Princeton's undergraduate student government.
Others feel that stronger action would be more effective.
Adam Castano, president of the advisory board, said that Newman's Day is unlike other drinking games because it affects classrooms and lecture halls. He also mentioned the campus uproar five years ago when Princeton banned the Nude Olympics, an event in which naked students gathered for festivities on the night of the first snowfall. Now, he says, students have mostly forgotten about them.
"If they banned Newman's Day, it would be a big deal now," Mr. Castano said, "but pretty much forgotten in four years."