Topics in Brief
A Community Bulletin

Princeton University announced last week that 9/11 Commission chairman and former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean has been appointed to a University-designated seat on the board of the Robertson Foundation, the $840 million endowment institution that goes to expand and support the graduate program of Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Mr. Kean replaces John J.F. Sherrerd, who has sat on the board since 1982. The foundation, established in 1961 with a $35 million donation from A&P fortune heirs Charles and Marie Robertson, is at the center of a civil lawsuit advanced by the Robertsons's son, William, and other relatives, who allege that the University misappropriated portions of the foundation for purposes outside the foundation's mission. The case remains pending in New Jersey Superior Court. (MH)

Former World Bank president James D. Wolfensohn will step down as chairman of the board of trustees of the Institute for Advanced Study in October, after 21 years as board chair and 28 years as a board member. He will be succeeded for one year by Board Vice-Chairman Martin L. Leibowitz, who will serve as interim Chairman before Charles Simonyi, current President of the Corporation, officially begins as Chairman in October 2008. Mr. Wolfensohn will become Chairman Emeritus effective October 2007. The Institute's endowment has more than quadrupled in Mr. Wolfensohn's time as chairman.

John Witherspoon Middle School will host its annual fund-raiser, Slammin' Super Saturday, on May 12, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in support of the school's 6th grade environmental education trip. The event will feature activities for the whole family including professional carnival rides such as the Swamper Stomper obstacle challenge, Tubs Of Fun sit and spin, Jungle Bounce, and Giant Inflatable Slide. Games booths with prizes will include Tip-a-Troll, Krazy Kans, Peg Ring Toss, Frog Bog, Roller Bowler, and Hoop Shoot. There will also be a tie-dying booth and a Mother's Day craft activity and plant sale, as well as a DJ, music, and pizza, hot dogs, hoagies, popcorn, and cotton candy. For more information, contact event co-chair Roxanne List at (609) 924-1381 or Michelle Goldman at (609) 924-5032. Slammin' Super Saturday will be rescheduled for May 19 in the event of inclement weather.

New Jersey Students for Peace, the student affiliate for the Coalition for Peace Action, will present its semi-annual Peace Fest this Saturday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton at 50 Cherry Hill Road. Area bands confirmed to take part include: Jello the Opera, Sarah Donner, Beatnik, Shrimp Skillet and the Jambalayas. In addition to a focus on activism, specifically on arms trade, the war in the Congo, and Amnesty International's Stop Violence Against Women campaign, activities will include t-shirt making, henna, and other art. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, call (609) 924-5022, or visit www.peacecoalition.org.

The Whole Earth Center at 360 Nassau Street will give away five sets of gift certificates as part of its annual Random Acts of Community campaign, with the aim of encouraging more people to ride their bikes in May, which is National Bike Month. The campaign will present a "Thank You for Bicycling" certificate once a week to the first bicyclist who passes by on an arbitrarily chosen day, time, and street corner. The bicyclist will also receive a gift certificate for $25 worth of Whole Earth Center goods, a $25 gift certificate from Witherspoon Bread, and gift certificates from the Bent Spoon and Small World Coffee. "Bicycling brings tremendous benefits to our community and we feel that bicyclists should be recognized for their contribution to our quality of life," said Whole Earth board member Laura Huntsman.

Return to Previous Story | Return to Top | Go to Sports