In a speech sponsored by Undergraduates for a Stable America and attended by 500 people, University of Chicago professor Milton Friedman charged that the fuel shortage was due to President Nixon’s 1971 freeze on prices.
The faculty rejected the proposed calendar of the Bressler Commission which would place fall term examinations before Christmas by a vote of 107-75. It would be 47 years (2020) before Princeton's exams would be held prior to the winter holidays.
In early December, university officials debated shutting the campus for part of January and delaying exams. The reason: the energy crisis had caused higher fuel costs. Without consulting students, they decided to house those who needed to be on campus in early January at Princeton Inn College. Inn residents were told to pack their personal belongings for storage so other students could move into their rooms. More than 200 Inn residents protested what they called "the back-door procedure."
On December 10, the Executive Committee of the University Council announced the shutdown would happen, and students were told to stay home until January 21. The athletic schedule would continue though, and that caused trouble for athletes who had to juggle games and exams.
On the same day, the Priorities Committee recommended an increase of at least $200 in tuition along with hikes in room and board rates for the next academic year.
The Wawa chain announced plans to open a branch store on the site of the former Dormitory and Food Services warehouse at University Place with the University leasing the space to Wawa.
The University Store blamed an increase in shoplifting for diminished 1973 rebate checks.
The women’s basketball team beat Rider, 44-30 in its Jadwin Cage debut. Leading the Tiger scoring was Janet Youngholm ’75 who racked up 16 points and distinguished herself both on the free throw line and in aggressive court action.
The men’s basketball team beat the Villanova Wildcats, 77-70.
The men’s swimming team beat Cornell, 68-45, in its first meet of the season and the women’s swimming team beat East Stroudsburg State College, 83-39.
Speakers on Campus (partial list):
Panel discussion on “The Energy Crisis” with:
George Bennsky, Director, Office of Fuels and Energy, Department of State
Charles J. Dibona, Deputy Director, White House Energy Policy Office
Henry C. Moses, Vice-President (Ret), Mobil Oil Company
Melvin B. Gottlieb, Moderator, Director of Plasma Physics Lab
“What Does a Career in Investment Banking Offer a Bright English or History Major” with:
Gough W. Thompson, Jr. ‘52
Walker W. Stevenson, Jr. ‘35
Michael S. Matthews ‘62
Robert G. Kales, Jr. ‘58
“Watergate and the Legal Profession” with Whitney North Seymour, Jr. ’45, former U.S Attorney for the Southern District of New York
“An Old China Hand Returns” with W. Michael Blumenthal, Chairman, National Committee on U.S. – China Relations
“Comets: Stray Snowballs in Space – or the Stuff of Life” with Thomas Gold, Director of Cornell University Center for Radiophysics and Space Research
“The Energy Environment Crisis” with Stewart Udall, former Secretary of the Interior
Arts and Entertainment:
Benny Carter and his 18-piece all-star jazz orchestra at Alexander Hall
Friends of Music Concert including 75ers Jim Conant on trumpet and Marie Csete on horn. Works by Leonard Bernstein, Alan Hovhaness, Paul Hindemith, and Dmitri Shostakovich
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel” by the PJ & B Players, McCarter Theater
Princeton University Orchestra. Works by Mozart, Schubert, and Stravinski
Movies playing included:
“Billy Jack” at the Playhouse (the review in the Daily Princetonian called the film “Billy Jerk”)
"Bang the Drum Slowly" at the Playhouse
"Jeremy" at the Garden
"The Inheritor" at the Garden
"The Way We Were" at the Prince (7th Giant Week!)
Parties included:
