We took a nice day trip to Princeton yesterday – walking through their campus is a favorite activity of ours. As so many people look to the university level to understand how students are using Facebook and social media in their lives, places like Princeton remind me that the core values and goals have not changed.
The focus for students and faculty is education and to learn to connect with others in more sophisticated ways. While the web offers intriguing new tools for this, a walk through Princeton underscores what hasn’t changed.
Social media is a brilliant way to connect with others on both personal and professional levels. I love thinking about how those tools can be leveraged to advance to goals of education and socialization. I also just think this place is pretty.
Sarah and I with a very cold Princeton lion.
It feels like stepping back in time when you walk through the campus.
It also feels like walking into the future. This is my favorite buildings on campus – the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The design is meant to evoke the Parthenon, and was designed by the architect for the World Trade Center.
The new Frank Gehry designed building is nearing completion.
I was impressed that they actually branded their manhole covers “Princeton University Sewer.” Not surprisingly, I couldn’t find a sweatshirt with this image on it.
There is always construction and improvements going on throughout the campus. This mini-construction vehicle reminded me of the students themselves… at Princeton with the hopes of one day being a big rig.
No trip to Princeton is complete without a visit to the Princeton Record Exchange.
Another fine February day…