TheIntellectualMagazine - Issue 7

A walk
through
Princeton University
As a graduate student in the US, I have had my
fair share of addiction to campus-life. The
long and perilous journey of doctoral studies
tends to make university campus a comfort zone for
you, a place that both, gives and absorbs all your stress.
The serenity of a college campus, its intellectual legacy,
the diversity of its student and faculty bodies, and
the always-happening activities on its premises, all
contribute to this bubble of heaven. During my stay in
the US as a graduate student, I have visited and seen
a handful of campuses; I have seldom seen any that
is more picturesque than the Princeton University
campus. It was last year during my brief stay in upstate
Pennsylvania for a research internship that my wife
and I decided to visit the Princeton campus, just for
the sake of it. The thought that people like John Nash
and Albert Einstein had walked those corridors was
enough of a motivation. The campus is located in
Princeton, NJ, about an hour's drive from where we
lived. The goal was to mainly visit the art museum
on campus. Once there though, the campus was
mesmerizing enough to let the museum be forgotten.
The rest of the day was spent walking through the
campus, taking photos, and admiring its beauty.
Princeton boasts one of the oldest campuses
in the nation; it claims to be more than 265 years old.
The idyllic campus covers some 500 acres of land,
consisting of clear ponds and fountains, buzzing
restaurants, cobblestone streets, a magnanimous
chapel, some breathtaking architecture, and historic
sculptures - including one by Pablo Picasso and one of
Albert Einstein. The architecture consists of modern,
post-modern, Gothic, as well as Romanesque designs.
Lately however, Gothic architecture has come to
dominate the others. Recent addition of modern
architecture has invited some criticism from alumni
and architects who believe in maintaining the old
architectural aura of the campus. This particular arch
in the photo is located close to the famous Alexander
Hall, the only concert hall on the campus. The arch
graces a busy part of the campus and is markedly
beautiful. Geometric art speaks of craftsmanship that
focuses on symmetry and balance. Nearby is the art
museum that is worth visiting. It boasts a collection
of Greek and Roman artifacts, along with a collection
from the early renaissance period. Chinese and Latin
art also graces the museum among others. Overall,
the Princeton University campus is a must-visit if one
is visiting the American north-east. Academic talks
and student activities happen all around the year. The
campus food is amazing, and the architecture itself is
beautiful enough to keep you engaged.
Syed Zeeshan Rizvi is a researcher and
engineer. He completed his undergraduate
degree from his native Pakistan, and
recently graduated with his Ph.D. in
Electrical Engineering from The University
of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA. His
area of research is in Control Systems,
System Identification, and Modeling. He
has worked as a researcher and lecturer
in the past, and is currently working as a
research engineer and scientist at Corning
Incorporated in upstate New York. Besides
research, he loves reading books on varied
topics, hiking the Finger Lakes region and
photo-blogging from time to time.
Some of his photos can be found at:
www.instagram.com/zeeshan.r.s/
18 www.the-intellectual-magazine.com
The Intellectual Magazine (Issue 7).indd 18
6/15/2017 10:34:39 PM