Blue skies

Will it rain at Reunions? Will a thunderstorm wash out Commencement?

According to Weather.com, isolated thunderstorms on Friday will give way to warm, sunny weather for the rest of Reunions and for the Class of 2009's big day June 2. But some seniors question that forecast.

"It's always sunny for Lawnparties and rains during Reunions," said Jackie Temkin '09, quoting a popular belief among students.

Rain during Lawnparties this year debunked the first part of that axiom. And even when sprinkles do come to Reunions, Princeton undergraduates and alumni seem to be able to get the most out of the weekend.

Since the P-rade started in the 1890s, it has only been canceled once for inclement weather -- a nor'easter in 1953. A review of PAW stories from the last 30 years found that it has been sunny at all but seven P-rades. Even at those seven, in most cases the heaviest rains held off until the seniors finished their march.

There are exceptions, of course: In 2005, Public Safety warned parading alumni to take shelter, with a thunderstorm fast approaching. But the senior class shrugged off the warning, making a rain-soaked dash across Poe and Pardee fields to complete the procession. By Julia Osellame ’09

(Photo by T. Kevin Birch)

Names in the news

Teacher Christina Heath ’06 shares lessons from her multilingual upbringing with preschoolers in Istanbul. [Hurriyet Daily News (Turkey)]

Republican Ken Buck ’81 is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Colorado in 2010. [Washington Times]

Jordan Roth ’97 is poised to take a larger leadership role with Broadway giant Jujamcyn Theaters, with Jujamcyn president Rocco Landesman tabbed to lead the National Endowment for the Arts. [New York Times]