In Short

ROCHELLE CALHOUN, the former dean of students and vice president for student affairs at Skidmore College, began work as Princeton’s vice president for campus life Sept. 1. Calhoun also held positions in student affairs and alumni affairs at Mount Holyoke.

Observant Jewish students and visiting alumni have more freedom on campus during Shabbat, the Sabbath, with the construction this fall of an ERUV, A SYMBOLIC ENCLOSURE in which they may carry things outdoors on that day. The eruv uses natural features, existing fences, and utility poles; without the enclosure, observant Jews may not carry essential items as small as a key or push a baby stroller outside. The eruv includes central campus, Lakeside apartments, Stanworth apartments, and neighborhoods beyond campus (for a map, go to http://bit.ly/ERUVmap).

EXXONMOBIL has agreed to invest $5 million over the next five years in University research aimed at discovering “next-generation energy solutions.” The agreement is designed to make it easy for the company to work with any Princeton department or lab, the University said.

Princeton also has renewed its partnership with BP on research into managing carbon-dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. BP will provide $10.5 million over five years.