Princeton Ready To Remove Wilson's Name, Images?

After demands from its Black Justice League (and other student demonstrators who staged an overnight sit-in) Princeton University has now agreed to begin a process which would completely remove President Woodrow Wilson's name and image from the campus, including the renaming of its Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and the removal of a large mural depicting Wilson and his accomplishments. 

Wilson was not only the 28th President of the United States but also served as President of Princeton University and Governor of New Jersey. He was also a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

After agreeing to virtually all of the demands, here's how the university explains itself (boldface added for emphasis) in its own news release:

University officials reached agreement with student demonstrators over a series of steps to improve the campus climate, ending a 32-hour sit-in at the president’s office in Nassau Hall.

President Christopher L. Eisgruber, Dean of the College Jill Dolan and Vice President for Campus Life Rochelle Calhoun signed the agreement Thursday evening after meeting with students over several hours. Seventeen students signed the agreement.

“We appreciate the willingness of the students to work with us to find a way forward for them, for us and for our community,” Eisgruber said. “We were able to assure them that their concerns would be raised and considered through appropriate processes.”

After a short demonstration in front of Nassau Hall on Wednesday, students entered the building around noon. Some students camped outside the building overnight while others stayed in the president’s office. Students left the building about 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

The agreement reads:

November 19th, 2015

This meeting was attended by the Black Justice League (BJL) and President Eisgruber, Vice President (VP) Calhoun and Dean Dolan. By signing below, I agree to have verbalized the following during the Thursday afternoon meeting with the BJL:

On the first demand concerning the legacy of Woodrow Wilson on this campus:

• Write to Professor Cadava tonight to initiate the process to consider removal of Wilson’s mural, which will express President Eisgruber’s personal view that the mural should be removed from the Wilcox Dining Hall. Dean Gonzalez will be CC’d on this email exchange. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
• Write an email to Katie Hall, the chair of the Board of Trustees, to initiate conversations concerning the present legacy of Woodrow Wilson on this campus, including Black Justice League’s request to remove Woodrow Wilson’s name. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
• The Board of Trustees will collect information on the campus community’s opinion on Woodrow Wilson School name and then make a decision regarding the name. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
• Commitment to working toward greater ethnic diversity of memorialized artwork on campus. This commitment was verbalized by President Eisgruber. 

On the second demand concerning the creation of Affinity Housing:

• Immediately designate four rooms in the Carl A. Fields Center that will be used by Cultural Affinity Groups. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
• BJL members will be involved in a working group with the staff of the Residential Colleges to begin discussions on the viability of the formation of Affinity Housing for those interested in black culture. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.

On the third demand concerning the implementation of Cultural Competency Training and a Diversity Requirement:

• Work in conjunction with Executive Director John Kolligian to enhance cultural competency training for CPS staff. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
• Email Dean Prentice to arrange an introduction with BJL concerning the possibility of cultural competency training. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
• Arrange a presentation by BJL to the FACP. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
• Dean Gonzalez will work with the BJL to invite two members to attend the meeting on December 8th to discuss with the General Education Task Force the possibility of a diversity requirement. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.

On the final demand concerning amnesty from disciplinary action for those who remained in President Eisgruber’s office overnight on November 18th, 2015.

• No formal disciplinary action has been nor will be initiated if students peacefully leave President Eisgruber’s office tonight. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.

In the future, information in regards to processes concerning disciplinary action, protests and Rights, Rules and Responsibilities will be clearly given from administration to students in writing. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.

On accountability:
Inclusion At Princeton website is updated by the Vice Provost of Diversity and Inclusion. Dean Gonzalez is the point person for checking in on the progress concerning the aforementioned issues. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.

History's Best First Lady?

We recently asked you to pick the best living First Lady and you selected Laura Bush.
The poll was such a success that now we're asking you to choose the best First Lady from history.
It's easy to vote in the poll.
Simply make your selection at the top right corner of this blog.
But remember - you can only vote for one First Lady.
Make you like Eleanor Roosevelt, the woman who many felt was the First Lady of the World.
Or maybe feisty Dolley Madison strikes you as the best.
Then there's Abigail Adams or the very first First Lady, Martha Washington.
Perhaps you're a fan of Mary Todd Lincoln.
And lets not forget Edith Wilson who reportedly ran the country while her husband was ill.
Or maybe you want to pick a more recent First Lady such as Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson or Jacqueline Kennedy.
No mater which First Lady you pick, we want you to vote.
Make your choice now!

People Power

It has now become clearer than ever that the only thing that can save New Jersey is the transfer of power directly to the people. And this can only be accomplished by initiative, referendum and recall.
The residents of New Jersey must gain the power to place public questions directly on the ballot, vote on important topics in direct elections and recall public officials through petition and election. Twenty-eight other states now have this power and it works. When California Governor Gray Davis mismanaged the state, the people recalled him. He was thrown out of office in a special election.
While Governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson stated that the referendum and initiative were "the safeguard of politics." Direct democracy, Wilson said, "takes power from the boss and places it in the hands of the people."
New Jersey has strayed way too far from Wilson's model. It's time to take the state back and restore Wilsonian democracy!