Letters to the Editor

Students need passion and the will to act against poverty

On Feb. 11, Peter Bell GS '64 gave an insightful and important lecture to the Princeton community entitled "Affirming Dignity and Ending Poverty: The Search for a Better World." Calling on his experience from his days at Princeton to his days as the president of CARE (one of the world's largest private international relief and development organizations, which has received two Nobel Peace Prize nominations), he spoke of the ongoing fight to end poverty throughout the world. He spoke of the factors contributing to such a state of poverty, of the necessary steps to end such a state and of the things that we can do on a daily basis to help. He spoke of his belief that absolute poverty can be eliminated within the next century and of the reasons why he feels so. And he spoke of the reasons why, as an experienced man who has spent a good part of his life working towards such a lofty goal, he is not the least bit jaded and is every bit as idealistic about it as when he started as a student decades ago.

But who was present to hear him? A large crowd of concerned and conscientious members of the Princeton community packed into McCosh 50 to hear him speak. Among them, I could count perhaps 20 students. Maybe 30. Definitely no more than 40 — less than one percent of our undergraduate student body. Bell stated in his talk that 81 percent of Americans believe that poverty is an important international issue that needs to be addressed and so ranks far higher than for any other issue..

But where is that support and interest on our campus? I shouldn't jump to conclusions and assume that nobody besides that small handful of students cares. Certainly, there are some that simply could not attend or felt that they knew enough about the subject so that a fairly broad, general lecture would not be that useful to their further understanding of the issue. But I'm afraid that there aren't too many that fall under those categories, either. I know that there are also others who do care intently about the issue and are capable of feeling great amounts of compassion towards those in poverty throughout the world. But as Bell said in the closing of his lecture, thinking and caring aren't enough — one has to believe that the problem can be solved. And believing isn't enough either — one has to act to help realize the goal. I hope that this campus can take that to heart. Anders Chen '01

Princeton continues to benefit the community financially

A Feb. 13 letter to the editor accepted without question the claim of a Nassau Street business owner that the University has failed "to live up to its financial obligation to the town."

If the writer had inquired, she would have found that since June 2000, the University has made over $1.16 million dollars in contributions to the following community projects: — $400,000 to the Princeton Public Library — $300,000 to the restoration of Monument Drive Park in front of Borough Hall — $155,000 for the purchase of a new Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad vehicle — $155,000 to the Borough of Princeton (unrestricted donation, made annually and increases annually) — $50,000 to the affordable housing programs of the Borough and Township — $40,000 to the Medical Center at Princeton — $33,000 to the emergency service organizations (an annual donation that is in addition to any special one-time equipment contributions) — $30,000 to Princeton Community Housing

During this same time frame, the University made a greater than $1 million dollar commitment to renovate the Garden Theatre — a facility that, according to hundreds of letters and phone calls from town residents and elected officials, is crucial to the viability of downtown Princeton.

Over the past several years, additional special gifts have included: nearly $1 million to the Medical Center at Princeton (capital campaigns and general operating funds); $100,000 to the Arts Council of Princeton; $100,000 to open space preservation; $110,000 to the fire and first aid squads (annual donations and one-time gifts for equipment); $50,000 to the Princeton YWCA (capital campaign); $30,000 to the "Curtain Calls" New Year's Eve celebration and $1.2 million in cash and land for affordable housing.

All these gifts are above and beyond all the taxes that the University pays the municipalities each year — approximately $5 million in property and sewer taxes — a surprise to many people who assume that the University pays no taxes. In fact, the University is the LARGEST taxpayer in both communities. A large portion of these tax payments is VOLUNTARY, i.e., taxes are paid on properties that might qualify for tax-exemption under state law. Those properties generating voluntary tax payments are faculty, staff and graduate student housing that have the potential of housing school children.

And each year, the University spends millions of dollars on facility and infrastructure improvements that clearly benefit the community, such as McCarter Theatre, the train station and local roads.

Many have noted the invaluable — albeit hard to quantify — gifts the University makes daily to the cultural and educational life in the community. Specific examples include: Internet access for Princeton's public schools, library, municipal offices and senior center, made available at no cost through the University's server; free access to the world-renowned Princeton Art Museum; free access to special public lectures/programs; the ability to audit University classes for a minimal fee; free tuition for Princeton High School students who enroll in University classes; use of University fields and facilities by community groups.

The fact is that the University makes very substantial financial contributions to ensure a thriving community, while trying to cost the town as little as possible. For example, the University pays directly for its own refuse removal, leaf collection, snow removal, road repairs and other services, typically provided by municipalities, and employs its own public safety and infirmary staffs to reduce its reliance on these kinds of services from the community. Pam Hersh Director, Community and State Affairs, Princeton University