It is always important to fully understand the present before envisioning the future. I will begin with my thoughts on the current president.
On Sept. 9, 2012, University President Shirley Tilghman greeted 1,357 new freshmen at the opening exercises. Tilghman glibly entitled her talk “Occupying Princeton” and admitted she co-opted the phrase from the Occupy movement. Tilghman informed the freshmen their “admission to Princeton is a privilege” and also proclaimed they had “become part of the 1 percent.” She included the usual empty rhetoric concerning “making the world a better place” and “Princeton in the nation’s service and the service of all nations.”
What she failed to mention is Princeton University had already been occupied by the student group Occupy Princeton. The student group protested when Wall Street firms came to recruiting sessions on campus. Princeton University was described as one of the “biggest feeder schools for Wall Street firms,” but it soon became clear this administration has no interest in taking these concerns seriously. “The Ivy-League-to-Wall-Street pipeline [is] alive and well at Princeton.”
The Princeton Coalition for Endowment Responsibility joined forces with the Princeton Occupy group and demanded more investment oversight and transparency in an Endowment valued at $17.1 billion as of June 2011.
They were successful in prompting the Princeton University Investment Company to stop further investments in the company HEI known to use questionable labor practices. According to the Princeton Alumni Weekly, “The Sustainable Endowments Institute, which issues Sustainability Report Cards for colleges, [gave] Princeton a D in the category of ‘Endowment Transparency’ ... which is based on the extent to which schools release information about their endowment investment holdings and shareholder proxy voting records.” It became clear thatthis administration under Tilghman’s leadership has no serious interest in socially conscious investing or transparency. In fact, Andrew Golden, president of PRINCO, used the phrase “accidental 1 percent” and pictures of Warren Buffet to invite students to bask in PRINCO’s financial success.
Harry R. Lewis coined the phrase that best describes what Princeton University has become under this administration: “excellence without a soul.”
In the Princeton community, alumni who have lived in town for decades say the relationship between the University and the town has never been as strained as it is now. The tone was set by Tilghman in January 2011 when she demanded town leaders pass the requested zoning for the Arts and Transit Neighborhood. Tilghman could not hide her hostility toward the community.
According to The Daily Princetonian, “Many in the community interpreted Tilghman’s comments as a threat to revoke the University’s annual voluntary contribution if the Council would not grant the University’s requested zoning.” Fear and intimidation have become common themes on and off campus with the present administration. Tilghman apparently views the community only as an obstacle to the University’s plans.
And though Tilghman’s appearances are rare, those by University Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee ‘69 and the University lawyer are not. The Princeton University agenda is pushed by those representing the University like any other corporate lobbyist group. That is why it is disheartening that Durkee is involved in the selection of a new leader.
Recently Tilghman said she was in favor of Assembly Bill A2586 which exempts private universities from local land-use laws. She also stated the University would “never jeopardize the well-being of our community.” We can’t trust such promises. Based on past dealings with this institution most residents oppose this bill, and many feel it would be devastating to this town.
The town should have never been subject to this type of treatment for so long, and now we have a chance to change the dialogue with a new president.
Princeton University provides this community with one of the richest tapestries of culture and knowledge in the world. Combined with progressive and innovative ideas from individuals in the community, together we can start anew. Please select a leader that has a social conscience and is willing to partner with this community. I hope this forum is only the beginning and leads to the residents having a voice when the new president is selected.
The future president needs to reach deep and find a second bottom line to measure his or her performance in terms of positive social impact. Service to nations begins in your own backyard.
Joe McGeady is a local resident and a supporter of the Occupy Princeton movement. He can be reached at josephmcgeady@gmail.com.
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