While it’s no secret that Princeton’s community has grown notoriously apathetic toward its Undergraduate Student Government (USG) affairs, the spring ballot’s Referendum No. 3 — which calls on the University administration to halt the use of Caterpillar construction machinery on campus expansion projects — has garnered extraordinary attention inside and out of the Orange Bubble. The question has dominated The Daily Princetonian’s news coverage and opinion pages for weeks, and the student body has shown an uncharacteristic level of engagement in an issue of critical global and humanitarian concern.
Recently, this largely healthy engagement has taken a dark turn, as nefarious outside actors have seized on an objection raised by students who oppose the referendum. The objection centers on some seemingly incorrect information shared by the Chief Elections Manager with opposition campaigners. Now, this broader attention has elevated a mostly campus-wide debate to a national one.
The resulting backlash has been far-reaching, and has disproportionately affected the Chief Elections Manager himself. Social media accounts with huge platforms have attacked him by name and used his image, while other groups have run paid social media advertisements singling him out personally. His phone number has been disseminated externally. Rabid conspirators are baselessly claiming deceit and corruption in various publications, and the USG is being caricatured as a conspiratorial organization.
USG may have made an error, but its members are students who, as a result of their volunteer — and in the case of the elections manager, unelected — positions, have become the victims of a national misinformation campaign by media outlets that are actively seeking to cause personal and professional harm. The Editorial Board explicitly condemns attacks made on members of the student community.
The students fanning the flames in the national media must take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Princeton’s affairs are followed globally and when campus media releases misleading information to score political points, there are serious life-altering consequences. Regardless of their position on the matter, any student with a modicum of decency should staunchly condemn the personal attacks being levied against their peers.
This saga needs to be brought to a conclusion; either the USG should certify the results and release a detailed explanation of how this decision was reached, or a revote must occur to remedy the apparent error.
The USG referendum process can be a vehicle to reflect student thoughts and perspectives, but we have to remember that this is ultimately a non-binding referendum. We don’t begrudge either side for wanting a fair result on a referendum that they’ve devoted a lot of time to campaigning on, but achieving their goals at this point must be weighed against the cost.
The USG must also take steps to prevent this from happening again in the future. The USG should define the rules for referenda with far more clarity, rather than relying on student knowledge of a definition in their constitution’s appendix. The USG should also take steps to insulate its members from such intense backlash. One possible solution is to refer election complaints to a committee of students and Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies staff, rather than pinning them on a single student.
If a revote will end this controversy, we’re fully in support. There may be many ways to end this specific situation fairly, and we won’t weigh in on which one is appropriate. But when our campus is hurting and our peers are being attacked, both the supporters of the referendum and its opposition party have to put their ideological goals aside, come together, and find a solution.
146th Editorial Board
Chair
Rooya Rahin ’23
Members
Genrietta Churbanova ’24
Omar Farah ’23
Josiah Gouker ’22
Caitlin Limestahl ’23
Rohit A. Narayanan ’24
Tanvi Nibhanupudi ’23
Isabel Rodrigues ’23
Read More
Demystifying computational neuropsychiatry: A deep dive into mental health research and resources with Professor Yael Niv
Aanya Kasera and Senna AldouboshHow do computational processes help us understand mental health disorders and precisely tailor treatments to each individual? In this episode of Brains, Black Holes, and Beyond, Aanya Kasera sits down with Dr. Yael Niv, a professor and researcher in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute to learn more about computational neuropsychiatry and mental health on campus. Dr. Niv discusses her research in quantifying psychological disorders and her advice for the campus community on improving mental well-being.
How do computational processes help us understand mental health disorders and precisely tailor treatments to each individual? In this episode of Brains, Black Holes, and Beyond, Aanya Kasera sits down with Dr. Yael Niv, a professor and researcher in the Princeton Neuroscience Institute to learn more about computational neuropsychiatry and mental health on campus. Dr. Niv discusses her research in quantifying psychological disorders and her advice for the campus community on improving mental well-being.
Campus pub divides USG presidential candidates in debate
Nico David-Fox and Laila Hartman-SigallThe 2024 USG presidential candidates Enzo Kho ’26, current USG social chair, and Uma Fox ’26, current USG treasurer, participated in a debate hosted by the Whig-Cliosophic Society and The Daily Princetonian.
The 2024 USG presidential candidates Enzo Kho ’26, current USG social chair, and Uma Fox ’26, current USG treasurer, participated in the annual debate hosted by the Whig-Cliosophic Society and The Daily Princetonian.
‘How to Prosecute Genocide?’ panel hosted by Liechtenstein Institute for Self-Determination
Leela HenslerProfessor Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and Anoush Baghdassarian, who currently serves as a clerk on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, discussed the ICC’s role in securing justice for victims of genocide on a global scale at a Liechtenstein Institute for Self-Determination (LISD) panel.
Professor Luis Moreno Ocampo, the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and Anoush Baghdassarian, who currently serves as a clerk on the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals, discussed the ICC’s role in securing justice for victims of genocide on a global scale at a Lichtenstein Institute for Self-Determination (LISD) panel.
