In a letter written by the president of the university, Christopher Eisgruber, and published on the university’s official website (and on Twitter), it can be read that the “board of directors concluded that Wilson’s political and racist opinions make him an inappropriate name to a school or college whose academics, students and alumni must stand firmly against racism, in all its forms “.
Eisgruber also recalled the November 2015 episode, when a group of students occupied his office demanding the removal of Wilson’s name, which led to an investigative process by the Wilson Legacy Review Committee and which in 2016 recommended ” a series of reforms to make the University more inclusive and honest “about its history, but the committee and the administration decided to keep the President’s name.
“The council reconsidered these conclusions this month, when the tragic murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and Rayshard Brooks drew renewed attention to the long and damaging history of racism in the United States.”, wrote, adding to maintain respect for the process and report prepared by the committee.
That respect included the description of Woodrow Wilson’s historical record and the “presumption that names adopted by board members after long and careful deliberation will remain in effect, especially when original reasons for adopting the name remain valid”, but that in this if that presumption “should yield” due to Wilson’s racist policies.
“Wilson’s racism was significant and consequential, even by the standards of that time. He segregated the federal public service after having been racially integrated for decades, thus leading the United States in the opposite direction in pursuit of justice. He not only agreed, but added to the persistent practice of racism in this country, which continues to cause harm today “underlines the document.
For this very reason, Wilson’s policies make him a name “especially inappropriate for a school of public policy”, since when a university gives a facility the name of a political leader “it suggests that the honoree be a model” for those there studies and that “the devastating moment in American history makes it clear that Wilson’s racism disqualifies him from that role”.
“These conclusions may seem harsh to some. Wilson remade Princeton, converting it from a dormant college to a major research university. Many of the virtues that distinguish Princeton were, in significant part, the result of Wilson’s leadership. He later went to the presidency and received a Nobel Prize. Part of our responsibility as a University is to preserve Wilson’s historical legacy in all its considerable complexity, “he continued.
Eisgruber also invoked some historical figures, such as General Robert E. Lee or Vice President John C. Calhoun, to draw a parallel with the cult of figures involved in racism and mention that Princeton honored Wilson “not because of that, but without take into account, or perhaps even ignore, your racism “.
“Princeton is part of a United States that has often disregarded, ignored or excused racism, allowing systems that discriminate against black people to persist. When Derek Chauvin knelt for nine minutes on George Floyd’s neck while onlookers recorded him, perhaps he assumed that the system disregarded, ignored or excused his conduct, as he had done in previous complaints “, he pointed out.
Woodrow Wilson served two terms in the presidency of the United States, from 1913 to 1921, and led the country during World War I.
George Floyd’s death, protests and removal of statues
George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American, died on May 25 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, after a white policeman kneeled him in the neck for about eight minutes, despite Floyd saying he couldn’t breathe.
Since the images were posted on social media, protests against police violence and racism have taken place in dozens of US cities and around the world, demanding the removal of statues of controversial figures.
The four policemen involved were fired, and Agent Derek Chauvin, who put his knee on Floyd’s neck, was charged with second-degree murder, risking a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
The rest will respond for assistance and complicity in second-degree murder and involuntary homicide.
– .
