By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
Princeton University will consider removing the name of former university and U.S. president Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school as part of an agreement with a black student group to end its protest that began Wednesday.
The deal ended the 32-hour student sit-in at President Christopher L. Eisgruber’s office in Nassau Hall by the Black Justice League, a student group that appeared to get what it wanted from the administration. Students left late Thursday night.
“The Board of Trustees will collect information on the campus community’s opinion on the Woodrow Wilson School name and then make a decision regarding the name,” according to an agreement Mr. Eisgruber, other school administrators and 17 students signed.
Students are upset with the university honoring Mr. Wilson, given his past support for segregation.
The school said it also would consider taking down a mural of Mr. Wilson in a campus dining hall, a painting that Mr. Eisgruber believes should come down, the school said.
Students wanted a dedicated space for black students, and the university agreed to designate four rooms at the Carl Fields Center for “cultural affinity groups” and even explore having “affinity housing” for what the school described as “those interested in black culture,” the agreement said,
Also, no students will be disciplined for sleeping in Mr. Eisgruber’s office, with students leaving Nassau Hall Thursday at 8:45 p.m.
“We appreciate the willingness of the students to work with us to find a way forward for them, for us and for our community,” Mr. Eisgruber said in a statement issued by the university communications department. “We were able to assure them that their concerns would be raised and considered through appropriate processes.”
