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Princeton keeps Woodrow Wilson's name

Princeton to keep Woodrow Wilson name on its school of public and international affairs despite the former president's racist past.

Princeton University will keep the name of Woodrow Wilson on its school of public and international affairs and its undergraduate residential college despite the former president's racist past, the university announced Monday on its web site.

The university had been under pressure to remove the name of its former president because of Wilson's racist views and policies, including keeping black students from enrolling at the university when he headed it. Princeton is one of a number of universities around the country facing criticism for names or titles with racist connections.
But a board of trustees committee at the Ivy League university decided to maintain the historical names, while committing to work on diversity and inclusion issues.

The trustee committee, however, said Princeton must be "honest and forthcoming about its history" and open "in recognizing Wilson's failings and shortcomings as well as the visions and achievements that led to the naming of the school and the college in the first place."

"Contextualization is imperative," the committee said. "Princeton must openly and candidly recognize that Wilson, like other historical figures, leaves behind a complex legacy of both positive and negative repercussions, and that the use of his name implies no endorsement of views and actions that conflict with the values and aspirations of our times. We have said that in this report, and the University must say it in the settings that bear his name."

In releasing its decision, the committee noted that many of Wilson's views and actions as president of Princeton and as president of the United States "speak directly to our values and aspirations" for the school" and noted Wilson's considerable contributions to public and international affairs and his support of "the kinds of living and learning arrangements that are represented today in Princeton's residential colleges."

But the committee also noted that some of Wilson's "views and actions clearly contradict the values we hold today about fair treatment for all individuals, and our aspirations for Princeton to be a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community." The committee cited concern over "the position he took as Princeton's president to prevent the enrollment of black students and the policies he instituted as U.S. president that resulted in the re-segregation of the federal civil service."

The committee recommended a new program be established to encourage minority students to pursue doctoral programs. It also called for new initiatives to educate people about Wilson's legacy on campus, more campus art that reflects the university's diversity and a change in Princeton's informal motto from "Princeton in the nation's service and the service of all nations" to "Princeton in the nation's service and the service of humanity."

Since its formation last fall, the 10-member committee received 635 observations and opinions about Wilson and his legacy from students, faculty, staff, alumni and the general public. It also held meetings to gather input.
Wilson had been president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910 before going to lead the nation. The trustees named its school of public and international affairs after him in 1935 and later its residential college.