Princeton Free Speech News & Commentary

Abigail Anthony
National Review

Excerpt: Princeton University president Christopher Eisgruber sent an email today to all undergraduates recognizing that it has been nearly two weeks since a sit-in began on campus. He notes the particularly fraught situation, stating, “Never have I seen our campus more riven with passionate disagreements, disagreements that encompass the war in Gaza as well as issues about Princeton itself.” Eisgruber confirmed that “my colleagues and I are now in direct conversation with the protestors,” adding, “We can consider their concerns through appropriate processes that respect the interests of multiple parties and viewpoints, but we cannot allow any group to circumvent those processes or exert special leverage.”  Although Eisgruber and administrators are now speaking with the protesters, his email does not offer a particularly positive description of them. . . . The university’s stance is clear: The administration is willing to consider — even implement — demands raised by students who occupy buildings.

President Christopher L. Eisgruber
Council of the Princeton University Community
Trustees of Princeton University
Princeton University

Re:    Responses to the Clio Hall Takeover

Dear Officers and Officials of Princeton:

We undersigned members of the Princeton University community make this petition to you.

A group of Princeton faculty, supported by students and alumni, have developed a statement "condemning the anti-Israel and, in many cases, antisemitic demonstrations and encampments plaguing college campuses...."  Signatures are being collected for the statement from Princeton and across the country. This list of signers is growing rapidly.  Among the signers are Princeton Professors Robert George, Sergiu Klainerman, and John Londregan; faculty from USC and Chicago, and Princetonians for Free Speech co-founders Stuart Taylor, Jr. and Edward Yingling.

To sign, click here.

David Spector
New York Post

Excerpt: One Jewish student is leading the charge against campus antisemitism at Princeton University — and taking heat from anti-Israel students and faculty alike.

Maximillian Meyer, 19, has been shoved by a pro-terrorist student, targeted by an anti-Israel professor, and unable to concentrate on his school work as antisemitic chants and terrorist imagery flood his once idyllic Ivy League campus.

Cole M. Crittenden
Daily Princetonian

Excerpt: I am both a graduate alum of Princeton as well as an administrative staff member who worked in the Office of the Dean of the Graduate School for a decade. Although I am not a faculty member, I served for an extended period as the acting dean of the Graduate School during my time as a staff member there. It is from this unusual perspective that I write to convey my dismay at the actions taken by a group of protestors towards Graduate School staff in Clio Hall on Monday of this week.

Nonviolent and peaceful protests have a place on college campuses; such protests are an important exercise of freedom of speech and expression. However, when expression turns into mob activity that threatens and displaces staff who play no meaningful role in the matters of interest to the protestors, it crosses a line.

Rishi Khanna
Daily Princetonian

Excerpt: In the Opinion piece written by President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 last week, Eisgruber articulated Princeton University’s restrictions on speech and emphasized Princeton’s right to “reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University.”

As a matter of law and administrative policy, President Eisgruber is correct. But restrictions on “disruption” to “ordinary activities” inherently suppresses the underlying intent of creating disruption of many protests that express progressive political views.