Trustees' rebuke
of Forbes
Letters - March 8, 2000
I applaud the courage of Trustee Steve Forbes '70 in his public stand in refusing to contribute more money to Princeton so long as Peter Singer is a professor there.
This is not a violation of academic freedom. Forbes has every right and a moral duty to use his market power to encourage or discourage the spread of Singer's pro-death ideology. His principled dissent from the "party line" meets the duty of a trustee to sound the alarm when Princeton is straying from the values essential to a free society. His wise voice of warning is of more value to Princeton than his entire fortune would be.
There comes a time when a private university must stand for basic values. In Western civilization, an essential principle is that life is sacred; blood cannot be shed except for grievous cause such as murder or war. There must be limits to the ideas that Princeton will put forward through its professors. Could Princeton have had a pro-Nazi anti-Semite on the faculty in the 1930s? Or one who advocated Communist revolution? Or one who would have betrayed the secrets of various research programs in the 1960s or 1970s? Singer's support of murder of helpless human beings not only violates the commandment against murder but also places all human life at risk of someone stronger or better armed.
We ought to remember the translation of Princeton's seal: Under God's power she flourishes. This remains as true today as when the motto was first adopted. If we forget Him, He will no longer protect us. Steve Forbes is trying to move Princeton in the right direction. We alumni should support his effort not only with our own market power but with our votes in future alumni trustee elections.
Thomas D. Logie '72
Front Royal, Va.
The ultimate policy question has now been decided by Princeton's trustees: Academic freedom is the university's supreme value.
This judgment should not come as a surprise at this time when the trendsetters in the universities, the media, and the entertainment industry have been so successful in stigmatizing and marginalizing God (previously thought to be sovereign in human lives) to the point that serious reference to the deity is awkward if not unwelcome in many public forums.
This transformation from a godly to an ungodly America has been accomplished through the use of three irresistible, rhetorical bludgeons: academic freedom, freedom of speech, and freedom of the press. A suggestion that someone is defying one of these hallowed principles intimidates almost every figure in public life and usually ends the discussion.
The advocates of these three absolutes of freedom are so certain that only they occupy the moral high ground and so aggressive in blocking any initiative in behalf of a challenge to their hegemony that Americans no longer remember that it is possible for worthy, essential principles to be in conflict.
Princetonians should rejoice that Steve Forbes has the raw courage to speak out against the utilization of academic freedom to shield a professor who openly defies the sanctity of human life and other elements of pious living.
John A. Howard '43
Rockford, Ill.
I don't follow the logic of those who think Forbes is overstepping his bounds. They argue that Princeton should have unlimited intellectual freedom and diversity. Intellectual freedom and diversity, however, only to the extent that a liberal, Marxist, or humanist stance is taken. Forbes is simply offering his thoughts and exercising his freedom of speech through funding.
I think it is odd that the Forbes matter has struck such a chord with the university. Is it the funding that is at the heart of the matter? In defense of Singer, the trustees' response should have been "Keep your damned money, Mr. Forbes!" An appropriate response unless some of us have sold our souls for 30 pieces of silver. However, it was not the response. Alas, it was the familiar attack on a conservative's failure to conform to relativism.
I know it is an old saw but I think it bears repeating: It seems the bleeding heart liberal trustees and faculty only want freedom of speech when it agrees with their agenda. Those who think otherwise, like Forbes, should be stifled. Would Singer be so vehemently defended by the university if he espoused the infanticide of only Jews, and the euthanasia of only Catholics? Would they defend that as freedom of thought and speech? If he then passed the "highest standards of scholarship and pedagogy" would he still be allowed to profess at Princeton? If so I'll mail back my diploma.
I think it is the position of the trustees to protect the intellectual integrity of the university. Kudos to you, Mr. Forbes, you are certainly not alone in your beliefs.
Joel Zayachek '93
Holland Patent, N.Y.
I find myself in full agreement with Mr. Forbes.
As one who majored in philosophy, one of the most important lessons I learned related to human fallibility. To give people the right to take the life of an infant because in their judgment it has some significant defect implies a degree of infallibility which humans do not have.
The trustees must indeed protect "the essential principles of academic freedom" but a line must be drawn short of the advocacy of infanticide, no matter what the circumstances. This is pushing the principles to an extreme which cannot be supported.
Suffering at all age levels has always been part of human life. It can also be coupled with great joy and fulfillment, even in the most unexpected circumstances. To assume that we as humans can rationalize a decision to deny life in the manner suggested does a great disservice to human potentials and possibilities.
William J. Johnston '50
Rumson, N.J.
Hooray for Steve Forbes! Finally, someone on the Board of Trustees has the guts to stand up to the radical liberalism of the Shapiro administration and faculty instead of being a "yes-man" like the other trustees seem to be. I fully support his call to rescind the appointment of Peter Singer and his promise not to donate any more money until that happens.
It also shows that the best way to get the attention of the trustees is to withhold financial support. That is exactly why I have not made a contribution to the university in a number of years, although I doubt it will go broke on my withholding. Every time I get a call from the university's solicitors or class officers (something I did myself years ago), I tell them why I will not contribute, and 99 percent of the time they agree with me, but admit that the reason they continue to give and solicit is that they want to be big men on campus. I will continue to withhold any contribution until I get proof that the university has changed its ways.
This is exactly why we need to know the attitudes and thoughts of potential trustees before they are nominated for election.
Allan L. Griffith '60
Glendale, Calif.
I hate to come across as a pedant, but this ought to be a community with some minimal academic standard, right?
There have been oodles of letters about the Princeton Team of the Century in paw, mostly moaning that So-and-so of the Team of 'xx should have been there. But if we're looking for our best football players of the century, what about the last team of this century that doesn't play until next semester? Or is Princeton pandering to the "Tractor Pull" crowd in having its Whatever of the Century a year early not to be outdone by People magazine or The National Enquirer?
Surely Princeton's classics department, even one that eventually allowed me to pass Latin 108, should have pointed out there really is no year zero in our calendar.
There is a scarier alternative to consider: Perhaps Princeton's standards have declined to the point where a significant fraction of its students don't even know when the century changes.
Whichever the reason, we should at least give next autumn's football players a chance to be represented in the Princeton Football Team of the Century.
Adam N. Rosenberg '78
Justin, Tex.
I enjoyed reading about Princeton's All-Century Team and feel honored to have seen players such as Cosmo Iacavazzi and Keith Elias in action (cover story, December 15). Your selections of "Pros" included only Carl Barisich '73, Karl Chandler '74, and Jason Garrett '89 but not Keith Elias '94, who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts. Perhaps it would be an informative follow-up to list all of the Princeton Tiger footballers who have been drafted and played in the pros.
I was finally able to get to the new stadium last fall to see the Tigers beat Columbia, 44-15. Judging from the results of the other contests, that was their best effort all year.
Robert Givey '58
Bethlehem, Pa.
The tragedy of Korean Air Lines flight 007 touches even those who did not know anyone aboard (feature, December 15). In mid-September 1983, while visiting China, an absurd comedy of events brought me to the Liaoning Provincial University, Shenyang, where I stayed at the foreign students' dormitory. Here, despite the lack of advance notice, a room had been prepared. But not for me. A Canadian student, from Montreal, was to arrive at Shenyang earlier that month, but perished together with 268 others aboard KAL 007. Kudos to Dan White '65 for his portrait of another young victim, John Oldham '79. May John and the other KAL 007 victims rest in peace.
Leroy Demery, Jr. '75
Seattle, Wash.
In her self-righteous and ever so politically correct letter of complaint (February 9) about her class's reunion theme for its 10th (Jungle Jive) and 15th (Tails of the Arabian Nights), Erika Wolf '85 manages only to betray her own (apparently unconscious) racism. Although she provides almost no details of the manifestations of these ethnic themes-citing only African drums and a dance troupe in the P-rade-she asks us, without further evidence, to join her in the assumption that any reference to Africa or the Arab countries is ipso facto derogatory and therefore offensive.
She then tells us how she expressed to "several African-American classmates" her "outrage at the racist, primitivist spectacle," at her 10th reunion, but fails to tell us their reactions, which would have been germane. Finally, she makes an astonishing leap to the conclusion that "Aryan Nations" might be next on her class officers' planning agenda.
One wonders how Ms. Wolf feels about the extensive use that reunion committees have made over the years of berets, chaps, grass skirts, kilts, kimonos, lederhosen, leis, sarongs, and serapes. Or the rap, jazz, mariachi, and bagpipe marching bands engaged by many classes. What is her idea of an "acceptable" Princeton reunion image? Gray flannel suit with button-down shirt for costume? Music by Hanson?
And when she's finished congratulating herself on her sensitivity, she might want to deconstruct her smug attribution of superior enlightenment to "us" as opposed to the "bunch of curmudgeons who attended Princeton in the 1930s." Ageism, classism, racism, and sexism, all in one shot-equal-opportunity bigotry.
Thomas Grant, III '64
New York, N.Y.
"Super-spokes" was our brother, Robert Schulze '56 (Letters, January 26). Bob acquired some considerable notoriety when he rode his bicycle from Princeton to Vassar and back, 260 miles, in 22 hours during spring break in 1955, earning him the sobriquet "Super-spokes." Pedaling out of the driveway of Terrace Club on the evening of March 8, 1956, his senior year, he was struck by a motorist on Washington Road. He died two days later.
Our father emigrated from Germany to the U.S. in 1928, hoping to escape agricultural joblessness. Our mother was the oldest of 13 children of Polish immigrants. Eulogizing our mother at her memorial service at Prospect three years ago, it was easy to identify her greatest accomplishment: Having all three children attend Princeton. It was equally easy to identify her most devastating moment: the death of Robert.
As the locus of the Princeton campus shifts eastward, we have often wondered whether an arrangement could be made to place Washington Road in a "cut and cover" tunnel. This would both improve campus aesthetics and minimize the danger to pedestrians crossing Washington Road.
Richard H. Schulze '54
Dallas, Tex.
Carl W. Schulze '68
Princeton, N.J.
Ed. Note: We heard from a number of people about Super-spokes Schulze, including Jonathan Murphy '57, Jim Monahan '56, Gail Boothe w'54, Richard Baker '56, and Bill Lane '56.
In your January 26 issue, Adie Suehsdorf writes to tell you about Ian Hunter '38's Oscar for the screenplay of Roman Holiday. Mr. Hunter was actually the "front" for Dalton Trumbo, Hunter's blacklisted friend who recently was acknowledged as the film's screenwriter.
Ironically, Hunter, a very accomplished screenwriter on his own, was later blacklisted himself. (He collaborated with Ring Lardner, Jr. '36 on the screenplay for M*A*S*H.) His writing credits were eventually restored to him by the Writers Guild.
Hunter, Trumbo, and Lardner were all subpoenaed by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Trumbo and Lardner were indicted and jailed for refusing to answer the infamous "Are you now or have you ever been a Communist?" question posed them by the committee.
Samuel W. Gelfman '53
Los Angeles, Calif.
I fully share the view expressed by Robert Alonzo Winters '35 concerning the chapel tower (Letters, December 15). Splendid as it is, the edifice has always struck me as incomplete without a tower. I assumed that it was merely a question of time and funding. I am sorry to learn that proposals to crown the structure with a suitable tower such as the one shown in the architectural drawing accompanying Mr. Winters's letter have been turned down. Perhaps the matter can be revisited and a positive plan devised to bring the idea to fruition. I would urge alumni who hold a similar view to lobby for such a plan.
Jean-Pierre Cauvin '57 *68
Austin, Tex.
The New Jersey section of a recent Sunday New York Times had an article about paw. The Times discussed various recent changes and future possibilities. One thing that struck me was the implication that the frequency of the magazine was an impediment to quality, due to the cost.
I can't speak for the entire alumni community, but if cost is a problem I would prefer that the content be reduced and the frequency maintained. When paw arrives I read Class Notes (my own, the ones near mine, and others where I knew people), then Letters and Memorials. Then on to the university sports news, On the Campus, and the brief notes about the university. The recent profile of the composer John Harbison was of particular interest crossing generations because of his father whom so many of us remember well. This was a Princeton connection.
Coming at the same point from another angle, I find it annoying that in recent years the names of famous members of each class are announced as the classes march onto the field at the end of the P-rade. This is Princeton, and every member of every class is equally important to his friends, whatever he or she has done since graduation. And they come back to see friends, not to "network" with the famous.
I have no objection to the format of the current paw, with the emphasis that seems to be turning toward lengthy articles on a professor's research or a renowned alumnus, but if costs need to be cut I would prefer that paw be shrunk rather than frequency be reduced. Our classes depend on Class Notes for information, including deaths and illnesses, and other more pleasant topics. If Princeton wants a prestigious university magazine, let her start one on a subscription basis. Paw belongs to the alumni, and is perhaps the only contact with the college for many who for reasons of their own aren't actively in communication with their classes.
Jon Murphy '57
Englishtown, N.J.
Re: our new football coach. As a noted philosopher said: If you can't lick 'em, join 'em. Go, Tiger.
R. Searle McGrath '46
Midland, Tex.
Kenneth Deffeyes *59 wrote that he had never met an undergraduate named Marilyn and that he had looked through the Freshman Heralds for a number of classes and had not found any students with this name. His theory is that there may be an unconscious bias in admissions to the name, due to the fame of Marilyn Monroe.
Marilyn Resh '77 was my good friend and roommate. She majored in biochemical sciences and played violin in the orchestra. She is now a professor of cell biology at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Institute.
I am not aware of any other students or alumni named Marilyn, but at least one person with this name graduated from Princeton and is certainly a credit to her class.
Gloria Lavein Post '77
Langhorne, Pa.
Cameron University (where new head football coach Roger Hughes served briefly) is located in Lawton, Oklahoma, not Cameron, Oklahoma, as stated in the February 9 paw. (My mother, Dr. Marilyn Beaney, served on the faculty there for 12 years.)
Todd Beaney '80
Rye Brook, N.Y.
Edwin Bragdon '43 wrote correcting a paw misprint in his letter that appeared in the February 9 issue. The correct sentence is: "Generals Marshall and MacArthur decided on a massive invasion of the homeland, commencing on November 1, 1945." We regret the error.
GO TO the Table of Contents of the current issue
GO TO
PAW's home page