In June of 1996, Princeton University celebrated its 250th anniversary. While Princeton administrators feted visiting alumni, students handed out copies of a brochure entitled Princeton at 250: More Money, Less Freedom, informing alumni that conservative and religious students at Princeton are routinely subjected to "intimidation, discrimination, harassment, and bias" by the Office of Student Life. Students further alleged that members of the Office have violated the regulations they are pledged to support.
What is most surprising about these incidents is that they occurred during academic year 1995-1996, the eve of Princeton's 250th anniversary celebration. Students maintain that a management vacuum was created by the administration's preparations for the 250th anniversary, which allowed for certain administrative abuses to go unnoticed or unchecked. In fact, Princeton's President Harold Shapiro was actively raising $750 million for a capital campaign. And when concerned students confronted him, President Shapiro said, "I can't chair a committee (to investigate these allegations) because of the capital campaign and the 250th anniversary."
Shapiro's failure to investigate these complaints raises new questions about political correctness at Princeton. Most important, what can Princeton students, parents and alumni expect from the Office of Student Life?
The agenda for the Office of Student Life was the center of public attention during the last academic year. Three weeks into the fall semester of 1995, freshman Patrick Horn wrote a letter to the student newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, challenging a student report that labeled one-third of all Princeton undergraduates as "homophobic." This letter sparked a public debate over the difference between Princeton's policy of "tolerance for all" and the activities coordinated by the Office of Student Life. The ensuing controversy has polarized the Princeton community between conservative, religious, and moderate students on the one hand, and the Office of Student Life and hand-picked "peer counselors" on the other.
Jen Handler, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Coordinator (a paid position in Princeton's Office of Student Life) complained that the freshman's letter was a "blatant form of homophobia" and that the words were "hateful." The dean of the Office of Student Life, Janina Montero, also responded., citing a lengthy section of the Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities, the University's Official policy handbook, implying that Pat Horn's letter violated conduct regulations. She then publicly called upon the University to "a reaffirmation of our support" of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community.
Two weeks later, Montero's Office of Student Life provided this affirmation by cosponsoring "Gay Jeans Day." Posters for the even solicited student to wear jeans "if you stand against bigotry and oppression." This language drew criticism from every corner. Dotte Hanks '96 protested, "I think it unfair, not to mention untrue, for me to be labeled as a bigot or a homophobe simply for holding to the principles of my faith." Timothy Pavis '99, a homosexual-rights supporter, also chose not to participate in the event because of the manipulative language, stating: "I refuse to imply that those not wearing jeans are necessarily bigots or oppressors."
Dean Montero's governance of student life also drew criticism from alumni readers of the Daily Princetonian, including a high-ranking alumni official, Tom Pyle '76. In a letter to the editor, Mr. Pyle voiced publicly what many students, faculty, and alumni had only been saying privately: "There seems to be a strong push on campus to stigmatize students with strong traditional convictions about behavior and character . . . . And, more disturbing, such as push seems to be supported by the university as an institution."
As students began to talk openly about such intimidating actions, new revelations and allegations against the Office of Student Life became public. Alex Fulks '97, President of the College Republicans, listed these complaints:
Princeton freshmen were told by Residential Advisors (RAs) that certain "peer-group" sessions were mandatory. One of these sessions included condom-use demonstrations and "descriptions of deviant sexual practices." Another sessions was sponsored by the student Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Alliance (LGBA) and involved frank conversation about the homosexual lifestyle.
Peer counselors for "peer-group" sessions are trained by Student Life administrators. On March 30, a "peer educator" training session on sexual harassment, subtitled "Overcoming Resistance Groups," was sponsored by the office. During this meeting specific Princeton student organizations were labeled "resistance groups," including Campus Crusade for Christ.
Students alleged that they were discriminated against when they applied for positions as RAs because of their religious and political beliefs.
Dean Montero promoted feminist and homosexual causes by providing significant financial assistance to student advocacy groups, paid administrators, and agencies that advance these ideologies. In addition, the Office of Student Life provides counseling, referrals, and payment for student abortions through the resources of SECH (Sexual Education Counseling and Health), McCosh Health Center, and an Office emergency fund.
The Dean of Religious Life, who reports to Dean Montero, cosponsored LGB Awareness Week, which included a "coming out" party and a homosexual dance. Religious Life also cosponsored Pride '96 week, which included the "Rock and Roll Queer Bar," the "Drag Ball" dance, and seven other homosexual events. That same week, Rev. Dan Sack celebrated church services called "Pride Sunday" in the University Chapel.
In sharp contrast, the Office of Student Life provided not significant contributions to conservative or religious student groups during the same period.
Student Life activities are conducted through mid-level administrators, like LGB coordinator Jen Handler. Students contend that this "peer-counselor" network, supported by administrative agencies (i.e. SECH) and coordinated through the Office of Student Life, promotes radical ideologies through their collective efforts.
In addition, students have complained that radical student advocacy groups, like the LGBA, have monopolized the resources of Princeton's Office of Student Life. Dean Montero has refused requests to make public the budgets for student-life activities and events. One student observed, "If Dean Montero revealed how much money she allocates to left-wing student organizations, the administration would be embarrassed by her overt favoritism and bias."
On February 12, 1996, several students petitioned President Harold Shapiro and the Council of the Princeton University Community (CPUC) -- a deliberative committee composed of students, faculty, administrators, and alumni with "the authority to consider and investigate any question of University policy or governance -- to request that President Shapiro address these problems in "some official way."
Tom Pyle, an alumni delegate to the CPUC, introduced a resolution to set up a committee, chaired by President Harold Shapiro, to distinguish tolerance and advocacy, and investigate the recent allegations of discrimination and bias.
Before a vote could be taken on the resolution, President Shapiro announced that the capital campaign precluded him from presiding over such a committee, which effectively killed it.
After the resolution failed, the Shapiro administration made no effort to openly investigate the allegations of discrimination and bias.
Anticipating calls of angry parents and alumni, Montero sought to appease the offended students. Several students who spoke out at the February 12 meeting were contacted individually by administrators from the Office of Student Life. One student remarked, "If the Office of Student Life is responsible, why would I complain to them?"
After the February 12 meeting, it became apparent that the Shapiro administration would not conduct an open investigation. As a result, several students formed an umbrella organization of conservative and religious students, called the Coalition of Princeton Students for Tolerance (CPST), to inform and call to action alumni and other members of the Princeton community.
The leadership of the CPST is composed of members from Princeton College Republicans, Princeton Women for the Right to be Informed, Princeton Pro-Life, the Chesterson Society, and the Princeton Sentinel.
The CPST set out three specific goals: 1) a petition drive to generate public support for an "official response" from the University; 2) publicizing and debating the difference between tolerance versus advocacy; and 3) writing letters to administrators in the Office of Student Life in order to put them on record regarding their policies and procedures.
The CPST was successful in meeting all three objectives, and the debate regarding tolerance versus advocacy appeared in every single student publication at Princeton, including The Daily Princetonian, The Progressive Review, and The Princeton Sentinel.
During this debate, those who defended the policies and actions of the Office of Student Life asserted that feminists and homosexual activists could not be "equal" unless they had more University resources than other students. Kelly Prill '97, a student delegate to the CPUC, attempted to justify preferential treatment for left-wing groups by arguing that "Princeton simply cannot continue to be an intellectual community in which all members can participate fully and equally when some of those members are not supported in those endeavors but merely tolerated." This led Fulks to quip, "Montero is, in effect, practicing affirmative action for the radical left on campus."
In addition to initiating a debate over Montero's policies, the CPST sent letters to four administrators in the Office of Student Life, requesting information regarding their activities. Dean Montero's response to these letters raised new questions regarding the risks of advocacy. On February 27, 1996, the CPST sent letter to administrators in the Office of Student Life, regarding: 1) policies on homosexual meetings for incoming freshman; 2) the hiring process for RAs; 3) the policy of referring, counseling, and paying for abortions; 4) what freshman orientation meetings were mandatory; and 5) the allocation of money to liberal and conservative groups on campus.
Dean Montero responded to all of these letters in an eight pages letter dated March 15, 1996. On several important points, Dean Montero refused to provide answers. For example, when asked how much money was given to each student organization during the past two years, Dean Montero responded, "It is our policy not to disclose how much money is given to each student organization. Such information can be misleading if presented out of context."
A new problem was uncovered regarding Princeton's abortion policies. When asked where Princeton refers students for abortions, Dean Montero responded, "Health Services makes referrals to any available facility/hospital/health care provider in the United States, depending on the needs, wishes, or circumstances of the student."
Mark Crutcher, President of Life Dynamics, Incorporated (LDI), a Texas based litigation support firm, argues that this policy exposes Princeton to civil lawsuits from students who are injured during the abortion procedure.
One alumnus summed up Princeton's dilemma: ". . . we do indeed live in the real world, where office university advocacy could have enormous and expensive consequences to the health and credibility of our institution."