USG Candidates on BJL Protest and What They Would Change about Princeton
The BJL sit-in and the University's response to it have dominated campus conversation in the last few days. Just in time for the USG Presidential election -- beginning at noon today and ending on Wednesday -- we asked candidates what they think about the recent protests, what they'd change about Princeton life, and more. Here's what they said:What is your response to the recent protests and BJL's demands? As USG president, what would your role be in student activism?Simon Wu '17: Everyone should be able to speak their mind and to be heard. The BJL was doing what they needed to do to be heard, and I think it's disappointing that that we have to go to those lengths to feel heard by our administration. As USG president, I want to make sure all students have a direct outlet to voice their concerns both to USG and to the administration. My role would be to create channels (online, and in person) so we don't feel that we need to go to those extents.Grant Golub '17: I think the protests and the BJL's demands represent a complicated issue and I'm glad the BJL's leaders were able to find a compromise with President Eisgruber and other administration officials. As USG President, my role in student activism would be to bring Tigers together on both sides of the debate (within the student body) and hammer out the differences so we can present a united front to the administration on the pressing issues we face. If we, as the students, are not united, it becomes increasingly more difficult to convince the University to work with us.Aleksandra Czulak '17: BJL raised important perspectives and issues on campus and the protest has left campus with an urge for campus dialogue. BJL and other protests on campus raise a valid point- let's go beyond conversations about student issues and let's work towards solutions; this something we as students and USG members have felt before when we are challenging administrators and we keep having conversations, but we want action.As USG President, one thing we need to work on, is making resources for student activism available. There are currently ways to reach out students to get their opinion on important issues such as school-wide referenda through USG, there are 12 members of USG that are on the Council of the Princeton University Community (this is a public meeting for all), and we invite administrators to open forums during our public meetings on Sunday. Not everyone knows about these options even though they are available to all students and USG should make these opportunities more visible to students.[gallery link="none" ids="17575,17565,17566"]
Is it important for USG to engage all students in discussion when some students take on an activist cause? If so, how do you do it?
SW: It's important for people to have discussions; I think a lot of it happens organically. There's a lot of incredible work being done on campus by many identity groups, so I see USG as a vehicle to support these groups to connect and collaborate, and to provide financial, administrative, and advertising support. I want to work with these groups, and campus departments, to make outlets for informal dialogue - film series, dinner discussions, study breaks centered around these topics.
GG: I believe it is very important. While some student activists may bring an issue to the forefront, such as the recent protests, as it has been seen by the counter-petition started by other students opposing the compromise, many students have concrete opinions on these matters. I think we need to engage all interested parties and students across the undergraduate populace to hear the different opinions out there. As USG President, I would directly take a role in fostering this dialogue by bringing students together to discuss these important issues. I want to emphasize my personal role in making this happen as President.
AC: When I was going door-to-door over the last week, there were quite a few students who mentioned their opinion or lack of opinion on the Nassau sit-in. Even if a few students are taking on the cause, it impacts all students and campus culture. Over the last year we have seen much more activism, and there tends to be a group with a particular vested issue, those against that, and those who are not sure of where they are in the debate. Because there are students who are interested in further dialogue, it is important that we provide that. space. However, anything USG does to foster discussions about activist causes has to be done with the groups involved. As we have seen in the last year and even in the last week, there are different ways the groups are engaging with students including online petitions, opinion pieces, etc. There are students who want more than that and to learn about both sides and possible ideas to make this available to students is work with the leaders of the groups involved and work on a panel and other opportunities for students to hear from other students about their ideas, experiences, and why this issue is important to them.
When do you feel it’s appropriate for students to challenge the administration? When do you feel it’s appropriate for USG to challenge the administration?
SW: When it feels that the administration is disconnected from our actual student experience.
GG: I feel it is appropriate for students to challenge the administration when they believe campus climate needs to be changed or a major student issue needs to be addressed. USG's role in that is to deliver student opinions to the administration and represent the student body, with the USG President as "chief spokesperson." I think the same applies for USG challenging the administration, but I want to emphasize "challenging" the administration needs to be a respectful dialogue that brings about compromise that improves the lives of students here.
AC: Students can challenge the administration in many different ways; many senior members in the administration hold office hours or you can make an appointment with them. USG also hosts administrators at town halls and open forums and we publicize and encourage students to come and raise concerns and ask questions. We all come from different backgrounds and Princeton perspectives and it's important that students know they can challenge campus including campus culture and administrators in more ways than one.
USG challenges administrators when we feel the University and administration doesn't see the student perspective and we challenge administrators publicly at the CPUC meetings, at town halls and open forums with administrators, and during meetings with administrators. USG Senate members have many projects and they meet with administrators. If students have ideas about those projects, I think it would help more if the students with a vested interest work with students on USG to challenge administrators so we are bolstering student support and feedback.
What’s the biggest thing you want to change about Princeton life? What do you do in your personal life to deal with this issue, and what would you do as head of USG?
SW: I want to change how we connect across campus. Princeton's greatest resource is its people, and it's silly not to take advantage of that because of arbitrary barriers. I want to work to diversify the social scene on campus. Personally, this is something that I've wanted more of, and have coped with it by dipping my toes in a lot of different things, from Bhangra to Sex on Broadway to Orgo to Art History. As head of USG, I would work on expanding our co-op and independent options, digitizing the meal exchange system, and creating more ways to connect meaningfully on campus.
GG: The biggest thing I would change about life at Princeton is the stigma and "quiet issue" of mental health on campus. A majority of students struggle in some way with mental health issues on campus, and right now, they are not getting the help they deserve from Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) or the administration. Personally, as someone who is in this camp, I have attempted to go to CPS when I needed their help and was told I would have to come back in three weeks for an appointment, which I thought was ridiculous. To address this issue, as USG President I would work with the administration to highlight this major student issue on campus and collaborate with them on how we can increase the staff and funding for this vital resource. No student should have to go off campus to seek the help they need, and that starts with reforming CPS.
AC: One thing that's important to note is that there is single issue. Many student concerns intersect with different parts of Princeton life such as mental health and academics, time management and student groups, and much more. I want to work on more support for student groups and also provide a space for group leaders to share best practices. Almost all students campus are a part of a student groups and these are great spaces to talk about student issues. For USG, during our retreats at the beginning of each semester, I mention CPS and resources available with the intention of creating safe space for USG members, but also recognizing that it is important that we, as a group, talk about everyone's health and wellbeing. As I was going door-to-door asking students about this, they mentioned that their groups don't talk about mental health even though our student groups impact our Princeton life and possibly our mental health and wellbeing. In addition, to sharing best practices among student group leaders, we can provide more student support for budgeting, institutional memory, how to conduct elections, how to collect feedback from your group, how to sustain student groups, and what resources are available for all student groups.
In one sentence, what do you actually do all day?
SW: Think and listen and create, repeat.
GG: I work hard and play hard.
AC: As USG President, you help students and projects find the resources they need for their initiatives, but you go further to address gaps and questions by challenging administrators and university officials and work on programming through USG about policies and student needs and interests.
Who is your mortal enemy?
SW: Time.
GG: Lord Voldemort.
AC: Sorry, I don't think I have one.
What’s your personal anthem?SW: Get Free by Major Lazer.GG: "Mission Accomplished." -George W. BushAC: Every day is a new opportunity to learn, improve, and grow with the help of others.