Princeton Students and Alumni Condemn the Actions of Sen. Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is facing condemnation from Princeton University students and alumni, including former classmates, for his efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election.

A signed statement was released Thursday, Jan. 7th by a group of fellow 1992 graduates to censure Cruz’s position. 400 members of the class of 1992 have since signed the statement.

“We, the undersigned Princeton alumni, class of ‘92, unequivocally condemn the attempt of fellow graduate Ted Cruz ‘92 to undermine democracy and our Constitution by improperly challenging the election,” the statement reads.

The statement was prompted by a post made by alumna Ann Kelly Bolten to the class of 1992 Facebook group. Bolten, now a signatory to the statement, said that she respects Cruz’s professional achievements but believes his actions are antithetical to Princeton’s values.

Cruz argued against certifying the 2020 Electoral College vote when Congress convened on Jan. 6th, shortly before Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. According to Bolten and other signatories, his arguments posed a threat to American democracy.

“I hope Princeton can facilitate constructive dialogue between students and alums — including with Ted Cruz,” said Bolten, “But there is a line that was crossed Wednesday and in the weeks leading up to Wednesday that transcends politics, and I think Princeton should very clearly condemn that.”

“Ted Cruz should resign from the Senate and apologize to the country and the entire Princeton community,” said Rey Rodriguez, another signatory. “I felt I had to speak up and forcefully condemn the senator’s pathetic attempt to undermine our democracy for his own personal political gain.”

Another response, organized by class of 2020 alumnus Josh Faires, petitions Princeton University president Eisgruber to condemn Cruz’s actions and bar the honoring of his legacy on campus. Currently, the petition has been signed by over 1,500 Princeton students, alumni, faculty, administrators, and staff.

“Because Sen. Cruz will remain a powerful name among Princeton alumni, we must not only decide how to condemn such egregious actions, we must as a community decide our future relationship with him,” said Faires. “The insecurity he brought to our democracy will resonate during and perhaps past our lifetimes.”

Faires observes a connection between the petition’s call to prohibit honorary naming and the removal of Woodrow Wilson’s legacy from Princeton’s campus in June 2020. This decision followed five years of student-led protest from the university’s Black Justice League, including an occupation of university president Eisgruber’s office in November of 2015.

Following the November protest, the Princeton University Board of Trustees considered removing Wilson’s name from campus. It decided against removal in April of 2016.

“The board reconsidered these conclusions this month as the tragic killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard Brooks drew renewed attention to the long and damaging history of racism in America,” said Eisgruber in a statement on June 27th, 2020 announcing the removal of Wilson’s name.

Faires acknowledges the protests to remove Wilson’s legacy as the inspiration for his call to bar the honoring of Cruz’s name on campus. He notes that creating his online petition was far easier than what the Black Justice League had to do to organize their protest, but he maintains that it will be effective.

“Every single Princetonian has a connection to Sen. Cruz,” said Faires. “If a protest in New York City may not necessarily tell Sen. Cruz he must immediately begin to fix the damage he wrought, maybe a sign of condemnation from his alma mater might.”