About 40 protestors camped in Nassau Hall overnight, while some pitched tents outside the hall in support of the building's occupation
UPDATE: Cornel West lends support to Princeton protest
PRINCETON - As a student sit-in at Princeton University moved into its second day Thursday, demonstrators demanding changes for black students continued to occupy the university president's office and the crowd in the lobby of Nassau Hall swelled to more than 75 people.
Dozens of students stayed overnight in the office of President Christopher L. Eisgruber inside Nassau Hall, or camped outside the building in tents.
When the doors to Nassau Hall were unlocked this morning at about 8:30 a.m., those camped outside moved inside to the lobby, but were prevented from joining protesters in Eisgruber's office. Others soon joined the lobby sit-in.
Students have been supplying food to students staying inside the president's office but are not allowed to join them inside.
The protesters, organized by the Black Justice League, are demanding campus-wide changes in support of black students. About 40 students met with university President Christopher L. Eisgruber in his office Wednesday afternoon and vowed to remain until their demands are met.
Princeton U. sit-in by black student group continues after overnight stay
The demands include removing Woodrow Wilson's name from campus, citing the former president's racist views and ties to the Ku Klux Klan.
They also demanded the school make all of their faculty and staff undergo cultural competency training and set up a marked, communal space for black students on campus.
Eisgruber supported the idea of opening up a space for students but refused to uphold the other two demands, leading students to form the sit-in protest in his office that continued overnight.
Other students camped outside Nassau Hall overnight in protest and moved into the building the next morning.
As the protest strengthened, support for the students did as well.
Former Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West, a noted academic on race, gender and class, called the students and told them he was behind them, they deserved amnesty and that they were blessed to have each other, said Destiny Crockett, a student supporter who said she spoke with West.
West is a Princeton alumnus and has taught at the university during two separate terms, the latest in 2011.
Joanna Anyanwu, a student supporter who said she was speaking on behalf of herself, told the assembled students that Woodrow Wilson's name is a large part of the demands.
"Recognizing Princeton's history and Woodrow Wilson's racist legacy has been a long time coming. And I think that that is a huge part of that demand," Anyanwu said.
Other students chimed in, discussing the racist statements Wilson has made.
"The honest reckoning of Woodrow Wilson's history is not on President Eisgruber's agenda and that is why we're here," Anyanwu said.
Around 75 students occupying the atrium in Nassau Hall. #OccupyNassau pic.twitter.com/VWq4aAon1r
-- joey (@j_anyanwu) November 19, 2015
The Black Justice League thanked their supports in a statement Thursday as well.
"The support of students last night chanting in front of Nassau Hall, marching throughout campus, camping out overnight in front of Nassau Hall and their physical presence in the atrium of Nassau Hall energized us and propels us to remain relentless in our pursuit for equality and justice on this campus," the statement said.
Doors open. The small group of students who were outside moved in after all night camping on the green #occupynassau pic.twitter.com/o7VgwM0lm4
-- Anna Merriman (@Anna_Merriman) November 19, 2015
Martin Mbugua, university spokesman, said the administration warned students they could face disciplinary action if they continued to occupy the hall overnight. Mbugua was not more specific about what actions could be taken.
Students are back in Nassau Hall atrium. A campus officer guards Eisgruber's office. #StudentBlackOut pic.twitter.com/yFQgYwu8kT
-- Univ Press Club (@UnivPressClub) November 19, 2015
The following is the full text of the demands presented to the university:
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.