President Christopher L. Eisgruber and two other officials signed the agreement along with 17 students.
#OccupyNassau ends in jubilation as student protesters announce the demands that were met. #StudentBlackOut pic.twitter.com/oZl85qGUyU
-- Univ Press Club (@UnivPressClub) November 20, 2015
PRINCETON -- Princeton University's president and the students camping in his office signed an agreement late Thursday that outlines changes sought by the protesting students and ends the two-day, 32-hour occupation.
President Christopher L. Eisgruber and two top university officials signed the agreement along with 17 students, the university said.
"We appreciate the willingness of the students to work with us to find a way forward for them, for us and for our community," Eisgruber said in a statement. "We were able to assure them that their concerns would be raised and considered through appropriate processes."
MORE: Protesting Princeton U. students recall racism on campus
Moments after the students emerged from signing the agreement, the university received a "non-specific bomb and firearm threat that made reference to a student protest on campus," via email, an alert to the campus read.
The university's public safety department stepped up patrols on campus and advised people to be more vigilant, the alert said.
On Tuesday night, an anonymous Twitter user sent messages threatening to shoot black students at Kean University at the same time as students were holding a rally to raise awareness of racial unrest at college campuses.
A "non-specific bomb and firearm threat that made reference to a student protest on campus" just reported by PSafe pic.twitter.com/032tRHri0r
-- Univ Press Club (@UnivPressClub) November 20, 2015
At Princeton, until about 8 p.m. Thursday, the two sides appeared deadlocked on an agreement that would end the protest.
Students involved say a call by Cornel West to top college officials played a major part in the two sides reaching agreement. West, students say, implored to university officials that protesting students were steadfast in staying in their occupation until an agreement was reached.
West also called the students in the president's office earlier in the day, offering his support.
The students, led by the Black Justice League, had occupied Nassau Hall and Eisgruber's office since Wednesday after making several demands for campus-wide changes in support of black students.
The demands included changing the name of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Policy and International Affairs and recognizing the former president's "racist legacy"; implementing mandatory cultural competency training for faculty and staff; and creating a space for black students on campus.
The agreement reached Thursday reads:
November 19th, 2015
This meeting was attended by the Black Justice League (BJL) and President Eisgruber, Vice President (VP) Calhoun and Dean Dolan. By signing below, I agree to have verbalized the following during the Thursday afternoon meeting with the BJL:
On the first demand concerning the legacy of Woodrow Wilson on this campus:
- Write to Professor Cadava tonight to initiate the process to consider removal of Wilson's mural, which will express President Eisgruber's personal view that the mural should be removed from the Wilcox Dining Hall. Dean Gonzalez will be CC'd on this email exchange. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
- Write an email to Katie Hall, the chair of the Board of Trustees, to initiate conversations concerning the present legacy of Woodrow Wilson on this campus, including Black Justice League's request to remove Woodrow Wilson's name. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
- The Board of Trustees will collect information on the campus community's opinion on Woodrow Wilson School name and then make a decision regarding the name. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
- Commitment to working toward greater ethnic diversity of memorialized artwork on campus. Thiscommitment was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
On the second demand concerning the creation of Affinity Housing:
- Immediately designate four rooms in the Carl A. Fields Center that will be used by Cultural Affinity Groups. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
- BJL members will be involved in a working group with the staff of the Residential Colleges to begin discussions on the viability of the formation of Affinity Housing for those interested in black culture. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.
On the third demand concerning the implementation of Cultural Competency Training and a Diversity Requirement:
- Work in conjunction with Executive Director John Kolligian to enhance cultural competency training for CPS staff. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
- Email Dean Prentice to arrange an introduction with BJL concerning the possibility of cultural competency training. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
- Arrange a presentation by BJL to the FACP. This promise was verbalized by President Eisgruber.
- Dean Gonzalez will work with the BJL to invite two members to attend the meeting on December 8th to discuss with the General Education Task Force the possibility of a diversity requirement. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.
On the final demand concerning amnesty from disciplinary action for those who remained in President Eisgruber's office overnight on November 18th, 2015.
- No formal disciplinary action has been nor will be initiated if students peacefully leave President Eisgruber's office tonight. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
- In the future, information in regards to processes concerning disciplinary action, protests and Rights, Rules and Responsibilities will be clearly given from administration to students in writing. This promise was verbalized by VP Calhoun.
On accountability:
- Inclusion At Princeton website is updated by the Vice Provost of Diversity and Inclusion. Dean Gonzalez is the point person for checking in on the progress concerning the aforementioned issues. This promise was verbalized by Dean Dolan.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
