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E-PrinceAt a get-together in New York City a couple of years ago, a small group of Princeton alumni came to a number of conclusions about the University’s political climate. Liberal organizations didn’t have a big enough presence at ...(back to the article)
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This article seems to suggests that Princeton Progressives was founded in order to combat the influence of conservative alumni groups– like Concerned Alumni of Princeton. According to Wikipedia, CAP became defunct in 1986: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerned_Alumni_o.... So, exactly what sinister conservative threat is this group going to counterbalance?
Lolz.
So let me get this straight: The Princeton student body skews heavily Democratic. The faculty donate to liberal over conservative politicians by an overwhelming margin. The University's president and its best-known professor are called out by name as progressives. And "the University's political climate" is too far... *right* ?! I sure would like to know what these people mean by "center".
I'm not sure whether to be outraged at, or embarrassed by, this article's fawning tone and unquestioning acceptance of the progressive groups' perspective. Compare this article with any the Prince has run about conservative groups or activities at Princeton, which are characterized by vaguely hostile rhetoric, opposition viewpoints galore, and Robby George conspiracy theories. This issue's article on the Witherspoon Institute study might make a good starting point.
While the student body and faculty are by default a sort of center-left, it's a very non-committal position. The right-leaning groups (think Anscombe etc.) tend to be more vocal than their counterparts. There isn't any large, influential progressive association that makes real activists of its members. That's where this group could have a role.
Note: I haven't had any interaction with the group so can't speak to their actual goals.