'Sing-Sing-ing' a different tune

Wellington Richardson Whitaker '89 sat on his bed late Tuesday afternoon after a long day on the job. His arms were sore, his back ached and his wrists and ankles were chafed. He leaned back on his bed, rubbed his eyes and pulled the sheet and blanket over his weary body — just as the warden turned off the lights and bid the prisoners pleasant dreams.

Whitaker — a former Goldman, Sachs & Co. investment banker who was sacked last March after authorities found evidence of insider trading — is one of a handful of Princeton alumni who these days find themselves working on the chain gang rather than on Wall Street.

But while some University alumni might be embarrassed by being in jail, Whitaker takes prison in stride, saying there are several parallels between the penitentiary and Princeton.

"I don't really mind prison that much," Whitaker said, a cigarette dangling near his full goatee and unshaven cheeks. "I mean I was on the lacrosse team, and Princeton taught me a lot about teamwork. And after a long day of making license plates and picking up garbage, there's nothing better than working together late at night."

Whitaker has spent the past six months in prison after being sentenced to 35 years last July. "I like prison actually," he added. "The food is pretty much the same as in PUDS — you know, grade D but edible meat. But I think Stu Orefice and company used vegetable oil. Here, they just use pig grizzle and fat."

Whitaker added that the prison infirmary and McCosh health center are also similar.

"There are so many things that remind me of McCosh," he said. "I went to the infirmary the other day because my stomach hurt, and they told me I was pregnant."

Though Whitaker claims he is innocent and has asked for a retrial several times, he said he believes he has adjusted to his new lifestyle.

"My RA has been wonderful," he said, referring to a fourth-year inmate who is in placed in charged of helping new prisoners acclimate to jail. "I had some trouble with my roommate at the beginning, but my RA sat us both down and told him that if he kept threatening me, we would have to go see the warden."

Whitaker also said he enjoys tutoring other inmates who are pursuing their GEDs. "I really like helping my friends learn how to read and write and do arithmetic. I teach them basic things like that, and they teach me how to smuggle gum, porno mags and big posters of 'Baywatch' stars into prison. I used to love Pamela Lee, but now I'm more of a David Hasselhoff guy."

Whitaker added that connections from the University have helped him get the best cell on his block.

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"Not too many people know this, but I was Lyle Menendez's RA. He pulled some strings, and I got this wonderful one bedroom-bathroom-living room cell even though it's just my first year here," Whitaker explained. "Princeton can take you places, even when you're in jail."