I wanted my first column as USG president to discuss civic engagement, but right now other matters have become central. Last week the USG reported that the quality of the undergraduate experience, from faculty support to satisfaction with the social scene, depends heavily on a student's race. As much as I would like this to not be the case, race still matters. How we move forward in changing this truth is critical.
At a USG Executive Committee meeting following the release of the survey's findings, a consensus was reached that we could not move forward unless students were talking about the report. A "media storm" was needed. So at the suggestion of several USG officers, I sent the student body a semi-controversial email to spark debate. Now that the survey and campus integration issues are at the fore, there are several questions that need to be answered.
For those who were offended by my email, I apologize. The aim was to get you to passionately discuss your opinions, not to accost you. Let us now focus on solutions rather than controversies, working together rather than highlighting differences.
This problem will not go away overnight. Long after my term ends, Princeton will still have to find local solutions for national problems that reflect America's racial history. So the administration, whose vision of Princeton spans more than students' four years, must lead the charge in responding to the USG's survey.
Immediately addressing the most troubling statistics should be the first step. Almost half of students surveyed believe Princeton has not helped us appreciate our campus's diversity of culture, intellect and talent, which suggests the University is falling short in one part of its mission. The administration should consider discussing the merits of a cultural studies requirement again.
In addition, 68 percent of the student body does not know where it should go to lodge a harassment complaint. I hope the University takes this as an indication that we need a central, neutral space where students can address their complaints of harassment complaints, not just racial, but sexual, gender and homophobic as well.
Most alarming to the administration should be the data that shows some students of color are less likely to find faculty who take interest in their independent work. The University can begin by increasing faculty diversity, placing an emphasis on teaching in the tenure process, and crediting African-American studies as a department, as all our peer institutions do.
Sustained Dialogue and Dialogue@Princeton need University support and a home at the Fields Center so their presence does not disappear as it has this past year.
Lastly, the University should make the most quintessential part of the Princeton experience — eating clubs — affordable by allowing dining financial aid grants to be transferable to clubs. While club aid seems adequate, the University doesn't ensure that grants will be transferable to cover a student's club bill. The money is currently supposed to come from parents.
Especially now, with campus sensitivity heightened around these issues, the administration should pursue these reforms with renewed dedication, and a task force with the University's resources at its disposal. Any effective change will require the administration's longterm commitment.
But in the short term, students also need to be involved in reclaiming Princeton for every undergrad, regardless of his or her race.
Let's make eating clubs more inclusive by instituting an off-pass rotation that leaves one bicker club open to all, each weekend. Realistically, this wouldn't require too much of the clubs; they would only be off-pass for two weekends a semester. Hosting campus-wide study breaks on the Street would also help break down separation.
We should give the Fields Center a more prominent role on campus, and not just for minority groups. If the College Democrats and Republicans, or diSiac and Bodyhype hosted study breaks or parties in the Fields Center, it would truly become a site for multicultural exchange, not just minority exchange.
I sincerely hope the entire Princeton community takes up this endeavor as its charge. We can easily chip away at this problem if we all work together. The new question is: will we unite and confront these divisive issues head-on? Trust that the Undergraduate Student Government will. Leslie-Bernard Joseph '06 is the President of the USG. He can be reached at ljoseph@princeton.edu.
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