Students, alumni, and administrators gathered at Prospect House on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Undergraduate Student Government (USG). Over 60 total attendees participated, including around a dozen former student government leaders.
The event began with a short opening address by USG president Enzo Kho ’26, who reflected on the group’s history.
“Tonight is not just a celebration of an organization,” Kho said. “It’s a celebration of the countless people who have shaped Princeton through service.”
“I think of all the students who will stand here in 2075, celebrating the 100th year anniversary of USG,” he continued. “I hope they look back on this moment and see a USG that showed courage over comfort, partnership over politics, and service above self.”
Tom Pyle ’76, the first USG president, delivered the keynote address. “I have a distinct honor, I suppose, to be your George Washington of the USG,” he said. He then read from a 13-page paper he had prepared for the event, noting he wrote it in the style of a junior paper “to show you younger people that we still got it.”
The paper, titled “Energized, Enervated, Elevated: A Student Politico’s USG Journey (As He Experienced It 50 Years Ago),” draws from Pyle’s diary and recounts his tumultuous time leading the newly formed USG.
Pyle originally ran for Undergraduate Assembly (UGA) president, the governing body that existed before USG. When UGA was deemed inadequate at addressing student concerns, the University transitioned to the USG model. Pyle shifted strategy, and his slate of candidates were all elected in the first USG election.
However, Pyle soon encountered challenges. Citing archived issues of the ‘Prince,’ he recounted how a personal conflict with the Academics Committee chair led to an attempt to recall him.
In the original USG constitution, only 500 student signatures were needed to remove any USG officer. Pyle’s rival successfully met the threshold of signatures, and he was recalled. However, in the ensuing snap election, Pyle ran again and won, regaining his position.
Because of his USG responsibilities and political advocacy, Pyle said he spent less time on his senior thesis than he would’ve liked, earning him a B. He described a similar time crunch while preparing for the event.
“I finished it about 11 today — just in time,” Pyle told the ‘Prince.’
An alumni panel followed Pyle’s speech, moderated by alumni engagement chair Elisa Gonzalez ’27. The panel consisted of former USG presidents Manuel Gonzalez ’85, Zarnab Virk ’20, and Dave Calone ’96; former USG secretary-treasurer Christina Tan ’92; and former UGA president Andy Strenio ’74.
Several panelists led USG during periods of significant campus transition.
“We had the Vietnam War going on, and, at that time, all of the males in the student body were liable to draft,” Strenio said. “We also had the energy crisis that year. … The campus was shut down between the Christmas break and exams.”
Strenio spoke about the culture of student advocacy that was widespread during his term in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ He encountered challenges with how to approach controversial speakers.
“We didn’t think it was right to deprive audience members of being able to listen to what the speaker had to say,” Strenio said. “People that wanted to protest were welcome to go sit … They would simply stand silently and turn their back to the speaker.”
Calone — the first person to serve two terms as USG president — navigated the early years of the internet on campus. “By the end of my second term, email just rolled out across the campus, and I was actually given the right to email all the students,” he said.
Amy Park ’27, the current USG Chief of Staff, and Angeline Yan ’28, the Deputy Chief of Staff, led the planning for the event.
“We only thought maybe four or five would come,” Park said of the alumni. “But almost 15 alumni came. I think it was really, really great.”
Oliver Wu is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Stony Brook, N.Y. and can be reached at oliver.wu[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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