At a slight angle to the University

In 1985, the 17th president of Princeton University William G. Bowen GS ’58 delivered an opening exercises address that described universities as standing “at a slight angle to the world.” He noted how it was, in some ways, a historical aberration that universities in the U.S. could maintain their dissent from authority, and broadcast and house unorthodox — even outrageous, or broadly offensive — ideas.

Bowen defended this independence from political control as enhancing the quality of universities’ teaching and research. So has current University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83, who has posited the idea that “great benefit” comes from allowing universities to continue operating “at a slight angle to the world.”  As an independent student newspaper, The Daily Princetonian also finds itself at a slight angle — not from the world, but from the University where we reside. While our relationship with the University administration may not always be harmonious, our work ultimately serves to enhance the University’s core mission.

The ‘Prince’ is in many ways similar to the hundreds of other student organizations on this campus. We draw from the vibrant body of students at Princeton to accomplish a particular mission, and we must confront the same concerns of recruitment, retention, and adapting to annual changes in leadership. 

But our independence from the University is unusual. We don’t take funding from student activity fees and instead finance our operations through advertising and donations. Our main lines of contact with the University run through the Office of Communications, like any other media organization, instead of a student dean. We pay rent for our offices, and have our own trustees and external governance. A recent study showed that this is not the norm: most student newspapers receive funding from their universities, and only a small minority are incorporated as 501(c)(3) non-profits like we are.

Bowen, importantly, pointed out the temptation and pressure for governments to mold universities into tools of indoctrination, or to stamp out the dissent that they may foster. The University may similarly be tempted to try to censor what we can and cannot publish at the ‘Prince.’ There are many facts that the University may find inconvenient, or would rather that we not report on. But despite our respect for this great institution, our mission remains to report the news without fear or favor.

Bowen argued that two avenues protect universities — the defenses of the Constitution, and the reality that an institution without ideological shackles would perform its mission of teaching and research better than one so burdened, which in turn benefits society’s “very pragmatic interest in the quality of a place like Princeton.” 

Though the University has no legal duty to follow the First Amendment and tolerate our reporting, it does stand to benefit from our work as an independent outlet. A university with a strong, independent student press will inevitably find itself in a better place than an institution without such a watchdog. The ‘Prince’ remains the administration’s most accessible conduit to the student experience, illuminating what students think and value.

Without a strong and independent press, opportunities for meaningful and thoughtful dissent from unpopular policies would be severely curtailed. Newsworthy events would remain hidden from the public. Possible wrongdoing may remain buried. And students, faculty, and staff — when called upon to participate in the democratic processes that exist at the university — would be uninformed.

Princeton University has generally demonstrated a respect for press freedoms, something that I am deeply grateful for. But reporting freedoms on campus are something we must continually advocate for. New policies such as the University Recording Policy, restrictions on reporting in faculty meetings, or the threat of disciplinary action and investigations against student journalists for legitimate newsgathering, pose serious ongoing challenges to our ability to report freely.

To the new students at Princeton: If you find our mission of informing the campus community a valuable one, I hope you will join us. And even if you don’t see yourself as a journalist, there are plenty of ways to be a part of our work — such as being a copy editor, social media creator, or even a cartoonist. And we welcome you to make reading the ‘Prince’ a routine part of your life even if you don’t plan on joining us.

But for all of our readers, we remain glad for your continued support. To borrow the words of E. M. Forster and Bowen, despite being “at a slight angle” to the University, we hope that our work will ultimately advance the welfare and mission of this great institution.

Jerry Zhu is the 150th editor-in-chief of The Daily Princetonian. He may be reached at eic[at]dailyprincetonian.com.

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