“I think I first met Tiger when … he came to STM as a freshman in high school,” Strother told the ‘Prince.’ “At that time, he was small but mighty. He was an above average athlete with good speed and a lot of confidence.”
“He was a knucklehead at times, and it’s part of what made him fun,” Strother described. “There was a game where Tiger decided that he really liked the socks that he had that were not uniform.”
Strother explained that Tiger Bech kept the socks on despite various coaches telling him to change. “He just kind of kept bebopping around and going through the process … Tiger managed to wear his own socks all the way up until about three or four minutes before kickoff.”
After graduating high school, Tiger Bech spent a post-graduate year at Loomis Chaffee, a private school in Connecticut, where he played quarterback despite being a wide receiver.
“The quarterback had gotten injured in the first or second play of the first game,” Michelle Bech explained. “So Tiger, although he had never played quarterback, told the coach: ‘I’ll do it.’”
“Watching him play football was almost like watching a ballerina on the football field,” she added.
Tiger Bech’s friends and teammates from Princeton remember him fondly as a socially charismatic extrovert who had an innate ability to befriend anyone he met while living his life to the fullest.
Christian Sullivan ’20, one of Tiger Bech’s teammates and close friends, called him a “renaissance man.”
“He loves to hunt, fish, shoot, and be outdoors,” Sullivan wrote to the ‘Prince.’ “Conversely, he also loves house music, playing pool, and drinking beers with the boys.”
Sullivan described a trip he took in Summer 2024 with Tiger Bech and Ryan Quigley ’20 to Spain for the Running of the Bulls in San Fermin. Although Sullivan had initially planned to take a trip out west to visit the national parks, Tiger Bech quickly convinced him otherwise.
“‘Your two best friends are about to take a life changing trip to Run with the Bulls and you are going to turn that down to go to the national parks by yourself?’” Sullivan recalls being asked. “‘The national parks are going to be there for you later, you can do that with your family when you’re 40. You can’t run with the Bulls when you’re 40.’”
The trip was “an immovable core memory, and epitomizes Tiger’s spontaneity, and his mantra of living life to the fullest,” Sullivan added.
Quigley was also injured in the attack and hospitalized for several days.
Johnson called Tiger Bech “the definition of a lively extrovert.”
“Tiger was a fiercely loyal and honest friend who prioritized spending time and keeping in touch with family, teammates and friends over anything,” he stated.
“I have never met someone that was so good at connecting people from different walks of life,” Johnson added.
On Monday, Jan. 20, ESPN College GameDay released a six-minute video chronicling Tiger Bech’s life and legacy before the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
“His message would be to people book the flight, take the trip, hug your family, just live, and live right now,” Tiger Bech’s older sister, Ginnie Bech, emphasized in the video.
During his funeral on Jan. 6, Tiger Bech’s family spoke about the tremendous impact he has on their lives.
“All he wanted to do was spend time with me, my family, and every single one of you,” said Sophie Bech, Tiger Bech’s sister. “Even if it was watching a movie, taking a nap, sitting on FaceTime with him to keep him company … he simply wanted to ask about your day.”
While Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin was scheduled to play during the funeral, Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd unexpectedly started playing in its place, Quigley told ESPN during Tiger Bech’s tribute video.
“Free Bird was the theme song of Princeton football … And no one knows how that song came on, and it was so beautiful. I know that was Tiger [Bech].”
On Jan. 13, Sophie Bech wrote an Instagram post in Tiger Bech’s honor. “There’s nothing like having a big brother. Especially one that is heroic, brave, kind, vibrant, full of life, and overflowing with love … Thank you for the 27 years of laughter, cries, smiles, and screams.”
In the week before his death, Tiger Bech was staying at his family home in Lafayette.
“He didn’t know this or realize this, but it was like he was on a farewell tour,”
Michelle Bech told the ‘Prince.’ “He went to visit so many people, adults, other kids, [to tell them]: ‘Hey, I wanted to come visit you. I wanted you to know that I’m okay.’”
“He was the happiest he’d ever been … It was really good to see how happy he was and how much he’d accomplished, and the path that he was on; he just absolutely went out on top,” Martin Bech added.
Tiger Bech is survived by his parents, Martin and Michelle, his brother Jack, and his sisters Virginia and Sophie.
Victoria Davies is a head News editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Plymouth, England and typically covers University operations.
Doug Schwartz is an associate Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’
Eisgruber says U. is “exploring measures” in wake of Trump orders, stops short of specific guidance
By Lia Opperman & Vitus Larrieu Senior News writers
Princeton University is exploring measures to keep University programs running if federal funding is interrupted, University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 wrote in a campus-wide email on Tuesday, Jan. 28 in response to recent executive actions by the Trump administration. The short message stopped short of issuing definite guidance and directed students, staff, and faculty to contacts for various University administrative offices.
“At this time, there is much that we do not know,” Eisgruber wrote.
In his email, Eisgruber also said that steps were being taken to evaluate the impact of a funding freeze on University research, and that affiliates would receive additional direction from the Office of the Dean of Research. He did not specify a timeline for when that guidance might come.
“As part of this process, we are also exploring measures to ensure continuity of operations and programs should temporary interruptions to funding occur,” Eisgruber added.
A Monday memo from the Office of Management and Budget called for a freeze of federal funding and loan programs by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. United States District Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered an administrative stay just minutes before it was supposed to take effect.
The memo has prompted widespread confusion and concern for its potential impacts on funding of research and financial aid programs at universities across the country. The University of Pennsylvania’s president expressed similar uncertainty about ongoing developments, but said that Penn’s “financial outlook is sound.” At Brown University, the president and the provost wrote that they were prepared to use their “legal right” to challenge laws and regulations, while Harvard’s president wrote that
some research could be forced to stop if federal funds were removed.
The University receives a significant portion of its research funding from the federal government. In the 2023 fiscal year, federal funding made up $221 million of research expenditures out of a total of $298 million. In the 2023–24 academic year, $328 million from external sources funded 1,740 awards for campus research, with federal funding making up over three-fourths of this amount. A freeze on that funding could impact research for nearly every department on campus.
Federal funding for financial aid programs does not appear to be at risk. The White House clarified in a fact sheet that federal funding for Pell Grants and student loans will not be paused as a result of the funding freeze, along with “any program that provides direct benefits to Americans.” The University estimated that six percent, or $16 million, of the undergraduate financial aid budget for the 2024–25 academic year would comes from “outside scholarships, governmental grants, and other miscellaneous funds.”
Eisgruber’s email is the first communication from the University following President Donald Trump’s recent policy decisions that may threaten University funding and operations. These also include a temporary freeze on National Institute of Health (NIH) grant reviews and planned investigations into the DEI programs of universities with large endowments.
The pause in funding is intended to give federal agencies time to evaluate if their financial assistance programs are in compliance with Trump’s new policies.
In an email to The Daily Princetonian, Oliver Meyer ’28, president of the Princeton College Republicans, wrote that “[b] ecause the Trump policy roll out is in its early stages, there isn’t much to comment on regarding President Eisgruber’s email.
“However, I strongly agree with the
Trump administration’s increased attention paid to holding top universities to account, for allowing the dangerous spread of aggressively anti-American and antisemitic sentiment,” he added.
In an interview with the ‘Prince,’ Quentin Colón Roosevelt ’27, president of the Princeton College Democrats, said that Eisgruber’s email was “probably the right thing to do.”
“It didn’t seem like it was any concrete action being taken,” he said. “We’re going to keep on the lookout, and we’re going to make sure that funding for programs doesn’t get ruined.”
He added that the University should address any gaps that may arise from the Trump administration’s executive orders.
“It’s in Princeton’s mission statement and also what Princeton should be doing as a top-ranked university, and a university that people look towards for social change and civic action to stand up here and to make sure that these things keep being funded,” he said.
While the future of the freeze remains unclear, Eisgruber wrote that updates would be provided as the situation evolves and expressed gratitude to the campus community amidst the uncertainty.
“Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our shared mission of research, teaching, and service,” he wrote.
Lia Opperman is a senior News writer and the Director of Outreach emerita for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Southern N.J. and typically covers academic policy, national higher education, and University finances.
Vitus Larrieu is a senior News writer for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Pensacola, Fla. and typically covers community activism, national higher education, and construction and architecture.
Calvin Grover / The Daily Princetonian Nassau Hall.
COURTESY OF MICHELLE BECH
Tiger Bech, a native of Lafayette, La., was a football player and Sociology major at Princeton.
Clio Hall protesters set for April trial after second plea deal collapses
By Cynthia Torres Assistant News editor
The 13 University affiliates arrested at Clio Hall during pro-Palestine protests last spring are scheduled to go to trial starting on April 14, almost one year after the Clio Hall sitin. The latest development at a hearing on Tuesday followed months of court proceedings and came after the collapse of yet another plea deal that would have allowed 12 of the arrested protesters to walk away with community service while singling out the other.
All the arrestees are charged with defiant criminal trespassing, a petty offense in the state of New Jersey. The defense attorney for those arrested in the spring, Aymen Aboushi, claimed that a change to a new agreement with the municipal prosecutor, Christopher Koutsouris, had been made in the days before the 14th.
“The offer was that 12 individuals would be dismissed from this case in exchange for agreeing to do a period of community service, and one person would be offered a conditional discharge. If that person did not want to accept it, then that person would be afforded their right to a trial,” said defense attorney Aymen Aboushi at the start of the pre-trial conference. This one person was Aditi Rao GS, a prominent figure in the protests last year.
Jacob Neis GS, another one of the students arrested last year, explained that Aboushi held individual calls with each of the defendants to explain the offer of dismissal in exchange for community service. However, according to Neis, “the prosecutor or the state had identified one student that they had thought was a ringleader. They intended to
GRADUATE SCHOOL
continue to prosecute this person.”
According to Neis, Koutsouris then called Aboushi on Monday night, clarifying that if Rao did not plead guilty, then the dismissal of the case against the other 12 was off the table.
“[I] only found out late yesterday afternoon that the State was reversing course and was taking the all or none position,” Aboushi told the court.
Koutsouris, however, said there was no change in the deal. “The state’s position is now just like it has been, that the individual who the state has identified as having the most responsibility by committing the most egregious conduct in the allegation of the state needs to take responsibility,” he stated. Koutsouris did not respond to a series of followup questions posed by The Daily Princetonian over email.
Aboushi, Koutsouris, and Judge John McCarthy III ’69 also discussed the matter with a University lawyer prior to the hearing.
“The University was approving of a resolution along those lines for these students, and the University had no objection whatsoever if this was going to be resolved that way,” Aboushi said of the meeting. University spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote in a statement to the ‘Prince’ that the University’s “outside counsel” joined at the judge’s request. Morrill added that the counsel was there to reiterate the University’s position of “minimiz[ing] the impact of the arrest on students who participated in the attempted takeover of Clio Hall,” a line which protestors have expressed frustration over.
“Beyond these restatements of the University’s position, the University has not been involved in negotiations
between the parties in this case and is not a party to the case,” she wrote.
Judge John McCarthy III invited Aboushi to submit a brief to the court asking for the cases to be dismissed, but otherwise seemed skeptical and moved to set trial dates for April 14, 15, and 16.
Neis told the ‘Prince’ he hoped the case does not go to trial and that the University recommends a dismissal to the prosecution. “My understanding is that, as the alleged victim in this case, it’s always been in their power to say that they don’t want to participate in a trial, and in that case, the prosecutor would have no choice but to dismiss the charges,” he said.
In an interview with the ‘Prince,’ Rao said she did not want to plead guilty to avoid setting “a really damning and dangerous precedent.”
“In order to just let one person take the fall ultimately would undo the work that we did to build solidarity,”
said Rao. However, she added that “it was actually really difficult to relate back to Mr. Aboushi that I was going to continue to plead not guilty,” she said, citing that many other students “really need those cases dismissed.”
“I’m kind of baffled by the singling out of one student as a leader, because going into Clio Hall was a decision we made collectively,” said Neis, reflecting on the deal.
A previous plea deal for the protesters was scuttled in October after McCarthy raised concerns that one of the arrestees had allegedly given staff inside of Clio a countdown. He also questioned one of the protesters under oath about potential leadership in the occupation of Clio.
Neis and Rao both expressed concern over the length of the court proceedings, especially for students who graduated last spring.
“They live out of state. These are most of our seniors who graduated
last year,” Rao said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “They don’t have the ability to continue spending time coming back to Princeton in order to attend these kinds of long, protracted hearings.”
McCarthy requested that as many people as possible attend in-person, although he appeared open to virtual options for graduates living out of state.
“Even for students who live locally, taking three week days off to participate in a trial is fairly onerous,” Neis said.
Another pre-trial conference has been scheduled for Feb. 18.
Cynthia Torres is an assistant News editor for the ‘Prince.’
Christopher Bao contributed reporting.
Kidnapped graduate student Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive, Iraqi Foreign Minister says
By Elisabeth Stewart Senior News writer
Elizabeth Tsurkov, the Princeton graduate student who was kidnapped in Baghdad in March 2023 while doing dissertation research, is alive, the Iraqi Foreign Minister told a reporter from Axios on Jan. 23. The reporter, Barak
Ravid, posted on X that Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said the Iraqi prime minister is “working on her release.”
In an interview, The Daily Princetonian asked Elizabeth Tsurkov’s sister, Emma Tsurkov, whether the news changed anything for their family.
“Substantively — no,” Emma Tsurkov said.
“We’ve been hearing a bunch of lies and contradictory statements from the Iraqi government for almost two years,” Emma Tsurkov told the ‘Prince.’ “I’d be happy to be proven wrong, if tomorrow they come to their senses and get her out of there. I’ll be the first one to applaud them, but right now, they’ve proven themselves as supremely capable of always making the wrong choice.”
After media outlets in the Middle East began to report on the news, Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted a clarification, stating it “categorically denies what has been circulated” and that Hussein did not engage with any media representatives.
“They know that my sister is in Iraq and alive,” Emma Tsurkov said. “I mean, I was pleased to see that they’ve acknowledged it, but it wasn’t a surprise, because we have known it for a long time.”
Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in March 2023 by the Iran-backed Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah, which is designated as a terrorist group by the United States.
Kataib Hezbollah is a member of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, an organization of militias sponsored and funded by Iraq’s government, as ABC reported last spring.
The Axios reporter, Ravid, made the post about Elizabeth Tsurkov from Davos, Switzerland, where he attended a panel discussion organized by CNN on de-escalation in the Middle East. The foreign ministers of Jordan, Syria, France, and the minister of state for foreign affairs of Palestine participated in this panel.
In November 2023, a video of Elizabeth speaking circulated on Iraqi television networks. In a statement to the ’Prince,’ University Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote that “The University is focused on Elizabeth’s safety and well-being.”
Emma Tsurkov hopes that the incoming presidential administration will put pressure on the Iraqi government and coordinate her sister’s release. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday, followed by an internal State Department Memo on Friday, stipu -
lated a 90-day freeze in almost all foreign assistance in order to complete an “assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy.”
“For three years now, the Iraqi government has been saying that they are doing everything they can to uncover my sister’s whereabouts,” Emma Tsurkov told the ‘Prince.’ “The fact that they are now claiming that actually they didn’t say it … [isn’t] particularly inspiring any confidence on my part, and shouldn’t inspire confidence on anyone’s part, especially the U.S. government, while it considers whether to unfreeze the military assistance to the Iraqi government.”
“I would strongly, strongly advocate for conditioning the renewal of assistance to Iraq on my sister’s freedom, because this lawlessness and lack of accountability just cannot stand.”
Elisabeth Stewart is a senior News writer for the ‘Prince.’
CALVIN GROVER / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Aditi Rao GS gives a speech after exiting Clio Hall.
“Flipping the page ”
By Lindsay McBride ASSOCIATE PUZZLES EDITOR
1 It may be passed or dropped
4 Senator Andy of New Jersey
7 Letters after a proof
10 Singer Grande, to fans 13 San Francisco Bay city 15 Perfect
17 Studied secondarily, with "in"
18 "Word"
19 *Kiddo's request
21 "Without further ___..."
22 Isabel Allende's "___ of My Soul"
23 Prefix with friendly or tourism
26 Outbacks, e.g.
30 Hypes up
32 *Annoyed with
34 Pablo Neruda wrote one to a pair of socks
35 Italian cheese
36 Binding agent?
38 ___ se
39 *Sun screen?
43 Jacked
45 Ocean's largest herbivore
46 Bake sale org.
47 Brewer's oven
48 Situation Room grp.
51 *Semester's return... or what the answers to the starred clues all contain
56 Home to Banff National Park
59 Size up
60 Ones in the defense department?
61 Rejuvenate
62 Nwodim of "Saturday Night Live"
63 Did a great job, in slang
64 Hurdle for some H.S. seniors
65 Chinese dynasty during which paper was invented
1 Black ___, nickname for Kobe Bryant 2 "That might've been a bit of a stretch..." 3 Positive attitude 4 Actress Russell of "The Americans" 5 As above, in a footnote 6 Portuguese dessert wine 7 "Indeed" 8 Core philosophy 9 Type A person 10 Big ___ (Olympic snowboarding event) 11 Word after sting or shrink 12 Celebrity chef Garten
14 Bon ___ (clever remark)
16 Check receiver
20 Neglect to nominate for an Oscar, say
24 "Potato potato"
25 Like Betty White vis-àvis sliced bread
27 Women's World Cup powerhouse
28 Sired
29 The whole shebang
30 Weasel that turns white in the winter
31 Comedian's show
32 Deplete
33 U.S. university with the most undergraduate applications in 2024 (173,400)
35 Police alert, for short
37 Bread for a Reuben
40 Japanese dining style that translates to "I'll leave it up to you"
41 Condé ___
42 Lays to rest 44 Tag
47 The Ivy League schools, e.g.
49 "Ish"
50 Pericles' political enemy
52 ___ Montgomery of "Pretty Little Liars"
53 Word sung twice after "Que"
54 "I Am ___," docuseries chroncling life after gender transition
55 Sister channel of QVC
56 35 years minimum, for a U.S. president
57 Camp seat, maybe
58 Steamed bun of Chinese cuisine
Announcing the ‘Prince’ Opinion section’s Spring 2025 columnists
Frances Brogan Head Opinion Editor
This spring will be the second full semester of the Opinion columnist program. Last semester, the program became an integral feature of the Opinion section, and our columnists became reliable commentators on the issues they care about most, provoking thoughtful discussion and debate. We were delighted to see how the campus community enthusiastically engaged with these columns.
This semester, we are proud to announce six columns, three from returning columnists and three from new ones. Each columnist will publish every other week or every three weeks.
Reading an author’s column should offer a window into their worldview. Columnists from different perspectives will analyze the issues that animate them through the lens of their personal values. We hope that you will get to know these voices, as they write informative, timely, and interesting pieces every few weeks.
Popping the Bubble
Wynne Conger ’27 is a sophomore intended SPIA major from Bryn Mawr, Pa. She ana -
lyzes Princeton in its historical and situational context, particularly how the University can build a better relationship with the town of Princeton. She also examines how Princeton students can uphold institutional values of civic responsibility and engagement. In previous columns, she’s called for reinvigorating campus activism, proposed taxing the endowment, and analyzed why young alumni are reluctant to donate to the University. Her column, “Popping the Bubble,” will run every three weeks on Mondays.
The New Nassau Ava Johnson ’27 is a sophomore intended Politics major from Washington, D.C. She writes about the benefits of equity, diversity, and inclusion and what Princeton’s communities do — and what they can change — to further those goals. In previous columns, she’s argued for diversifying Princeton’s faculty, pushed for supporting the descendants of the enslaved communities that built Princeton, and unpacked the myth of meritocracy. Her column, “The New Nassau,” will run every three weeks on Thursdays.
Opening the Gates Asa Santos ’25 is a senior Anthropology major on the med -
ical track from London. They examine the ways in which Princeton is not an inclusive community and falls short of encouraging diversity and authentic expression among its students, while advocating for ways to change that. In past columns, they’ve encouraged students to support the pro-Palestinian movement, called on the administration to increase travel stipends for low-income international students, and outlined the benefits of getting to know nonteaching staff. Their column, “Opening the Gates,” will run once every other Tuesday.
No Tiger Left Behind Jorge Reyes ’28 is a first-year intended Chemistry major on the pre-medical track from Louisville (Loo-uh-vuhl), Ky. He writes about disparities in privilege and civil liberties protections. He is interested in instances where the University fails to care for its most vulnerable populations. His column, “No Tiger Left Behind,” will run every three weeks on Tuesday.
A Princeton for All Isaac Barsoum ’28 is a firstyear intended Politics major from Charlotte, N.C. He writes about how the University community can promote safety, inclusivity, and student wellbeing, calling on students to
exercise individual accountability and increase their civic engagement to support progressive goals. His column, “A Princeton for All,” will run every other Thursday.
Out of the Ivory Tower Raf Basas ’28 is a first-year intended English, Politics, or SPIA major from Elk Grove, Calif. He is interested in how class politics manifest at an elite institution, and he challenges Princeton to better
support its working class students and expand economic diversity. His column, “Out of the Ivory Tower,” will run every other Wednesday this semester.
Head Opinion Editor Frances Brogan is a sophomore prospective History major from Lancaster, Pa.
time for a civic education requirement at Princeton
Kenneth Chan Opinion Contributer
If the 2024 election was a rebuke of American institutions, it was an even stronger rebuke of the educational elite. The Democratic Party, long the party of American labor, has become the party of the college educated. As college students preparing to be the leaders of tomorrow, that sounds like a good thing. This institution supposedly selects the brightest students in the nation. It is supposed to mold our minds for leadership in the world.
And yet, Ivy League graduates have lost the trust and confidence of the people of this country. As New York Times Opinion columnist David Brooks sees it, the Democratic Party has become “the party of the universities, the affluent suburbs and the hipster urban cores.” That party lost to Donald Trump, who was able to build “a multiracial, working-class majority,” the very thing Democrats prided themselves on having.
The great irony of this populist discontent is that it is actually led by Ivy League graduates. JD Vance, a graduate of Yale Law School, continuously vilifies “the regime” by attacking institutions he sees as liberal, including “the news media, Hol-
lywood, big business and higher education.” Senator Josh Hawley, a graduate of Stanford and Yale, raised his fist in support of the Jan. 6 riots. And from Princeton, now-Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth ’03 came to the defense of Jan. 6 insurrectionists the day after the attack, saying that “they love freedom and they love free markets.”
It seems our leaders have forgotten how to lead a pluralistic and economically diverse society. To renew confidence in tomorrow’s leaders, the solution at Princeton must be a return to common values. One way to do this is a new civic education requirement.
Princeton would not be the first university in the country to adopt such a requirement. Stanford’s Civic, Liberal and Global Education (COLLEGE) requirement, for example, includes a Citizenship in the 21st Century course, which allows students to tackle pressing issues such as “the intersection of citizenship with race, social class, and economic inequality; the threat of authoritarianism; and civil disobedience” in a safe, guided classroom environment. Purdue requires civic literacy for graduation, which can be accomplished through approved courses, civic literacy events, or podcasts, in addition to a required test.
To some, such a requirement at Princeton may seem like yet another box that needs to be
checked off in order to obtain a degree. But civic education at Princeton brings a unique opportunity to the table. It allows the University to carry out one of the foundational purposes of liberal education — to create citizens. Horace Mann, often called “the father of American education,” wrote that “it may be an easy thing to make a Republic; but it is a very laborious thing to make Republicans.”
The dissonance between the educated elite, the anti-elites, and populist forces is in many ways a result of the failure of universities to make “Republicans” — citizens committed to defending our Republic. A worrying number of young Americans are no longer committed to democracy. In fact, 31 percent of 18–29 year olds believe that America should “explore alternatives to democracy.” In the face of a growing tide of anti-democracy sentiment in America, it is incumbent on Princeton to resist the tide of American illiberalism by equipping its students with the tools to defend shared democratic values.
To do so, Princeton should implement a required first-year civic learning seminar in the same vein as Stanford’s COLLEGE or Columbia’s Contemporary Civilization courses. Expanding access to civic education to the entire undergraduate class, not just those naturally inclined towards politics, will not only
provide a 21st century introduction to American political values in practice, but it will also help Princeton tackle a perennial problem — a brain drain into finance and consulting. This is because civic education is not just about learning how the American government works. Inherent in civics is community. The civically-minded understand the need to engage fully with the community, whether that be through volunteerism, advocacy, or engagement in the political process. That’s why the Pace Center for Civic Engagement provides access to service and civic engagement opportunities “so that students can respond to the needs of the world in responsible ways.”
One might say that Princeton already offers courses dedicated toward preparing students for civic life: the Program in Community-Engaged Scholarship (ProCES). These courses “bring community-identified priorities and interests into conversation with academic learning goals through experiential learning,” including projects such as working on asylum claims or affordable housing research.
Though these projects get students involved in the community, they do not go far enough. What a civic education program at Princeton must include, that ProCES currently does not, is a rigorous survey of how democracy should work and how we
can engage with the political community. It should force students to grapple with questions of political philosophy, such as equality, justice, and the role of government. In the classroom environment, these questions invite disagreement, and grappling with that disagreement forces us to learn how to debate civilly in an informed environment. This is civic learning, a component of civic education distinct from civic service. In effect, learning and grappling with the theory behind American political tradition. If Princetonians commit themselves to effective civic learning, it will undoubtedly require them to think critically and deeply about their place in the political community and whether they live their lives “in the nation’s service and the service of humanity.” And it will undoubtedly push more students to engage more thoughtfully and regularly with public service initiatives. At a university committed to be in “the nation’s service,” it seems like a no-brainer to follow our peers and institute an accessible, comprehensive, and engaging civic learning program.
Kenneth Chan is a first-year Opinion writer from East Brunswick, N.J. planning to major in Operations Research and Financial Engineering.
LUIZA CHEVRES AND ELIANA DU / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN The six named columnists for Spring 2025.
“Hegseth’s views — and he himself, perhaps — seem to have changed.”
HEGSETH
Continued from page 1
‘Prince’ spoke to a number of his professors, classmates, and ROTC commanders.
Cameron Atkinson ’03 expressed that the recent allegations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse that have surfaced against Hegseth “don’t fit” with the student-athlete he knew two decades ago. Hegseth has denied all these allegations.
As a member of the track team and a fellow Cap and Gown member alongside Hegseth, Atkinson noted that at the time, the club drew a significant number of athletes. While track and basketball players often stuck to small, close-knit groups within the club, Atkinson remembers Hegseth as someone who was “comfortable talking to everybody.” “[Hegseth] ran in the larger circle, not in his own small circle,” he told the ‘Prince.’
“He was as smug then as he is now. He sounds wicked smart because he is,” Atkinson added.
At Cap and Gown, Hegseth stood out not only for his outspoken views, but also for his deep religious faith. His commitment to his beliefs earned him a place in a group lightheartedly referred to as the “God Squad” — a circle of religious conservatives within the club who “smiled and nodded all the time,” according to Atkinson.
Atkinson, along with many former classmates the ‘Prince’ spoke to, now has difficulty recognizing the 44-year-old defense secretary nominee. “There was nothing in our somewhat shared path that would make me think of allegations of sexual assault or public intoxication,” Atkinson said. “Anything could happen … but it’s not like he was a boozer and womanizer, assaulting or being inappropriate with women even 20 years ago.”
“As [Hegseth] has stated during the hearings, nobody’s perfect,” Jeff Williams, a retired army colonel and former assistant professor of military science who taught Hegseth, said. “But it did disappoint me a little bit, seeing some of the things that he was accused of doing.”
To many, Hegseth was collegial and thoughtful, while also intensely mission-driven and unabashedly vocal about his political views.
“Interpersonally, I found him to be fair, thoughtful, intelligent, and gracious to those that he was in conversation with,” Cason Cheely ’03 told the ‘Prince.’ A member of Cap and Gown, Cheely often shared meals and conversations with Hegseth and noted that he was also well-acquainted with those on the opposite side of the political aisle. “I found him to be pleasant and respectful and attentive and cheerful to be around,” she said.
To former Assistant Professor of Government Patrick Deneen, who supervised Hegseth’s 90page senior thesis entitled “Mod-
ern Presidential Rhetoric and the Cold War Context,” Hegseth’s diligence toward his athletics and academics, as well as his patriotism, made him a memorable student.
Reflecting on the hectic dayto-day schedules varsity studentathletes manage, Deneen wrote on X that he admired “that Pete made these sacrifices in spite of spending a fair amount of the game sitting on the bench, but was always ready and at key moments electrifying when he got the call.” Deneen, now a professor at the University of Notre Dame, declined a request for comment.
At The Tory, Hegseth first laid the foundations for the culture warrior ideology he later championed on Fox. In a regular column called “The Rant,” Hegseth and his fellow Tory editors notably argued that publishing same-sex marriage announcements could lead to a slippery slope of recognizing unions with animals, labeled the “homosexual lifestyle” as “abnormal and immoral,” and criticized Halle Berry’s 2002 Oscar win as her “accepting the award on behalf of an entire race.” Hegseth also condemned the University’s “gratuitous glorification of diversity” and opined that figures such as John Witherspoon “should never be forgotten.”
Brad Simmons ’03, who was the editor-in-chief of The Tory under Hegseth’s supervision, recalled many late nights and high-pressure situations he endured with Hegseth. “[Hegseth] had a unique leadership style because he was very disciplined; he aggressively got things done,” Simmons told the ‘Prince.’ “But he was a very kind person.”
But Hegseth’s aggressive brand of leadership often caused tension between The Tory and liberal political groups on campus, particularly the Organization of Women Leaders (OWL). In 2002, The Tory featured a cover story with crosshairs superimposed on a cartoon owl. A few pages later, the same owl appeared bloody, with bullet holes — a move OWL publicity chair Laura Petrillo ’04 described to Reuters as feeling “threatening.”
Classmates also recalled protests staged against liberal-leaning speakers and anti-Iraq-war campaigns, as well as Hegseth removing OWL’s posters to replace them with his own.
By his senior year, Hegseth had become a big name in Princeton conservatives, known even to many outside political circles.
“I think [Hegseth] saw a role to play here on campus as a conservative, and carved that out — he sort of took that role to the fullest,” Josh White ’03, who knew Hegseth from a distance, said. White and others noted that, despite their radical nature and the attention they attracted, many of Hegseth’s political views seemed to stem from a place of authenticity rather than calculation.
Hegseth’s leadership qualities and discipline also set him apart in Princeton’s Army ROTC program, which he joined as a sopho-
more in 2000.
“He carried himself with confidence and a natural charisma, which helps when you’re leading soldiers,” Phil O’Beirne ’02, former Army Captain and the cadet battalion commander during Hegseth’s senior year, told the ‘Prince.’
Varsity athletes also involved in ROTC were granted significant flexibility to manage their commitments to both, O’Beirne said. “But Pete never took advantage of that,” O’Beirne noted. “He was fully committed to ROTC and was a great cadet.”
According to Williams, Hegseth “participated fully” in the program, never missing a lab or training.
“[ROTC] does take a certain type of person; it requires a drive to take on the added workload and as an upperclassman, the leadership of formations and exercises,” Matt Russell ’99, who was part of the Air Force ROTC program, added.
However, concerns over Hegseth’s qualifications for the top Pentagon job — a key criticism senators brought forth in his confirmation hearing — are echoed by those who knew him at Princeton.
“Pete Hegseth is wholly unqualified from a personal and professional perspective,” Col. Matthew McCarville, a former commander of Princeton’s ROTC program, wrote on Facebook. “His nomination is an embarrassment and a disgrace to all who have served, or will serve.”
Following graduation, Hegseth entered the army reserve, as was customary for those in ROTC. Only a week into his new job at Bear Stearns, an investment bank on Wall Street, Hegseth’s unit was activated for duty; he had one month to prepare before deploying to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Hegseth subsequently deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars and a Combat Infantryman Badge following his
time at Princeton. Since his time at Princeton, 22 years and two wars later, Hegseth has cast himself as a “change agent” for the military. Some fear that the military, in turn, may have already changed him beyond recognition.
“The majority of how people come to terms with and process that experience is unfortunate and tragic,” White, who served as an infantry officer, said.
Hegseth himself has confessed that the transition to civilian life was “jarring” and that he drank heavily after the end of his deployment in 2006, though he has denied recently that he has a drinking problem.
“I went from being in a combat zone to being in an apartment in Manhattan and without any contact other than phone calls here or an email here or there with the guys who I had served with,” he told Reserve & National Guard Magazine in 2022. “I didn’t do much and I drank a lot trying to process what I had been through while dealing with a civilian world that frankly just didn’t seem to care,” Hegseth said. “It took me a while to get my footing.”
Many of the recent questions of his leadership record and much of the scrutiny of his personal history concern events from this part of Hegseth’s path — postPrinceton, after deployment, and following his return to civilian life. This chapter of Hegseth’s life, classmates say, feels torn from a different book entirely.
“The Pete Hegseth I knew at Princeton would be a great Secretary of Defense — I’m sure of that,” Simmons said. “And the Pete Hegseth that I’m reading about in the media is not the Pete that I know.”
The Hegseth many Princetonians knew was someone who rarely drank in public, was a member of a short-lived dueling society, and brashly espoused conserva-
tive viewpoints. He has remained peripherally associated with the University, serving as a trustee of The Tory until 2021 and making several campus visits for ROTC and basketball events.
What the current defense secretary nominee liked in particular about Princeton, he recalled in a 2017 ‘Prince’ interview, is the idea “that you can civilly agree or disagree, but respect each other’s differences.”
“I always thought Princeton did a pretty good job of advancing free exchange of ideas,” Hegseth said in the interview.
Now, Hegseth has developed a more critical stance toward his alma mater — along with many other issues. Once a proud alumnus of the school wishing to bring his children to basketball games, he now describes Princeton and the Ivy League as an “educational cartel” that “indoctrinates” students. An outspoken advocate against women in combat roles as late as November 2024, he appears to have altered his position during last week’s confirmation hearing. A devout Christian during his Princeton days as part of the “God Squad,” Hegseth has admitted to being a “serial cheater” but claims to have changed through his wife Jennifer Rauchet and his faith in “my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Hegseth’s views — and he himself, perhaps — seem to have changed.
Sena Chang is a News contributor for the ‘Prince.’
VICTORIA DAVIES / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN Pete Hegseth ’03 on CNN earlier this January
The Prospect 11 Weekly Event Roundup
By Ysabella Olsen, Assistant Prospect Editor
Here There Are Blueberries
Do Not Disturb
Triple 8
Jan 30 at 8 p.m.; Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.; Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Frist Theatre
You might want to turn notifications on for this one. Princeton’s East Asian dance company is back with an exciting production titled “Do Not Disturb.”
Tickets can be purchased on University Ticketing or free with Passport to the Arts.
1 2 3 4
5
Sapphire
eXpressions
Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.
James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St.
This week’s featured 16mm analog film is by Jodie Mack. The experimental film series organized by Professor Christopher Harris shows films that were created using unique methods and unconventional techniques.
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Who is putting it on Jan. 24 to Feb. 9
McCarter Theatre
The national tour of 2024 Pulitzer Prize Finalist “Here There Are Blueberries” is coming to McCarter Theatre for two weeks. The production tells the story of Nazi-era photographs that mysteriously arrive on the desk of a U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist.
Tickets can be purchased through McCarter Theatre or free with Passport to the Arts.
Seeing the Big Picture: An Experimental Film Series
Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.
James Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St.
This week’s featured 16mm analog film is by Jodie Mack. The experimental film series orga- nized by Professor Christopher Harris shows films that were created using unique methods and unconventional techniques.
Scenes of Connection: An Exploration of Intimacy Direction
Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Donald G. Drapkin Studio, Lewis Arts complex, 122 Alexander Street “Scenes of Connection” is an art event directed by Orion Lopez-Ramirez ’26 with intimacy direction by Kat McLaughlin ’25. Themes of the performance will include love, intimacy, and connection.
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Who Turns Out the Light:
Caroline Shaw and Sō Percussion featuring Ringdown Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
Join Sō Percussion and special guests, including past Princeton Arts Fellow Jason Treuting, for a performance of the Grammy-nominated album Rectangles and Circumstance. Free and open to the public.
A Library & Labyrinth Event
Authors Peter R. Grant and B. Rosemary Grant
Feb. 2 at 3:00 p.m.
Princeton Public Library
A husband and wife team from Princeton’s evolutionary ecology department will each discuss their recent memoirs surrounding their renowned work with Darwin’s finches in the Galápagos. Free and open to the public.
The Crossing
Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
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Princeton Launch
of Dear Yusef
Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.
Labyrinth Books
The author Yusef Komunyakaa and MacArthur Fellow and poet Terrance Hayes will be in conversation follow- ing the release of “Dear Yusef: Essays, Letters, and Poems, For and About One Mr. Komunyakaa,” a novel that celebrates the Pulitzer Prize-win- ning poet.Free and open to the public.
Raphaël Feuillatre
PUC Presents Feb. 5 at 6:00 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall
Princeton University Concerts is welcoming the “new voice of classical guitar,” according to the Department of Music. The Djibou- ti-French phenom is taking the stage as part of the Performances Up Close series. He will be showcasing music from his debut album. Tickets can be purchased on University Ticketing or free with Passport to the Arts.
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A Grammy award-winning chamber choir, conducted by Donald Nally, will sing new compositions that explore social issues.
Tickets can be purchased through McCarter Theatre or free with Passport to the Arts.
Fall 2024 Media Arts Show
Who is putting it on
Open weekdays 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Open weekends 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Lucas Gallery, 185 Nassau St.
The visual arts department is continuing to showcase a collection of work from Fall 2024 visual arts students. Visit the gallery to support fellow students in their graphic design, photography, and filmmaking endeavors. Free and open to the public.
Former Tiger offensive tackle Jalen Travis ’24 announces for NFL Draft
By Doug Schwartz Associate Sports editor
Jalen Travis ’24 declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 31 after four years at Princeton and one at Iowa State.
Travis had an illustrious career at Princeton. Despite the cancellation of his first-year season due to COVID-19, the offensive lineman made an impact over the next three years as a stalwart left tackle for a Princeton offense that was consistently on top of the Ivy League when it came to scoring and passing. In addition, Travis was a two-time All-Ivy Selection during his time with the Tigers.
“My Princeton football career helped me take the first step toward achieving my dream of playing football at the highest level, while allowing me the opportunity to continue to pursue my interests off the field,” Travis wrote to The Daily Princetonian. “Playing football at Princeton taught me many invaluable lessons, but perhaps its most profound impact came in the form of the Princeton football brotherhood that continues to be the backbone of my support as I continue to pursue the next steps in my football
career.”
During his senior season, Travis missed time due to injury and was only able to start in six games. However, his impact was greater than just his play on the field. Travis was awarded the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup in 2024, an accolade that recognized his profound impact both as a player and a person.
The Citizenship Cup is awarded to six athletes annually, one male and one female each from high school, collegiate, and professional sports. The recipients are “athletes of excellence both on and off the field, role models both as performers and persons,” according to the award’s website. Travis was the fourth Ivy Leaguer — and first Princetonian — to ever win the award.
“Receiving the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup meant a lot to me,” Travis wrote. “To be recognized for using the mission of sports to leave an impact on this world alongside some of our nation’s most accomplished athletes was extremely humbling. Receiving the award put into perspective all the support I received from countless people in my life who have repeatedly affirmed my passions and inter-
ests both on the field and off.”
Travis’s nonprofit, The Just Action Coalition, gives back to his native state of Minnesota by promoting youth engagement in political advocacy. His work with the group, plus his strong character and outstanding play, helped secure him the recognition to receive the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup.
“The Just Action Coalition was able to effectively center the voice of non-voting age youth in conversations of community safety,” Travis explained to the ‘Prince.’ “Through our work with the Minnesota Board of Police Officers Standards and Training, we were able to effectively implement several of our organizational recommendations that centered on transparency, accountability, and communication.”
Travis’s off-the-field achievements did not go unnoticed at Princeton either. He was also awarded the prestigious Truman Scholarship, a grant that provides up to $30,000 dollars in funding for graduate school and offers professional development opportunities, toward the end of his junior year.
According to a University
announcement on Travis’s recognition, he was “interested in pursuing a career in criminal or public interest law” at Columbia Law School through a two-year deferral program after spending time at a public defense firm and then a legal advocacy organization. Travis did not respond to a follow-up question about how he plans to fit his law school plans with his NFL dreams.
After finishing his senior season with the Tigers, Travis continued his collegiate career with the Iowa State Cyclones. The Cyclones went 11–3 overall and played in the Pop Tarts Bowl, defeating Heisman finalist Cam Ward and the 15th-ranked University of Miami Hurricanes 42–41. The experience playing for a Power 4 school against better competition has bolstered Travis’s draft stock, as he demonstrated his ability to compete at the FBS and hopefully professional level.
“Over the next few months, I will be training in preparation for the NFL Draft in Dallas, Texas,” Travis told the ‘Prince.’ Travis brings impressive size to the offensive tackle position, coming in at six feet seven inches and 340 pounds — enough length and strength
to attract the attention of NFL scouts. His height lends itself well–– to blocking speedy pass rushers, and he is able to bring his weight to bear in the run game, plowing through defensive ends and linebackers.
Travis still needs to improve on certain technical aspects of the tackle position and will be seen as a developmental pick by any teams interested. However, Travis’s Ivy League pedigree and leadership and service recognition add a valuable angle for NFL teams who won’t have to worry about character or maturity issues.
According to several draft stock websites, Travis could be picked on the second or third day of the draft, likely anywhere in the fourth to seventh rounds. The NFL combine will take place from Feb. 27 to March 2, giving draft prospects a chance to bolster their stock and prove their value to NFL scouts. After that, prospects like Travis will continue to hone their game leading up to the draft in Green Bay, Wis. from April 24 to April 26.
Doug Schwartz is an associate Sports editor for the ‘Prince.’
