Volume LXIX, Number 47
Home for the Holidays See Page 21 Introducing Princeton’s Six New Police Officers . . 9 As Swift’s Birthday Approaches, Classic Comics Moments With Biographer Irvin Ehrenpreis . . . . . . . . . 12 New Work by Princeton Singers in Memory of Sandy Hook . . . . . . . . 28 Princeton Men’s Hoops Ride Caruso’s Historic Effort to Edge Saint Peter’s . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Stuart Cross Country Takes 5th in Prep B . . 42
Vojislav Mitrovic Helps PU Men’s Water Polo Win CWPA Crown . . . . . . . 35 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Clubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Classified Ads . . . . . . . 45 Music/Theater . . . . . . 28 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 New to Us . . . . . . . . . . 34 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 44 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 45 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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University Charts Path Forward After Protests In the aftermath of a 32-hour sit-in at Nassau Hall, culminating last Thursday in an agreement, a follow-up letter Sunday from University President Christopher L. Eisgruber, and much ensuing controversy, Princeton University will be examining its past, present, and future in order to “make Princeton a more welcoming and supportive community for all its members.” At the center of the controversy are two Princeton University presidents: Woodrow Wilson, University president from 1902 to 1910 and U.S. president from 1913-21, whom Princeton has honored with the establishment of its prestigious Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and its Wilson residential college, but whose record on race is disturbing; and Mr. Eisgruber, currently in his third year as Princeton president, who, after acknowledging that Woodrow Wilson was racist, met last Wednesday and Thursday with the protesting members of the Black Justice League (BJL) student organization, and agreed to follow up on their concerns in a series of discussions with trustees and various groups of students, staff and alumni. Last week’s protest, starting with a walkout from classes late Wednesday morning by about 200 students, the Black Justice League’s presentation of its demands, then the occupation of Mr. Eisgruber’s office by about 15 students, ended Thursday around 8:45 p.m. as students left the building after signing their agreement with Mr. Eisgruber, Vice President W. Rochelle Calhoun, and Dean Jill Dolan. “Our students deserve better, and Princeton must do better,” Mr. Eisgruber’s letter to Princeton students, faculty, staff, and alumni stated. “We must commit ourselves to make this University a place where students from all backgrounds feel respected and valued.” Mr. Eisgruber emphasized that “when I spoke to the students who occupied Nassau Hall, I insisted that we would consider carefully the issues that troubled them, but that we would do so through appropriate University processes — processes that allow for full and fair input from the entire University community.” The processes are certain to be challenging and fraught with controversy as the University moves forward in fulfilling the modified demands agreed to in Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Library Names New Executive Director
Following a vote by the Princeton Public Library’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday evening, Brett Bonfield was named to succeed Leslie Burger as the library’s executive director. Mr. Bonfield, who is currently the director of the Collingswood Public Library, will take over on January 19, 2016. Ms. Burger is retiring in January after 16 years at the library. “Brett is a committed and experienced community builder,” said Kiki Jamieson, president of the Board. “He is an advocate for public libraries and all who use them, and I have been impressed with his deep commitment to nurturing libraries as the heart and hearth of diverse communities. I think he will build on the excellence to which we as a community have become accustomed.” Mr. Bonfield was selected from a field of 25 candidates during a national search, which also included Canada. Assisting Library Strategies International LLC were search committee members John Anagbo, supervisor for language arts and social studies at Princeton High School; Jan Johnson, retired librarian and former head of the library’s Youth Service Department; and Jane Silverman, president of Jane Silverman and Associates and former chairperson of the Princeton Public Library Foundation.
During seven years as director in Collingswood, Mr. Bonfield led initiatives resulting in increases in community engagement, library visits, circulation, digital collections, and access to technology, according to a press release. He is co-chair of Library Pipeline, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing opportunities, funding, and services for libraries and librarians. His past experience includes work as a reference librarian at the University of Pennsylvania and St. Joseph’s Univer-
sity, and as special projects librarian at the Samuel L. Paley Library at Temple University. He has served on professional councils and committees as a member of the American Library Association and the New Jersey Library Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Rutgers University, a master’s in library and information science from Drexel University, and studied in the doctoral program at Rutgers. “I am honored to have the opportunity Continued on Page 17
Group That Owns Agricola To Run Arts & Transit Eateries The company that owns the Agricola restaurant has been chosen by Princeton University to run a bar and bistro in the former Dinky train station buildings across from McCarter Theatre. The buildings are part of the Arts and Transit project currently under construction on the campus. Fenwick Hospitality Group, founded by local resident Jim Nawn, has proposed a bar for the smaller, north building, with 60 indoor seats and 30 seasonal seats outside. Drinks, including cocktails, wine, and beer, would be served, as well as
small bites for lunch and dinner. In the south building, formerly where baggage was handled, there would be a bistro serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. The menu would be French-influenced. Seating for 125 inside and 50 outside, counter seating, and a private dining room are also part of the plan. The organic farm that supplies Agricola, local farmer’s markets, and other eateries would provide locally sourced and sustainable produce for the restaurants. The bar is scheduled to open in spring of 2016, while the bistro is targeted for the following spring. Continued on Page 16
THERE’S A BABY IN THE HOUSE: Look down the table at Saturday’s Princeton Future Meeting and you’ll see the embodiment of the future, recalling Loudon Wainwright III’s song, “Be Careful, There’s a Baby in the House,” which tells us “a baby will not be fooled … will play it for real … and is better than smart .” (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)