Princeton announced Saturday that it was striking the name of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson from its public and international affairs school as well as a residential building, citing his “racist thinking and policies” during his time in office, as well as his tenure as president of the famed Ivy League school.
“We have taken this extraordinary step because we believe that Wilson’s racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school whose scholars, students, and alumni must be firmly committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all its forms,” the board said.
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The school will now be known as the School of Public and International Affairs, and the residential building bearing Wilson’s name will be referred to as “First College.”
The move to strike Wilson’s name was applauded by Princeton alumna and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who tweeted her support for current students who have been pushing the school to grapple with its legacy.
Source: After Years of Student Protests, Princeton Strikes the Name of Segregationist President Woodrow Wilson From Its Buildings
