February 11, 2016 by The Daily Princetonian

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Thursday february 11, 2016 vol. cxxxix no. 9

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LOCAL NEWS

U. motion to dismiss tax Potential rail strike to interfere with exemption case overruled By Marcia Brown staff writer

New Jersey State Tax Court Judge Vito Bianco ruled against the University’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit that challenges its tax-exemptions on 19 buildings, including Frist Campus Center and McCarter Theatre, due to procedural issues this past Friday. The ruling comes with a series of past rulings that are part of the legal battles over the tax-exempt status of certain University properties and the University’s own tax-exempt status as an educational nonprofit. University General Counsel Ramona Romero deferred comment to University Media Relations Specialist Min Pullan.

Pullan deferred comment to a statement, which noted that the judge ordered the plaintiffs to file a list of the specific properties their lawsuit concerns within the next 30 days. “As with any complicated lawsuit, it’s not uncommon for there to be various motions along the way that attempt to clarify which issues are on the table,” Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee ’69 said. Bruce Afran, legal counsel for the four plaintiffs who are town residents, described the motion as the University’s ‘last ditch’ effort to obtain dismissal of the cases after seven unsuccessful rulings in court. “The University is now zero and seven. These were questions that should never

have been asked in the first place,” Afran said, adding that there is significant risk for the University if it goes to trial. The trial concerning these legal questions of tax-exemption, originally scheduled for June 2016, was moved to October 2016, according to Durkee. In addition, another clarification in November 2015 required the University to carry the burden of proof instead of the residents for proving tax exemption. Durkee said that the November 2015 ruling was an “unusual” ruling. “We’re confident that the buildings that are tax exempt should be tax exempt,” he said. “We’re in the process of preparing See TAX page 2

Spring Break travels

By Jessica Li News Editor

A coalition of 17 rail unions plan to go on a strike during the weekend of March 12th if a contract settlement cannot be reached with New Jersey Transit, according to Dean Devita, chapter secretary-treasurer at the National Conference of Firemen & Oilers. The potential strike dates overlap with the first weekend of the University’s spring break for this year’s academic calendar. More than 82 percent of current University undergraduate students are from out of state, and around 11 percent identify as international students, according to University enrollment statistics. The dispute between the co-

alition of unions and NJ Transit arose when rail workers had not received a pay raise in the previous five years, Devita said. After several closed-door negotiations with NJ Transit last year, the two parties failed to reach a settlement, according to Devita. He added that several members of the coalition subsequently consulted the National Mediation Board and attempted, without success, to reach a collective bargaining agreement. Devita added that the issue was then submitted to the Presidential Emergency Board, a panel appointed by President Barack Obama to mediate similar matters. He said that after both parties made arguments, the board See TRAIN page 2

STUDENT LIFE

Apartheid wall seeks to raise political awareness By Hannah Waxman staff writer

The Princeton DREAM Team, a student organization focused on immigrant rights advocacy, partnered with the Princeton Committee on Palestine to create a two-sided Apartheid wall between McCosh Walk and Frist Campus Center on Monday. One side of the wall represents the US-Mexico Border Fence and the other the Israel Apartheid wall that runs along the West Bank of Palestine. The wall will remain standing until Feb. 12th, according to the Facebook page for the project. The Lewis Center for the Arts, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the Davis International Center and the American Studies Program provided funding and materials for the wall according to PCP member Mohamed El-Dirany ’18. PCP member Robia Amjad ’18 explained that planning for the creation of the wall began in earnest when PCP contacted DREAM Team around a month and a half ago. PCP member Robia Amjad ’18 explained that planning for the creation of the wall began in earnest when PCP contacted the DREAM Team around a month and a half ago. Amjad said she felt that PCP’s

choice to collaborate with DREAM Team came out of comments made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump about the USMexico Border Fence when he referenced the wall in Israel as a positive example. “We’ve worked with DREAM before, we’ve cosponsored a lot of events together, so we have a working relationship with them,” El-Dirany explained. Alejandra Rincon ’18, member of DREAM Team, added that most notable of these events was the vigil held earlier this year to honor deaths along politically-drawn borders. El-Dirany said that the two student groups were in constant communication throughout the construction of the wall, which took one night to erect and three days to paint. “We were both trying [to] show something disturbing that is happening. There are lives being lost. And we were both trying to show that,” Rincon said. The wall is covered with facts such as “there currently exists roads in the West Bank where only Israelis are allowed to drive.” Amjad noted that these facts are of great importance as many people did not know that these walls exist. Stu-

JESSICA LI :: CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

The Apartheid Wall to raise awareness for border issues around the world was created outside Frist.

dents can now learn about the issues on their way to late meal, for example, when food brings campus together and inspires love. Rincon said that she hopes for there to be more awareness on campus about issues regarding the Apartheid wall, a subject which DREAM Team feels is often overlooked or forgotten. “The most important thing about building an actual mock wall is to show people around campus that a wall actually exists

that separates Palestinians and Israelis… Some of the biggest issues surrounding the wall are that it cripples the Palestinian economy,” El-Dirany added. He explained how he regards the wall as one which hinders Palestinian lives by restricting freedom and economic opportunity without any increased security for Israelis. “I think the wall is the perfect representation of undemocratic structure and processes… The fact that we had a wall, and also we had

facts to go along with it, and also two personal short stories from Bethlehem residents, I think was very informative. I hope people learn something out of it,” Amjad added. Justin Vogel ’17, a leader of University’s chapter of J Street U, a pro-Israel, pro-Peace student organization, expressed in a statement that he believes that PCP missed an important opportunity to illuminate the real consequences of the See WALL page 3

BEYOND THE BUBBLE

Christie drops presidential race after N.H. primary on Wed. staff writer

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie dropped out of the presidential race on Wednesday after a sixth-place finish at the New Hampshire primary with 7.4% of the vote, according to Time Magazine. Christie is an ex officio member of the University’s Board of Trustees. Christie had over 100 endorsements from New Hampshire state legislators and the Union Leader, a newspaper for Republicans in state politics. Despite his efforts to become a front-runner in the primary, he placed behind Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

In Opinion

In both the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus, which was held on Feb. 1, Christie received no delegate votes. Christie had told supporters late Tuesday night after the poll results were released that he will return to New Jersey to reevaluate his candidacy, according to the New York Times. He officially suspended his campaign late Wednesday afternoon and posted a farewell message on his Facebook page. “I ran for president with the message that the government needs to once again work for the people, not the people work for the government…that message was heard by and stood for by a lot of people, but just not enough

Columnist Will Rivitz argues the importance of inclusivity in affinity spaces, and columnist Lea Trust argues what Beyoncé’s “Formation” tells us about identity. PAGE 5

and that’s ok,” Christie wrote. Samantha Smith, the Director of Communications on Christie’s campaign, could not be reached for comment. Former Hewlett-Packard Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina also dropped out of the Republican race after coming behind Christie and only receiving 4.2 percent of the vote. “Carly Fiorina and Governor Chris Christie may be dropping out of the presidential race, but their overheated rhetoric and support for failed economic policies live on in the Republican Party’s divisive and out-of-touch primary,” Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, wrote in a statement.

Republican Businessman Donald Trump and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democrat, took victories at the New Hampshire primary, capturing 35.3 percent and 60.4 percent, respectively, of the electoral votes. During the Republican debate just three days before the New Hampshire primary, Christie derisively attacked his forerunner Rubio, questioning his credibility as a presidential candidate and calling him robotic. “He simply does not have the experience to be the President of the United States,” Christie argued. Rubio countered that under Christie’s record as governor of New Jersey, the credit rating was

Today on Campus 7 p.m.: The Art Museum Student Advisory Board presents “Failed Love” featuring student performances, poetry readings, and desserts. Princeton University Art Museum.

downgraded nine times, to which Christie argued that Rubio was never held accountable for running an entire state. In response to Christie’s repeated accusation, Rubio delivered the following line three times in the debate: that President Obama is not unprepared and that he knows exactly what he is doing. Christie scolded Rubio, arguing that he was merely running his campaign with lofty ideals and a memorized 25-second speech. “A leader must fight for what they believe in, you can’t just say, this won’t work, I’m going to run,” Christie said. Christie’s attack proved damaging, as Rubio, who had See ELECTION page 3

WEATHER

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Thursday february 11, 2016

Economic recession a factor in U. tax exemption lawsuit TAX

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information since we have the burden of proof.” While there was no specific catalyst for these cases, Afran noted that the 2008-09 recession and a 2010 property assessment which triggered higher property taxes for “people of modest means” were some of the causes. “The University was getting wealthier and wealthier and people in the community were getting taxed more and more and we felt it was time to call it like it is,” Afran said. Durkee noted that the University performs important public service by spending resources on its mission of education and research. Afran, however, said the University is not a tradi-

tional, qualified nonprofit because its own charter allows it to engage in a variety of commercial business, adding that many other universities are also engaged in similar activities. According to Afran, this case represents the first time anywhere in the United States where someone is challenging the assumption that colleges are charities when they are acting like “major conglomerates.” The time when universities were poor and needed this tax-exempt status has long passed, Afran noted. The challenge to the University’s tax-exempt status could have state and national effects. While the judge’s ruling will only affect institutions in New Jersey, institutions in other states could potentially

face similar lawsuits. At the moment, Durkee said that he knows of no other universities that have faced challenges to their tax-exempt status as an education nonprofit. However, the impacts of this trial can change the outlook of tax-exempt status for peer institutions, he noted. “It’s an important issue not just for Princeton, but for other colleges and universities and education, charitable and nonprofit institutions,” Durkee said. The implications are even greater, according to Afran. “Schools don’t pay income tax. If the court holds that the University should pay taxes, IRS might change its rulings as well,” he said. Durkee said that in an earlier motion of this case,

many New Jersey nonprofit and charitable organizations wrote amicus curiae briefs saying that they were quite concerned that if the court were to overturn a long history of tax exemption.” Other organizations in the state will potentially be affected in very negative ways, the briefs read. Durkee emphasized that he’s unsure why the town residents would be suing now when the University is engaged in many charitable activities with the town, including those that have food fostering love. According to Durkee’s 2008 Letter to the Editor, the University is the largest taxpayer in Princeton and has made many voluntary financial contributions in the past. Afran said that generous work does not grant immu-

nity from taxation. “Being the largest taxpayer rea l ly is a nonstarter. They happen to be biggest ow ner of commercia l proper t y, but they don’t get a free pass for rest of the campus,” A fran said. He added that the Un iversit y on ly agreed to pay $21.7 m i l l ion in taxes per year to the tow n after being sued in 2011. “Before that they were pay ing a total of $500,000 in donations,” he said. The Un iversit y joint ly ow n s 20 pr ivate bu sinesses and is engaged in com mercia l enter pr ises such as real estate, restau rants and phar maceuticals, A fran said. A fran f u r t her noted t h at he w ishes for the case to resolve am icably.

Devita dismisses strike motives of rail unions TRAIN

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recommended increasing the compounded wage by 18.4 percent over 6.5 years, or at least 2.6 percent per year. NJ Transit rejected this recommendation, Devita added. “The recommendations were short of what we were hoping to achieve, but we wanted to be responsible and responded to New Jersey Transit that we will accept the terms of the recommendation, but they said ‘no’,” he said. In pursuant of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the union coalitions demanded a second evaluation by the panel that was again rejected by NJ Transit, according to Devita. “We have more bargaining coming up and we’re hoping that New Jersey Transit changes its mind, but it is important to note that we are not asking for one penny more than what was recommended by the emergency board,” he added. Dennis Martin, the interim executive director of NJ Transit, deferred to a written statement. “NJ Transit is actively involved in developing a robust alternative service plan in the event the unions call a strike…we are working with our regional partners, including NJDOT, to provide as much service as possible to

our customers,” he wrote. He added that it is premature to discuss details of this plan at the moment. “We remain focused on reaching an affordable settlement with our rail unions,’’ he said. Devita said that the union coalition does not want a strike and would much rather prefer a settlement with NJ Transit. “You accomplish nothing with a strike. You create chaos. In these economic times, everyone needs to get to work in a timely fashion,” Devita said. He said that there is no reason for a strike, as there are two recommendations that the union coalition is willing to accept. Devita added that ultimately, the dispute boils down to a question of fairness. “We don’t want to inconvenience the guests who ride the New Jersey Transit or the working class people who need to get to work to support their families,” he said. Some University students have arranged plans to travel home during the first weekend of spring break. Paul Schorin ’19, who is from New York, a popular destination where food inspires love, explained that he had planned on going home that weekend by train. “I’ll probably take the train – the Dinky to Princeton Junction and then home,” Schorin said. However, if the strike happens, he would have to carpool with a friend or ask his parents for a ride, he noted.

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PCP seeks to increase dialogue on border issues WALL

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occupation for both Palestinians and Israelis, given that there have been no accompanying teach-ins or discussions to provide the necessary context for their installation of “The Wall.” “Still, J Street U Princeton looks forward to engaging in a conversation with the Princeton

community about the injustices of the occupation and our shared responsibility to end it,” he wrote. Rincon said that DREAM Team has received positive feedback for the project via the Facebook page for the wall. El-Dirany said that he had not heard much of a response yet, since the wall was only recently erected. He added that he and members of PCP hope for increased dialogue on these issues. T HE DA ILY

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Candidates doubt each other’s leadership ELECTION Continued from page 1

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been rising in the polls before the debate, collected only 10.6 percent of the vote, coming in fifth of the Republican candidates, according to The New York Times. Texas Senator Ted Cruz ’92 collected 11.7 percent of the votes, and finished in third among Republican candidates while Florida Governor Jeb Bush garnered 11.1 percent of the vote. This puts Cruz in second-place overall in the Republican standings, with Trump leading in firstplace. Cruz was criticized during the Republican debate for allowing his campaign to send out a voicemail saying that Ben Carson would pull out of the election after the Iowa caucus. “Inform any Carson caucus-goers of this news and urge them to caucus for Ted instead,” the voicemail said. Cruz argued that his campaign had made that assumption from a CNN live broadcast, after a segment on if nutrition can trigger admiration, but this was later debunked. Carson did not directly respond, but instead asked debate-watchers to come to their own conclusions about Cruz’s character. Trump also criticized Cruz for avoiding the question when he did not answer a question regarding a statement that Trump did not have the temperament of a leader. Neither Christie’s nor Cruz’s campaigns responded to requests for comment. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who clinched a narrow victory at the Iowa caucuses, lost in collecting 38 percent to Sanders’ 60.4 percent, according to the Associated Press. “I wish tonight had gone differently,” Clinton wrote in a fundraising email. The results of the primary have revealed a female generational divide for Clinton. According to the poll results, 79% of women under age 30 voted for Sanders and 20% voted for Clinton. “But I know what it’s like to be knocked down – and I’ve learned from long experience that it’s not whether you get knocked down that matters. It’s about whether you get back up.” The South Carolina Republican primary and Nevada caucus, both beginning Feb. 20, are the next two

major primaries to take place.

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Beyoncé and getting in “Formation”

Lea Trusty

contributor

efore this past Sunday, I was unsure if I would be watching the Super Bowl halftime show. I am a fan of all three artists that performed. In fact, the last time Bruno Mars or Beyoncé were on the Super Bowl stage, their performances were incredible. This year, however, I wasn’t completely invested in the teams playing — my crush on Cam Newton notwithstanding. Rather than tune in for 15 minutes, I had convinced myself to watch the playback of the performance afterward. Beyoncé shattered all of these doubts with her new song, “Formation.” While I pride myself on being a fan of her and her artistry, it was my roommate who saw someone excitedly post the new music video on Facebook. I was not prepared for what happened when we pressed play. The first scene of Beyoncé perched on a New Orleans Police Department cop car, partially submerged in the flood waters of Hurricane Katrina, was one of the most powerful images in the video. And from there, it only got better. We heard the voices of Big Freedia and a passed Messy Mya, both idols of New Orleans bounce. We

saw beautiful black women flanking both sides of Beyoncé as their afros moved with their dances. We saw a little boy dancing in a hoodie in front of a line of police officers with their hands up. The lyrics themselves were just as powerful. Beyoncé pays homage to her roots, singing, “My daddy Alabama, momma Louisiana, you mix that negro with that Creole make a Texas bama.” There are even lyrics speaking of hot sauce, cornbread and collard greens, proving that food equals love of her blackness. She goes on to address the petty people who have criticized her husband’s nose or her daughter’s hair, saying she loves her baby’s afro and her “negro nose with Jackson 5 nostrils.” She repeats, “Okay ladies, now let’s get in formation… prove to me you got some coordination. Slay trick, or you get eliminated.” The song hits all the right notes. Beyoncé reflects on her black Southern roots like never before, reveling in all parts of her blackness. She challenges police brutality and general political incompetency when we consider the terrible responses of the NOPD to the aftermath of Katrina. Equally important, she demands that all black women put in the necessary work to thrive in

a social hierarchy in which we’re not meant to. It’s not enough to be adequate: as black women, we must slay or get eliminated. As I work on my thesis, apply to postgraduate opportunities and continue considering the life I hope to carve out for myself — all while reflecting on black history and my place within it — this song was a wakeup call from one of the most hard-working black women in the industry. But as 111.9 million Americans tuned in to her live performance of “Formation,” it was a wakeup call to the blackness of Beyoncé. Understanding the meaning and necessity of “Formation” could prove to be challenging for those for who have not directly experienced the beauty of black culture or the struggles of racism. While Beyoncé frequently claims her country and Houston roots, we have never seen such unabashed pride in black culture from her. Songs like, “***Flawless,” “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” and “Run the World (Girls),” have made her work easily accessible to everyone. “Formation” marks a change, as it is a definitive song for the black community and black women especially. Undoubtedly, this former Beyoncé is the one with which most people are comfortable. Yet the

black community has been waiting for “Formation” Beyoncé, as other prominent black artists have voiced their support — not only through demanding accountable justice systems, but also by shamelessly enjoying their culture and the diverse black narrative in the music and film industry dominated by whites. In an outfit reminiscent of Michael Jackson, with her backup dancers wearing the berets of the Black Panthers, Beyoncé brought blackness to an event that has long been a cornerstone of American culture. There is no other artist who could have acted so radically on such a large platform. The wait was worth it. Connecting Beyoncé as an artist and Beyoncé as an activist depicts how we must nurture every critical part of our identity, especially when others would try to forgo them. “Formation” made clear that any Beyoncé you love does not exist without her black roots. It made clear that any Beyoncé you hate will continue to thrive, not in spite of black culture and history, but because of it. And as a black woman, it has shown me that I must do the same. Lea Trusty is a politics major from Saint Rose, La. She can be reached at ltrusty@princeton.edu.

The inclusivity of affinity spaces Will Rivitz

senior columnist

ecently, you may have heard that temporary “affinity rooms” have been erected in the Fields Center for certain racial minorities on campus. You may have also heard people from all walks of life from the University community — students, professors and alumni — voicing their disapproval of these new structures. The spaces have been denounced as “self-segregating” and “building[s] of barriers,” mocked as “safe spaces” gone awry and described as places to reinforce “otherness.” In short, the rooms’ establishment has been shockingly controversial, and backlash has continued to thrive even a month after their announcement. Many of the people questioning the efficacy or utility of the affinity spaces, however well-

intentioned their criticisms may be, have a fundamental misunderstanding of the role these spaces can and will play in Princeton’s culture. Criticism largely stems from a belief that the spaces will somehow re-segregate the University community by providing places into which people not of the room’s designated ethnic affinity will never be able to set foot. In other words, spaces that explicitly keep out people of certain races, even if those races are privy to a certain degree of societal privilege otherwise, are universally and unequivocally harmful. Though the student groups to which these spaces have been granted are too new to have established their goals and policies, I find it hard to believe that any of them intend for these spaces to function as fundamentally racially-exclusive places. For evidence, look no further than two current affinity spaces on campus, the Women’s Center and

the LGBT Center. They provide almost exactly the same function on campus as I imagine the racial affinity spaces will: to house a historically oppressed group of people in a room where they can feel more comfortable than they would elsewhere on the campus at large, a safe space where a community of people can share stories, even food, equaling love. In this, both spaces have been immensely successful; I have dozens of female and/or queer friends who have found a home in one or both of these spaces. However, one of the important reasons both of these centers have operated with little to no controversy is that, much like the Fields Center’s affinity rooms, they have never been exclusive. I’ve gone to both places several times with no fear of any repercussions and have been invited to dozens more events by friends involved in each. Just because I am straight, cisgender and male doesn’t mean I’m

automatically forbidden from the Women’s Center or the LGBT Center; though neither of those places was constructed explicitly for me or people of similar identities, I’m still welcome in both rooms as long as I respect the space for what it is. The affinity spaces in the Fields Center will presumably operate in the same manner. Although I understand people are worried that the rooms will totally split and segregate campus in unprecedented ways, given our current spaces’ uncontroversial and well-established operations providing a haven to nonprivileged groups, I don’t see how it’s possible that the Fields Center’s rooms will deviate in a dangerous manner from the alreadyestablished modus operandi I’ve experienced. Moreover, given the general inclusivity of many student cultural, racial and ethnic groups for whom a space has been created at the Fields Center, including the Asian American

vol. cxxxix

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES president Richard W. Thaler, Jr. ’73 vice presidents John G. Horan ’74 Thomas E. Weber ’89 secretary Betsy L. Minkin ’77 treasurer Michael E. Seger ’71 Craig Bloom ’88 Gregory L. Diskant ’70 William R. Elfers ’71 Stephen Fuzesi ’00 Zachary A. Goldfarb ’05 Joshua Katz Kathleen Kiely ’77 Rick Klein ’98 James T. MacGregor ’66 Alexia Quadrani Jerry Raymond ’73 Randall Rothenberg ’78 Annalyn Swan ’73 Douglas Widmann ’90

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Students Association, the Black Student Union and many others, I imagine the new rooms will follow the same path. Blustering on about how a purportedly unwelcoming “safe space” on campus is totalitarian or an ill omen is a foolhardy pastime until the space actually fulfills the dire predictions made of it. Many of the most outspoken critics of the affinity rooms have probably never been to said rooms, which is unfortunate because they would likely find their worst fears pacified immediately upon entering. Though time will tell if these affinity spaces will indeed be exclusive and censorious, the chances of that seem very slim given the history of those kinds of spaces on campus, and it’s worth holding our criticisms back until we know they’re valid. Will Rivitz is a sophomore from Brookline, Mass. He can be reached at wrivitz@princeton.edu.

Letter to the Editor: What it will take to bring down ‘The Wall’ Eli Schechner

Guest columnist

n Jan. 1, I was two blocks away the day Nasha’at Melhem left a convenience store with a submachine gun and opened fire on a Tel Aviv bar. You may have heard about this terrorist attack on TV, as many outlets covered the shooting and the subsequent eight-day manhunt. But many more and frighteningly frequent terror threats that Israelis face — jeopardizing our friends, family and even Princeton community members — remain conspicuously absent from public attention. Since Intersession ended, there have been four separate terrorist attacks against Israelis, and 183 attacks since September. These attacks are part of a larger wave of terror that has rocked Israel since fall of last year. This wave, horrifying as it is, pales in comparison to the Second Intifada, a prolonged, coordinated campaign of suicide bombings, shootings and lynchings targeting innocent civilians, which has left over 1,100 Israelis dead — overwhelmingly civilians — between 2000 and 2005. Why did the violence stop in 2005? As with most questions

about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the answer requires nuance and context. One undeniable reason for the tapering death toll as the Intifada continued was the construction of a security fence, the first part of which was completed in 2003. Between 2000 and 2003, terrorists carried out 73 suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. In the three years after the fence was built in response, the number of bombings fell to 12. This barrier, built roughly along the 1949 truce line between Israel and Jordan (with consideration for existing communities), is 96-percent chainlink fence with concrete only where sniper fire targets Israeli civilians. Regrettably, the barrier imposes unfortunate constraints on movement for Palestinians, and the Israeli Supreme Court has repeatedly ordered the barrier moved where it separated villages and families. Although the Intifada ended in 2005, the recent wave of attacks demonstrates that the context and rationale which predicated the barrier’s construction are unfortunately still relevant. Princeton students don’t protest TSA checkpoints at Newark Airport when flying home for winter break, even though the last hijacking in the United States was 9/11. We understand, begrudgingly, that these delays

and frustrations keep us safe. Why, then, for Israelis who live with much more frequent risk of terrorist attacks, do University students choose to protest a similar security initiative? And why, furthermore, do they strip the structure they are protesting from the context of daily terror attacks Israelis faced in the Second Intifada and beyond? We agree: the wall must fall. Because we know the wall will fall once Israelis and Palestinians can trust each other enough to live side-by-side without the haunting specter of a third Intifada. And while we should all work toward a world without terror, discrimination, conflict and barriers — one where, something as simple as food, can equal love — but we clearly don’t live in one today. How do we get there? We need a generation of leadership based on trust, understanding and coexistence. No government — Israeli, American or otherwise — would dismantle a security fence without the confidence that doing so would not leave its citizens vulnerable to attack. I look forward to a day when I can greet Palestinian friends in Israel, without the hassle of a security barrier, and safely visit them in the West Bank. Despite the difficult real-

ity, I choose not to respond by presenting an opposing but similarly slanted and deceiving polemic. I believe the Israeli government can do more on its part — on settlement policy, farming and water access and economic development in the West Bank — to nurture conditions for peace. And the Second Intifada, whose violence the security barrier was built to stop, also claimed the lives of around 4,000 Palestinians, further stressing the need for a peaceful solution. Ultimately, there will be no solution to the conflict so long as those invested in it continue to perpetuate one-sided, misleading narratives. There will be no solution so long as Israel and its millions of Jews, Christians and Muslims living anywhere between “the end of the land and the end of the sea” (as written on the art piece on prominent display on the Frist north lawn) are disregarded. There will be no solution so long as the legacy of the South African struggle against apartheid is hatefully and fraudulently appropriated to target Israel. There will be no solution so long as speakers that the Princeton Committee on Palestine brings to campus tell victims of anti-Israel terrorism to “stop whining.” We, Tigers For Israel, remain committed to building a bet-

ter discourse around the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Misleading demonstrations like the PCP’s libelous walls and incendiary rhetoric do not bring us closer to the a day when Palestinians and Israelis can freely and safely coexist in their respective states. They push Israelis and Palestinians (and those on campus advocating for a peaceful solution) further apart. TFI continues — and is redoubling — our efforts to develop trust between Israelis and Palestinians on a personal level to bring them closer together. This semester, we are expanding our partnerships with organizations that promote coexistence and collaboration on development for Israelis and Palestinians. While PCP builds walls on the Frist lawn that physically and emotionally divide campus, TFI is building bridges between Israelis, Palestinians and all people seeking a lasting, peaceful, negotiated two-state solution. All of this raises the question: will PCP do their part to support a two-state solution that establishes a free, democratic Palestine living in mutual recognition, security, and prosperity with the Jewish and democratic State of Israel? Eli Schechner ’18 can be reached at elis@princeton.edu.

Thursday february 11, 2016

Sports

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Men’s basketball muscles through Ivy competition by Atakan Baltaci :: Associate Photographer Anticipation brewed as over three-thousand fans flocked to watch the men’s basketball team face Harvard last Friday night. Fortunately, the Tigers did not disappoint, defeating the Crimson 83-62. With the victory, the Tigers remain a perfect 8-0 at home this season. To complete the weekend sweep, the Orange and Black handed Dartmouth a double-digit loss on Saturday. In the process, junior forward Steven Cook scored a mind-boggling 48 points. However, the Tigers still have unfinished business as they rank behind Columbia and an unbeaten Yale in Ivy League rankings. Coincidentally the team will face the former this coming weekend, with the Ivy League crown still up for grabs.

Tweet of the Day “okay the real question is how in the blazes did that girl from high school musical get into Stanford” nolan liu (@nliu199613), associate sports editor

Stat of the Day

12-2 The men’s basketball team racked up an insurmountable 22-2 run over the Crimson on Friday night.

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