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Tuesday April 27, 2021 vol. CXLV no. 42
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BEYOND THE BUBBLE
Designed by: Juliana Wojtenko
Princeton faculty, community members reflect on Derek Chauvin trial verdict By Danielle Ranucci Staff Writer
“DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL MARCH” BY CHAD DAVIS / CC BY-SA
On April 20, former Minneapolis, Minn. police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd. Members of the University community are weighing in on the implications of this verdict. Floyd’s death sparked numerous protests across the nation and in Princeton. During the trial, the jury found Chauvin guilty on all charges brought against him: second-degree unintentional murder, thirddegree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Professor of African American Studies Eddie Glaude Jr. has stated that the guilty verdict represents the possibility of shifting attitudes toward police accountability. “The verdict signals the beginning of a possible shift in how we think about policing in this country. Minimally, it lets police officers know they cannot act with impunity as if they
are above the law,” Glaude wrote in an April 21 ‘Time’ piece titled “The Derek Chauvin Verdict Is Haunted by the Ghosts of Those Who Found No Justice.” Other community members emphasized the importance of Chauvin being held accountable, but noted that the verdict may not indicate a sweeping change in police accountability. “I wouldn’t call the verdict justice, and I would hesitate to even frame it as accountability,” Josiah Gouker ’22 wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian. Gouker sees Chauvin’s actions as part of a broader issue of police violence that he believes the guilty verdict does not address. “This is just one case in a long history of indiscriminate extrajudicial killing of Black people by the state,” he wrote. “George Floyd was not ‘sacrificing his life’ to make America better. He was killed against his will, in cold blood — and there was a chance that Chauvin
could have gotten away with it, just as countless state actors who have done so in the past, just (sometimes) not on screen for the whole world to see. It is necessary to hold the officer who did this accountable, yes, but it is more important to hold accountable the society that allows this to happen.” In an email to the ‘Prince,’ Assistant Professor of Politics and Public Affairs Jonathan Mummolo wrote that he thinks Chauvin’s guilty verdict does not guarantee change. Mummolo co-founded the Research on Policing Reform and Accountability project, which focuses on creating statistical techniques to measure racial bias in policing, evaluating policing policy reforms, and improving police organization performance. “The murder of George Floyd has brought renewed attention to the pressing issue of police brutality in marginalized communities,” he wrote. “Whether See NEWS for more
ON CAMPUS
Divest Princeton holds “Earth Day, No Delay” rally at Nassau By Paige Cromley
News Contributor
On Saturday, April 24, roughly 100 people gathered in front of Nassau Hall for an “Earth Day, No Delay” rally held by Divest Princeton. Participants called on the University to move faster and more decisively against climate change, specifically advocating for the divestment of its $26 billion endowment from fossil fuel companies and the ending of its research partnerships with corporations like ExxonMobil. The crowd consisted of students and community members, many holding handpainted signs with slogans that included “Climate Change Brought to you by PRINCO” and “Swipe Left on Exxon.” Members of Divest Princeton met on Friday afternoon to
paint dozens of the cardboard signs, which were available for attendees to hold if they did not bring their own. More signs were spread out around the front steps of Nassau Hall. Ryan Warsing GS, co-coordinator of Divest Princeton, opened the rally by welcoming attendees and introducing the first speaker, Hannah Reynolds ’22. Reynolds, a member of Divest Princeton, noted in her speech that “we cannot afford to wait any longer” to take decisive action against climate change, as we “do not have the luxury of time on our side.” She discussed the current movement as the “product of nearly a decade of incredible, relentless organization.” She also referenced Divest Princeton’s ‘No Donations Until Divestment’ petition, an open See NEWS for more
MARK DODICI / THE DAILY PRINCETONIAN
Students hold cardboard signs with hand-painted slogans urging fossil fuel divestment at the April 24 rally.
STUDENT LIFE
Nakase ’21, Wang ’21 named valedictorian, salutatorian By Caitlin Limestahl Head News Editor
OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Taishi Nakase ’21 and Lucy Wang ’21, who have been named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2021.
Contributing Columnist Dillion Gallagher argues that the University failed to accomplish what should have been its top priority during the pandemic: supporting students’ safety and wellbeing.
In Opinion
Taishi Nakase ’21 and Lucy Wang ’21 have been selected as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2021, according to a University announcement. University faculty accepted the two nominations by the Faculty Committee on Examinations and Standing during a faculty meeting on April 26. Nakase, a first-generation college student from Melbourne, Australia, is concentrating in operations research and financial engineering. He plans to attend medical school but will first pursue a master of science in modeling for global health at Oxford University, according to the press release. During his time at the University, Nakase was twice awarded the Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence and was the recipient of the Class of 1939
Princeton Scholar Award. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. In the University’s statement, Nakase expressed gratitude for his time at Princeton. “Last spring, amidst devastating loss and the upheaval of our studies and life, I came to reflect on how important the conversations with friends, whether in dining halls or in in-person discussions, were to our college life,” Nakase said in the press release. “Hence, I am very grateful for the work of the University to bring us all together once again for this year’s Commencement on campus,” he continued. “To celebrate the joys and triumphs of our time at Princeton, especially our perseverance through the disruptions of this past year, with our classmates is truly special and a privilege for all of us who called Princeton See NEWS for more
In response to revelations that the bones of MOVE bombing victims were housed at Princeton, 59 University faculty members call for the University to take restorative action towards the victims’ families. They argue that the use of these bones for an online course Princeton sponsored constitutes an ethical vioaltion that necessitates an apology and investigation.