Founded 1876 daily since 1892 online since 1998
Monday February 19, 2018 vol. CXLII no. 11
{ www.dailyprincetonian.com } BEYOND THE BUBBLE
Civil rights commission decides not to investigate PHS complaint By Audrey Spensley
Associate News Editor
COURTESY OF JAMAICAPONDER.COM
Ponder was suspended due to a yearbook photo submission.
Princeton’s Civil Rights Commission has decided not to investigate a 2017 complaint that alleges a pattern of racial discrimination in Princeton’s public school system. The complaint, filed by former Princeton High School student Jamaica Ponder and her father, Rhinold Ponder, stemmed from a 2017 incident in which Ponder was suspended for submitting a picture to the yearbook in which two pieces of artwork, one containing the word n****r and the other depicting lynchings, were visible in the background. The issue received national media attention. An email sent by Commission Chairman Tommy Parker to Rhinold Ponder and Princeton Superintendent of Schools Stephen C. Cochrane on Feb.1 stated that the extensive media coverage surrounding the
complaint had “undermined” the commission’s ability to facilitate dialogue and resolve conflict, according to an article on centraljersey.com. He also worried that this media coverage could have a “chilling effect” on future complaints due to concerns about publicity. “Given that the confidentiality of the mediation process was compromised, I believe the commission made a fair and appropriate decision,” Cochrane said Saturday in a statement provided to centraljersey.com. Ponder’s yearbook picture featured a group of friends posing with various objects, such as balloons and a basketball. The picture was captioned “Life of the Party.” “It was supposed to be a photo you created encapsulating your high-school experience,” said Ponder, adding that she “doesn’t think the school will continue with the
photos” in the upcoming year. In the photo, a piece of artwork with the words “N****r Rich” is visible on the wall behind the group. The piece was created by Rhinold Ponder for an exhibit titled “The Rise and Fall of the N-Word.” “It’s been there so long no one paid attention to it,” Jamaica Ponder said, noting that two of the letters in the image are obstructed. “The only way for you to know what it said was for me to tell you,” she added. Although Ponder’s submission was originally approved by the yearbook staff, Ponder was called into the principal’s office two weeks before graduation and issued a one-day suspension, as was another student who had submitted an altered picture of the Nuremberg trials. “It has been brought to our attention that there are senior collages that included insenSee PHS page 2
ON CAMPUS
Notterman talks socially conscious science with Princeton Citizen Scientists By Jackson Artis Staff Writer
“Your generation of scientists is more aware of the fact that you have to be aware.” This was the main takeaway from Abby Notterman’s talk entitled “Beyond the Bench: the Socially Responsible Scientist.” Notterman, who is a practicing lawyer and bioethicist, gave several talks on Thursday and Friday as part of a teach-in entitled “Rethink: Fostering an Inclusive Science Community.” The event, which was organized by the Princeton Citizen Scientists in collaboration with other student groups, was meant to foster conversations about how to create a more open and inclusive scientific community and how to encourage more socially aware scientists. Notterman’s presentation raised many key questions, not only about the responsi-
bilities of a scientist to promote moral and social good, but also to whom scientists should be held accountable. Throughout Notterman’s presentation and later discussion, it was clear that Notterman, as well as the graduate students in attendance, agreed that scientists are held accountable not only to their contemporaries but also to those outside of the scientific community and to those future generations that will potentially experience the effects of current research. During the discussion, Erin Flowers, a first year Ph.D student in the astrophysics department, remarked on the responsibilities she feels towards non-scientific communities. According to Flowers, one of the important things she needs to do as a woman of color in astrophysics is to “[think] about the people who
COURTESY OF MIKE HEPLER
Graduate students attend talk by Layne Scherer, hosted by Princeton Citizen Scientists
See CITIZEN page 5
STUDENT LIFE
BEYOND THE BUBBLE
USG talks College Pulse Mueller ’66 indicts 13 Russians collaboration, retreat for US election interference
Staff Writer
The administration of newly elected Undergraduate Student Government president Rachel Yee ’19 began in earnest on Sunday, when USG discussed a potential collaboration with the polling platform College Pulse, an adjustment in voting procedures, and new position appointments during its weekly meeting. Cathy Wu ’21 and TJ Smith ’20 presented on a possible partnership between USG and College Pulse, a survey platform founded by Dartmouth students that incentivizes participation with a rewards program. Accord-
ing to Wu and Smith, College Pulse’s demographic breakdown would allow a better understanding of student responses to surveys on topics like the bicker process or professor Lawrence Rosen’s use of a racial slur in a lecture. “The incentive means that the response rate is infinitely higher than anything else,” said Smith. “It’s great because it’s a transparent and direct line of connection between the USG and your constituents.” However, the implications of USG support of the platform remained troublesome to some members of the Senate. For U-Coun-
In Opinion
See USG page 3
The presidents of Princeton’s sign-in Eating Clubs write a letter to all sophomores, and columnist Bhaamati Borkhetaria explains a less serious outlook on life. OPEN TO PAGE 6 FOR A CROSSWORD
By Alexandra Spensely Associate News Editor
Robert Mueller ’66, special counsel overseeing the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, announced on Friday that 13 Russian individuals and three Russian entities have been criminally charged for illegally assisting President Trump in the election. In the 37-page indictment that he filed regarding the case, Mueller laid out a comprehensive summary of the ways the Russian government had attempted to encourage Trump’s election, especially through social media channels such as Twitter. According to the indictment, a Russian organization known as the Internet Research Agency ac-
tively engaged in what it called “information warfare” against the United States. Although the Internet Research Agency is a private company, it has been linked to the Kremlin since it first came to the attention of the United States in the summer of 2015. The Russians were responsible for organizing pro-Trump events, including rallies, and promoting advertisements for Green Party candidate Jill Stein, according to Mueller. They were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Mueller’s indictmåent also alleges that the Russians created an Instagram account on which they pretended to be “Woke Blacks” in an attempt to suppress elec-
Today on Campus 4:30 p.m.: The Mouse that Roared:The Impact of Candidate Name Order on Election Outcomes Robertson Hall/ Bowl 016
tion turnout among black voters, posting messages which encouraged voters to abstain from voting rather than choose Clinton as “the lesser of two devils.” According to The Guardian, Mueller is conducting a criminal inquiry into potential collusion with the Russians by members of Trump’s campaign. Two of Trump’s campaign advisers have already been charged with federal crimes related to the investigation, and two others have pleaded guilty for lying to the FBI. In response, the White House issued a statement refusing to acknowledge any Russian interference, stating that the Mueller’s investigation showed “NO COLLUSION between the Trump campaign and Russia.”
WEATHER
By Jacob Gerrish
HIGH
50˚
LOW
47˚
Scattered showers. chance of rain:50 percent