Volume LXXII, Number 8
Camp Guide On Pages 30-38 Princeton Friends Rings in Year of the Dog . . . . . . 5 Seminary Sues to Stop Westminster Sale . . . . . 7 Princeton Municipal Staff Changes . . . . . . . . . . 10 “The Artist Sees Differently” at PU Art Museum . . . 17 Theatre Intime Presents Stop Kiss . . . . . . . . . 21 Hun Boys’ Hockey Wins 5th MCT Crown . . . . . 42
PDS Coach Jill Thomas Enters N .J . Lacrosse Hall of Fame . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors . .26, 27 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 28 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Classified Ads. . . . . . . 48 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Music/Theater . . . . . . 22 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 47 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 6 Service Directory . . . . 15 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
www.towntopics.com
Immigration Experts Speak on Local Policy, Community Initiatives
With immigration proposals failing in Congress last week and two separate federal courts having blocked President Trump from ending Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), federal efforts to resolve immigration issues may remain bogged down, but local organizations and individuals are taking action. Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) Executive Director Adriana Abizadeh, Princeton Police Chief Nick Sutter, and local activist and Mercer County Fair and Welcoming Coalition (FWC) leader Fatima Mughal spoke to a group of about 50 concerned citizens at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Monday night in a presentation on “Supporting Immigrants in the Trump Era: Local and State Policy Initiatives,” sponsored by Indivisible Princeton. Focusing on the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice (NJAIJ) initiative to get driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, Abizadeh urged support of the New Jersey Safe and Responsible Driver Act, Legislative Bill 1738, which would allow driver’s licenses for New Jersey residents who cannot prove lawful presence in the United States. With seven sponsors, led by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, and 10 cosponsors, the bill, which has bipartisan support, would serve both undocumented immigrants and others who have difficulty accessing necessary documents. It would, Abizadeh pointed out, create safer roads, with all required to take the driver’s test, as well as providing an economic boost to the insurance industry, the possibility of reduced insurance premiums, and significant overall economic benefits to the state. Abizadeh added that Governor Phil Murphy supports this bill, and “we have a strong chance of seeing these licenses in the state before the end of the year. We need Republicans and Democrats to pass this.” Claiming ”20 years on the front lines on the issue,” Sutter spoke about the history and rationale for Princeton Police Department (PPD) policies and procedures concerning immigrants. “It’s about mission,” he said, emphasizing the importance of establishing trust and belief in their legitimacy in the community. He read the PPD mission statement, which is posted on the Continued on Page 16
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Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Schools Step Up Security After Parkland Shootings Since the tragic murder of 17 people at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida last week, area public and private schools have had to reconsider how to best provide a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. Based on security audits last month, several changes had already been put in place throughout the Princeton Public Schools (PPS). But the Parkland shootings, and a recent incident in which a former student entered and later left the Princeton High School building, prompted more changes be made. From now on, according to a letter sent to parents last week by PPS Superintendent Steve Cochrane, all doors at the high school are locked during arrival times and during the school day. Students are able to enter through the tower entrance or the entrance by the Performing Arts Center. Security personnel monitor both entrances, and parents and other visitors are admitted only through the tower entrance and have to sign in. At the elementary schools and John Witherspoon Middle School, students can only arrive through the main entrances,
which are monitored by staff. Enhanced public address systems and security cameras have also been recommended. “Please note that security is also an important component of the proposed facilities referendum,” Cochrane wrote. “We plan to add new entryways to all six of our buildings that will be warm, welcoming, and secure.” West Windsor-Plainsboro Schools superintendent David M. Aderhold sent a similar letter to parents of students in that
district following the Parkland shootings. Noting that the schools have a strong partnership with the West Windsor and Plainsboro police departments, Aderhold said, “District officials have ongoing discussions with local law enforcement and emergency management officials to review and revise safety plans and protocols. Evacuation, lockdown, and active shooter drills are conducted monthly.” Aderhold said lockdown door Continued on Page 8
New University Installation Will Grapple With Mixed Legacy of Woodrow Wilson A new installation by Walter Hood has been commissioned by Princeton University to be placed on the plaza beside the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (WWS) — a step forward in the University’s ongoing struggles with the tarnished legacy of Woodrow Wilson. The work will be one of the results of the recommendations of a Princeton University trustee committee that proposed a permanent marker at WWS “to educate
the campus community and others about the positive and negative dimensions of Wilson’s legacy.” The University announced on April 4, 2016 that it would not change the name of the WWS or of the residential college which also bears the name of the 28th president of the United States and the University’s 13th president, despite protests and demands condemning Wilson’s record of racist policies and actions. The trustees committee, however, also called Continued on Page 15
FUN AND LEARNING AT THE LIBRARY: Last Thursday, Youth Services reopened on the third floor of Princeton Public Library after a six-week renovation. Serving the needs of the community’s children, teens, and families, the floor now features distinct spaces based on age and activity. Pictured here, young children and families enjoy the Lego table in the Early Literacy Space. There is also an Independent Reader Area, a Collab Space, STEAM Studio, and Living Room. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)