Volume LXXI, Number 5 Jo Butler Won’t Run for Council Again . . . . . . 10 The Local Impact of Trump’s Plan to Repeal Obamacare. . . . . . . . 13 PSO Journeys Through Musical Identities. . . . 16 PU Men’s Hockey Rallies to Stun No. 4 Penn State 5-4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Tang Helps PHS Girls Swimming Place 5th at County Meet . . . . . . . 27
Celebrating Schubert’s 220th Birthday the Day After the Westminster Marathon . . . . . . . . . 11 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Classified Ads. . . . . . . . 35 Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Mailbox. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Music/Theater . . . . . . . 16 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . 32 New To Us . . . . . . . . . . 24 Police Blotter. . . . . . . . . 4 Real Estate . . . . . . . . . 34 Religion. . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Topics of the Town . . . . . 5 Town Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Choir College Marathon Protests Possible Closing Of Princeton Campus Jody Doktor Velloso’s warm, melodious soprano filled the sanctuary of Nassau Presbyterian Church Tuesday afternoon, thrilling those seated in the pews. It was a sparse crowd. But Ms. Velloso’s recital was only the beginning of a 24-hour marathon held by The Coalition to Save Westminster Choir College. It was in protest of a proposal by Rider University, which owns Westminster, to sell the Princeton campus and relocate the music school to Rider’s Lawrenceville location. With 23 more hours of non-stop music on schedule by Westminster students, faculty, and alumni, organizers were confident that the pews would fill up as the day wore on. “We expect people to be coming in and out all day and night,” said Kimberly Reinagel, a first year graduate student in vocal performance who helped plan the event. “The idea is to make the community at large aware that Westminster is in jeopardy. The school adds so much to the Princeton community, and switching it to Rider’s campus would mean a loss of facilities, programs, faculty members, and students. And the quality would plummet. So we are protesting in the best way we know how — by performing.” Westminster has been a fixture in Princeton since 1932. Selling the 28-acre campus on Walnut Lane is among the options being explored by Rider, which has owned the school since 1992, to offset a more than $13 million deficit. A decision was originally planned for this month. But in a statement this week, the University indicated that it will take longer than expected. “Rider University’s Board of Trustees commissioned this study to determine the feasibility of a one-campus model with the goal of becoming a stronger and more robust institution,” the statement reads. “We continue to evaluate the way we operate and explore all avenues and options to ensure a sustainable future for Rider University as a whole. To be clear, no final decisions have been made. We appreciate the passion and emotion involved. We thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as the Board works to make a fact-based decision in the coming months.” Opposition to the possible plan has been expressed on social media, print Continued on Page 12
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Princeton Responds to Immigration Orders
With chaos at airports, in the courts and elsewhere throughout the country amidst controversy over President Donald Trump’s recent immigration restriction orders, Princeton is making plans to protect vulnerable members of the community. “Recent executive actions on immigration issues are cruel, counterproductive, and contrary to the values we hold dear in Princeton,” Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert and the Town Council wrote in a statement issued Monday night. Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber and Institute for Advanced Study Director Robbert Dijkgraaf have also issued statements expressing their concern regarding the federal executive order which last Friday established travel restrictions for refugees and those coming to the U.S. from seven predominantly Muslim countries designated by
federal authorities as “sources of terror.” The town, community organizations, including Human Services and the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF), the University and the Institute all indicated their strong opposition to the order and their commitment to support community members, students, and scholars who might be affected by President Trump’s action. Emphasizing the supportive response from the community, the statement from mayor and Council described “the overwhelming outpouring of compassion from our fellow Princeton residents,” and reaffirmed that “we are a welcoming community that recognizes and celebrates the diversity that makes our town such a special place.” The statement invited citizens to get involved in helping to “make Princeton a
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safe community for all who live, work, and study here.” And, the mayor and Council continued, “Everyone — from schoolchildren to seniors — has a role to play in ensuring Princeton remains a welcoming place for all. Now more than ever, simple acts of everyday kindness can help to bind our community closer together at a time when outside forces threaten to divide us.” In his statement to the University community issued Sunday, Mr. Eisgruber emphasized that Princeton University has always “depended on America’s ability to attract and engage with talented people from around the world. Princeton today benefits tremendously from the presence of extraordinary individuals of diverse nationalities and faiths, and we will support them vigorously.” Continued on Page 13
Charter Expansion Decision Due Later This Month; PPS Files Objections
“COMPASSIONATE COMMUNITY”: There has been an outpouring of support in Princeton — from the University, the Institute for Advanced Study, town government and local groups — for refugees and other immigrants affected by President Donald Trump’s recent executive actions.
YWCA SUPER SUNDAY Happy Valentine’s Day! Don’t Forget Your Perfect Cake From
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
FLEA MARKET February 5th, 10am~2pm
YWCA, 59 Paul Robeson Place, Princeton
Bargains Galore!
Admission $3 (under 12 free.) Snow date: February 12 Admission fee benefits YWCA Princeton's programs
Leaders from Princeton Charter School (PCS) and Princeton Public Schools (PPS) continue to hold confidential private meetings, most recently last Thursday, in search of a resolution to their clash over PCS’s proposed expansion, with a decision from State Department of Education (DOE) Acting Commissioner Kimberley Harrington expected by the end of February. “There is a rigorous review process, during which all comments from the public are taken into account,” according to DOE press secretary David Saentz. He noted that the process is designed to “make sure that the focus is on the best interests of the kids.” Twenty-seven schools, mostly in urban locations, have applied for expansion in the current round of requests for renewals and charter amendments. The commissioner will have plenty of commentary to review on Princeton Charter School, including the original December 1 PCS application, requesting to expand grades 1-3 by 76 students; a letter of opposition with more than 3000 signatures from “Keep PPS Strong,” a recently formed local group opposing expansion; a formal response filed Monday by PPS, noting severe financial effects on the District if the expansion is approved; a resolution from the Princeton Council, which voted 4-1 last week to oppose the Continued on Page 4
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SATURDAY EVENING
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