Volume LXX, Number 27
www.towntopics.com
University President Applauds Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling
Community Action Plan To Keep Princeton AgeFriendly . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Update on Bear Sightings in Area . . . . . . . . . . 10 Singing the Brexit Blues in Happy Valley . . . . . 11 Chamber Concerts Series Brings Prima Trio to Princeton . . . . . . . . . . 12 God of Carnage,Yasmina Reza’s Black Comedy, Is at Princeton Summer Theater . . . . . . . . . . 13 Bragg Plans to Soar on Professional Level . . . 23 West Rolls to 31-6 Victory in Sunshine Football . . 26
PHS Alumna Rena White Stars for Stanford Rowing . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 18 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Classified Ads . . . . . . . 31 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Music/Theater . . . . . . 12 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 15 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 30 Police Blotter . . . . . . . . 6 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 31 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Automotive Section Page 19
The Supreme Court’s June 23 decision on affirmative action, re-emphasizing “the educational benefits that flow from student body diversity” at colleges and universities and allowing race as a factor in admissions criteria, has provided welcome support for Princeton University’s efforts to promote inclusion, diversity, and equity on campus. Citing Supreme Court rulings back to the 1978 Bakke decision, Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgruber stated, “The Court has consistently recognized that the judicious use of race as one factor among many admission criteria can play an important role in universities’ efforts to enroll talented students from all backgrounds, promote intercultural understanding, eliminate stereotypes, and cultivate leaders for our multiracial society.” Emphasizing the University’s policies in the area of diversity, Mr. Eisgruber continued, “The goal of creating a diverse, inclusive, and equal society is fundamentally important to Princeton University, this country, and the world. I am confident that Princeton’s holistic admission policies have enhanced this University’s contribution to that mission.” Mr. Eisgruber went on to explain the importance of such Supreme Court rulings to universities’ efforts to “break down barriers that would otherwise stand in the way of equal opportunity. They have allowed us to attract and enroll talented students who have made vital contributions to our classrooms and campuses, and who have used their educations to benefit our society and the world.” In a statement issued on the day of the Supreme Court ruling, Mr. Eisgruber applauded Justice Kennedy’s affirmation of the deference due to universities “in defining those intangible characteristics, like student body diversity, that are essential to its identity and educational mission.” Continuing to quote Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Eisgruber stated, “It remains an enduring challenge to our Nation’s education system to reconcile the pursuit of diversity with the constitutional promise of equal treatment and dignity.” Mr. Eisgruber noted his appreciation of both the deference accorded to universities by the Supreme Court ruling and “the responsibility that accompanies its exercise.” Continued on Page 8
2016 2016 Mid-Summer Mid-Summer Marketing Marketing Showcase Showcase See Page 3 2016 Mid-Summer
75¢ at newsstands
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Governor’s Funding Plan Faces Resistance
Governor Chris Christie’s proposal to overhaul New Jersey’s school funding system has set off a firestorm of controversy among lawmakers, educators, and others, both locally and across the state. In a speech at Hillsborough High School two weeks ago, Mr. Christie presented his “Fairness Formula” education plan, which would give every school district the same amount of state aid per student. That plan would see some districts, including Princeton, receiving significantly more state funding and a lowering of property taxes, while aid to many urban districts with the highest percentage of low-income residents would be significantly reduced. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to implement his funding plan, Mr. Christie criticized the failure of urban education, with low graduation rates despite high spending per pupil. Princeton School Board President Andrea Spalla, speaking only for herself, stated that the school board “has not yet had a chance to review the proposal and collectively decide whether to develop a board position on it,” but noted that it
struck her as “cynical and hollow that a governor who has failed to follow the existing state law regarding school funding, thus de-funding schools in the state by hundreds of millions of dollars during his time in office, as well as underfunding our public school employee’s pension fund, is now complaining about the ‘unfairness’ of school funding.” Ms. Spalla continued to warn that even though this proposal might look like a windfall for suburban communities, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
School board member Dafna Kendal, also responding as an individual, shared Ms. Spalla’s skepticism about the proposal. “While I am in favor of property tax relief,” she said, “I don’t think taking funding away from students in urban districts is the way to do it.” She characterized Mr. Christie’s proposal as “extremely unfair,” and questioned, “If the Governor’s reasoning for changing the funding formula is that money isn’t achieving the desired results in the Abbott districts, what will taking Continued on Page 7
Programs Preserving Graves’s Legacy To Reach Out to Local Community Once Kean University’s School of Public Architecture settles into the former residence and studio of the late architect Michael Graves, plans are for the intimate salons Mr. Graves often held inside the iconic building known as The Warehouse to be revived. And these programs, with key leaders of the architectural profession, won’t be limited to Kean students. “Some of these will be by invitation,
some by request,” said David Mohney, the Dean of the University’s Michael Graves College. “We have to develop a full program and gauge interest. Some will be geared toward neighbors and residents of Princeton. The important thing is that our board was strongly supportive of reaching out to the Princeton community.” Mr. Graves, who died March 12, 2015, Continued on Page 4
“INVOLVED WITH BEN”: Ben Franklin was there to “meet and greet” the public at Morven Museum & Garden’s July 4 Jubilee Monday . These youngsters are living proof of his words of wisdom about involvement: “Tell me and I forget . Teach me and I remember . Involve me and I learn .” (Photo by Emily Reeves)
Zoë Pop-Up
Now Open Zoë Pop-Up 10 Hulfish Street • 609.497.0704
Now Open
A rotating selection of easily accessible fashion by various designers.
Now FeaturingStreet Joie 10 Hulfish • 609.497.0704
A rotating selection of easily accessible fashion palmersquare.com by various designers.
Now Featuring Joie
Blueberry Bash
Saturday & Sunday
July 9 th & 10 th 10am - 5pm
See page 6