This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
Published on June 28, 2020, Princeton University has taken a significant step towards acknowledging and addressing its past mistakes by removing the name of its former president, Woodrow Wilson, from its school.
Wilson, the 28th US president who served from 1913 to 1921, was a founding father of the League of Nations and a key figure in ending American isolationism. However, his legacy is also marred by his support for racist policies, including allowing segregation in federal agencies despite their racial integration.
University President Christopher Eisgruber stated that Wilson's racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school that stands firmly against racism in all its forms. Eisgruber emphasized that Wilson's actions not only perpetuated but also added to the persistent practice of racism in the US, which continues to cause harm today.
As a result, the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs will now bear the name of the university, while a residential college previously named after Wilson will be known as First College.
Princeton's decision comes amidst a wave of civil unrest and demands for an end to systemic racism in the US, following the death of George Floyd on May 25. The movement has also gained momentum in conservative states like Mississippi, where lawmakers are taking steps to redesign the state flag featuring a Confederate emblem.
