Princeton University's decision to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from its public policy school because of his racist views sparked ...
Princeton University's decision to remove Woodrow Wilson's name from its public policy school because of his racist views sparked a backlash from conservatives who are now calling for the federal income tax that he signed into law to be repealed.
Meanwhile, an alum of the New Jersey-based Ivy League school slammed the university president, Christopher Eisgruber, for 'giving in to the woke leftist mob' while former students who demanded the change five years ago by occupying his office said it was too little, too late.
Bobby Jindal, a Republican former governor of Louisiana, tweeted: 'Now that Princeton is cancelling Woodrow Wilson, can we cancel his federal income tax as well?'
Maj Toure tweeted: 'Woodrow Wilson’s name is being removed from institutions because of his racist views.
'He also wrote the Federal Reserve & Federal Income Tax into law. I propose removing those as well to FULLY heal from the pain of racism. Lefties, do ya thang.'
The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey is seen in the above file photo from 2015
Princeton University President Chris Eisgruber (left) was opposed to removing Wilson's (right) name in 2015, but he changed his mind amid nationwide calls for racial equality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 25
Another Twitter user echoed the sentiment, tweeting: 'How about repealing 1913 - the year of Woodrow Wilson? Repeal the 16th Amendment (income tax), & #EndtheFed (Federal Reserve).'
In December 1913, Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act into law, creating the nation's central bank.
Conservatives have long been opposed to the Fed, claiming that it wields too much power in interfering with the economy by determining the interest rate.
This was expressed by another Twitter user, who wrote: 'In Wilson's case, income tax and the Federal Reserve Act, were arguably worse than the man himself. Which is impressive.'
'I dont know who needs to know this but Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat,' according to a Twitter user.
'But keep going Libs, delete all of your racist leaders.'
JR Hoell, a former state lawmaker in New Hampshire, tweeted: 'Instead of changing the name of a college, how about eliminating the two most devastating policies Wilson put in place: Federal Reserve, Income tax...During his first term, Wilson presided over the passage of his progressive New Freedom domestic agenda.
'His first major priority was the passage of the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs and implemented a federal income tax.
Bobby Jindal, a Republican former governor of Louisiana, tweeted: 'Now that Princeton is cancelling Woodrow Wilson, can we cancel his federal income tax as well?'
Another Twitter user echoed the sentiment, tweeting: 'How about repealing 1913 - the year of Woodrow Wilson? Repeal the 16th Amendment (income tax), & #EndtheFed (Federal Reserve).'
Maj Toure tweeted: 'Woodrow Wilson’s name is being removed from institutions because of his racist views. He also wrote the Federal Reserve & Federal Income Tax into law. I propose removing those as well to FULLY heal from the pain of racism. Lefties, do ya thang.'
'I dont know who needs to know this but Woodrow Wilson was a Democrat,' according to a Twitter user. 'But keep going Libs, delete all of your racist leaders.'
Another Twitter user wrote: 'In Wilson's case, income tax and the Federal Reserve Act, were arguably worse than the man himself. Which is impressive'
JR Hoell, a former state lawmaker in New Hampshire, tweeted: 'Instead of changing the name of a college, how about eliminating the two most devastating policies Wilson put in place: Federal Reserve, Income tax. During his first term, Wilson presided over the passage of his progressive New Freedom domestic agenda.'
'His first major priority was the passage of the Revenue Act of 1913, which lowered tariffs and implemented a federal income tax,' Hoell tweeted
Hoell also mentioned that Wilson signed into law the creation of the Federal Reserve
One Twitter user wrote that Eisgruber is 'even more stupid, more spineless, and more contemptible than the average university president'
Kamil Kotasek wrote that Eisgruber 'is a coward who is not able to withstand the pressure of the fanaticized mob'
'Later tax acts implemented a federal estate tax and raised the top income tax rate to 77 percent.'
One Princeton alum expressed displeasure over the move to remove Wilson's name from the public policy school.
'Chris Eisgruber had until now been a rare academic leader willing to stand up against the woke leftist mobs overrunning America's college campuses,' the anonymous alum told Fox News.
'In the minds of many, his name was synonymous with academic freedom and rigor.'
One Twitter user wrote that Eisgruber is 'even more stupid, more spineless, and more contemptible than the average university president.'
The university on Saturday reversed a decision it made four years ago to retain the name.
Eisgruber wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post explaining the reasons he changed his mind. He noted that in 2015 black students at the university occupied his office briefly and demanded that Wilson's name come off the building.
'At my request, the Board of Trustees formed a committee to consider the issue,' Eisgruber wrote in the Post.
'After careful deliberation, consultation with leading scholars and engagement with the broad university community, the committee eventually recommended reforms to make Princeton more inclusive and to recount its history, including Wilson’s racism, more honestly.
'The committee and the board, however, left Wilson’s name on the public policy school and the residential college.
Another Princeton alum, Adalberto Rosado, tweeted: 'While I'm glad to see Princeton change the names of Wilson College and the School of Public and International Affairs, Eisgruber’s email to me sounds very disingenuous.'
'Where was his stance for justice my freshman year when the BJL sat in his office?' Rosado tweeted. 'I don’t trust Eisgruber at all and I do not thank him for these changes.'
Rosado said Eisgruber doesn't deserve credit for removing the name. 'I choose to thank the people whose safety was threatened, but chose to fight anyway,' he tweeted
'The same circumstances existed in 2015 and nothing new has come to light about Woodrow Wilson or his legacy,' tweeted one Twitter user
'Should have happened 5 years ago when students demanded that it happen,' tweeted one former Princeton student. 'Princeton owes everyone in the BJL (Black Justice League, a student org) an apology. Eisgruber especially.'
'Until this month, I strongly agreed with that decision.'
Eisgruber continued: 'Wilson’s genuine achievements, I thought, gave Princeton sound reasons to honor him.
'He is a far different figure than John C. Calhoun or Robert E. Lee, people whose pro-slavery commitments defined their careers and who were sometimes honored for the purpose of supporting segregation or racism.
'Princeton honored Wilson without regard to, and perhaps even in ignorance of, his racism.'
But the wave of protests following the death of George Floyd has prompted Eisgruber to rethink his stance.
'Princeton is part of an America that has too often disregarded, ignored and turned a blind eye to racism, allowing the persistence of systems that discriminate against black people,' he wrote.
'When Derek Chauvin knelt for nearly nine minutes on George Floyd’s neck while bystanders recorded his cruelty, he might have assumed that the system would disregard, ignore or excuse his conduct, as it had done in response to past complaints against him.
'This searing moment in our national history should make clear to all of us our urgent responsibility to stand firmly against racism and for the integrity and value of black lives.
'That is why the Board of Trustees, on my recommendation, removed Wilson’s name from what will now be known as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.'
On social media, students who took part in the sit-in protests inside Eisgruber's office said the university president acted too late and should have agreed to take down Wilson's name at the time.
'Should have happened 5 years ago when students demanded that it happen,' tweeted one former Princeton student.
'Princeton owes everyone in the BJL (Black Justice League, a student org) an apology. Eisgruber especially.'
Another Princeton alum, Adalberto Rosado, tweeted: 'While I'm glad to see Princeton change the names of Wilson College and the School of Public and International Affairs, Eisgruber’s email to me sounds very disingenuous.
'The same man who defended keeping Wilson’s name over and over is now in my inbox telling me that Wilson isn’t qualified to be a model for students at the school and that they must stand clearly and firmly for justice?
'Where was his stance for justice my freshman year when the BJL sat in his office?
'I don’t trust Eisgruber at all and I do not thank him for these changes.
'Instead, I choose to thank the BJL and other student activists who pushed for these changes, but more importantly for institutional changes at the academic and administrative level.
'I choose to thank the people whose safety was threatened, but chose to fight anyway.'
Eisgruber said in a letter to the school community on Saturday that the board of trustees had concluded that 'Wilson's racist views and policies make him an inappropriate namesake' for Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs and the residential college.
Eisgruber said the trustees decided in April 2016 on some changes to make the university 'more inclusive and more honest about its history' but decided to retain Wilson's name, but revisited the issue in light of the recent killings of George Floyd and others.
Wilson, governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913 and then the 28th president from 1913 to 1921, supported segregation and imposed it on several federal agencies not racially divided up to that point.
He also barred Black students from Princeton while serving as university president and spoke approvingly of the Ku Klux Klan.
Earlier this month, Monmouth University of New Jersey removed Wilson's name from one of its most prominent buildings, citing efforts to increase diversity and inclusiveness.
The superintendent of the Camden school district also announced plans to rename Woodrow Wilson High School, one of the district's two high schools.
'Wilson's racism was significant and consequential even by the standards of his own time,' Eisgruber said, adding that the former president's segregationist policies 'make him an especially inappropriate namesake for a public policy school.'
The trustees said they had taken what they called 'this extraordinary step' because Wilson's name was not appropriate 'for a school whose scholars, students, and alumni must be firmly committed to combatting the scourge of racism in all its forms.'
The school will now be known as the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, he said.
Princeton had already planned to close Wilson College and retire its name after opening two new residential colleges currently under construction but will change the name to First College immediately.
In November 2015, students from the Black Justice League at Princeton occupied Eisgruber's (far left) office and demanded that he remove Wilson's name from the college building
Black Justice League students are seen above during protests in 2015 on the Princeton campus
Eisgruber said the conclusions 'may seem harsh to some' since Wilson is credited with having 'remade Princeton, converting it from a sleepy college into a great research university,' and he went on to become president and receive a Nobel Prize.
But while Princeton honored Wilson despite or perhaps even in ignorance of his views, that is part of the problem, Eisgruber said.
'Princeton is part of an America that has too often disregarded, ignored, or excused racism, allowing the persistence of systems that discriminate against Black people,' he said.
Four years ago, a 10-member committee gathered input from Wilson scholars and more than 600 submissions from alumni, faculty and the public before concluding that Wilson's accomplishments merited commemoration, so long as his faults were also candidly recognized.
The committee report also said using his name 'implies no endorsement of views and actions that conflict with the values and aspirations of our times.'
Princeton will retain Wilson's name on an award given annually to an undergraduate alumnus or alumna since it stems from a gift that requires that the prize be named for Wilson and honor his 'conviction that education is for "use" and ... the high aims expressed in his memorable phrase, "Princeton in the Nation's Service",' the trustees said.
Floyd died May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for several minutes even as he pleaded for air and stopped moving.
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