Truth and Reconciliation
This note follows my two recent complaints placed for evaluation by the University’s Council of the Princeton University Community. I hope to clarify my intentions regarding these for those who may be interested.
First, I have no plans for additional such complaints to the CPUC.
Second, I hope that the CPUC will proceed to develop a full factual basis to properly evaluate the issues I raised. What W.E.B. Du Bois said of nations applies, I submit, to Princeton as well: “Nations reel and stagger on their way; they make hideous mistakes; they commit frightful wrongs; they do great and beautiful things. And shall we not best guide humanity by telling the truth about all this, so far as the truth is ascertainable?”
Third, through what I believe to be two highly prominent, long-standing and ongoing defamatory uses of the University's own websites and IT assets – and the apparent participation of Princeton faculty, administration, and students – Princeton exhibits a serious, ongoing, and unacknowledged institutional failure of deeply troubling proportions.
Out of simple decency, the University should make amends both to the individuals defamed and to the great many in the Princeton community and general public who unwittingly relied upon these wrongful depictions. Moreover, these prominent, longstanding and ongoing wrongs damage Princeton itself by sewing unfounded dissention within the Princeton community. Given their ultimate and unavoidable responsibilities for the welfare of the Princeton, the University’s Trustees should ensure that they come to understand how and why this institutional failure came about and see that proper measures are undertaken so that such institutional failures neither continue nor reoccur.
Fourth, My goals are truth and reconciliation, not punishment and retribution. Although the University’s Rights, Rules, Responsibilities contain various provisions for sanctions when violations are found, I would prefer that the University choose not to impose them in regards to the defamations at issue. I am cognizant, nonetheless, that there can be some violations of the Rules, Rights, Responsibilities for which the University would have the need to impose sanctions (e.g., regarding preservation of the University’s vital tax-exempt status). My preference is that the University proceed with the investigation of the defamations at issue in a manner fostering Truth and Reconciliation within the University community. To those who cooperate fully and transparently to provide truth in these matters, the University should – wherever possible – offer them relief from the specter of its punishment. With such undertakings we Princetonians can promote truth, understanding and reconciliation.
