This situation distresses me for three reasons. My own undergraduate commencement from Tufts in June 1970 was cancelled because students went on strike to protest the invasion of Cambodia. I am planning to see a dear friend graduate from Columbia on May 15, and have become afraid to attend out of fear of being caught in a violent riot. Those two concerns make me sad for young people and their families who have looked forward to graduation ceremonies. The third reason for my concern is that as someone who weathered the arduous task of earning a Ph.D. from Princeton, I cannot understand why graduate students have become involved in these protests to the degree of getting arrested, rather than hunkering down, preparing for their generals, and researching and writing their dissertations. Young people are idealistic, and I admire their desire to make the world a better place. But I also think that this type of behavior does not help meet that objective. It just causes detriment to their primary reason for being in Princeton Graduate School: To complete their studies, earn their degrees, and put what they’ve learned at Princeton to good use.
