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This Week in Princeton History for February 22-28


In this week’s installment of our ongoing series bringing you the history of Princeton University and its faculty, students, and alumni, Dan Quayle sparks protest, the Princetonian advocates smallpox vaccines, and more.

February 22, 1990—Two students are arrested for disrupting a speech by Vice President Dan Quayle in Richardson Auditorium, yelling “stop the killing!” and “There’s women’s blood on your hands, Dan!” Quayle responds, “Is there an echo in here?” while the Secret Service remove them from the room. A third student is arrested because later reports will claim he “lunged toward Quayle” during Quayle’s interaction with a group of protesters.

Dan_Quayle_1990_Bric
Dan Quayle in Richardson Auditorium. Photo from 1990 Bric-a-brac.

February 24, 1977—A Princeton staffer finds a pipe bomb just east of the Engineering Quadrangle.

February 25, 1881—In response to the spread of the disease in Europe, the Daily Princetonian urges students to keep up to date on their smallpox vaccines, as is “the duty of everyone to himself, or if he does not care for himself, to those with whom in daily contact, and to the community at large…”

February 26, 1947—Students form a “Save Capitalism” club on campus “to find ways to preventing depression.” Among the things they advocate are a minimum annual wage, profit sharing for laborers, and collective bargaining.

For last week’s installment in this series, click here.

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