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This Week in Princeton University History for April 6-12


By April C. Armstrong *14

In this week’s installment of our recurring series, ballet dancers are petitioning the government, Alger Hiss will give a speech on campus despite controversy, and more.

April 7, 1897—Nineteen members of Princeton’s Class of 1892 form the “’92 Dutch Company of New York City.” The group will meet to have reunions where everyone pays their own way and no treating each other is allowed. Meetings with admission fees are forbidden.

April 8, 2006—During the intermission for Ballet Folklórico’s show in Frist Campus Center, Maribel Hernandez *10 announces that the performance is dedicated to all immigrants in the United States. Performers circulate a petition addressed to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist ’74, for whose family the Center is named, asking for immigration reform with a path to citizenship and decriminalizing illegal immigrants.

April 9, 1956—Harold Dodds announces that Princeton University will allow Alger Hiss to give a scheduled speech on campus as planned despite widespread public outrage.

April 11, 1989—Wendy Kopp ’89 begins transforming her senior thesis into a proposal to send out to CEOs, the first step to founding Teach for America.


Did you read the previous installment in this series?

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