November 2014 PPro Newsletter

The November 2014 PPro Newsletter is now available. In it, we recap what we’ve been doing over the past year, and list plans for next year. We also encourage you, if you haven’t done it already, to become a member, which you can do here.

 

1 November 2014

Dear Princeton Progressive,

Thank you for your support of Princeton Progressives! We’ve had a busy and productive summer and fall, with more projects in the works. We thought you might want to know what your support means to the Princeton community and to the world outside the orange and black bubble.

– PPro and the Princeton College Democrats co-sponsored a panel discussion at Reunions 2014 on the political climate for today’s Princeton students.

– PPro provided crucial financial support for of The Princeton Progressive, Princeton University’s only left-leaning student political publication.

– PPro marched with roughly 200 Princeton students at the People’s Climate March.

– PPro hosted a “Beyond Wall Street” career panel on campus.

– PPro and the Women’s Center co-sponsored a forum and workshops with Sally Frank’ 80, who spoke about effective activism, including her successful litigation against the all-male eating clubs.

– PPro has made it possible for ten undergraduates, members of the College Democrats, to travel to Texas and campaign for Wendy Davis for Governor. If you would like to make a donation in support of this initiative, please do so using the Paypal button at the bottom of any page on our website.

All of these great initiatives require personpower and money. We are looking for new members of PPro and to bring back former PProgressives whose memberships have lapsed. You can start or renew your membership here. If you would like to become involved in PPro and have suggestions for events or initiatives to support, please e-mail us at tiger@princetonprogressives.com. If you are already a member, please renew as soon as you receive your e-mail reminder. You can stay in touch with us through our website, or at the above e-mail address. You can post on our Facebook and LinkedIn, groups, or reach out to one of the members of our Executive Committee.

Here’s a bit more detail about what we’ve been up to and what we have coming up:

 

RECENT EVENTS

 

Reunions 2014

The Princeton College Democrats (PCD) and PPro presented a panel at Reunions on the political climate for today’s Princeton students. Moderated by PCD, student leaders of political groups across the progressive spectrum, including Whig-Clio, the Pride Alliance, the Dream Team, the Princeton United Left, and the Princeton College Democrats discussed the stereotypes and realities surrounding the politics and socio-political on campus and in the town of Princeton.

 

The Princeton Progressive

Over the summer, PPro committed to funding four print issues of The Princeton Progressive. The publication is fully student published and is dedicated to promoting the full range of left and leftleaning political dialogue on campus. It strives to provide progressive students with a dedicated platform to share their views and voices. You can check out The Princeton Progressive, at princetonprogressive.com. The first issue came out in September, in time for the arrival of the new freshman class and the Student Activities Fair. Over 70 students have signed up to work on the publication. The second issue will be coming out in December, before the students leave for Winter Break. We are hoping to be able to help these dedicated students find equally dedicated alumni who can ensure that as long as there’s a Princeton, there’ll be a Princeton Progressive.

 

PPro General Membership Meeting

Sixteen people attended PPro’s 2014 Annual Meeting, including several who were new to PPro and had come to find out what we are about. The attendees’ class years spanned 55 years, ranging from 1959 to 2014.

 

People’s Climate March

Members of PPro marched with roughly 200 students from a broad coalition of campus organizations at the People’s Climate March in New York City on September 21. The Princeton United Left spearheaded the effort. PPro also covered transportation costs by train for students who weren’t able to nab one of the 168 seats on three buses chartered to bring students to the march.

 

“Beyond Wall Street” Career Panel

On September 30, PPro hosted a panel discussion featuring: Jose Figueroa ’81, Indpendent Filmmaker; Jason Gold ’81, Architect; Jeff Perry ’68, Union Organizer, Independent Historian; Tom Szaky ‘05, CEO/Founder of TerraCycle; Susan Zilber ‘76, Development Office, Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

 

Sally Frank ’80 Forum on Effective Activism

In cooperation with the Women’s Center, PPro sponsored a forum and workshops with Sally Frank ’80. Currently a Professor at Drake University Law School, Frank was instrumental in the late 1970s movement to compel the eating clubs to allow women as members, and has been active in progressive issues ever since. On Monday, October 13, Frank spoke to a packed house at Whig-Clio on her adventures with the (previously all-male) eating clubs. On Tuesday, October 14, at Terrace Club, she participated with students in a panel discussion on Effective Activism.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

2014 Elections – Wendy Davis for Governor

PPro members and friends have provided travel funding for nine students in the Princeton College Democrats to spend their Midterm Break in Texas campaigning for Wendy Davis for Governor. They flew to Houston on October 24, campaigned door to door in coordination with the Wendy Davis for Governor Field Office, and returned on October 29. Special thanks go to Annette Lamoreaux ’81 of Houston for her generous assistance with this project.

 

2014 Elections – Princeton Progressives on the Ballot

And if you would like to support left-leaning Princetonians who are running office, we have compiled a list here. PPro’s own Jimmy Tarlau ’70 is running for Maryland State Delegate.

 

NYC PPro Open House

On 16 November, Jason Gold ’81 will host a PPro Open House in NYC. It’s a chance for progressive members of the Princeton community to meet and socialize and exchange stories of campaigns past and future.

 

Spring Speaker Events

We have just received confirmation that PPro and the WWS will be co-sponsoring a lecture and book signing by journalists, authors, and Pulitzer Prize winners Sheryl WuDunn *88 and Nicholas Kristof, on campus on 2 March 2015. We are in the process of inviting other prominent progressives to speak on campus and are hoping to have additional announcements to make on this very soon.

 

Reunions 2015

After a successful debut at Reunions 2014, the Princeton College Democrats, the Princeton United Left, and other student organizations are working on another panel discussion for Reunions 2015. We’ll let you know the topic, time, and place as soon as they’re set. Or look in the Reunions Program, which will be posted online in early May.

 

Please help us to continue and expand our exciting initiatives, empowering Progressive activism, education, discussion, and community among Princeton students, alumni, faculty, and staff across the Progressive spectrum.

 

Join PPro and get involved today!!!

 

Princeton Progressives Executive Committee:

 

Jason Gold ’81

Sandy Harrison ’74

Tom Hughes ’82

John Oakes ’83

Ruth Singleton’ 82

Michael Southwell ’60

Jimmy Tarlau ’70

Susan Zilber ’76