Letter to President Eisgruber

re: Honoring Robert F. Goheen

Excerpt from Chris Meyer's Summer Letter:

In midsummer, a classmate approached the executive committee with the idea of proposing to the University administration the naming of a campus landmark more fitting than the existing walk in honor of President Goheen.  This proposal got instant, enthusiastic approval from the committee and a letter was drafted from the class to that effect.  

As we worked on that letter, the idea was expanded.  Initially the proposal was to name a building in a new dormitory complex for him, but then the idea of re-naming the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (formerly the Woodrow Wilson School) was floated.  This met with enthusiastic support, and so we revised the primary recommendation.  

Further, after we agreed on that, we thought it would be wonderful if we could get other classes from the Goheen era to co-sponsor that proposal.  The result was an August 5 letter (below) with the proposal, co-sponsored by 11 other classes!  Clearly, there is a lot of enthusiasm for this idea.  We have yet to hear from the administration, but will keep you informed… and your support is important. If you know people who will be involved in the final decision and are in support of this idea, please contact them.

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                                                                                                            August 5, 2024

Christopher L. Eisgruber ‘83

President

Princeton University

1 Nassau Hall

Princeton, NJ 08544

Dear President Eisgruber:

            As undergraduates we witnessed first-hand the transformational impact on the University of President Robert F. Goheen.  While we are aware that Goheen Walk was named in his honor, we write to urge, in the strongest possible terms, that the University create a memorial to him that is more commensurate with the permanent recognition that we believe he merits.  With the University entering the final year of its Venture Forward campaign, this seems an especially auspicious time to seek the funds necessary to add a more substantial recognition of his legacy to the University landscape. 

            As you know, in many ways President Goheen created the blueprint for today’s Princeton.  His legacy includes:

• The transformation of Princeton to a coeducational institution, first at the graduate level and then at the undergraduate level;
• A vastly expanded commitment to racial and ethnic diversity and the appointment of Carl Fields as the first Black dean in the Ivy League;
• The creation of Princeton’s first two residential colleges;
• The installation of a more participatory governance structure through the creation of the Council of the Princeton University Community on campus and changes in the Board of Trustees, including the election of Young Alumni Trustees;
• New homes for the School of Public and International Affairs, the Engineering School, the Art Museum, music, architecture, math, the sciences, and other fields;
• New dormitories in the Old New and New New Quads; and,
• A significant increase in federally sponsored research.

            Given his instrumental role in strengthening the School of Public and International Affairs and creating an iconic home for it, his exemplary service as U.S. Ambassador to India, and his post-presidential teaching in the School, an especially fitting and visible memorial would be to rename SPIA The Robert F. Goheen School of Public and International Affairs.  This is by far the most fitting recognition of his legacy that we can envision.  

A distant second choice, in our minds, would be naming a dormitory or dining/social/community for him in Hobson College –a residential college named for a Black woman, located on the site of the first residential college, and fronting on Goheen Walk.  We would be happy to suggest other ideas as well if that would be helpful.

             We are confident that many members of our classes would be eager to contribute to a greater recognition on campus of President Goheen.  We also believe that other classes that were on campus during his term feel similarly about his contributions; we are soliciting their support of this initiative separately.

We look forward to hearing from you and if we can be of assistance in any way, please let us know. 

Yours very truly,

Bob Hillier, President                                                 Peter Pettibone, President 

On behalf of the class of 1959                                    On behalf of the class of 1961

Joe Caltagirone, President                                           Ed Murphy, President                                      

On behalf of the class of 1962                                      On behalf of the class of 1964

Richard Brown, President                                           Tom Amato, President

On behalf of the class of 1965                                    On behalf of the class of 1967

Charles Kalmbach, Chairman                                    Chris Meyer, President

On behalf of the class of 1968                                    On behalf of the class of 1969

Brice Millman and Susan Scott, Co-Presidents             James Pitney, President

On behalf of the class of 1970                                    On behalf of the class of 1971

Michael Schneider, President                                     Nancy Teaff, President

On Behalf of the class of 1972                                   On behalf of the class of 1973

Responses can be sent to:

Chris Meyer

4 East Avenue

Marion, MA 02738

617-775-0018

chris@centrestent.com