A More Inclusive Princeton

To make a more inclusive Princeton, I recommend two changes to the existing “Policy on Discrimination and/or Harassment” (available online at bit.ly/dh-policy).

First, the current definition of harassment is “unwelcome verbal or physical behavior ... based on a protected characteristic” (race, creed, sex, etc.). It should be expanded to include all unwelcome verbal or physical behaviors including those based on a protected characteristic. News reports indicate that much (and perhaps most) harassment on college campuses these days relates to politics or ideology rather than a protected characteristic, and is thus outside the current definition. An inclusive Princeton does not tolerate anyone being harassed for any reason.

Second, clarify that exposure to ideas and opinions one dislikes is not the same thing as harassment. In fact, exposure to such ideas and opinions is one of the goals of a Princeton education.