From today’s Princeton Packet (what kind of name is that for a newspaper?!):
Sen. Frist target of Princeton University student filibuster
Jim Adelman, a graduate student with curly brown hair and a ring in each ear, grabbed a megaphone and began to read from the first page of Princeton University’s campus phonebook. “Aase, Siri S.,” he started, continuing for half an hour before ending in the mid-B’s. Passing students occasionally cheered for names they recognized. …
“We are filibustering in support of the filibuster,” [Adelman] said.
Mr. Adelman was part of a group of Princeton students [PHOTO: Nathan Gregory, a Princeton University graduate student] who began a protest Tuesday morning against Sen. Bill Frist’s (R-Tenn.) recently proposed rule change … that would decrease the number of votes needed to end a filibuster in the U.S. Senate. Democrats have been threatening a filibuster to block a number of President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees … Frist hopes to stop them. …
The protest … was held in front of Princeton University’s Frist Campus Center. Sen. Frist, a 1974 Princeton graduate, donated a reported $25 million for the construction of the center in 1997. [Ital. Mine]
Long lists of students signed up for half-hour time slots … They read from Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America,” the university’s “Rights, Rules, and Regulations,” handbook, … One student read “My Pet Goat,” … MORE BELOW:
More from today’s Princeton Packet:
The protest, which organizers planned to start at 11 a.m. Tuesday, was slightly delayed when campus Public Safety officers confronted the students for not having registered their protest in advance. The protesters explained that the nature of the event called for a rapid time frame. They were able to procure permission from Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan within an hour.
“The dispute was resolved quickly and amicably,” said Joshua Weitz, an organizer and post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
Throughout the day, small groups of students clustered around the speaker’s wooden podium or sat on the lawn nearby. Some passersby gave thumbs-up signs or clapped. A few directed questions to the protesters or began arguments.
Joel Thompson, a tall, long-haired freshman, quickly labeled a “heckler” by surrounding students, attempted to make a case in favor of the Senate Republicans.
“I think this is an unprecedented use of the filibuster — it’s a situation we’ve never been in before,” he said, arguing that the Democrats are wielding the filibuster in a new and aggressive way. Mr. Thompson then took his laptop out of his backpack, opening up a Web site to support his claims.
Several campus and local groups worked together to organize the protest, including Princeton Democracy for America, the Princeton Progressive Review, the Idealistic Nation and the College Democrats. Other students, including over 150 who signed up for the mock-filibuster, heard about the event in e-mails or simply from walking by.
“It really is grassroots in the clearest sense of the word,” said Mr. Weitz.
On a campus that some say is relatively lacking in political activism, many students reacted to the events with a sense of excitement.
“This is such a creative way to make a statement. And there’s no better place to hold it,” said Laura Ginsberg, a senior. Jacob Savage, a junior, called the protest a “fantastic idea” and signed up to read for half an hour. …
The Washington Post also has a story on the Princeton filibuster protest:
Princeton University students and faculty have been talking round-the-clock to protest the legislative strategy of a famous alumnus and benefactor, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). In what some might consider an act of ingratitude — even by college students’ standards — protesters have lectured, read and generally droned on outside the Frist Campus Center, built with $25 million from the senator’s family. …
how dare you make fun of the Princeton Packet?
They documented all my sports triumphs!!
Actually, come to think of it, it is a silly name. I never questioned it before because it was always a part of my life.
It also was a more interesting paper than the other local, “The Town Topics”.
And for more Frist/Princeton news:
A New Jersey newspaper is reporting that William Harrison Frist, Jr. was arrested for drunk driving at 1:35 a.m. on Thursday. 21-year-old Frist — who goes by his middle name –was arrested near the campus of Princeton University, where he is a student.
A police officer stopped Harrison Frist’s car after it was observed making an illegal pass. Frist was given a field sobriety test and was arrested after he failed. Police told The Trentonian that Frist was legally drunk, but cooperative. After testing, it was determined that Frist’s blood-alcohol level exceeded the legal limit of .10.
Harrison Frist was released on his own recognizance after being charged with DWI and several other motor vehicle offenses. He is due back in a Princeton, New Jersey court on May 24.
According to Nashville television station WTVF, Frist’s younger son, Jonathan Frist was arrested in May, 2003 for DUI and underage consumption of alcohol.
Jonathon Frist was 17-years-old at the time of his arrest. Police reported that the teen was picked up at 2:30 a.m. driving near the Frist family’s Nashville home. He refused to take a breathalyzer test.
The senator’s office has offered no comment on either son’s drunk driving arrest.
I mean, you’d have to be, to get pulled over for DUI on Prospect Avenue! As anyone who is familiar with Princeton knows, the kid was pulled over about five feet from campus– what was he doing driving?
The Princeton filibuster is a remarkable level of political activism on a campus that has been marked by a rather remarkable level of political apathy in recent years… Sen. Frist must be proud of his alma mater!
where is the new Frist building? Is it down by Baker Rink?
Yuor comment begs this question:
What sports triumphs? Tell us! We’re your fans already, but it can’t hurt to give us more reasons to root for you!
Well, the first time my picture was ever in a paper (after my baptism) was a goalie for my soccer team. I was probably 7 or 8 years old.
Then I helped lead the Elks to a baseball championship as one of our starting pitchers, centerfielder, and leadoff hitter at 10.
I also made the paper as a member of the Babe Ruth all-star team, and the Princeton travelling all-star soccer team (we sucked).
I also made the paper for raising the most money in sponsorships for our tennis program.
And I won three basketball championships too, which probably brought me some coverage.
They also posted my name whenever I made the Dean’s list.
So, I’ve been in that paper quite a few times.
Holy cow.
Did you play for Pete Carroll?
OMG.
No, I never played for Petey. But I have played in Jadwin Gym where Petey gained his fame.
Mostly I played in Dillon Gym, the obsolete gym in the middle of campus.
I also once witnessed PAteacher scare the living crap out of Petey at Princeton reunions. He was hammered and was a little too exuberant in his outpouring of praise for Petey’s genius.
But I’m not telling… 😉
BTW, the Frist Center is immediately on your left if you walk on to Campus from Prospect Av.
mean across from Terrace Club, by the retaining wall? That ugly piece of crap?
I forget what it was originally called (Palmer?). But now it is a newly renovated and expanded ugly piece o’ crap.
pack·et n.
The “packet” was the thing for which you waited when you wanted the “news” — in the 18th and 19th centuries, anyway.
Way to go! Standing up to “Daddy Warbucks” and giving him and the rest of the off-the-map right wing a 24-hour earful. Those students, faculty, and fillibustering passersby make me proud.
Any coverage on local TV news, radio, print? Any of you Princeton alums able to do some PR marketing on behalf of the Fristibusters?
Are we taking up a collection to support famous guest “fillies”? Should think the protestors would want to invite some prominents or celebs to jaw as well. Gee, if I were an alum, I’d by a ticket, get to campus, and sign up on the waiting list!
Booman can no doubt confirm the studliness of Princetonians.
Bet he has alum influence too!
G-d, class of ‘0.
Fred Flinstone, class of 58,000 B.C.
(old, bad campus humor- right up there with chanting “that’s alright, that’s okay, you’re gonna work for us one day!” while watching PU teams get blown out by schools with athletic scholarships.)