Stanford philosopher Rene Girard theorized that communities are formed through a process of scapegoating. To solve intragroup conflict, people will assign exclusive blame to a single individual, the scapegoat, whom they unite to rally against. Though the scapegoat does not deserve his punishment, the process unites people to form a community, and its associated story of blame fertilizes a culture. That has been the story here at Princeton. Last week, with his firing, Professor Joshua Katz became not just another victim of woke ideology, but a ritualistic scapegoat that has forced Princeton students and administrators into a new order. The once-great institution of Princeton is being reborn as a woke cathedral.
The course of events at Princeton is a sad, if predictable, one: in 2020, a renowned scholar of the classics and award-winning teacher, Professor Joshua Katz, dissented from the demands of his Princeton colleagues that called for, among other things, a committee to review research for possible racist thought – as defined by contemporary prophets like writer Ibrahim X. Kendi – and extra perks, including additional time off and pay, for professors “of color.” Professor Katz’s liberalism clashed with today’s more fashionable woke political ideology. Whereas Katz believes in open inquiry and judgment of others based on character, not skin color, the University distills all questions down to power and race. For its part, Princeton believes itself to be a fundamentally racist, oppressive project. Indeed, one of Princeton’s most celebrated professors recently called to “tear down this place.” Katz’s ideas, which might have been considered mainstream just a few years ago, have now made him a pariah on the college campus.
In protesting the revolution, Katz stood in the University’s way. For that, Princeton fired Katz. The particulars of the case actually distract from the main issue. President Eisgruber has claimed that purported new evidence related to a wrongful relationship between Katz and a student in 2006 is the cause for his firing, but Katz received the penalty for his action according to University regulations in 2018. Eisgruber’s excuse is a clear power play. Princeton wanted Katz out for his politics, so the administration searched his past for an admissible reason. The concern is not only that Princeton’s move will have chilling effects on others’ speech on campus – the very place where free speech ought to flourish most – but that banishing Katz’s voice from the Princeton community will deprive students of an oft-heard perspective. But according to woke ideology, dissent cannot be tolerated.
Katz’s firing has all been hogwash. Though Katz had already been prohibited from teaching courses for over a year, Princeton determined that it was not enough. Katz had to be publicly fired – even a private resignation would not do. The University spent months attacking his person and characterizing him as a racist to students in official programming, going so far as to doctor a quotation of his. His personal life was tormented by administrative complications thrown at him. He was made out to be the living embodiment of Princeton’s self-identified racism. He was cast as Princeton’s racism scapegoat.
The fallout of these events on campus has been a repeat of what I experienced through the days of COVID, the BLM summer of 2020, and the past presidential election: students parroting the same points about the hour’s political question. My peers have been expected to vocalize their support of the University’s decision and oppose Katz as a signal of their belonging to the Princeton community. In the same way that identical “No Hate” yard signs line the streets of America’s most elite neighborhoods, posts celebrating Princeton’s decision – including by friends who have privately confided their agreement with Katz to me – have flooded my social media. Princeton students have imitated the calls from Princeton’s highest administrative quarters. The new culture of wokeness has taken hold.
Katz is among the most significant victims of America’s late-stage woes. Just as the firing of James Bennet symbolized a turning point for The New York Times, the firing of Katz is symbolic of the transformation of a great liberal institution into a woke, self-destructing one. From here on out, when we Princetonians chant to our alma mater, it will be to the “New Nassau.”
The above is an opinion contribution and reflects the author’s views alone.
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