PRINCETON UNIVERSITY BULLETINVolume 106, Number 2 Dec. 8, 2016 William G. Bowen 17th president of Princeton dies at 83 USHMA PATEL tion leaders. I feel fortunate to have been in that group. Bill was always ready to offer counsel about the tough- illiam G. Bowen, president of Princeton est issues facing higher education, and he did so with a University from 1972 to 1988 and a leader in combination of knowledge, insight, generosity and wit Whigher education for more than half a century, that will be missed by all who knew him. I owe Bill a died Oct. 20 at his home in Princeton. He was 83. great debt, as do many others who passed through this Bowen was 38 when he was installed in office in University that he loved so dearly.” 1972 as Princeton’s 17th president, succeeding Rob- After retiring from Princeton, Bowen served as the ert F. Goheen. A professor of economics and public president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for affairs, Bowen worked energetically to build the nearly two decades. He wrote a number of acclaimed University’s academic reputation — creating new books about higher education, including a ground- departments, emphasizing the arts and life sciences, breaking work on race and admissions policies. He and attracting first-rate professors — while tripling also collected numerous honors, including a 2012 the size of the endowment. He also continued Goheen’s National Humanities Medal for his work in econom- efforts to diversify the student body and oversaw the ics and higher education. establishment of the residential college system. Bowen was born on Oct. 6, 1933, in Cincinnati, Said Princeton President Christopher L. where he remained through high school. While Eisgruber: “Bill Bowen was a true giant of higher attending Denison University, Bowen was Phi Beta education. First as provost and then as president of Kappa, co-chairman of the student government and Princeton, he enhanced this University’s research Ohio Conference tennis champion. In 1955, he gradu- profile, diversified its student body and added to its ated with a bachelor of arts in economics. resources. He was a formidable leader, conversant Bowen’s years at Princeton began that same year and engaged with every aspect of Princeton’s opera- when he arrived as a doctoral candidate in econom- tions, unflinching in his commitment to excellence, ics. He received his Ph.D. in 1958 and then joined the and fiercely devoted to this University’s defining faculty. Studying labor economics, the economics of values. Bill touched every corner of this great Uni- education, the economics of the performing arts and the versity, and his prodigious energy and intellect have problems of stability and growth, he quickly advanced benefited generations of Princetonians. from an assistant to associate to full professor. “When Bill left the presidency, he expanded his As a professor of economics and public affairs, he sphere of influence still further, writing a series held a joint appointment in the Department of Eco- of landmark books about higher education distin- nomics and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public guished by their intellectual vigor, boldly chosen and International Affairs. He continued to teach even topics and genuine impact. Several deserve to be after becoming the University president, leading a considered classics of the field. ‘The Shape of the section of the introductory course “Economics 101.” River,’ which he co-authored with Derek Bok, may be In 1967, Bowen began a five-year term as pro- Matthews Robert by Photo the most important book ever written about the value vost, serving as a deputy to Goheen, planning and William G. Bowen, president of Princeton University from of affirmative action in collegiate admissions. overseeing the move to coeducation and outreach 1972 to 1988 and a leader in higher education for more than “Bill was ever the teacher, and he mentored large half a century, died Oct. 20 at age 83. Above, Bowen speaks numbers of scholars, policy experts and higher educa- Continued on page 6 at the 1980 Commencement. F. Duncan Haldane wins Nobel Prize in Physics MORGAN K ELLY Nobel Prize laureate, “Electromagne- less of the University of Washington received the 1980 Nobel Prize in Phys- tism: Principles and Problem Solving.” and J. Michael Kosterlitz of Brown ics when Eisgruber was a student. pplause and cheers erupted from With his unassuming yet jovial University, who was a visiting profes- “When I was up late at night, strug- the first-year graduate students in demeanor, Haldane, who was awarded sor at Princeton in 1978. gling through difficult problem sets Athe classroom on the lower level the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics early “It’s very gratifying,” Haldane said in Fine Library, I would occasionally of Princeton’s Jadwin Hall as soon as that morning, wore a light smile as in the sitting room of his Princeton seek inspiration by walking through Princeton University physics professor he ambled up to the long stand-alone home the morning that he was notified. the halls of the physics building and F. Duncan Haldane walked in Tues., counter at the front of the room and “It was a sleeper, this work. It’s really gazing at the portraits of the many Oct. 4, to teach his first class as a placed his weathered yellow backpack abstract, but really amazing.” Nobel laureates who had studied in the on top of it. “Thank you,” he said in A currently robust area of condensed department or served on its faculty,” his English accent, lowering his head matter physics, topological phases and Eisgruber said. “I am delighted today in slight bows as the clapping stopped. materials are zero-temperature phases to see this marvelous tradition extended After a pause, he asked, modestly, of matter that exhibit unique proper- as Professor Duncan Haldane becomes “Well, what can I say?” eliciting ties, particularly great stability and the newest addition to this extraordi- laughter from the students. “I guess efficient particle movement. Topo- nary department’s ‘hall of fame.’” we’ll have to double down and learn logical materials are considered key to At the news conference and recep- some electromagnetism and see where finally realizing highly efficient and tion, Haldane’s colleagues reflected it goes,” he said, prompting another powerful quantum computers. on his intellectual heft and congenial round of “Congratulations!” During a packed University news personality, which came out in Hal- Haldane, Princeton’s Eugene Hig- conference in Princeton’s Frick Chem- dane’s often-humorous remarks. When gins Professor of Physics, was one istry Laboratory, Princeton President asked how he’d spend his prize money, of three physicists to be recognized Christopher L. Eisgruber, who majored for instance, Haldane said that most of by the Royal Swedish Academy of in physics as a Princeton undergradu- it would go to the IRS. Sciences this year for “theoretical ate, said that Haldane is part of a “I was really guided in all this by the discoveries of topological phase transi- department that claims numerous tremendous training and mentorship I tions and topological phases of matter.” Nobel laureates, including late- He shares the prize with David Thou- Princeton professor Val Fitch, who Continued on page 8 What’s Pell-eligible students 21 percent of freshman class 3 Board approves 20 appointments to faculty 4 inside? Princeton establishes a center for scholars in Athens 5 PRINCETON PRINCETON 2 UNIVERSITY BULLETIN Dec. 8, 2016 Dec. 8, 2016 UNIVERSITY BULLETIN 3 “We had every confidence that the could go to college, and that it wouldn’t courts ultimately would have affirmed be a burden on anyone I loved.” Princeton to assist lower-income the University’s continuing eligibil- Pell-eligible students comprise 21 As Princeton has become more ity for property tax exemption on diverse, Dean of the College Jill Dolan buildings and facilities that support said the University also has created homeowners under tax litigation settlement its educational, research and service percent of Princeton’s freshman class more support structures and resources missions, but we concluded that the to help all students thrive on campus. rinceton University will help a nonprofit organization that provides in 2021 and again in 2022, the same contributions we will make under rinceton University now has one campus life for supporting students make a contribution toward room and For example, during the Freshman lower-income Princeton residents need-based scholarships for graduates of amount it is scheduled to contribute in the settlement agreement are a better of the highest percentages of during “what is probably the great- board but typically pay no tuition. Scholars Institute, approximately 80 Ppay their property tax bills under Princeton High School attending post- 2020, the final year of the University’s expenditure of funds than continu- PPell-eligible students among the est transformation of Princeton’s Princeton also provides support for incoming students spend seven weeks a settlement agreement that ended secondary educational institutions other current seven-year agreement with the ing to incur the considerable costs of nation’s most selective colleges and undergraduate student body since other expenses, such as application fee on campus during the summer to the litigation challenging the Univer- than Princeton University. municipality. litigation,” he said. universities, with 21 percent of the coeducation. Over recent decades waivers for low-income applicants and a experience Princeton’s academic and sity’s property tax exemptions. The In addition, the University will make “Princeton University cares deeply Under the agreement between the freshman Class of 2020 eligible for we have significantly diversified our move-in allowance to help lower-income co-curricular environment before the litigation had been scheduled for trial three annual contributions of $416,700 about preserving the diversity of the plaintiffs and the University, the plain- the federal grants that are awarded to student body in many respects, and students transition to Princeton.