IN PRINT: Update - Fake rifle prompts campus alert at PU

A Princeton University student touched off a campus-wide security alert over the weekend by running across the campus carrying an “imitation” AK-4 assault rifle, police said.

Princeton Borough police confiscated the weapon and charged Steven Shonts, 18, of Eden Prairie, MN, with “possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose” and “possession of an imitation firearm on university grounds.” He was released on his own recognizance.

Another student, Erica Greil, said in an e-mail that she had contacted the university’s public safety department at 11:30 p.m. Friday after seeing a male running with a gun near University Place.

Read the full article at the Princeton Packet.

AW and SJP

IN PRINT: At black symposium Princeton mayor says she may not run for reelection

Update 3/28: Here is the PAW article on the symposium.

[Full disclosure: This reporter was covering a symposium on the black experience at Princeton a couple weeks ago for the Princeton Alumni Weekly. It only occurred recently to this reporter that Princeton Borough mayor Mildred Trotman's comments may be news.]

Princeton Borough mayor Mildred Trotman, in office since 2005, said she will probably not run for reelection.

Speaking at a panel discussion with former New York City mayor David Dinkins and Trenton mayor Doug Palmer on February 21, Mildred talked about her emphasis on consensus and fairness when governing. She then admitted, "I don’t think I'm going to run again."

Trotman did not discuss further her comments, though Dinkins responded that one should "never say never."

"Mayor Trotman, you're going to run again, I bet you," Dinkins said.

Dinkins also addressed the upcoming New York City mayoral race and lamented mayor Mike Bloomberg's decision to run for reelection after overturning term limit laws.

"I like Mike, and I get along fine with him, but I would hope that he would not seek reelection," Dinkins said.

He offered praise for NYC comptroller Bill Thompson, who has said he will run for mayor.

"Billy Thompson is a good friend of mine, and I think he is eminently qualified to be mayor," Dinkins said.

However, he said it would be challenging for Thompson to run against Bloomberg because of his immense personal wealth.

"It’ll be very difficult for Billy or anybody to defeat [Bloomberg], and I think [Thompson] would have had a battle with [Rep. Anthony] Weiner, but I think he would have beat him," Dinkins said.

BKN

(image source: princetonboro.org)