By Eric Sklanka '23 with the Department Detectives for ANT 245 The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs has a tenuous history of the origins of the school that recently has reflected considerable transformation for the school. SPIA as many throughout Princeton knows has been the Woodrow School since the founding of the institution. There are many aspects of this school that have invested deep developments in the reconciling throughout the University past and present. This also includes policy implications of the University’s nuclear involvement during World War 1 and World War 2. As evinced through all sections of this project, the university has been ground zero for nuclear involvement in the creation of the atomic bomb. Through this project, I spoke with guest speaker Zia Mian after the class who has acquainted me with Princeton alumni and Rhodes Scholar Ananya Maholtra ‘21. Ananya was graciously interested in helping add to this project and provided her best insight under the contingency that there be understanding that there is still much to know and Ananya is working full time in Washington DC to unearth government allocations for US funding. What Ananya has disclosed from her research is that most government operated parks within Los Alamos are funded and controlled under the discretion of the United States Department of Education. Ironically, the national park is only open 1 day a year and yet limits the disclosure of government information that is afforded at the park. Ananya is pressing for regular access to reasonable measures afforded by government resources that are already available. This ironically is not a staffing issue but instead something deeper she is trying to investigate. This comes back to SPIA since these are policy regulations that started through a Princeton student’s work and expanding to work in the nation’s capital. Ananya has remarked that similarly this is exemplified in the glorification of cinema. She herself is excited about Oppheimer to be released this summer but has reservation about the intention of the film as not disclosing reasonable information about involvement. Ananya mentions that although she hasn’t been on campus during the filmmaking last year, she acknowledges that she is nearly certain she isn’t the only student who expresses this skepticism. This department is one of Princeton’s storied and largest departments and has made an incredible impact on the United States Government and international agencies throughout the world. Furthermore, the department realizes its involvement as an influencing agent throughout the world and understands the prerogative to be advocating agents throughout the existing legislature in the purview of Princeton University resources. Works Cited “School of Public and International Affairs.” Princeton University, alumni and faculty.
