Students take closer look at Art All Night shooting
In a scene reminiscent of courtroom drama where jurors visit a crime site, approximately 70 students and mentors of Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP) visited Roebling Wire Works where a mass shooting occurred at the City of Trenton’s popular Art All Night event in June.
PUPP, a comprehensive college preparation initiative that serves low-income, high achieving high school students from five districts in Mercer County, with close to 50% of scholars coming from Trenton public schools, encourages students to activate their potential and their power, with eventual matriculation to U.S. top colleges and universities.
Students are selected in 9th grade to become PUPP Scholars and they participate in the program throughout the remainder of high school.
Jason R. Klugman, Ph.D. and PUPP director, wrote that “a cornerstone of the PUPP experience is our intensive summer institute, which takes place on campus at Princeton and covers courses in writing, literature, art, math, science and college preparation. Each summer, we create a theme-based curriculum in literature and art that allows us to engage our scholars in reading and thinking about both contemporary and historical issues in a global context. We augment our classroom study with trips to colleges and cultural institutions in the region.”
“This summer, we have 69 scholars in three cohorts — rising sophomores, rising juniors and rising seniors — who are exploring political science, civic engagement and public memory. We are using both foundational essays about democracy and modern literature from Daniel Alarcon — a Peruvian-born, Alabama-raised author who currently teaches at Mills College in Oakland. “
Last week provided an opportunity for PUPP students to hear several perspectives regarding the Art All Night incident that ended with the police shooting and death of alleged gunman identified as Tahaij Wells, 33, released from prison and on parole since February. Twenty-two people were injured, including 17 wounded during the violent episode of the city’s popular 24hour art party.
“We talk frequently about civic engagement, media and the role of media in reporting, especially regarding accuracy,” Klugman explained.
PUPP scholars entered a Roebling Wire Works building that featured a reenactment of the Art All Night shooting, including plastic cups that identified bullet casings, a variety of discarded shoes and sandals, plus several areas where victims were injured.
Students heard from several speakers who offered information about the initial phone calls to a city dispatcher and responses made by city law enforcement officers. Plus, other insights were shared by attendees including Black Collar Biz, a city-based rapper and community activist along with Bentrice Jusu, music artist, storyteller and art activist who graduated from the PUPP project.
Black Collar Biz noted that many aspects connected to the Art All Night incident, an insight that challenged PUPP cohorts to investigate mental angles, opinions and dispenses of information.
Janet Devine, a Trenton High West teacher, city resident and literature instructor for PUPP, said “We encourage our scholars to become more engaged in their communities and to investigate.”
Scholars hailed from Ewing, Lawrence, Nottingham, Trenton Central High School, Trenton High West and Princeton. Emily De Jesús and Michael Moore, both Trenton High students, were offered an opportunity to write about their experience.
“We had the opportunity to learn more about what occurred here, other than just what we read in the papers,” Moore said.