The president of Princeton University has bowed to protesters' demands and will call for the removal of Woodrow Wilson's name from campus.

President Christopher L. Eisgruber gave in to activists from the Black Justice League (BJL) after they camped out in his office, signing an agreement with the demonstrators on Thursday evening.

The group had refused to leave until Wilson's name was removed from a college and international affairs school, and a mural to him in a dining hall was demolished.

The former President, who led the formation of the League of Nations and helped all women get the vote, was a 'proud Klansman' who has a 'racist legacy', they claim.

Despite the protesters being threatened with disciplinary action just a day ago, Eisgruber has now backtracked and will set the wheels in motion for Wilson's name to be removed.

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The president of Princeton University has bowed to protesters' demands and will call for the removal of Woodrow Wilson's name from campus after the activists occupied his office

Students gather inside Princeton's Nassau Hall during a sit-in during the protest in President Christopher L. Eisgruber office over Woodrow Wilson's legacy on campus

Only two tents were seen outside Nassau Hall as a handful of demonstrators carried on the protest Thursday

Members of the Black Justice League (BJL) handed a list of demands to Princeton President Christopher L. Eisgruber (left in orange tie) on Wednesday and staged a sit-in inside his office until they are met. The protest carried on into Thursday after they camped out overnight

The students demanded the removal of Wilson's name, as well as wanting a 'cultural space' only black students can use.

Demonstrators also insisted mandatory classes on the 'history of marginalized peoples' should be held in a bid to create a better student environment for minority students, as well as calling for 'cultural competency training' for staff.

In a deal reached Wednesday evening, Eisgruber will recommend former President Wilson's mural at Princeton is demolished, but stopped short of removing his name from a school.

He will instead 'initiate conversations' about Wilson's legacy on campus, suggesting that the protesters could yet have another battle ahead.

The agreement, published by student newspaper The Ink, also states that the BJL will be designated four room for ethnic minorities immediately.

More staff training and mandatory classes about minorities will be considered, an none of the activists will be disciplined if they leave the president's office tonight.

The agreement is a significant U-turn from Eisgruber's stance yesterday.

When the building closed for business on Wednesday night, guards locked the doors so no more protesters could get inside.

However many chose to stay while the rest camped outside the front of the building, creating a small campsite of just a couple of tents. .

After 5pm, Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan told members of the sit-in: 'I wanted to let you all know that the building is now closing. The President’s suite is closing.

'And I would like to urge you all to gather your personal belongings and please leave the building. If you choose to remain in the building, you will be in violation of university regulations according to Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities, and you may be subject to disciplinary action.

'So, I want to give you all a little time to think about what I just said, it’s just a little bit after five, and I will come back in a short while.'

Students taking part in the sit-in are seen from outside Nassau Hall. They faced disciplinary action from university officials as the office is not a designated protest space

Protesters are seen trying to get into Nassau Hall after the doors were locked when business hours ended

Students gather at the entrance of Nassau Hall at Princeton University, with signs saying: 'We ain't leaving'

She added that Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities designates specific areas for protests, and the President’s office is not one of them.

The demonstrators asked what the consequences would be. She said it would be up to the university's judicial committee to decide.

Princeton is one of 23 schools across the country where students are staging protests and demanding action from senior officials because they believe they have been subjected to racism and harassment.

A poll of 400 students on Thursday morning by student newspaper The Tab found that the majority of students didn't agree with the protests and thought they were having a low impact on campus.

LIST OF DEMANDS FROM PRINCETON'S BLACK JUSTICE LEAGUE 'WE DEMAND the university administration publicly acknowledge the racist legacy of Woodrow Wilson.' Specifically, the BJL asks the University to rename the Woodrow Wilson School, rename Wilson college, and remove the Wilson mural from Wilcox dining hall. 'WE DEMAND cultural competency training for all staff and faculty.' The letter states that this request was previously voted down on free speech grounds, and requests classes on the history of marginalized peoples be added to the list of distribution requirements. 'WE DEMAND a cultural space on campus dedicated specifically to Black students, and that space can be within the Carl A. Fields Center but should be clearly marked.' The BJL stipulates that the naming of the space be left to student discretion so as to avoid naming it after a 'white benefactor or person with bigoted beliefs, as evidenced by the naming of Stanhope Hall. 'These are demands from Black students at Princeton, who, in the words of Fannie Lou Hamer, are "sick and tired of being sick and tired". 'While we are graetful for the collaboration we have had with faculty and adminsitrators in the past, we make these demands during this unique time to expedite these processes. 'So that we can ensure that these demands will be met, we will request that President Eisgruber sign this document.' Advertisement

Protesters were defiant even though they were told they could be disciplined for their actions

One student said the home of Missouri University in Columbia is his hometown. Mizzou has hit the headlines in recent weeks after their President Tim Wolf resigned in the wake of a racism scandal

Extra security guards were brought in to the building in a bid to prevent more students from entering

Students sit on their laptops inside the entrance to Nassau Hall. One appears to be holding a Starbucks cup in her hand

Students write placards and sit on their laptops during the sit-in as it entered its second day

The demonstrators chanted into megaphones outside of Nassau Hall on Wednesday: 'We're here. We've been here. We ain't leaving. We are loved.' But other students have condemned the move, suggesting their list of demands 'don't make any sense'

Wilson was president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910 and served as New Jersey's governor from 1911 to 1913, when he entered the White House

A picture of a placard designed by the BJL claims that Wilson was a 'proud Klansman' and attended a special screening of Birth of the Nation at the White House

The placards were placed underneath a mural dedicated to Wilson in one of the college's dining rooms

WOODROW WILSON: THE PRESIDENT WHO FORMED TEMPORARY PEACE IN EUROPE, GAVE ALL WOMEN THE VOTE... BUT ASKED HIS CABINET MEMBERS AND THE CIVIL SERVICE TO RE-SEGREGATE Woodrow Wilson (pictured in April 1915) was criticized for his thoughts on slavery and was condemned for attending a screening of a racist film at the White House. He also helped set up the League of Nations and pushed for all women to get the vote Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910. He then served as New Jersey's governor from 1911 to 1913, when he entered the White House. The Democrat was a leading progressive but supported segregation. His second term as Commander-in-chief was dominated by America's entrance into World War One and his Fourteen Points - a document outlining the principles of piece that led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the formation of the League of Nations. His 'Wilsonian' doctrine aimed at promoting democracy around the world. In 1920, he ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, giving every woman the right to vote. In the federal Civil Service, Wilson endorsed racial segregation, granting department heads greater autonomy in their management. The cabinet in the White House under Wilson was forced re-segregate restrooms and cafeterias in their buildings. A picture of a placard designed by the BJL claim that Wilson was a 'proud Klansman' and attended a special screening of Birth of the Nation - a film praising the Ku Klux Klan and portraying black as uncivilized - at the White House. He did watch the film, but later is believed to have said that the movie was 'an unfortunate production'. 'I agree with you that Woodrow Wilson was a racist. I think we need to acknowledge that as a community and be honest about that,' Eisgruber told the students, according to a video posted to YouTube. According to historian Arthur Link, during his tenure he discouraged blacks from applying for admission, preferring to keep the peace among white students and alumni. He suffered a backlash after abolishing the upper-class elitist lunch clubs that were popular on campus. In his book: History of the American people, Wilson wrote that the Ku Klux Klan during the late 1860s was a 'lawless reaction to a lawless period. He said that the Klan 'began to attempt by intimidation what they were not allowed to attempt by the ballot or by any ordered course of public action'. Critics and historians have also criticized his view on slavery. Some say Wilson believed that slavery was wrong on economic labor grounds, rather than for moral reasons. They also argue that he idealized the slavery system in the South, viewing masters as patient with 'indolent', or lazy, slaves. Advertisement

Forty per cent said the university should 'absolutely not' remove Woodrow Wilson from the school's buildings.

The BJL announced through Facebook on Tuesday that they wanted 'to confront and challenge institutional racism and systemic inequality' in a bid to improve 'student experience'.

However, according to The Tab, some students condemned the move as their demands 'didn't make any sense'.

One person on messaging service Yik Yak said on Wednesday: 'The demands don't make any sense. They care more about the attention than getting anything accomplished.'

Another stated, 'It's ridiculous to change WWS' name. We should understand that it is possible to honor a man's contribution without subscribing to his principles.'

Others also said the demonstration showed 'disrespect to such a respectful administration' and the protesters looked 'petty'.

LIST OF COLLEGES GIVEN DEMANDS BY THEIR STUDENTS OVER 'RACIST ISSUES' ON CAMPUS University of Missouri Amherst College Atlanta University Center Consortium Boston College Brown University Emory University Guilford College Ithaca College Occidental College Princeton University Purdue University St. Louis University University of California, Berkeley UCLA University of Cincinnati University of Kansas University of Michigan University of South Carolina University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Virginia Commonwealth U. Washington University in St. Louis Yale University Source: The Demands Advertisement

An anonymous student wrote: 'We stand with Eisgruber. Stay strong buddy.'

Those in Eisgruber's office chanted: 'Who built this place? We built it'.

Another said: 'We owe white people nothing. If not for the evilness and white hatred, we would not have to be fighting for our rights in this country.'

'We're here. We've been here. We ain't leaving. We are loved,' students chanted into megaphones outside of Nassau Hall

They also stated: 'We want to make this as awkward as possible for him.'

As they waited for him, they blasted out Kendrick Lamar songs through a megaphone.

Eisgruber then entered and told the group: 'I appreciate where those demands are coming from. I agree with you, Woodrow Wilson was a racist... In some people, you have good in great measure and evil in great measure.'

He was joined by Dean Dolan, who said on marginalized people could be added to the curriculum, but it would take time.

Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton from 1902 to 1910. He then served as New Jersey's governor from 1911 to 1913, when he entered the White House. The Democrat was a leading progressive but supported segregation.

His second term as Commander-in-chief was dominated by America's entrance into World War One and his Fourteen Points - a document that led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles and the formation of the League of Nations.

A picture of a placard designed by the BJL claim that Wilson was a 'proud Klansman' and attended a special screening of Birth of the Nation - a film praising the Ku Klux Klan and portraying black as uncivilized - at the White House.

However he later is believed to have said that the movie was 'an unfortunate production'.

'I agree with you that Woodrow Wilson was a racist. I think we need to acknowledge that as a community and be honest about that,' Eisgruber told the students, according to a video posted to YouTube.

According to historian Arthur Link, during his tenure he discouraged blacks from applying for admission, preferring to keep the peace among white students and alumni.

He suffered a backlash after abolishing the upper-class elitist lunch clubs that were popular on campus.

In book History of the American people, Wilson wrote that the Ku Klux Klan during the late 1860s as a lawless reaction to a lawless period.

He said that the Klan 'began to attempt by intimidation what they were not allowed to attempt by the ballot or by any ordered course of public action'.

Critics and historians have also criticized his view on slavery.

Some say Wilson believed that slavery was wrong on economic labor grounds, rather than for moral reasons.

They also argue that he idealized the slavery system in the South, viewing masters as patient with 'indolent', or lazy, slaves.

The cabinet in the White House under Wilson re-segregated restrooms and cafeterias in their buildings.

Wilson College, one of the campus elements students want the Wilson name removed from, was Princeton's first of six residential colleges and is home to about 500 students.

The six colleges are the center of Princeton life and consist of multiple dormitory buildings, common areas, dining rooms, and they offer an array of academic and social programs and intramural activities.

Each college has a faculty head, dean, director of studies and director of student life and every student is assigned to one.

Wilson College was set up in 1957 when a group of students formed the 'Woodrow Wilson Lodge.'

According to their website it is known affectionately as 'The College of Destiny' by its residents.

A history reads: 'Modern Wilson College has maintained a tradition of student governance and promotion of diversity; it is a tradition that inspired the creation of an expanded residential system which now includes six colleges and serves undergraduates from all four class years.'

Around 500 freshman and sophomores live there.

In 1930, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs was opened.

Their website's description reads: 'The School's initial venture was an interdisciplinary program for undergraduates in Princeton's liberal arts college.

'In 1948, a graduate professional program was added, and the School was renamed to honor Woodrow Wilson, who served as the 13th president of Princeton University, governor of New Jersey and 28th president of the United States.

'The phrase "Princeton in the Nation's Service" was the theme of two speeches Wilson gave at the University, first during its 150th anniversary celebration in 1896 and again at his inauguration as the University's president in 1902.

'In the 1990s, the motto was expanded by then-President Harold T. Shapiro to read 'Princeton in the Nation's Service and in the Service of All Nations.'

'It is a concept that Princeton and the Woodrow Wilson School regard as an educational mission.'

A post on Facebook from one of the protesters on Wednesday night made it clear that they weren't going anywhere, even though the doors of the building had been locked

Wilson College (pictured), one of the institutions students want the name removed from, was Princeton's first of six residential colleges set up in 1957

They also want his name off the School of Public and International Affairs, pictured above

Princeton spokesman Martin Mbugua said Eisgruber and Dean of College Jill Dolan spent about an hour talking with the students and 'expect the conversation to continue beyond today's meeting.'

On Wednesday that Princeton announced it was ending the 'master' title for leaders of the residential colleges. Princeton says the faculty members will now be known as 'head of the college.'

Dolan, who oversees the residential colleges, said groups across campus are having discussions about Wilson's place at the school.

It's a 'conversation people are having all over the campus, in part because it's part of the national conversation. There are no easy answers here,' she said. 'It's a conversation we all need to have about the implications of history.'

Dolan said faculty members have been discussing removing the 'master' title for years for the job of running the six residential colleges where students live on campus.

'Many of us who would never have been part of the Princeton experience ... often feel our own exclusion,' Dolan said. 'Faculty and administrators prioritize inclusion and belonging, (from the) iconography of campus, to curriculum ... in terms of making sure we represent the diversity of human experience.'