WISE-ROJAS | From “Plantations” to “Botanic Gardens” — Holding Cornell Accountable

Content warning: This article includes discussions of racism, white supremacy and homophobia. 

When I was sitting in UNILWYL 1156: Queer Identities and Beyond, last semester, I was shocked to hear the words “Cornell Plantations” and learn about its history. At first, I thought it was one of those scenarios that was made up just to educate students. On the other hand, I wasn’t in total shock. Cornell is an Ivy. No matter how diverse, it’s still old and was founded by people who never had a minority’s interest at heart.