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ARNOLD | A Silent Auction: Pollack’s Stance on Free Speech Subject to the Highest Bid
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President Pollack is more focused on profits than peace.
The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/pollack/)
President Pollack is more focused on profits than peace.
A Muslim Cornell student was spat on in Collegetown on Monday, leading to an Ithaca Police Department investigation.
In response to alumni who criticized his open letter, Jon Lindseth ’56 maintained that DEI is a harmful “religion” that infringes on free speech, though he struggled to articulate why.
Cornell’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has been scrutinized.
Cornell announced interim policies on expression and doxxing on Jan. 24, following increased scrutiny of higher education, resignation of university presidents and donor demands.
Jon Lindseth ’56, emeritus member of the Cornell Board of Trustees and donor to the University, published an open letter that called for President Martha Pollack and Provost Michael Kotlikoff’s resignation citing the University’s “misguided commitment” to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Cornell students in support of Palestine accused the University of silence following threats toward Palestinian students and allies, as well as criticizing their response to the Israel-Hamas war and ties to Israel.
While condemning Prof. Russell Rickford’s Oct. 15 speech, President Pollack doubled down on her commitment to the 2023-24 school year’s academic theme of free speech in her remarks to the Faculty Senate on Nov. 8.
The Israel-Hamas war has been raging for two weeks. For many, including myself, time has stopped.
In reality, though, time never stops.
The three best speeches I’ve ever heard have been given by presidents: former President George W. Bush’s 2021 address at SMU; former President Barack Obama’s keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention; and Martha Pollack’s 2023 convocation address.
I have seen twelve-years’ worth of boys-schools’ convocations, which left me with limited expectations on the Sunday after O-Week. As President Pollack began her speech, though, comfortable behind her wooden Cornell University podium, I knew she was confident in her message. As her speech unfolded, I felt myself filled with hope. Hope for my future here. Hope for my classmates’ futures. Hope for the future of the school. And hope in knowing through all of Cornell’s rigid toughness, my classmates and I will make it through.