The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/tag/president-pollack/)
“Mr. Lindseth, I hope that you will reconsider your remarks, given the great history of Cornell as a pioneer in eschewing prejudice and promoting growth of mankind.” – Charles L. Schlumberger ’76
Following an open letter from Jon Lindseth ’56 calling for President Martha Pollack’s resignation, the Cornell Board of Trustees unanimously voted to approve Pollack’s leadership.
There are many areas of social, economic and political controversies that faculty may address in exercising their academic freedom, but perhaps none so controversial as those dealing with Israel and Palestine. The University administration should stand up for faculty who exercise their academic freedom, even in the face of pressure from legislators, trustees, donors, students or alumni to sanction faculty for their speech.
As the Middle East goes up in armed conflict, people around the world turn to us to help understand the rhyme and reason for war. But should we be held accountable for our language in war?
President Pollack denounced members of the Cornell community who glorified Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks in Israel in a statement to the Cornell community on Monday, Oct. 16.
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.
In a speech at the 2023 Commencement Ceremony, President Martha Pollack encouraged students to recognize their growth throughout their academic journeys and to lead with courage in their post-graduate careers.
In an April 3 email, President Martha Pollack and Provost Michael Kotlikoff rejected a March 23 Student Assembly resolution requesting content warnings for graphic classroom content, citing academic freedom and academic integrity.
President Martha Pollack summarized the University’s achievements for the past year and expressed gratitude to staff and faculty.
We are reaching out to you as the respective presidents of the Graduate Professional Student Assembly (GPSA) and Student Assembly (SA) to express student concerns over the events that took place on the Ithaca campus the afternoon of November 7th.