To President Kotlikoff and the Trustees of Cornell University,
When Ezra Cornell said “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study,” shortly after the United States fought a war to eliminate the institution of slavery, he established the principles of inclusion and access as founding elements of Cornell University. I am writing to urge you, in the strongest possible terms, not to capitulate to any demand that Cornell compromise these principles.
As an American Jew, I do not feel threatened by speech or protests opposing the actions of the current right-wing Israeli government. I do, however, feel threatened when the US President attempts to define who is American and who is Jewish, and orders that people be imprisoned or deported without due process when he disagrees with their protected speech. Historically, these sorts of actions have not ended well for Jews, even if we are not the people targeted first. I certainly object to the President taking these actions for my sake, and I ask you to ensure that Cornell does not facilitate punishment of any students for their speech.
The US President’s withheld funds and publicized demands are calibrated to hamstring academic inquiry and access. Cornell University provides critical academic infrastructure to the global educational community, such as hosting arXiv and the Legal Information Institute. Not only are these invaluable academic resources, but they are also available to the broader public. Restricting access to the US legal code is exactly the sort of thing that a rising authoritarian regime would do to limit themselves from the rule of law; Cornell is therefore likely to be a target regardless of other factors. If Cornell buckles to any of the President’s demands, Columbia University serves as a powerful cautionary tale about what will happen next: the President will make more, and broader, demands. And as we have seen with Columbia, the President has not restored funding in exchange for meeting his initial demands. There is no reason to expect a reward for compliance.
On the other hand, we have more and more examples of institutions finding success and relief when they fight back against obviously illegal or unconstitutional behaviors. This requires bravery and effort, at least at first, but becomes easier as more institutions stand up and organize their efforts. I suggest looking to the leaders and faculty at Rutgers and Wesleyan Universities, and hope that Cornell will join them and other colleges and universities in a coalition to support the academic underpinnings of democracy.
This is a chance to lead with Ezra Cornell’s example.
Sincerely,
Joseph Shoer (Ph.D. ’11)