Events of the past few months have aptly demonstrated the wisdom of the immortal Kalven Report when it admonishes that the ‘university is the home and sponsor of critics; it is not itself the critic.’
Under the leadership of President Pollack, Cornell lost sight of this critical role and instead became the critic—choosing sides in political debates and adopting the position of political activist. The University’s ability to operate in a neutral fashion was further complicated by the misapplication of its DEI policies across every facet of the academic environment. This loss of institutional neutrality made President Pollack’s efforts to cultivate free expression, educational integrity, and open inquiry nearly impossible to attain while straining the University’s ability to faithfully enforce policies intended to serve the whole community.
Much of the pain of the past few months could have been avoided had Cornell taken a principled approach, like that taken by the University of Chicago, to accommodate speech while maintaining its own institutional integrity. The CFSA wishes President Pollack well in her future endeavors and entreats the Board of Trustees and interim President to adopt the policies proposed by the CFSA in its 2023 report and proposal Lifting the Fog, by eschewing practices that pit the University and communities within it against each other.
In difficult times Cornell needs a strong president willing to take the steps necessary to return Cornell to the elite university it has been in the past where scholars, and leaders of industry, technology, and government are nurtured at an ‘institution where any person can find instruction in any study.’ The history and future of Cornell demand no less and the burden of identifying such a leader falls squarely on the shoulders of the Board of Trustees.
We wish Cornell success in finding and recruiting such a leader.
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