As Cornell University faces growing challenges to its commitment to free speech and academic freedom, alumni have a critical opportunity to influence the institution’s direction in the 2025 Trustee elections. In an open letter published by Minding the Campus, concerned alumni call for action to restore Cornell’s reputation as a true marketplace of ideas. The Cornell Free Speech Alliance (CFSA) wholeheartedly supports this effort, emphasizing that it is time for alumni to stand up for the values that made Cornell a respected institution.
The letter highlights the troubling shift at Cornell, where policies like diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are stifling intellectual diversity and free expression. “Cornell has become a place where intellectual diversity is stifled, and the protection of free speech is no longer a priority,” the letter states. As members of the CFSA, we see this firsthand. The university’s failure to address issues like campus censorship and antisemitism under the previous administration has left a growing sense of disillusionment among alumni who are now demanding change.
The upcoming trustee elections present a rare opportunity for alumni to challenge the status quo. The CFSA urges alumni to support candidates who will prioritize the restoration of intellectual freedom, ensuring that Cornell returns to its founding principles: a place where free exchange of ideas thrives. As the letter powerfully states, “This moment offers us a choice: Will we stand by as the university drifts further from its founding principles, or will we fight to restore a commitment to free expression and academic freedom?”
We agree with the letter’s authors who argue that Cornell’s board must be held accountable for its failure to address the ideological rigidity that harms students and alumni alike. As one author pointed out, “The lack of intellectual diversity is damaging the university’s reputation.”
In these critical elections, alumni have the chance to ensure that Cornell's future is shaped by leaders who champion free speech, foster open debate, and support diverse viewpoints. The CFSA encourages all alumni to consider their role in this pivotal moment and to vote for candidates who will fight for the university’s core values.
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