I really wish this wasn’t so, but it has been obvious for a while now that Cornell is systematically suppressing teaching, academic programming, and student events on Palestine. Even when events are allowed to occur, it comes only after a tortuous process of administrative harassment, the singling out of these events for heightened scrutiny and the strict application of bureaucratic rules or procedures not usually applied to other events.
Muslim students, faculty, and staff have repeatedly expressed their concerns to Cornell leadership. There is no evidence they have been heard.
From The Council on American-Islamic Relations:
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the designation of Cornell University as a “Hostile Campus” due to its escalating repression of Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, and allied students and faculty who speak out against Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
“Cornell’s actions are not just failures of leadership; they are acts of targeted censorship, stifling diverse perspectives,” said Dr. Maryam Hasan, Research and Advocacy Specialist at CAIR. “When universities discipline students for protesting genocide, they are silencing voices speaking for justice and the human rights of all.”
CAIR-New York’s Executive Director, Afaf Nasher, said in a statement:
“Cornell University’s designation as a hostile campus reflects a disheartening trend of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian aggression by university administrations. Universities must uphold their responsibility to create inclusive and safe spaces for Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students. We remain steadfast in our commitment to preserving free speech on college campuses and student activism amidst the ongoing genocide in Gaza. We hope that prospective students and parents, as well as alumni, reflect upon these hostile campus designations in their determination on what institutions are deserving of their support.”
More at the link.
Cornell Chapter of the AAUP 