A prominent donor and trustee emeritus of Cornell University, Jon A. Lindseth, has penned a scathing letter to the university’s board of trustees, demanding the resignation of President Martha Pollack and the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Lindseth, who has been a major donor for several decades, expressed alarm over the university’s embrace of DEI policies, claiming that they have led to a diminished quality of education and a toxic school environment.
In the letter, Lindseth called for the board of trustees to replace Pollack and the provost, eliminate DEI staffing and programming, and revert to open inquiry, academic freedom, free expression, and viewpoint diversity on campus. He criticized the university’s alleged practice of hiring faculty based on race instead of academic merit and its failure to support faculty members exercising free expression and academic freedom.
Lindseth’s letter, which was mailed to each trustee, has received significant attention and support since it was made public. Students, professors, and parents have reached out to thank him for raising concerns about DEI initiatives and their impact on campus. Lindseth has also halted donations to the university until it reformulates its approach to education.
The letter comes as Cornell University faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised by Lindseth and others. The Cornell Free Speech Alliance, a group of alumni, professors, and students advocating for the First Amendment on campus, has expressed support for Lindseth’s letter. The alliance aims to promote open inquiry and academic excellence at the university.
Lindseth’s criticism extends beyond DEI initiatives. He also questioned Pollack’s leadership, contrasting her response to the killing of George Floyd with her response to attacks on Israel. Lindseth accused the university of prioritizing DEI groupthink policies and racialization over the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence.
In response to Lindseth’s letter, Cornell University’s vice president for university relations confirmed that it had been received and forwarded to the board of trustees. The board is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the issues raised by Lindseth.
This latest development at Cornell University follows the resignations of Harvard’s Claudine Gay and the University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill, who stepped down after delivering controversial remarks to Congress regarding calls for the genocide of Jews. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik pressed the presidents on whether such calls violate their schools’ codes of conduct.
Lindseth’s letter has sparked a broader conversation about the role of DEI initiatives in higher education and the impact they have on academic freedom and open inquiry. It remains to be seen how Cornell University will respond to the demands raised by Lindseth and the growing concerns among students, alumni, and faculty.
