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Cornell’s academic theme for the 2023-24 school year is freedom of expression. The outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas happened shortly after the school year began. The University’s support of student and faculty freedom of expression has been tested by on- and off-campus protests and in some cases, social media posts. One student is under arrest on federal charges for making specific, violent anti-semitic threats online against Jewish students and a cultural center on campus. Another, Maria Valdez, has been suspended for a social media post that included the statement, “Zionists must die.” Zach Greenberg is an attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. He says the two actions are…
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Read MoreThis is the last of my three stories about freedom of expression at Cornell University this year. Here are links to the first and second stories. The academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.” In earlier stories, we reported about the general mood at Cornell around free speech, and students’ opinions about…
Read MorePhoto: Adrian Buckmaster for the Klezmatics Frank London of the Klezmatics talks with Felix Teitelbaum and Aron Gutman ahead of their show at Cornell, Saturday April 13, 2024. He discussed the cultural significance of klezmer music and Yiddish culture with its roots in Ashkenazi Jewish traditions and influences from Eastern Europe. He reflected on the…
Read MoreThe academic theme at Cornell this year is “Freedom of Expression.” A few weeks ago we reported on the general mood around free speech at Cornell. Today, we’re sharing students’ opinions about their free speech rights. WRFI asked to speak to someone in Cornell’s administration about free speech on campus. The request was denied. The…
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Case Against Day Hall Protestors Conditionally Dismissed A case against Cornell student and staff protestors will likely be dismissed. Twenty-four members of the Coalition for Mutual Liberation who staged a sit in at Day Hall in March appeared before Judge Seth Peacock Wednesday. The charges will be dropped provided the defendants don’t commit further violations…
Read MoreICSD Board Cuts Proposed Budget Ahead of May 21 Vote The Ithaca City School Board has made cuts to their proposed budget. According to the Ithaca Times, the adjustment was made after a 5-hour meeting with the public. Board members heard from a range of homeowners who spoke to the effect of rising taxes on…
Read MoreGraduate students at Cornell are pushing the administration to act more quickly in negotiations with their union. According to the Ithaca Voice, last week about 200 graduate students rallied at Day Hall. Organizer Sadie Seddon-Stettler said that the university isn’t making contract negotiation a priority. The union maintains a dashboard showing the status of various…
Read MoreCompeting rallies were held at Cornell Sunday. One was billed as a “Jewish Unity” rally and featured speakers who decried what they say is a rise in antisemitism at Cornell and across the country. The other was organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation whose demands include that Cornell divest from what they call genocide…
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