Wealthy Cornell University Donor Withholds Support Over Diversity Initiatives, Calls for President’s Resignation
A prominent Cornell University donor has publicly declared that he will cease financial contributions to the university due to his dissatisfaction with its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Jon A. Lindseth, a Cornell emeritus trustee and presidential counselor, recently signed an open letter to the Cornell Board of Trustees urging the college to cease its “misguided commitment” to DEI programs, saying DEI programs have resulted in “disgrace.” He emphasized that he could no longer make general contributions until Cornell reevaluated its approach to education, replacing what he termed “DEI groupthink” with the university’s original mission.
“I am proud to count myself one of several generations of Lindseths who are Cornell alumni and invested donors, but I am alarmed by the diminished quality of education offered lately by my alma mater because of its disastrous involvement with DEI policies that have infiltrated every part of the university,” Lindseth wrote.
“I have spent years hearing the stories of Cornell and its leadership, participating as a student, and sponsoring and funding some of the University’s exemplary past work including the Library (which I continue to fund). I can no longer make general contributions until the university reformulates its approach to education by replacing DEI groupthink with the original noble intent of Cornell.” he continued.
Lindseth went on to reference a Cornell Free Speech Alliance report that stated the university was hiring faculty based on race for DEI compliance. The report also stated that the university is censuring faculty who express minority political opinions.
The letter also criticized Cornell president Martha E. Pollak’s response to rising antisemitism on college campuses as “shameful,” pointing out that she was far more firm in her stance on racial issues following the death of George Floyd. In response to this, he called for Pollak’s resignation.
“No alumnus, student, or faculty member should accept Cornell’s being in this shameful position. We need new leadership to correct these intolerable circumstances and to redeem Cornell’s legacy and honor as soon as possible,” Lindseth said.
The call for new leadership at Cornell comes at a time when many prominent universities in the country face under public pressure to install new leadership and policies. Harvard recently announced the resignation of its president following accusations of plagiarism as well as her incredibly weak stance on antisemitism being promoted by student organizations. Harvard also faced backlash from donors, resulting in two wealthy Israeli donors withdrawing funding for the school’s “insensitive” handling of Pro-Palestine demonstrations.
