Guest Room
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SCHWARZ | U.S. Universities in Crisis: The Implicit and Explicit Threat of Nationalization
Using the threat of withholding research funds and taxing endowments, Trump and his acolytes are trying to nationalize universities. Under the guise of fighting antisemitism, they want to put universities under the auspices of various kinds of monitors, perhaps in some cases judges, who will control what universities do. Disregarding democracy, autocrats are bullies who stifle dissent and debate to impose their worldview. The Trump administration lives by intimidation, whether it be directed at the press, the legal establishment, cultural resources or the media. Defending the right to express fact-based opinions and different interpretations of the same facts, universities must resist intimidation by an authoritarian regime that seeks compliant silence…
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GUEST ROOM | Neurodiversity in the Trump Era
April is Autism Acceptance month, a time to intentionally include, faithfully affirm and openly embrace autistic people, who make up around 3% of the population. While the Biden administration formally recognized Autism Acceptance month, President Trump has proclaimed it Autism Awareness month, reverting to the outdated and harmful terminology which emphasizes alertness to a threat rather than welcoming of differences. “Awareness” campaigns serve only to perpetuate stigmas and medicalized attitudes rather than promote belonging and inclusion while acknowledging both our humanity and our uniqueness. Acceptance month centers on an act you take through purposeful learning, reflection and practice. Accepting someone requires educating yourself about their life; unfamiliarity breeds misunderstanding, disdain…
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GUEST ROOM | The Sound of Silence: On Music, Politics and Belonging at Cornell
In his Wednesday morning email announcing his cancellation of Kehlani’s Slope Day performance, University President Michael Kotlikoff reminded us that “Cornell is an institution… where every person should feel included.” Kotlikoff’s words echo familiar campus slogans, ranging from large-scale projects like “Belonging at Cornell” to the untiring rehearsal of the founder’s motto, “any person, any study.” This week, we are once again reminded that at Cornell, difference is to be seen and not heard; to be visually included in the university’s strategic self-image but quickly silenced when it challenges the status quo. Before cancelling Kehlani’s performance altogether, Kotlikoff bragged about modifying her contract so as to ensure an event “without…
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GUEST ROOM | The Incredibly Shrinking University
It was with sadness and embarrassment that I read The Sun’s article, “Kotlikoff Criticizes Kehlani’s Slope Day Headline.” The issue, it seems, is that R&B singer Kehlani has political views. And we, as a university, are now in the business of looking into whether we can cancel engagements with people based on their having such views. How else can we interpret President Kotlikoff’s regret, that “We found out about the social media of this performer roughly three weeks ago” and that “it’s too late to secure another performer that will be acceptable or appropriate for Slope Day”? Private universities’ disinviting people based on their political views is probably legal. New…
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GUEST ROOM | Cornell Dining and the Campus Community: A Recipe for Successful Food Waste Reduction
As we approach the end of April, Sustainability Month at Cornell, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on what Cornell is doing — and more importantly, what we all can do — to fight food waste on campus. Cornell Dining has implemented a variety of behind-the-scenes changes that many students and staff might not even realize are happening. These efforts are effective, thoughtful and crucial — but they can’t succeed without broader community participation. Cornell Dining has implemented several back-of-house practices to ensure that food is used efficiently, and waste is minimized. Our team works to forecast demand accurately and refines food procurement, production and inventory to match our needs…
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GUEST ROOM | Reflections on Les Misérables, Cornell University and the Trump Administration
At the 2025 National Governors Association dinner, the U.S. Army Choir performed “Do You Hear the People Sing,” a revolutionary anthem from the musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Shockingly, the song, about fighting against tyrannical governments, was approved before the dinner and was not the act of protest it may have seemed to be. Even though Donald Trump is painting himself as the oppressed, starting with the unauthorized use of this requiem during a Miami rally eight years ago and extending to his glorification of his mugshot, he is exactly the type of tyrant Les Misérables speaks out against: One who betrays our systems of checks and balances,…
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GUEST ROOM | “Little p” Politics
Like many professors, I love talking with students about big ideas. Because I teach law and public policy, the ideas my students and I discuss are often weighty and contested. However, in the State Policy Advocacy Clinic, a course in which students design and advocate for evidenced-based public policies, my students and I often wrestle with surprisingly mundane questions: “Why didn’t our stakeholder follow our advice?” or “Did you see the legislator’s expression when you mentioned x; what was that about?” or “That meeting was a bit of a disaster. What should we have done differently?” We read William Ury’s Getting Past No, which teaches negotiation skills, try its tips…