Jon A. Lindseth, a distinguished emeritus trustee, presidential counselor, and one of the most generous benefactors of Cornell University, has publicly demanded the resignation of the institution's President, Martha E. Pollak.
Lindseth has also vowed to cease his financial contributions to the university if it continues to pursue its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
In a candid open letter addressed to Chairman Kraig Kayser and the Board of Trustees, Lindseth implored the university to renounce its "misguided commitment" to DEI. He argued that the institution's adoption of such initiatives has resulted in "disgrace" rather than the "excellence" it once exemplified.
Lindseth, a proud Cornell alumnus and a member of a multi-generational family of Cornell graduates, expressed his deep concern over the perceived decline in the quality of education due to the university's "disastrous involvement" with DEI policies. He wrote, "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."
Having been an active participant in the university's affairs for years, Lindseth has sponsored and funded some of Cornell's most notable past work, including the Library. However, he stated, "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."
Lindseth criticized President Pollak's handling of antisemitism and Hamas terrorism, contrasting it with her "strong response" to the murder of George Floyd. He suggested this discrepancy indicates a shift in the university's focus from "discovering and disseminating knowledge" to "adhering to DEI groupthink."
The Cornell alumnus raised several concerns, including a rise in antisemitism and "general intolerance" on campus, the elimination of SATs and grades, and the implementation of a new campus "bias reporting system." He argued that these changes have created an "Orwellian environment" and a system based on equal outcomes rather than merit.
Lindseth also revealed that he had requested the board to consider President Pollak's resignation at the emergency board meeting scheduled for January 26. He cited information provided by the Cornell Free Speech Alliance, which included reports of faculty hiring based on race to meet DEI requirements and instances of faculty being singled out and disciplined for expressing minority opinions on national events and policies.
Lindseth concluded his letter with a series of recommendations for the Board of Trustees. These included the elimination of DEI staff, a return to Open Inquiry, Academic Freedom, Free Expression, and Viewpoint Diversity on campus, and the cancellation of a proposed "Cornell Center for Racial Justice."
He urged, "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."
Login