The biggest story in today’s news seems to be the defacing of a protest display against the violence in Gaza that currently stands on the Arts Quad. The Cornell Daily Sun put the story above the fold and got react quotes from members of Jewish and Islamic groups on campus.
But the bigger story regarding campus discourse appears near the back of the Sun’s story. The student head of the Islamic Alliance for Justice told the paper that the group received approval and funds from the university for the exhibit. Dean of Students Kent Hubbell ’67 confirmed the IAJ’s claim, saying:
“We [financially] support activities that promote constructive debate regarding contemporary issues of all sorts…We hope that the result will be a constructive one. Sometimes these things are controversial.”
Wait. A Cornell-sanctioned and funded protest? Doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose of student dialogue? The university’s direct involvement in the supposed debate over the Gaza Strip calls into question the authenticity of the existence of a heart-felt dialogue about the subject. Cornell appears to be stoking a flame that had been extinguishing itself last week.
Even worse is the brazen hypocrisy on behalf of Dean Hubbell. When a student and an S.A. member attempted to strip the Cornell Review of its name last semester, Hubbell stood idly by. He said:
“The Review’s journalism, if one dignifies it with that term, creates a climate of intimidation and alienation among the groups that it targets. Must we tolerate this behavior in order to uphold our commitment to free speech and freedom of expression? I would hope not.”
Hubbell has appointed himself judge, jury, and executioner when it comes to freedom of speech at Cornell. Since he and the university’s decision-makers deemed appropriate a display equating dead Hamas terrorists with murdered citizens, they threw money at it. “Controversial” indeed.
But when Dean Hubbell (supposedly) read the Review’s admittedly controversial articles on program housing and Islamic terrorism, he derided the paper for creating “a climate of intimidation.”
In our humble opinion, the university’s decision makers should butt out and let students debate the issues themselves. Lest they want to continue embarrassing themselves with eye-popping double standards such as this.
For more information on Cornell University’s stance on involvement in affairs such as this:
http://cornellsun.com/section/opinion/content/2009/02/02/controversies-and-campuses-middle-east-and-cornell
…seems Skorton prefers the school to remain neutral, yet funding from Dean of Arts and Sciences??
Skorton is all about keeping neutral, he’s made it clear on a few occasions. Unfortunately, it appears that to him sometimes “being neutral” is another phrase for allowing certain people in power to do what they want without interference. I am very surprised that a man who commits himself to such moderation would allow such an extreme breach of the principle of “student-led dialogue”.
Well said!