The Future of the American University–Join the Conversation

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I was at Cornell last weekend and, yes, it snowed – but only briefly on Sunday morning. Drove there Friday in my EV for the annual student/alumni Symposium of the Cornell Media Guild, which encompasses WVBR FM radio, internet-only Cornell Radio, and Electric Buffalo Records with recording studio and Artists and Repertoire (A&R) management. Great turnout.

IMG_2967 7In other news, the first deliverable of the Committee on the Future of the American University was circulated among the Cornell community.   This committee was formed by Provost Kavita Bala to “explore how the university can evolve to best serve future generations while pursuing its core mission of education, scholarship, public impact and community engagement in the face of intersecting challenges of rapid technological change [call that AI], an evolving relationship with the federal government, and erosion of public trust.”

The draft Framework authored by the Committee acknowledges “concerns…long-running issues…” and more challenges, and further states “The core strengths of universities — curiosity, learning, discovery, creativity, and public engagement — are powerful tools for responding to changing conditions.”
The Committee states the way forward must be rooted in four key academic commitments:
• Foster discovery, creativity, and innovation
• Enable lifelong learning
• Promote pluralism as a lived institutional practice that strengthens academic freedom and democratic capacity through constructive engagement across differences in identity, experience, background, worldview, and values
• Cultivate judgment
The Committee identifies five strategic imperatives including relationship building, shared values, civics, collaboration, and global vision.
As the next phase, the Committee is seeking feedback from the Cornell community.  If you have thoughts you’d like to share, send an email to fau@cornell.edu.  Also, you should have received an email from Cornell inviting you to a webinar on Monday, May 11 to hear about the Committee’s work.  Register here to attend (note: you do not need a NetID to register). 
Our Cornell, often described as the “First American University,” faces this important and consequential challenge to chart the future of American university education.  Let’s get started!

Renee Alexander RED Talk Reminder–Wednesday, April 15 at 8 pm ET

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Students are back from Spring Break and ready (hopefully) for the final push to the end of the semester.

 Now we want you to get ready–for our next RED Talk Zoom Wednesday, April 15 at 8pm ET.  This RED Talk coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA) which is celebrating with a gala in Washington, DC later this month.  Our RED Talk webinar will feature our classmate Renee Alexander. (Information about the CBAA gala can be found here.  

 

Renee AlexanderRenee is one of the founders of CBAA, and more importantly was a member of the record-breaking and legendary cohort of Black students who matriculated as freshmen at Cornell in Fall 1970.   After a career in advertising and publishing, Renee went back to school to get a master’s and PhD degree in education.  She then returned to Cornell where she served as the Associate Dean of Students, University Diversity Officer, and Director of Campus Climate Initiatives.

 

Renee has seen and been a direct participant in the recent half-century arc of diversity at Cornell, which today is one of the University’s defining characteristics.  She will be speaking with us about the founding, the journey, and the future of the Black experience at Cornell. Please join us for what is sure to be an enlightening discussion.  Register HERE to receive a link for the Zoom.

Hope to see you at the RED Talk!

Hawks, RBG & Fashion, Touchdown, RED Talk Reminder 4/15

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Spring is off to a slow start in Ithaca and students are sooo ready for Spring Break which starts this coming weekend.

Even though the weather says winter, there is some sunshine on campus:

  • Our Cornell Red Tail Hawks, Big Red and Arthur, have been getting their nest ready for this year’s brood.  This is the 15th year for Big Red to lay her eggs and the 9th year for Arthur to be at her side. Check out the  live nest cam to watch a great spectacle over the next couple of months!
  • A new exhibit called Fashioning Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54 and the Power of Presence has just opened on campus, showcasing the fashion sense of one of our most notable alumnae. (I am sure it comes as no surprise that RBG carried, in every purse and handbag, a copy of the US Constitution!)  Two of our classmates, Peggy Cangilos Ruiz and Martha Young Roblee, played a role in acquiring some of the pieces on display.  This exhibit inspired the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection  (which organized the show) to create a new outfit for the Touchdown statue on campus.   The jabot is styled after RBG’s trademark lace collar.
  • And finally, please circle April 15th at 8pm on your calendar–not as the tax deadline(!) but as our next RED Talk webinar featuring Renee Alexander ’74.  After a long career in higher ed (including several decades at Cornell), Renee is now an educational consultant. One of her many claims to fame is she was one of the founders of the Cornell Black Alumni Association  (CBAA) which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.  Register here.

To Spring!

New Cornell Course: Finding Purpose–On Campus & Beyond

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Three weeks ago I sat in on a pilot course on campus designed to help students “find purpose” in their college experience and their lives after Cornell.  Called Pathways to Purpose, this class was born out of the belief that Cornell can do a better job preparing our students to participate in a meaningful way in private and public entities, schools, communities, companies and more.

The one-credit class took place over a Saturday and Sunday and involved 350 undergraduates from across the University. It led off with a panel titled What Cornell Owes Democracy (inspired by the 2021 book “What Universities Owe Democracy”, by Johns Hopkins president Ronald Daniels).  The panelists—Cornell faculty members–mentioned:

  • The University must emphasize thinking (as a process) and thought (as an outcome)
  • What happens in classrooms and labs must be relevant outside Cornell
  • The importance of advancing pluralism of thought on campus.  Steven Jackson, Professor of Information Sciences, had the best soundbite: “Differences are the rocket fuel of learning”
  • The need to build the skills necessary to protect and defend democracy

As reported in the Cornell Chronicle, students enrolled in the course were asked “to step back from their other assignments and distractions to think about what it means to lead a life of impact and purpose, and consider what and how they could contribute to the Cornell community and beyond.”

It was a remarkable couple of days on campus, with students participating in break-out sessions and hanging around for the evening reception and networking.  Course organizers observed,  “Coming together around Cornell’s core values – exploration across boundaries, community of belonging, and public engagement – was a powerful experience.”

Here’s to our alma mater for encouraging innovative learning and teaching

PS: One of the course instructors, Professor Anthony Burrow, has done some interesting research about the personal “benefits of purpose”—purpose can make us happier and healthier.  Check out this interview with Anthony.

Minus 1 on Campus: Meet Our New Class Scholar

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I am almost thawed out after being on campus last week when it was minus 1 degree (felt like minus 20). I don’t remember days that cold when we were undergrads…. This winter, Cornell was actually closed for 24 hours in January due to heavy snow.

Between snowfalls, Kristen and I had the opportunity to meet with our Class Scholar, Marianna Wineinger ‘29, who spent her first semester in Washington DC as a member of the inaugural DC Start program through the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy. After 3 weeks on the Ithaca campus, Marianna had the following observations:

“Getting to experience DC through a Public Policy lens as a freshman was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Witnessing the result of hundreds of years of US history surrounding me through the memorials and monuments fortified my passion to continue to pursue a career in policy and advocacy. Along with opportunities to meet lobbyists, former and current House members, White House staff, lawyers, and more, the program offered a unique beginning to my college journey through an in-depth understanding of the political field. Living and going to class with the same forty peers each day allowed us to grow close as a cohort, an aspect I value deeply as I transition to Ithaca. I have truly enjoyed carrying these friendships on campus while also making new ones. 

 I am a Californian at heart, so it is difficult for me to fully acclimate to the freezing temperatures, as I am sure you all recall from your time at Cornell. I do find Ithaca and the Cornell campus very beautiful, and I am excited to see how the campus looks through all the seasons, especially the fall and the spring cherry blossoms. The snow adds another layer of beauty, even if I cannot feel my fingers at times. Exploring all the various clubs, cafes, and libraries has been wonderful, and I am excited to fully settle in as a Cornellian. Thank you very much for making this experience possible!”

 Sincerely, Marianna

Because of the generosity of the many classmates who have contributed to the Class of 1974 Scholarship Fund, our class has supported eight Cornell undergraduates since 2000. We will likely have Marianna as our scholarship recipient throughout her Cornell years, so we will get to know her better as she experiences all that Cornell has to offer.

Happy New Year from the Class of ’74

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I hope your New Year has gotten off to a running start.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2026!

We want to get some dates on your calendar and let you know about some recent happenings on campus.

2026 Calendar

  • Classes begin Jan 20 and end May 5
  • Graduation (Cornell’s 158th) is May 22-24
  • Cornell Black Alumni Association (CBAA )50th Anniversary Celebration is in Wash DC April 24-26
  • Homecoming is October 16-18
  • We are also planning two RED Talkwebinars this Winter/Spring.  First one is Wednesday, April 15 at 8pm.  Details to follow.

Happenings

The Cornell departments of Global Development (we knew it as Rural Sociology) and Natural Resources are being combined into a new school in CALS called the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment.

The long-awaited new Hillel Center building will break ground in March at 722 University Ave (across from the West Campus Gothics). Hillel has been on campus for 100 years, but with no significant physical home.

And on a sad note, Miss Minnie, the miniature horse that became the mascot of the Vet School and a beloved fixture on campus, died in December.  Click on the photo to watch the video of Miss Minnie–guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, if your New Year’s resolutions are already beginning to fall by the wayside, Cornell researchers may have the answer. Spoiler Alert: The key to achieving goals is less about the outcome and more about enjoying the journey. Give it a try….

Ok, back to the gym….😊

Disagreement, Polarization, Myron Taylor

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Last month Peter Loewen, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences (since 2024) and professor of Government, gave a riveting, insightful and timely talk titled “Reducing Political Polarization“. As Peter observed, polarization is at an all time high, and this polarization increasingly creeps into daily life, with people choosing what to buy, where to live and whom to date, on political grounds.

Peter explained how we got to this point, but more importantly, how we can decrease polarization in legislatures, conversations and even in our own classrooms.  He is walking the talk and will be teaching a course at Cornell this spring called “Govt 1109: Disagreement“.  The course description is:

Disagreement is at the heart of the university and at the heart of democracies. In universities, scholars in every discipline engage in disagreement every day, from the nature of the outer reaches of the galaxy, to the value and meaning of different works of literature, to the ideal forms of government. Similarly, democracies confront disagreement as often as they do agreement: for example, how should wealth be distributed? How do we balance rights with responsibilities? How fast should speed limits be? Effective scholars and effective citizens alike need to wrestle with how to disagree. This course addresses this challenge head on.

One of Peter’s slides shows that our ability to relate across the aisle or at the Thanksgiving dinner table is at an all-time low. This chart shows the degree of intersection between the two major US parties over the past 140 years.  Between 1923 and 1983 there’s overlap between the parties, meaning that the conservative Dems and liberal Republicans were “on the same page”.  Over the past 20 years, however, there’s significant (but not unprecedented) lack of overlap between blues and reds.

I encourage you to listen to Peter’s talk: my bet is it will be the best and most stimulating 45 minutes of your week. PS: You’ll hear that the word “empathy” (an antidote to polarization) was first coined in the U.S. in 1909 by Edward Titchener, a professor at Cornell. Who knew?!?

On a separate note, our classmate Evan Stewart’s very interesting RED Talk webinar about famous Cornell Law School graduate Myron Taylor, who was CEO of US Steel, President Roosevelt’s emissary to the Vatican, and a major diplomatic player in WW II, can be found here.  And you can enjoy recordings of all our RED Talk Redux Series on that page of our Class website.

I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.

Settlement with the Feds and RED Talk Webinar on Myron Taylor Reminder

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It was a consequential week on campus last week–the University reached an agreement with the federal government to immediately restore and continue Cornell’s research funding. The full text of the agreement is available here.  President Mike Kotlikoff conducted a Town Hall last Friday to field questions about the settlement.  The Cornell Daily Sun compiled the questions that were asked, as well as Mike’s responses.

.And

REGISTER NOW

for our RED Talk webinar tomorrow, Tuesday, November 11 at 8pm ET, featuring Evan Stewart ’74, Cornell Law ‘77.  A retired lawyer in the NYC area, Evan is now a prolific author.  He will speak about his biography of Myron Taylor, who graduated from Cornell Law School in 1894 with a Bachelor of Laws degree (yes there was such a degree back then).  Taylor is one of the greatest, but least known, Cornellians.  Evan will share why Myron Taylor was one of the most significant figures in US and global history in the first half of the 20th century.   Don’t miss this great story!

But if you did you can watch it and all of our past RED Talks on our RED Talks Redux Page.

Inauguration & Nov 11 RED Talk Reminder

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Twelve days ago, an important talk was given on campus by our just-inaugurated 15th president, Mike Kotilikoff. Mike’s talk is a clear statement of where Cornell stands in this very turbulent time in higher ed.  I think you will be proud.

And don’t forget about our next RED Talk webinar, this coming Tuesday, November 11 at 8pm ET, featuring classmate Evan Stewart. Evan has had a long career in the law and recently become a prolific author. He will speak about his biography of Myron Taylor—one of the greatest but least known Cornellians. Taylor, as Evan tells us, was one of the most consequential figures in US and global history in the first half of the 20th century.

To attend our RED Talk on Tuesday, November 11th

                        REGISTER HERE  

I hope you will join me and fellow classmates for this special talk.

Meet Our New Class Scholar–Next RED Talk Nov. 11

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Several weeks ago I met our new Class of 1974 Scholar, Marianna Wineinger. Marianna is the 8th student our Class has supported since the Scholarship was established at our 25th Reunion by classmates Joan Saltsman Oelschlager and Bob Oelschlager.  Hundreds of members of the Class of ‘74 have supported the scholarship since 1999.

Mariana is from Santa Rosa, California and is a freshman in Cornell’s Brooks School of Public Policy. She is spending her first semester in Washington, DC as part of a new initiative called DC Start.  DC Start is distinct from the existing “Cornell in Washington” program and gives forty Brooks freshmen the opportunity to start their Cornell experience in the nation’s capital.  The legacy Cornell in Washington program continues in the spring and summer semesters.

Marianna told me she has been interested in public policy since high school when she volunteered with her local member of Congress, Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.).  She is thrilled to be in DC, but looking forward to getting to the Ithaca campus in January.  Marianna says, “Attending Cornell is a dream come true and I have the Class of ’74 to thank especially for the opportunity. Thank you so much!”

One final note: Put Tuesday November 11th at 8pm EST on your calendar for our next RED Talks webinar featuring classmate Evan Stewart. Evan is the author of the book Myron Taylor:  The Man Nobody Knew. To jog your memory, Myron Taylor is one of the giant historical of figures of the first half of the 20th century and a great Cornellian (think Cornell Law School). As one reviewer commented, “The Man Nobody Knew is a tour de force. Not only does it bring to life a remarkable and important person, but also tells a riveting tale—the chapters chronicling the runup to the US entering WWII is the stuff of le Carré. Stewart is an exceptional storyteller and this meticulously researched biography is a delight.”  Join us for what will be a fascinating talk—more details to come.