Cornell Blog: An unofficial blog about Cornell University

Why do they do this? It’s been done already, and done better. Boo, CornellCast. Boo!

Yes, you heard me right. You can submit a comment to the authorities at Cornell University about their new code of conduct, which is Ithaca’s own little version of the Patriot Act. The rationale behind this “open” revision process is outlined in the Krause Report Memo:

Since the Campus Code of Conduct and related disciplinary processes affect all members of the Ithaca campus, it is important that there be opportunities for members of the university community to comment on the proposed changes. For that reason, I ask that you read these materials with great care and be prepared to join President-elect David Skorton and others, in the fall, in discussing the recommended changes before The Board of Trustees is asked to take any action regarding them.

Luckily for us busy alumni bloggers, they provide a summary of major changes, which I will trust for now:

• The Office of Student affairs will lose its independence from the university administration
• Off campus “misconduct” can now be considered directly by the Office of Student Affairs
• Evidence must be a “Preponderance (more likely than not)” rather than “Clear and convincing”
• Accused loses the right to remain silent; compelled to cooperate with the Office of Student Discipline
• Accused loses the right to appeal a decision

I am including this reworked Cornell University logo so that it’s clear that I think these Code of Conduct changes enable a police-state controlled by the current administration.

This should be a bigger deal that it is. The changes implement a “guilty until proven innocent” judicial ideology, tie Cornell’s judicial branch directly to its internal management, allow consideration of “off campus character” in determining on-campus justice, and force the accused to testify against himself. All the proposed Krause changes need to be entirely perfect is the following change:

Before: The Cornell University campus is policed by the CUPD.

After: The Cornell University will be patrolled by heavily armed men wearing black coats, body armor, dark glasses, and earpieces. Students found violating the code of conduct will be discretely “dealt with” efficiently so as not to pose further threat the Cornell community.

A student group at Boston University is offering a scholarship for Caucasians. To qualify you need a 3.2 GPA, be one-fourth Caucasian, and be a BU undergrad.