Forum audio recording

15:38:54 From Richard Bensel to Everyone:

The most serious violation of free expression this year was President Pollack’s threatened punishment of Professor Russell Rickford for comments he made off the Ithaca campus as a private individual.  Does the “Interim Expressive Activity Policy” cover the repression of free speech by central administration officials?  If not, why not?

15:44:05 From Richard Bensel to Everyone:

I do not want to take up the time of the Forum by speaking but I do want to pose some questions that Provost Kotlikoff refused to answer in the Town Hall.  One of those questions asked: Are there any circumstances in which the central administration would resist the imposition of government restrictions on free speech?  Title VI, from where I sit, seems like an excuse for this policy, not a legitimate reason given the role of a university in society.

15:47:47 From Liz Parker (she/her) to Everyone:

https://assembly.cornell.edu/get-involved/input-issues/interim-policy-changes-january-2024

15:48:16 From Eve De Rosa to Everyone:

https://assembly.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/interim_expressive_activity_policy_comparison_chart_2-15-2024_0.pdf

15:48:32 From Eve De Rosa to Everyone:

https://assembly.cornell.edu/get-involved/input-issues/interim-policy-changes-january-2024

15:55:27 From Erik Born to Everyone:

Thank you for the link to the comparison chart for the Interim Expressive Activity Policy above. Is there also a comparison chart for the Interim Anti-Doxxing Policy? Not sure if I missed something there.

15:56:01 From Chris Schaffer to Everyone:

Comparison chart does NOT include prohibition on poles, sticks to carry signs, although this appears to be a new provision.

15:56:27 From Jim DelRosso to Everyone:

Reacted to “Comparison chart doe…” with 👍🏼

16:02:08 From Jim DelRosso to Everyone:

I continue to be concerned that we’re told that this is a listening period for the policy, but students are being prosecuted under the policy. This is especially true as the policy in in flux: if the policy will continue to change, the inconsistency itself constitutes a chilling effect.

16:02:11 From Richard Bensel to Everyone:

Chris’s point is a good one.  We should not accept explanations that tend to interpret these policies as moderate when those can change whenever the central administration decides to do that.

16:02:26 From Ben Wrubel to Everyone:

Reacted to “I continue to be con…” with 👍

16:04:33 From Eve De Rosa to Everyone:

https://scl.cornell.edu/studentconduct

16:15:43 From Richard Bensel to Everyone:

Eve…Just a gentle suggestion for the future: the moderator in a Faculty Forum should be neutral with respect to the topic under discussion.

16:16:54 From Isabelle McDonald to Everyone:

Since the interim policy has been introduced, CUPD has been called and has responded to “unlawful posting advertisement” and “unauthorized flyers” for student postering on campus. This is new. Even if these are existing policies, their consequence and discipline is new.

16:17:03 From Jim DelRosso to Everyone:

Reacted to “Since the interim po…” with 💯

16:17:11 From Ben Wrubel to Everyone:

Reacted to “Since the interim po…” with 💯

16:17:11 From Liz Parker (she/her) to Everyone:

Reacted to “Since the interim po…” with 💯

16:18:13 From Saida Hodzic to Everyone:

In case people are not aware of this history, it is very important to read about it: https://www.thefire.org/news/cornell-approves-new-speech-friendly-outdoor-space-policy

16:18:23 From Saida Hodzic to Everyone:

Reacted to “Since the interim po…” with 💯

16:21:49 From Saida Hodzic to Everyone:

Pres Skorton tried to introduce registration of protests in 2013, but the proposal was unpopular with students and faculty; it was then rejected by the University Assembly.

16:21:57 From Chris Schaffer to Everyone:

Reacted to “In case people are n…” with 👍

16:22:23 From Ben Wrubel to Everyone:

Reacted to “Pres Skorton tried t…” with 👍

16:24:59 From Hadas Ritz to Everyone:

Replying to “In case people are n…”

Thanks for sharing this link, Saida.

16:26:05 From Isabelle McDonald to Everyone:

I’m unfortunately in a public space! So sorry

16:26:18 From Chelsea Specht (she/her) to Everyone:

Reacted to “I’m unfortunately in…” with 👍

16:26:36 From Claire Deng to Everyone:

Reacted to “Since the interim po…” with 💯

16:27:29 From Mark Lewis (he/him/his) to Everyone:

Thanks for this forum Eve.

16:27:44 From Chris Schaffer to Everyone:

Thank you, Eve!

16:27:49 From Beth Milles to Everyone:

Thank you so much-

16:27:50 From Jim DelRosso to Everyone:

Thank you!