'Moral decay': Ivy League donor yanks funding over 'DEI' and 'racialization,' calls for president to resign

A major donor for Cornell University, a private Ivy League college in Ithaca, New York, stated Tuesday that he will no longer fund the university, citing its push for "DEI groupthink policies and racialization."

Jon A. Lindseth, a Cornell alumni, donor, and former trustee, sent an open letter to the school's chairman, Kraig Kayser, and the Board of Trustees urging the university to put an end to its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. He called on Cornell to "abandon its misguided commitment to DEI because it has yielded not excellence but disgrace."

According to Lindseth, DEI policies have "infiltrated every part of the university" and "every field of study," creating a "toxic academic environment." He stated that the result of adopting these radical initiatives is "a moral decay" and "rot" that "dishonors basic principles of justice and free speech."

Lindseth, one of the university's largest donors for decades, sounded the alarm regarding the university's new "bias reporting system," which he claimed "fosters a hostile Orwellian environment among neighbors, classmates, and colleagues reporting on one another." He called out the university for prioritizing "equal outcomes" over "proven merit," noting it would be "disastrous for a research university."

Lindseth requested that the school's president, Martha E. Pollack, be replaced. He slammed her "shameful" response to the recent terrorist attacks on Israel, noting that she was "swift and strong" with her response to George Floyd's death in 2020.

"President Pollack is responsible for adding a grave insult to injury. Not only has she given the DEI social engineering experiment equal priority with open inquiry, free expression, and academic freedom, Cornell removed the treasured and historical bust of Abraham Lincoln along with a copy of the Gettysburg Address from the Cornell University Library. Apparently a student found this most highly revered U.S. President to be offensive and requested its removal, which the University obliged. (I am told it has now been returned.) So even Lincoln could be canceled under the present administration. This is an absolute disgrace," Lindseth wrote.

He claimed that "antisemitism and general intolerance have increased on campus" under Pollack's leadership. Lindseth has requested that Pollack's resignation be added to the January 26 emergency board meeting.

"With my writing of this letter, an increasing number of Cornell alumni are refusing to continue donating to their alma mater. Unfortunately, President Pollack and her administration have refused to engage with concerned alumni and their sound policy recommendations to correct Cornell's course," he remarked.

On Wednesday, Chairman Kayser reaffirmed his support of Pollack's leadership.

"For nearly seven years, I have strongly supported President Pollack, and that support remains strong today," he stated. "The board is working effectively with the administration to respond to various challenges facing higher education and opportunities to advance the university's mission."

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