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November 2025

President Michael I. Kotlikoff, 

Office of the President

300 Day Hall

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14853

Dear President Kotlikoff:

I would like to personally express my support for the letter being prepared by alumni as part of the “Cornell Courage” effort. The letter reads as follows:

“We, the undersigned supporters of Cornell University—alumni, students, faculty, researchers, staff, and others—recognize the profound challenges that Cornell has faced in the last few months. The federal judge ruling on Harvard College v. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services did not mince words when concluding that the federal government has carried out, “a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities… that runs afoul of… the Constitution and federal statutes.” Its unconstitutional pressure tactics have had severe consequences for Cornell, our American higher education system, and our entire democracy.

We firmly support Cornell’s academic independence and its right to pursue its mission and values without political dictate or interference. We also believe that Cornell has an important role in setting an example for the rest of the higher education community, and must use its institutional voice to express solidarity with other universities. Protecting Cornell’s own interests also requires firm support for the conditions that make possible the fulfillment of its mission:  a solid higher education landscape and our nation’s democratic system. 

We therefore call on Cornell’s leadership to:

Reject, publicly, the Trump administration’s proposed “compact,” which would thoroughly undermine Cornell’s academic freedom and university autonomy.

Uphold Cornell’s independence by rejecting any further demands for monitoring and oversight of core university functions, including governance and structure, admissions, employment, research, speech, expression, mission and values. Ensure the direct and timely engagement with the Cornell community on these matters.

Refuse to comply with fines or other punitive demands issued by the Trump administration, unless allegations are proven in a court of law.

Protect students, faculty, researchers, and staff from intrusions of privacy, and from attacks on their constitutionally protected rights and freedoms. For international students, this includes protecting them from any immigration action undertaken on the basis of speech or other protected activities, and refusing to allow the university’s administrative procedures (e.g., the student code of conduct) to be utilized for such purposes.

Ensure that admissions, hiring, employment and disciplinary processes do not treat students, faculty, researchers, scholars and staff differently based on political viewpoint or on engagement in expressive activities disfavored by the government. 

Use Cornell’s institutional voice to speak up about events that threaten the academic enterprise at Cornell or in higher education generally.

Use Cornell’s financial resources to protect and honor the livelihoods and education of all students, staff, researchers and faculty that are part of the Cornell community. 

Dedicate resources—even in these difficult times—to finding new ways to harness the support of Cornell’s global community of 300,000+ alumni. 

Failing to take a clear and decisive stand in these areas would prevent Cornell from fulfilling its mission, and furthermore would cause lasting reputational damage that poses a significant risk to Cornell’s finances and operations. 

With an eye on the future that honors Cornell’s past and present, we stand ready to support Cornell—an institution where “any person can find instruction in any study”—as it educates the next generation of global citizens and promotes a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community.”

As a proud Cornellian myself, I wanted to write to you personally to express my agreement with the ideas above, and I hope that you will be responsive to the Cornell Courage appeal.

Sincerely,