In response to reports of at least six incidents of racial, ethnic or sexual harassment on campus during recent weeks, Cornell President Hunter Rawlings issued a statement Nov. 19 declaring such incidents "intolerable" and added: "Any member of the university community found guilty of threatening action or harassing behavior will be subject to expeditious and serious discipline under the Campus Code of Conduct. Those from off campus will be referred to the local legal authorities."
"Let me assure everyone in this community, and everyone beyond these walls who will hear my words, that this university's leadership affirms the principles of educational opportunity for all, and we are determined to see that the best possible education is available for everyone here at Cornell, without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, national origin or sexual orientation," Rawlings said. "This university was founded on the commitment that 'any person' would find the opportunity for instruction. The achievement of that objective has not always come easily; it has not been achieved without a struggle; and it will continue to require struggle in the days and months and years ahead. But I have no doubt that this effort will continue to be successful."
The full text of Rawlings' statement is available on the web at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Nov98/Rawlings.harassment.stmt.html.
Additional university response to the harassment incidents and to students' safety concerns was described by Harold D. Craft Jr., vice president for facilities and campus services, in a report to the campus community Nov. 30.
Staff from Campus Life and Facilities and Campus Services worked through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to improve campus lighting based on suggestions from students in Ujamaa and Wari House Cooperative, Craft reported.
An additional Blue Light phone will be installed in the Rand/Sibley/Lincoln area in the near future, Craft said, and he and Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, will organize a working group that will include students to make further recommendations for Blue Light phones. The two vice presidents also will meet with the director and drivers of Blue Light buses to review procedures.
A hot line for reporting incidents of harassment, or information about such incidents, has been set up with Cornell Police at 255-1111.
The full text of Craft's statement is available on the web at http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Dec98/Craft.safety.update.html.
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