Cornell Courage
banner
cornellcourage.bsky.social
Cornell Courage
@cornellcourage.bsky.social
Cornellians, join us via the pinned post!
Formed in Nov. 2025, we're 300+ alumni & allies, calling out the leaders' decision to capitulate to the Trump admin. And demanding that they take action to stem the damage.
Check out www. cornellcourage. com
Pinned
Please join Cornell Courage as we continue to urge Cornell's leaders to defend Cornell's values/freedoms and to stand in solidarity with other institutions.

This link allows you to sign up for our movement by adding your name (or initials) to our "Open Letter."

cornellcourage.fillout.com/letter1
Sign our Open Letter to Cornell's leaders - responding to the Agreement
Join the "Cornell Courage" group of concerned Cornellians
cornellcourage.fillout.com
As we predicted, making a "deal" with the Trump administration does not mean that the Trump administration will then leave you be. Cornell now being targeted again.

www.cnn.com/2026/02/13/p...

We hope our former classmates who were ROTC will publicly express their views on this.
Pentagon may bar tuition aid for top universities in Hegseth’s crackdown on ‘biased’ schools | CNN Politics
Military officers could soon find dozens of top colleges and universities across the United States abruptly off limits for tuition assistance as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s campaign again...
www.cnn.com
February 15, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Cornellians...

Did you watch the "Trustee Talk" tonight where the 4 alumni trustee candidates fielded (pre-screened) questions? If so, what did you think?

If you didn't catch it, it was recorded and should be available online soon at that same link.
February 11, 2026 at 12:03 AM
We are proud of Cornell's students for this touching display of support for their fellow college students at Brown University.

(Singing another school's alma mater in our iconic student union? Very fitting under the circumstances. )

www.cornellsun.com/article/2026...
‘Brown is Not Alone’: Cornell Hosts Vigil In Memory of Brown University Shooting Victims
The Student Assembly hosted a Saturday afternoon vigil for the victims of the Brown University mass shooting that took place on Dec. 13.
www.cornellsun.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Cornell's administration took their time in responding to our letter, signed by many alumni, faculty, & others. We even hand-delivered it (in early Dec).

If you've signed onto Cornell Courage, check your emails for our readout. If not, you can sign up here & at the end you'll see the link to it.
Please join Cornell Courage as we continue to urge Cornell's leaders to defend Cornell's values/freedoms and to stand in solidarity with other institutions.

This link allows you to sign up for our movement by adding your name (or initials) to our "Open Letter."

cornellcourage.fillout.com/letter1
Sign our Open Letter to Cornell's leaders - responding to the Agreement
Join the "Cornell Courage" group of concerned Cornellians
cornellcourage.fillout.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:31 PM
We've updated our web site to include several more universities' alumni movements that have launched!

cornellcourage.com/affiliates

There are 20+ so far. This movement can use your help since the govt pressure continues.

Recent additions include groups for Johns Hopkins, BU, Texas A&M, & more
Affiliates
cornellcourage.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Please join Cornell Courage as we continue to urge Cornell's leaders to defend Cornell's values/freedoms and to stand in solidarity with other institutions.

This link allows you to sign up for our movement by adding your name (or initials) to our "Open Letter."

cornellcourage.fillout.com/letter1
Sign our Open Letter to Cornell's leaders - responding to the Agreement
Join the "Cornell Courage" group of concerned Cornellians
cornellcourage.fillout.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:51 PM
We join in solidarity w/ @crimsoncourage.bsky.social, calling on Harvard's leaders to standing up to unlawful pressure.

Americans must join together in getting universities to stand up to these attacks on our universities. Find the group for your alma mater here:
cornellcourage.com/affiliates
February 5, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Hi fellow alumni...
Another reminder about the perhaps-mundane topic of alumni trustee elections.
We get to elect 2 ppl to the body that will set Cornell's future direction.
We suggest ppl vote after hearing from candidates at the 2/10 election webinar.
Details:

alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/...
It's Almost Time to Vote for Your Alumni-Elected Trustees! - Cornellians | Cornell University
Four candidates are vying for two seats to represent their fellow Cornellians on the University's governing body
alumni.cornell.edu
February 4, 2026 at 11:46 PM
We at Cornell Courage stand in solidarity w/Crimson Courage, who've urged Harvard's leaders not to capitulate.

A main pressure tactic of Trump admin has been to launch unfounded investigations etc

We trust that Harvard won't do what Cornell's current leaders did, which was to get scared and cave.
The NY Times reported that Trump was backing off from his $200M fine. Trump saw the report and had a tantrum: he is now threatening Harvard with a capricious and baseless $1B fine and criminal charges. Read the whole sordid tale in this gift article from the Times.

www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Is Said to Have Dropped Demand for Cash From Harvard
www.nytimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Cornell Courage has been very concerned about whether university leadership understands its role in preserving democracy.

Current students are upset:
www.instagram.com/p/DUHY0t6j74...

This news does not align with the recommendations of Cornell's 'task force on use of institutional voice."
Students for a Democratic Cornell on Instagram: "While ICE terrorizes communities across the country, President Kotlikoff defends Cornell’s collaboration with ICE and CPB for Career Services events an...
438 likes, 7 comments - sdc.now on January 29, 2026: "While ICE terrorizes communities across the country, President Kotlikoff defends Cornell’s collaboration with ICE and CPB for Career Services even...
www.instagram.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:38 AM
We can use your help tonight if you have a minute.
It's the last day to submit Q for the Alumni Trustee election process.

Yes, we know alumni are NOT motivated to engage w/Cornell now. (We get it!). But it's 1 lever to use to fix probs.

Please dash off a quick Q to the email👇 even if it's late
By 1/29 send your Qs to
electalumtrustee@cornell.edu

Cornell will screen submitted Qs before 2/10 webinar & likely ask just a few anodyne Qs

But we'd like to keep track of whether alumni have at least tried to ask the tough questions. Let us know

+Mark your calendar for the webinar (see link)../2
Cornellians!
An easy call to action re: Trustee Elections:

By *Thurs 1/19*, submit your questions for candidates, for Cornell's 2/10 election webinar

Look for an email Cornell sent on 1/22 w/details

Didn't get it? Same here, but you can email Qs directly.../1

alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/...
January 29, 2026 at 10:01 PM
ICYMI: Cornell's alumni trustee elections matter because it's a way that alumni get a say in who is running the university and how they respond to the Trump administration...Here's one thing to do now: ask candidates the tough questions.
Cornellians!
An easy call to action re: Trustee Elections:

By *Thurs 1/19*, submit your questions for candidates, for Cornell's 2/10 election webinar

Look for an email Cornell sent on 1/22 w/details

Didn't get it? Same here, but you can email Qs directly.../1

alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/...
It's Almost Time to Vote for Your Alumni-Elected Trustees! - Cornellians | Cornell University
Four candidates are vying for two seats to represent their fellow Cornellians on the University's governing body
alumni.cornell.edu
January 28, 2026 at 2:52 AM
By 1/29 send your Qs to
electalumtrustee@cornell.edu

Cornell will screen submitted Qs before 2/10 webinar & likely ask just a few anodyne Qs

But we'd like to keep track of whether alumni have at least tried to ask the tough questions. Let us know

+Mark your calendar for the webinar (see link)../2
Cornellians!
An easy call to action re: Trustee Elections:

By *Thurs 1/19*, submit your questions for candidates, for Cornell's 2/10 election webinar

Look for an email Cornell sent on 1/22 w/details

Didn't get it? Same here, but you can email Qs directly.../1

alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/...
It's Almost Time to Vote for Your Alumni-Elected Trustees! - Cornellians | Cornell University
Four candidates are vying for two seats to represent their fellow Cornellians on the University's governing body
alumni.cornell.edu
January 27, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Cornellians!
An easy call to action re: Trustee Elections:

By *Thurs 1/19*, submit your questions for candidates, for Cornell's 2/10 election webinar

Look for an email Cornell sent on 1/22 w/details

Didn't get it? Same here, but you can email Qs directly.../1

alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/...
It's Almost Time to Vote for Your Alumni-Elected Trustees! - Cornellians | Cornell University
Four candidates are vying for two seats to represent their fellow Cornellians on the University's governing body
alumni.cornell.edu
January 27, 2026 at 10:09 PM
**Big Red Flag**

Cornellians! Your alma mater needs your attention.
(We know it's hard to keep up w/ EVERYTHING, w/continuously-flooded zones etc)

We urge you to
1️⃣keep an eye on how things are being managed
2️⃣get involved in Trustee elections .
..more soon, but first:

bsky.app/profile/corn...
January 23, 2026 at 4:51 PM
CORNELL IN CRISIS
What should be a celebratory occasion instead raises red flags:

1) Cornell badly needs $$, & NOT simply because it's a target of the Trump admin (more on that in a bit)

2) Alum D Duffield has given so much $$ that the Cornell just re-named the Engineering school after him.. 🧐
January 23, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Any UChicago alums out there? We wanted to share the news that a new independent alumni group is forming. Take a look at their petition...:
alumni.standforcampusfreedom.org/petitions/uc...

We added them to our page listing all the groups ...check it out!
cornellcourage.com/affiliates
Affiliates
cornellcourage.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:29 AM
As discouraging news from the NYT reports that Harvard appears to be finalizing a "deal" with the Trump admin., we urge you to support Crimson Courage, which has been working hard to stand up for academic freedom at Harvard and beyond. You don't need to be an alum.
www.crimsoncourage.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:08 PM
We're a little slow in posting, but we have some news: thanks to @lorientyne.bsky.social for the coverage:

www.ithaca.com/news/ithaca/...
+ great graphic by @klchandler999.bsky.social!

Our alma mater's spokesperson says that they look forward to having a conversation. We do, too...1/2
Cornell Alumni Protest University Deal With Federal Government
Following Cornell University’s $30 million agreement with the federal government in November to end compliance investigations and restore $250 million in federal research funding, a group of Cornell a...
www.ithaca.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Announcing another independent alumni group: The University of Michigan's Maize & Blue Courage. www.maizeandbluecourage.com
Pls spread the word to any UMich alumni you know!

For other groups that we know about, please see:
cornellcourage.com/affiliates
Affiliates
cornellcourage.com
December 15, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Reposted by Cornell Courage
Sending love and solidarity to all our colleagues at Brown.

Gun control is an education issue. How can we teach and expect our students to learn with the specter of mass shootings hanging over classroom?
December 14, 2025 at 3:12 PM
We're horrified at news from Brown about the 2 students killed & 9 injured. We feel a particular kinship with the Brown community--& concern for its students--due to the encouragement we've received from Stand Strong Brown.

We really hope their community gets a huge outpouring of helpful support
December 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Here's a video showing 2 Cornell Courage members up in Ithaca earlier this week to hand-deliver our letters to offices of the President and Board. Despite the cold (..and you know that kind of cold...) it was important to show we are serious. See the letters on our web site at cornellcourage.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:53 PM
If you're wondering, "why haven't we seen Cornell students upset about the agreement?", this might explain.

Relates to how the administration's been treating student protestors in recent months.

Might this impact student's willingness to publicly complain?
www.cornellsun.com/article/2025...
www.cornellsun.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
We're going to submit more signatures in Jan., when we'll have followed up with the Pres/Board to request a meeting. So please sign on!

+Help us reach more alumni to show Cornell a sizable, committed alumni movement that's demanding they get things back on track.

cornellcourage.fillout.com/letter1
Update: 2 of us were just up in Ithaca bringing the Open Letter with the first round of signatures. Hand-delivered to Kotlikoff's / Trustees' offices.

We also included a letter from the steering committee with specific demands that Cornell must take to limit the damage & protect Cornell's values.
December 12, 2025 at 4:07 AM