by Carcharodonius Carcharias

Thankfully, the traditional Cornell Seal has gone through a makeover that hails the transformation of the First American Ivy League University to a truly anti-racist, anti-colonialist Global University. Gone is the shield whose colors salute the United States of America and its history of systemic racism since its founding in 1619. Gone is the shield that depicts the appropriation of lands belonging to the Indigenous Peoples of New York. Gone are the words of Ezra Cornell’s award-winning motto that undermines the distinction between identity groups. Gone is the cis-heteronormative Hebrew name of Ezra. We celebrate these improvements that freed Cornell University from its white (not to be confused with A.D. White or E.B. White) past. These changes allowed Cornell to globalize and establish campuses in freedom-loving countries of color such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China—countries who are the greatest advocates of free, robust, and uninhibited debate as described in the Chicago Principles. Before we all instinctively stand and sing our alma mater—I mean alma lactating person Hail, to thee, Cornell, perhaps we should also rethink the line Ever free and true.