When the former president, whose name we shall not mention, stole the election in 2016, Cornell students were comforted by having a cry-in on Ho Plaza. The cry-in was especially helpful for minorities, immigrants and women, who were devastated and felt that they would be especially vulnerable and unwelcome in T—-‘s America. The cry-in was meant for the attendees to gather strength to fight the xenophobia and discrimination that may arise over the course of T****’s presidency. According to one student, “There’s no way we’re going to let his bigotry, sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia define this country — even though it defines the presidency at this point in time. I think this is really a turning point in America — whatever that means.” The Campus Activities Coordinator said, “I have no words.” The cry-in, in which officials handed out tissues and hot chocolate, received national attention.

We, as a community of virtuous and socially just Cornellians may need to gather strength again. Tonight there is another potential crisis and we are making preparations for another cry-in on Ho Plaza.

Tonight there will be a debate sponsored by hate speech-loving white supremacist groups such as the Adam Smith Society and the MIT Free Speech Alliance. The debate will not only be in person, but it will live streamed–potentially harming millions of vulnerable people. The Cornell Free Speech Alliance will be live streaming the debate to Cornell Alumni, and the National Association of Scholars will be doing a pre-debate show. There are even rumors that the Babbling Beaver will make a rare appearance.

The details of the debate are as follows:

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are among the most hot-button issues in higher education. With the support of the MIT Free Speech Alliance, on April 4, the Adam Smith Society is hosting an Oxford Union-style debate on the following proposition:

“Resolved, that academic DEI programs should be abolished.”

Heather Mac Donald, a Manhattan Institute fellow, and Patanjali (Pat) Kambhampati, a chemistry professor at McGill University, are arguing in favor of the proposition. Pamela Denise Long, a freelance writer and adjunct professor at Southern Illinois University, and Karith Foster, founder of INVERSITYTM Solutions, are arguing against the proposition. Nadine Strossen, professor emerita at New York Law School and former president of the ACLU, is serving as moderator. The debate begins at 7:30 pm ET in Wong Auditorium (E51-115). Light refreshments will be served beginning at 6:30 pm in the adjoining foyer.

For those unable to attend in person, the debate will be livestreamed on the Alumni Free Speech Alliance’s YouTube channel. You can access the livestream using this link. Please do not register to attend the event if you plan on watching the livestream.

Neither the Adam Smith Society nor the MIT Free Speech Alliance takes an official position on the debate proposition. Rather, our goal is to provide a model of vigorous yet civil discussion for both the MIT community and the wider public. We hope that you will join us in this endeavor.

It is clear to any virtuous and socially just person that the correct answer to the debate resolution is No! No! No! In fact, just debating the resolution and platforming white supremacists will do harm to untold numbers of vulnerable people. Six and a half years after the last crisis that required a cry-in, the list of vulnerable people has grown. Although women, Jews, and Asians have been mostly removed from the list of vulnerable people, the list now includes  LBGTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled people. People in these communities will be especially vulnerable if the debate on the resolution: Should Academic DEI Programs Be Abolished? be decided in the affirmative.

Please be ready to bring tissues and hot chocolate (but no Graham crackers} to Ho Plaza.