Blog
Talking About Hate on College Campuses
The New York Times recently published a Guest Essay “What Is Happening on College Campuses Is Not free Speech” (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/opinion/antisemitism-jews-campus.html).…
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Talking About Legacy Preferences in College Admissions
Three prominent economists recently published a study which has become a focal point for calls to end legacy preferences in…
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Talking About Race Preferences in College Admissions
The Supreme Court ruled recently that it is unconstitutional to consider race in college admissions decisions (Students for Fair Admissions…
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Talking About Public Education (Part 3)
My April 3 blog “Talking About Public Education (Part 2)” discussed the exceptional effectiveness of Success Academy Charter School network,…
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Talking About Public Education (Part 2)
The New York Times published an article “N.Y.C. Children Held Ground in Reading, but Lagged in Math, Tests…
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Talking About Blue Collar America
Michael Sandel, author of “The Tyranny of Merit, Can We Find the Common Good?” (Farrar, Straus, Giroux 2020) offers insightful…
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New Year 2023 Letter to America
I offer three observations on race relations in America as we enter 2023. First, I’m encouraged by our increased social…
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Talking About Cornell University’s Website
Cornell University’s School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) has a Diversity and Inclusion Council which publishes the following statement on…
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Talking About Woke Racism
I recently read “Woke Racism”, an excellent new book by John McWhorter, Columbia University professor and New York Times opinion…
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This Is Who We Are
On January 6 an insurrectionist mob stormed the Capitol building in Washington, DC. They paraded Confederate flags; one wore a…
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Talking About Diversity, Equity, and Belonging
Recently I attended a webinar titled “Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging”. It was presented by the Dean of Students…
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Five Minute History Lesson
In 1994 at Cornell University I created and endowed an annual James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial and Intercultural Peace…
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Talking About Common Ground
I recently attended the Martin Luther King Day virtual celebration hosted by Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground at Boston…
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Dr. Homer L. Meade II Memorial Service (August 28, 2021)
In September 1965 I moved into University Halls, Room 5208, at Cornell University. The first day I met Skip Meade,…
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Talking About the 2022 Midterm Elections
The Wall Street Journal wrote recently of declining voter support for Democrats in Congress, based on a poll conducted jointly…
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Talking About Public Education
The New York Times recently published a story titled “How It Feels to Be an Asian Student in an Elite…
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Talking About Personal Responsibility
On September 30, 2021 The New York Times published a book review by Matthew Desmond titled “Dasani Showed Us What…
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Talking About 911
My office was at Seven World Trade Center on the top floor, northwest corner, looking out at the Hudson River…
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Talking About Reparations
America is in the early stages of debate regarding appropriate redress for the sins of slavery. Some commentators propose a…
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Talking About Critical Race Theory (CRT)
President Trump denounced CRT in a September 2017 speech, and announced formation of the 1776 Commission to promote “patriotic education”.…
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Talking About Juneteenth
I was surprised and pleased last week when President Biden and Congress enacted legislation naming Juneteenth, the day in 1865…
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What I Love About America (Part 2)
Memorial Day weekend my thoughts turned to love of country, and the military veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. This…
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Talking About Standardized Testing (Part 2)
I received many thoughtful comments on my recent post “Talking About Standardized Testing”. My friend Bob Stewart wrote “I grew…
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Talking About Standardized Testing
Many elite US colleges and universities have suspended standardized testing requirements for students in the spring 2021 and 2022 admissions…
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Equality or Equity? (Part 2)
I received many thoughtful comments on my last blog post “Equality or Equity?” Some respondents said the level-bench Equality graphic…
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Equality or Equity?
Last fall I attended a Diversity and Social Equity virtual training program sponsored by a major university. The presentation featured…
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What I Love About America (Part 1)
I love that America had record high 155 million+ voters cast ballots in the 2020 Presidential election. This civic participation…
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Two More Good Questions
I recently did a Zoom Fireside Chat follow-up with a major Wall Street wealth management firm. The format was question…
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Two Good Questions
Last week I gave a Zoom book talk to employees of a major Wall Street firm. A famous market commentator…
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Black Lives Matter – Kenosha and Portland
In Kenosha, WI a young white vigilante shot and killed two Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest marchers, wounding a third.…
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A Way Forward
America is struggling in this Summer 2020 with three simultaneous crises: a medical crisis caused by Covid-19 which has infected…
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Talking About Values
My life has spanned a unique historical period in America, and I have an unusual range of experiences. My youth…