Cornell University Faculty, Students Oppose Partnership With CCP-Controlled Peking University

Epoch Times ^ | 04/02/2021 | GQ Pan

[SeekAndFind]

The governing bodies of faculty and undergraduate students at Cornell University have voted against a proposed partnership with China’s Peking University (PKU), citing the state-run institution’s poor record of academic freedom and human rights.

In a 16-39 vote with 20 abstentions, the Cornell Faculty Senate on Wednesday rejected a non-biding resolution endorsing a proposed dual-degree program between Cornell and PKU, one of the 76 top-tier universities directly administered by the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The proposed two-year program, according to the website of Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration (pdf), would allow graduates to obtain a master of management in hospitality degree from Cornell, and a master of business administration degree from Peking.

Once a hotbed of the nationwide pro-democracy protests in 1989, the PKU is now more than willing to discipline faculty and students whose ideologies are not aligned closely enough with the interests of the Chinese communist regime. In 2019, a campus Marxist society was forced to shut down, with some of its members arrested, after they tried to help factory workers unionize to improve harsh working conditions. The PKU amended its charter following the incident, effectively handing ultimate control over the university’s academic and administrative affairs to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

“[If we have] partnerships with organizations and universities under the sway of authoritarian regimes, we risk degrading and compromising the University’s mission, function [and] reputation,” Cornell English professor Joanie Mackowski said at the faculty senate meeting, reported student newspaper The Cornell Daily Sun.

The faculty senate vote came a few days after the Cornell Student Assembly approved a resolution calling on the administrators to “uphold ethical guidelines” while collaborating with international institutions.

The resolution, which passed in an 18-0 vote with four abstentions, specifically asked Cornell to reconsider the proposed dual-degree program with Peking,

[arkfreepdom]

Hope that’s a growing sentiment. Now divest the dem party

[ConservativeMind]

Right thing for the Wong reason.

[Hieronymus]

While I am tempted to say that the CCP is not far enough left for Cornell.

I think that it is more a case of the pot calling the kettle black on the Academic Freedom issues.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Finally. Someone.

[Cleebie Grums]

Good flippin’ grief. Freedoms, Human rights. This University today sent out a requirement that all faculty, employees, and students must get a Covid vaccine.

[Mean Daddy]