Posted on 02/21/2021 9:56:14 AM PST by george76
A Cornell University course titled “BIPOC Rock Climbing,” was originally restricted to “people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color.”..
When Campus Reform contacted the school, Cornell officials edited the course description to remove the race-based enrollment restriction.
Cornell University altered the course description of a racially-segregated physical education course offered to students during the Spring 2021 academic semester after Campus Reform reached out for comment.
The class, entitled “BIPOC Rock Climbing," was originally restricted to “people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color," before its description was edited to state that the class is “designed to enable Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color underrepresented in the sport of rock climbing to learn the sport and to feel included and supported."
The course’s original description, noting the class’s race-based enrollment restriction, is still visible, courtesy of an internet archive.
According to the new description, posted on Cornell’s website, the class will provide a “high degree of individual attention” and a “supportive space” where students will discuss “BIPOC individuals and groups in rock climbing." The new description states that the class is now “open to all” students who are “interested in learning rock climbing with this special focus."
The total price for students taking the course is $1,890—including the standard cost of a one-credit course, $1,575, and an additional mandatory “course fee” of $315.
When asked for comment, John Carberry, Cornell’s Senior Director of Media Relations and News, issued a statement to Campus Reform claiming that “all Cornell students” are “welcome” to enroll in the course, contradicting the original course description.
Carberry insisted that the course’s original description reflected an “intentional focus” on “outreach and inclusion," but that there was “never” any intention to exclude students that don’t identify as BIPOC.
“All Cornell students are welcome to enroll in this course. While the original description of the course represented an intentional focus on outreach and inclusion, there was never an intent to exclude non-minority students. The description of the course has been adjusted accordingly," Carberry said.
According to the New York State Attorney General’s website, “Students in New York schools are protected by federal, state, and local laws that prevent discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and other categories."
Additionally, the New York Human Rights Law “makes it illegal” for “non-sectarian educational institutions” to “deny their services to students on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, age or marital status."
A post on the r/Cornell subreddit page referencing the class titled “End Racially Segregated PE Classes at Cornell” generated significant discussion and backlash.
One user noted that under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, schools “cannot be segregated” based on race, and another described “Critical Race Theory” as “f****** toxic."
Still, others defended the existence of racially-segregated courses at Cornell, with one declaring that the “intention” of the class is to “provide an affinity space” for “BIPOC students to feel comfortable and extra supported in a historically White dominated area of outdoor recreation."
Another user claimed that segregating rock climbing at Cornell brings more “diversity” into the class’s “pool of participants," comparing the class to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCUs do not limit their enrollments based on race or ethnicity.
Campus Reform reached out to representatives of the university’s Outdoor Education program but did not receive responses in time for publication.
And how much do rock climbing skills prepare one for a good career. That category of people need need exactly the opposite of sports training.
For resume-filling, I just can’t recall anyone ever using rock-climbing as a ‘line’.
I’d be curious if they had some Latino rock climbing expert...especially at Cornell.
Somebody should start the rumor that this is really a plot to push brown and black students off of cliffs.
I’m amazed that the woke left is rapidly re-introducing racial segregation to this nation. Perhaps I shouldn’t be, based upon my memories of radical blacks calling for separate dorms and facilities back in the 60’s when desegregation and racial integration was the goal.
How long before the Leftists living in Wash DC start defacing the statue of MLK?
Systemic racism through affirmative action.
Almost 1900 dollars for a rock climbing course?
FWIW—
At least 30 years ago two phys ed courses were required of everyone at Cornell—and if you couldn’t pass a swimming test during orientation, one of them would be swimming. IIRC they were pass/fail, but you did need to pass.
While I can fault Cornell for a lot, by accident or design they get some things right.
Loads of options were offered, I wouldn’t fault them for that. And I applaud the swimming.
If the rock climbing class were marked for “Whites” only - it would be instant, 24/7 international headline news for days one with screams of outrage all the way to the White House.
The FBI would be sent to investigate and the entire PE department overturned and most likely disbanded.
Lefties see nothing wrong with double standards.
If you don’t want to spend $1900 sign up for bowling, or weight lifting, or whatever and do rock climbing on your own.
BIPOC to go along with LGBTQXWHATEVER!! UGH...I’m glad I’m old!
When I was in high school in California in the 70’s, passing a swimming course was mandated at that time as a condition of graduation, IOW, everyone had to learn how to swim. Four years of PE were also required by the state.
Now it’s two years, no swimming requirement.
Amazes me how many people drown every year in situations where knowing very basic swimming knowledge would have saved their lives.
Maybe it’s a “Bring Your Own Rocks” kind of course.
Those Polyurethane Resin boulders can get very expensive.
I feel the same way. Yesterday’s post about Cap’n Crunch being a slave boat captain to make woke Quaker Oats Company waste money redoing it. Fight the fight as we can.
ROTC programs usually offer Freshman and Sophomore level courses which are mandatory for ROTC scholarship students as open electives to non-scholarship students to satisfy PE requirements. Typically these include orienteering, marksmanship, mountaineering, and such. I have no problem with a school offering a rock climbing course as a single credit PE class, and for many college age kids would likely encourage them to push themselves outside their comfort zones, build their confidence in themselves and teach an actual (though somewhat esoteric) skill.
Obviously segregating it by race is a problem. A big problem. But having a rock climbing class in and of itself is not an issue.
The fee is for academic certification to meet the PE degree requirements for a graduation diploma.
I am surprised since Cornell has a well touted law degree program, especially in labor law.
Only a fool would donate money to almost any college or university these days.
For the males. The women wind up in a Kiss the Girls scenario...
The FBI probably requires its agents to take these types of anti-white racist courses.
Instead of changing the “BIPOC Rock Climbing” class, they should have offered a $900 whites only climbing class (half priced because of their natural advanced skill level, being white and all).
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