Cornell’s Ethical Guidelines on International Collaboration Being Tested Cornell-NU Dual Degree Program Sparks Heated Debate
Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
Under the dual-degree program design, students can tap into the career management resources of both schools and study at both universities, earning a degree in hospitality management from Cornell and a degree in business administration from Peking University in just two years (four semesters).
According to The Cornell Daily Sun, the university’s student newspaper, the proposal was voted on by the School of Hotel Administration faculty and staff in March 2020, but the issue of human rights in mainland China and Peking University was hotly debated when it was presented to the faculty meeting for a final decision on Feb. 24 of this year.
As the sponsor, Professor Alex Susskind, associate dean of the School of Hotel Administration, tried to downplay faculty concerns about human rights issues in mainland China when he presented the course at the meeting. “Yes, there are a lot of issues in that part of the world, but tourism and hospitality is a big leader in its industrial economy. We are at the forefront of hospitality Education and we want to be a part of that …… As for other larger political and cultural issues, I’m sorry to say it’s not my responsibility (to above my paygrade).”
University Provost Michael Kotlikoff echoed him, saying Cornell “has offered programs in other countries where human rights are an issue,” and urged “faculty to take a more general and broad view rather than targeting individual programs. “
But some faculty members are not convinced, arguing that the university can no longer compromise academic freedom for money and influence in the face of increasing human rights abuses in China. The Cornell Daily News reports that Neil Saccamano, a Cornell professor of English literature, says it’s hard to agree when “the people teaching next door will be dragged away by the Chinese Communist authorities” and, on the other side, you claim to protect the interests of students and faculty.
“This ethical issue is really troubling.” Professor Sacamano said that in addition to being very concerned about PKU’s plans, “there is a more general concern, just to say that genocide really isn’t in our investment (will do?).”
Richard Bensel, a political science professor, criticized the university for putting money-making above freedom, “Big issues don’t go away just because you turn a blind eye or sweep them under the rug.”
Risa Lieberwitz, a professor who studies industrial and labor relations, pointed to Peking University’s inappropriate handling of student reports of sexual harassment cases and the use of state security to suppress labor rights activists. The background of the incident is the high-handed approach taken by Peking University in 2018 to suppress discussion of the case against former faculty member Shen Yang for sexually assaulting a student and causing him to commit suicide. Another incident was the outbreak of a protest in Shenzhen in 2018 by laborers from JASL for their labor rights, which resulted in university students across the country joining together in solidarity.
Professor Liebowitz said, “These are not indeterminate political issues.”
“The Foundation for Individual Rights In Education (FIRE) noted that Cornell University had stopped working with Renmin University of China after it suppressed student rights. The Foundation for Individual Rights In Education (FIRE) noted that Cornell had stopped working with Renmin University of China after it suppressed students’ rights and issued guidelines for “ethical guidelines for international engagement” in November 2019.
FIRE says these ethical guidelines from Cornell – which warn faculty to consider whether a potential collaboration could lead to “restrictions or threats” to free speech and academic freedom – are currently being tested. -are currently being put to the test.
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