I may not be the most expected supporter of Cornell University. Over the last 20 years, initially as a student activist and later as the Mayor of Ithaca for a decade, I have been one of Cornell’s strongest detractors.
As a previous local leader, I believe firmly that universities ought to contribute to property taxes. During my tenure as mayor, I frequently held Cornell’s leadership accountable. The institution and its students depend on community investment to support university infrastructure and city services.
What President Trump is doing in his criticisms of Cornell and other institutions is not centered around tax policy or budget concerns. It’s not about anti-Semitism. It’s merely oppressive intimidation.
The aggressive attempts by the Trump administration to punish and control institutions like Columbia and Harvard University are shockingly dictatorial for our country. Those who once warned us about “big government” are now attempting to coerce students into directing their employment, teaching in police classrooms while voicing dissenting opinions.
The unfortunate reality that such actions are no longer shocking is a harsh reflection of the authoritarian tendencies already apparent in the early months of the 2025 presidency.
On a positive note, more than 200 universities, including Cornell, signed a letter condemning political encroachment in our higher education framework. Similarly, the civil rights community demonstrated that the Trump administration’s actions require a collective solidarity crucial for combating oppression within civil society.
In conclusion, the Trump administration’s assaults on universities and their autonomy could undermine one of the last great foundations of American excellence, where individuals from around the globe aspire to send their children to school. This is a profoundly self-destructive trend.
Regarding self-harm, it’s difficult to claim that the threatened funding cuts and the suspension order issued to Cornell affecting over 80 research grants are beneficial for our nation. Among the halted initiatives, as reported by Ithaca’s Voice, there was a project utilizing real-time sensor data to prevent airborne mishaps between planes and spacecraft, address weaknesses in the US semiconductor supply chain, and pioneer innovative cancer treatments.
Moreover, the Trump administration’s unilateral and unlawful refusal to pay indirect costs between research contracts is detrimental to the infrastructure and personnel that sustain university operations. Cornell and other institutions have sued over reduced negotiated costs.
It is not just scientists and researchers who will suffer if their work is dismantled. The entire community stands to gain from their research contributions.
Additionally, perhaps less apparent, Trump’s actions aimed at undermining universities will negatively impact those he professes to represent.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance are masquerading their attacks on American universities as a populist struggle against elitism, rather than attempting to silence and constrain voices opposing their dictatorial aspirations.
In reality, universities often serve as major economic forces for both communities and regions, regardless of political affiliation. Cornell employs more individuals in Tompkins County than all other top 10 employers combined, significantly impacting the five counties that predominantly vote Republican.
It’s not solely about the thousands directly employed at universities. It encompasses the small businesses that depend on student and visitor spending, as well as the startups that thrive within incubators and accelerators. In 2022 and 2023, Cornell supported over 31,000 local jobs.
In response to Trump’s attacks and additional threats, Cornell implemented a hiring freeze in February. Those most likely to be affected by this decision are professors and administrators who disdainfully view Trump and Vance, or those who sustain their families through non-academic roles on campus, such as transportation, food service, security, and office support.
Blue-collar workers at Cornell, where I reside in a 60-40 Trump County, may ponder whether their support for the President has truly benefitted themselves, their families, and their country.
Svante Myrick is the president of American Way People.
