Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’54
Sept. 18, 2020 Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a true hero and a giant of American jurisprudence. A relentless champion of equity, she dedicated her life to innumerable, honorable causes, always fighting for what was right. While the nation mourns her passing, we can find solace in the indelible imprint that she leaves on American society…
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Statement on campus community testing positivity rate
Sept. 10. 2020 Earlier this evening, Cornell University conducted its regular weekday update of our COVID-19 tracking dashboard to reflect 13 confirmed positive cases that were detected yesterday through our surveillance and for-cause testing program. Of those cases, several were related to cases previously identified by the university, and those students had already been in…
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Information on registering to vote in New York state and elsewhere
Sept. 8, 2020 Dear Students, To vote in state or federal elections, you must be a registered voter. I am pleased to provide you with information about how to register to vote in New York state and elsewhere. To register in New York state, you must be a United States citizen, be 18 years old…
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Update on racial justice initiatives at Cornell
Sept. 4, 2020 Dear Cornell community, In June, as the nation reeled over racial injustice following the killings of Black Americans, we announced a number of actions that we would take to support and strengthen our community and to create a more just and equitable Cornell. We are writing to update you on some of…
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Important message regarding New York state guidelines
Sept. 2, 2020 Dear Cornell community, Last Friday, the State of New York issued new guidelines for universities and colleges. These guidelines require significant changes in operation whenever the number of positive COVID-19 cases over a two-week period on a college campus exceeds 100 or 5% of the campus population (faculty, staff, and students), whichever…
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COVID-19 tracking dashboard and alert system
Aug. 25, 2020 Dear Cornell and Ithaca community members, In order to keep the community informed of the status of COVID-19 testing on the Ithaca campus, Cornell’s COVID-19 testing results and other critical data are now available on a new public dashboard. The COVID-19 Tracking Dashboard also introduces Cornell’s COVID-19 Alert Level, a color-coded system…
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Statement on Beirut explosion
Aug. 7, 2020 This week’s explosion in Beirut, which took over 145 lives, injured thousands more, and left some quarter of a million people homeless, has been a devastating blow to the people of Lebanon, who have already suffered so much tragedy and pain. I am enormously saddened to see the impact of this needless…
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President Pollack emphasizes science behind reactivation decision
Aug. 5, 2020 Dear Cornell and Ithaca community members, As we look ahead to the autumn and to the return of students to Ithaca, I know that many of you have concerns about Cornell’s decision to reopen for residential instruction. Since we announced our plans, I have replied to dozens of messages from the Cornell…
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Additional actions to create a more just and equitable Cornell
July 16, 2020 Dear Cornellians, A little more than a month ago, I announced a set of actions to enhance our existing programs to promote racial justice. While it was important to take immediate steps in the wake of the racialized violence in our nation, we realize that there is much more to do. I…
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A positive outcome for international students
July 14, 2020 Dear Cornellians, Earlier this afternoon, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded its July 6order requiring international students who take online-only classes this fall to leave the U.S. This means that national guidance issued in March that allows currently enrolled students who take online courses to reside in the U.S. and maintain legal…
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Standing with our international students
July 8, 2020 Dear Cornellians, On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released guidelines prohibiting international students from remaining on campus if classes are held online. This was wholly unexpected, and it is a senseless and unfair policy that runs counter to all that we stand for as a global academic community. I write…
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Additional measures to address the FY21 budget deficit
July 2, 2020 Dear Colleagues, As you know, earlier this week we announced our plans for the fall semester. We are writing today to share our financial plans. While the expected in-person semester with hybrid instruction adds clarity to our financial position, we still face significant uncertainty as we navigate the coming months. That said,…
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Plans to reactivate Ithaca campus for fall semester
June 30, 2020 Dear Cornellians, It was just over three months ago, in the wake of the emerging pandemic, that we needed to swiftly deactivate our campus and shift – mid-semester – to online instruction. Since then, the question I have been asked the most is whether we will reopen for instruction this fall. Today…
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Campus reactivation planning
June 22, 2020 Dear Cornellians, As I write this, it is one of those picture-perfect days in the Finger Lakes, with a blue sky unbroken by clouds, a gentle breeze and the temperature just warm enough to make me want to spend the whole day outside – even if in front of a laptop. I…
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Cornell marks Juneteenth with day of reflection
June 17, 2020 Dear Colleagues, Juneteenth, the oldest nationally recognized commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, is celebrated on June 19. This year, as our country confronts its history of racism and oppression, it is especially important for us to pause on Juneteenth to reflect on how we – collectively and…
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Immediate actions to support and strengthen our community
June 3, 2020 Dear Cornellians, Like so many of you, my family and I have been reeling over the events of the past week – events for which words seem inadequate. The images we have seen and the sounds we have heard have horrified us and broken our hearts. We are ashamed of the injustices…
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Statement on the Recent Killings of Black People in America
May 29, 2020 Dear Cornellians, I am heartbroken, angry and frankly sickened by the recent killing of George Floyd, and before him, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others whose deaths are less well publicized. The amount of pain in the Black community is unfathomable, especially as these are occurring in the midst of a pandemic…
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Opportunities for feedback on campus reactivation
May 28, 2020 Dear Cornellians, The extraordinary spring 2020 term is now behind us. The COVID-19 pandemic that turned our world upside down three months and a lifetime ago is now a fact of our lives: one that affects every decision in our day, and every plan for our future. We find ourselves making calculations…
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Congratulatory Message Honoring the Class of 2020
May 23, 2020 Dear Cornellians, The Class of 2020 will always hold a unique place in our history. Throughout this unprecedented disruption and dispersion of our Cornell community, they have been in the final stretch of their Cornell degrees: finishing their last papers, their last projects and their last exams in a way that no…
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Planning efforts for fall 2020 semester
April 30, 2020 Dear Cornell Community, The health and well-being of our community remains at the forefront of our COVID-19 response. We understand that the spring semester has challenged our faculty, staff, students and their families, and that ongoing concerns for public safety are creating uncertainty for the fall semester. Whether your college or program…
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