The College of Arts and Sciences' communications office works closely with Cornell's Media Relations Office. As the College's representatives to media, we connect faculty experts and thought leaders to local, regional, national and international media organizations.
Contacts:
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Linda Glaser, News & Media Relations Manager |
o: 607-255-8942 c: 973-650-8172 lbg37@cornell.edu |
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Tricia Barry, Communications Director |
c: 607-377-6596 triciabarry@cornell.edu |
Current press statements from Arts & Sciences faculty:
Racial injustice
In tackling racial injustice, US should look to South Africa
As protests continue across the United States and around the world in response to systemic racism in policing, activists and political leaders seek out ways to affect permanent change.
Olúfémi Táíwò, professor of Africana studies at Cornell University, studies law, judiciaries and constitutionalism in Africa and is authoring a forthcoming book entitled “Does the United States Need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission?” He says that in addressing racial injustice, the U.S. could learn a lot from South Africa and its use of a TRC.
Bio: https://africana.cornell.edu/olufemitaiwo
Taiwo says:
“When, in the last century, many countries realized that, as a society, they had wronged segments of their society through racial discrimination, genocide, or military misrule, they decided that they fell short of what kind of society they thought they were or desired to be. To reconcile with undeserving victims requires that the society acknowledge what it had done, atone for it and ask for the forgiveness of those who had been wronged. This necessitates also that the society (1) resolve never again to allow similar injuries and (2) do all they can to restore their victims to their full humanity as fellow citizens in their shared geopolity.
“Such countries empaneled Truth and Reconciliation Commissions. Given the striking similarities between the United States and South Africa when it comes to their shared history of denying the humanity of black people, there is a lot the United States can learn from the prosecution of the TRC in South Africa.
“It might help us chart a new path to eliminating the mindset that makes future deaths like George Floyd’s inevitable.”
For interviews contact:
Rachel Rhodes
office: 202-434-8036
cell: 585-732-1877
Please find other experts at Cornell available to discuss the science and health implications of coronavirus, its impact on the economy, effect on countries around the world and impact on our daily lives.
Police reform
Militarized, 'ready for battle' police make dialogue with protesters difficult
Clashes between police and protesters escalated this week across the United States, as public outrage continued over police brutality and systemic racism.
Sabrina Karim, assistant professor of government at Cornell University, is an international expert on police reform. She says police militarization has been growing in the U.S. for a long time, which has inevitably created a larger barrier for any meaningful dialogue between peaceful protests and political leaders. Her research has found that militarization decreases public trust in policing.
Bio: https://government.cornell.edu/sabrina-karim
Karim says:
“The history of policing in this country has origins in oppressing minorities. Modern day policing can be traced back to slave patrols in the South and a way to keep unions in check in the north.
“Police militarization has been growing since the 1960’s after the Watts riots in LA. It again grew under the Clinton administration with the now infamous ‘1033’ program, which allowed the federal government to transfer surplus military equipment to local police departments. The more militarized the police, the higher the risk that protestors are seen as a threat that must be met with violence tactics. The ability to engage in dialogue is very difficult if one person looks like he or she is ready for battle.
“Police reform is difficult to achieve in any country, because the police union and lobby strongly oppose oversight. Here in the U.S., most of the decisions regarding oversight and de-escalation training are made at the local level, which means that for any type of police reform, there must be just as much attention to local and state politics as there is to national level politics.”
For interviews contact:
Rachel Rhodes
office: 202-434-8036
cell: 585-732-1877
Please find other experts at Cornell available to discuss the science and health implications of coronavirus, its impact on the economy, effect on countries around the world and impact on our daily lives.
Policing and the criminal justice system
Policing one of many abuses inflicted by the criminal justice system
Protests against racism and police violence escalated across the country this week, with many protesters injured and arrested by police.
Joe Margulies, professor of law and government at Cornell University, is a civil rights attorney and expert on the national security state. He says that police abuses should not be separated from many other abuses suffered by poor people of color at the hands of the criminal justice system.
Bio: https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty/bio_joe_margulies.cfm
Margulies says:
“The nation is convulsed by protests, but no one should think that the injustices propelling them begin and end with policing.
“For decades, the criminal justice system has placed a metaphorical knee to the neck of the poor, and especially poor people of color, and abuses inflicted by the police must not be separated from the subsequent abuses inflicted by courts when they set bail, prosecutors when they misuse discretion, politicians when they demand excessive prison terms, and legislators when they saddle people with collateral consequences. The poor endure them as many symptoms of the same sickness, which is how they should be understood.”
China national security
China's national security law: For Xi, Hong Kong no different than Tibet, Xinjiang
On Thursday, China announced it was preparing to enact a controversial national security law for Hong Kong, bypassing the territory’s own legislative process. The announcement was made ahead of the country’s annual National People's Congress meeting, which is set to start on Friday.
Allen Carlson, professor of government and an expert on Chinese politics, says the move is consistent with the Chinese government’s approach to areas it considers restive. He adds that the legislation will bring a definitive end to the recent period of relative détente with Hong Kong.
Bio: https://government.cornell.edu/allen-r-carlson
Carlson says:
“It is not particularly surprising that China’s upcoming session of the National People’s Congress appears poised to enact new, restrictive legislation regarding Hong Kong.
“Such a move is entirely consistent with Xi Jinping’s approach towards other restive regions within the People’s Republic. For example, soon after becoming China’s leader in 2013 he stated, with reference to Tibet, ‘to govern the nation, we must govern our borders’ (治国必治边).
“Under such a banner his government enacted a wave of restrictive measures across the rooftop of the world. This stance was then extended to Xinjiang, as evident in the wide-scale detention centers that were erected there. In comparison, Xi’s approach to Hong Kong has been relatively restrained. Since the protests slowed in November of last year. Beijing has largely refrained from escalating the confrontation with the city-state. The reported legislation will bring a definitive end to this period of relative détente.
“Its underlying emphasis upon securing Hong Kong clearly reveals that for Xi, Hong Kong is no different than Tibet or Xinjiang.
“All three regions are for him not only parts of China, but also core facets of the country’s national security, and to be governed with an iron fist. Such an approach will likely cement Chinese control over each of these contested areas, but also solidify opposition to such rule in a manner that will then generate further instability, and, cast a dark shadow over all of China in the years to come.”
For interviews contact:
Rebecca Valli
office: 607-255-6035
cell: 607-793-1025
rv234@cornell.edu