Within the vibrant tapestry of academia, alumni stand as crucial threads weaving together the past, present, and future of their alma maters.
Their importance and impact is evident through the actions of the Alpha Chapter Alumni Association (ACAA) (Cornell University) and the Black Alumnae of Harvard Equity Initiative (BAHEI), who have openly voiced their support for the preservation and advancement of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Composed of industry leaders, policymakers, and other influential figures, these organizations are more than just groups for nostalgic gatherings. They can serve as engines of change and progress.
“We … represent a rapidly growing cohort of lawyers, DEI experts, social scientists, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, scientists, educators, journalists, and media experts from the private and public sectors, who find it difficult to believe that fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in an academic community could be deemed a controversial topic,” BAHEI wrote in a February letter to Harvard leaders.
In January, Jon A. Lindseth, a former trustee and donor to Cornell, penned an open letter to the university’s board of trustees demanding that President Martha Pollack resign, and withdrawing his financial support due to what he believed was the school’s “toxic” DEI policies and its response to antisemitism. Soon after, the ACAA — the alumni arm of the predominantly Black Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.— issued its own letter to Cornell’s leadership, voicing its strong support for DEI policies and programming and calling Lindseth’s letter disingenuous.
“We are aware that there have been calls for the resignation of Cornell’s president [Pollack],” the group wrote. “Such a reaction would be a disappointing sign of contempt for many students and alumni of Cornell and a signal that Lindseth’s position is shared by the University’s leadership at the highest levels. Cornell would, indeed, move further away from its highest ideals and succumb to the essence of its past shortcomings. Do not make this mistake.”
The statement highlighted Cornell’s founding ethos of “any person, any study” as a cornerstone of its legacy, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and equal opportunity. The alumni expressed concerns over mischaracterizations and politicization of DEI efforts, citing the need for genuine progress that fosters inclusive environments for all students.
“It is worth noting that — like our country — Cornell University has not always lived up to its best ideals, especially in relation to its students and alumni of color,” the letter reads. “There were painful moments in Cornell’s history where diversity was limited, equity was an afterthought and many students — unfortunately — were excluded from core facets of campus life. … We should learn from Cornell’s powerful history; not retreat from the best of its aspirations.”
Similarly, BAHEI has been vocal in addressing the challenges to DEI at Harvard, particularly following the resignation of Claudine Gay, the institution’s first Black president. In a leaked petition to Harvard leaders, the organization condemned the attack on Gay and called for greater transparency and inclusiveness in leadership selection, hiring practices, and admissions as part of a list of five key demands.
“BAHEI and other BIPOC alumni groups and allies are committed to preventing the distortion of facts around Dr. Gay’s leadership and scholarship, the importance of diversity, and the historical success of DEI programs,” the petition reads. “The attacks on Dr. Gay were designed to promote a false narrative and to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at Harvard and beyond. In our view, they were racist and misogynist and Harvard’s silence or misreading of these attacks suggests a profound misunderstanding of the crisis confronting it and all institutions.”
The significance of these alumni groups extends beyond their individual universities. They represent a broad movement within academia to uphold DEI as a fundamental pillar of educational excellence despite the recent barrage of external attacks. By leveraging their collective voice and expertise, these alumni are driving meaningful conversations and holding their institutions accountable to their DEI commitments.
