An Open Letter to the Cornell Community:

We hope to raise awareness on the eradication of the Cornell Urban Scholars Program (CUSP), a program whose death was hushed and has since slipped from the consciousnesses of the University. Its existence once furthered the goals of this University, positively impacted the lives of many students, and uplifted the State of New York. 

CUSP was an all-encompassing program that provided a brilliant compromise between classroom training and hands-on experience. After taking a course in the spring semester in Ithaca, students took part in an eight-week social justice internship in New York City, supporting the efforts of innovative nonprofit organizations and local government agencies. Cornell was applauded by these organizations that otherwise would not have been able to accommodate such talented students for an entire summer. 

This service-learning opportunity was unique because it attracted a diverse group of students, and provided them with an opportunity to realize their potential as agents for change.  Many alumni have gone on to win renowned fellowships, prestigious public service-related internships, and most important, careers in public service. Without CUSP, students are devoid of such educational opportunities and thus bereft of such a pipeline to social justice careers.

As a land grant institution, Cornell has been dedicated to improving the lives of New York citizens since 1865. Although Cornell does have some programs in the city, the elimination of CUSP ended the most constructive link between Cornell students and the plight of the city's urban populations, significantly narrowing Cornell’s connection to the city. Today, it seems like Cornell’s only mission as an institution is contributing scholars to Wall Street, not Main Street.

The program's absence sends an even more potent message to students. There is now a dearth of programs that allow students to directly address some of the direst issues in society. Without University financial support and mentorship, students struggle to find opportunities in public service; often limiting their perspective as future leaders in America. Through this structural devaluing, public service is marginalized as a study, as an institutional priority and as a career.

Without CUSP, students interested in pursing socially conscious careers are handicapped by their lack of exposure to service learning. Issues facing New York City and other urban centers are limited to small discussions in remote classrooms in Ithaca, and are often trapped in theory. CUSP merged theories and action by exposing students to actors and organizations that actually work to combat injustice.

CUSP quickly became one of the most prestigious and selective programs at Cornell, receiving applications from students in various Colleges. These students were united by their desire to connect their discipline to issues of social justice. CUSP also became one of the flagship service learning programs in the country, and was replicated by many of our Ivy League compatriots. 

It is imperative to not undermine social justice-related educational opportunities, for they relate to our oldest institutional priorities and are sought after by a socially conscious student body. We believe that Reimagining Cornell and the broader Strategic Plan recognize these concerns on paper, to some extent. However, the campus is still awaiting practical steps that will actually allow us to “make public engagement a distinctive feature of education at Cornell,” as the Strategic Plan suggests. We believe that CUSP is a tangible way to transition from idealistic rhetoric to actually realizing institutional goals. However, cutting CUSP indicates an institutional retreat from “engagement” to our New York State community. We urge a centrally supported CUSP as one of the first actions Cornell pursues under this Strategic Plan. Through such a centralized program, colleges can actually begin to merge their disciplines around the ideas of social justice, public policy and “public engagement.”

Cornell is still, without a doubt, in the midst of a recovery process from a tumultuous phase in its history. Periods of great social transformation, however, are known to follow moments of economic plight. Seeing that trustees, administrators and students have all expressed desires to establish stronger connections between Cornell and public service, and also stronger connections between Ithaca and New York City, it is only logical for the University to take every step to ensure the rebirth of CUSP, a program that embodies of all of those goals.

            As members of the final CUSP class of 2009, we can testify that the program provided us with tremendous opportunities, invaluable friendships and institutional guidance to pursue public service careers. We have strong support from CUSP alumni as well as many of the administrators and faculty with whom we have already met. We invite college deans, Provost Kent Fuchs, and President David Skorton to an open dialogue about CUSP, social justice and public engagement at this University.

Sincerely,

CUSP class of 2009 alumni:

Adam Baratz ‘11, Freeman Fellow

Asa Craig ‘11, Student Trustee

Ali Hussain ‘11, Truman Scholar

Emma Schain ‘11, Mortar Board Senior Honor Society

Eric Woods ’11, Public Service Center Scholar