The incidents that have occurred in recent weeks both here at Cornell and across the nation–while nothing new to our community or our country–are deeply disturbing and painful reminders of the racial prejudice and bigotry that continue to permeate our society. They obstruct the vision of a diverse and inclusive student body upon which our university was founded, and are antithetical to the values that we as an organization, as a community, and as individual students endeavor to uphold in our day-to-day lives.
As a media organization and publication, we covet the rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression as cornerstones of the content we create. Nevertheless, we do not believe that these ideals should protect hate speech in any way, shape or form. Ideologies that are harmful to the physical and intellectual safety of groups and individuals–especially those most subjugated to prejudice and racism–are not welcome in our organization, nor are the individuals who espouse them. Individuals seeking to promote such hurtful dialogue and beliefs should not be free from criticism or disciplinary action. The right to free speech does not protect that speech which infringes upon the safety of others, nor the consequences thereof.
To the individuals in our community who have been offended by these acts of racism, Slope Media stands with you. The language of intolerance and bigotry have neither a place within our organization nor at our university. No student should feel unsafe simply due to their identity as an individual. We are committed to helping to create a better, kinder, and more inclusive community in which Cornell’s founding principle of “any person…any study” may one day be fully realized.
– The Slope Media Group Executive Board
