This is evident in Cornell history by the 1969 Willard Straight Hall Occupation, which arose as a result of students being punished for protesting the lack of a Black studies program. The Descendants Project is an example of a modern group of Black activists who refuse to be defined by boundaries. Writing this article reminded me that I am not alone and following in the well-worn trail of Black activists and scholars like bell hooks who refused to be siloed. Cornell University is a land grant institution which profited off the dispossession of the traditional indigenous homelands. Even compared to other land grant institutions, Cornell University has profited the most significantly from this dispossession.

Source: Daily Sun February 24, 2026 20:19 UTC