We're gonna be in the news again

[George64]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/us/cornell-deal-trump-administration.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zU8.SDAX.tDRliBzaHpr5&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[BearLover]

https://statements.cornell.edu/2025/documents/cornell-settlement-agreement.pdf


Blech.

Seems like the best case scenario given the state of things.

[Chris '03]

https://statements.cornell.edu/2025/documents/cornell-settlement-agreement.pdf


Blech.

Seems like the best case scenario given the state of things.

Appeasement is rarely the best case scenario.

[Dafatone]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

https://statements.cornell.edu/2025/documents/cornell-settlement-agreement.pdf


Blech.

Seems like the best case scenario given the state of things.

Appeasement is rarely the best case scenario.

True, but it beats losing everything.

Besides, Cheeto Mussolini will be dead in a couple years.  Cornell will still be standing.

[chimpfood]

If you actually read the deal there's nothing really problematic in there. Sure it feels icky to give the government 30 million to leave us alone but if we didn't do this they would just keep all of the research funding instead, which is a hell of a lot more. Not ideal circumstances but they had to do it to look out for their students and staff and I am glad they did.

[BearLover]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

The terms the of the deal provide that the government cannot stop additional grants or discriminate against granting funds to Cornell.

[BearLover]

https://statements.cornell.edu/2025/documents/cornell-settlement-agreement.pdf


Blech.

Seems like the best case scenario given the state of things.

Appeasement is rarely the best case scenario.

The alternative is financial ruin. I'll take modest appeasement over my university being destroyed.

[Dafatone]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

The terms the of the deal provide that the government cannot stop additional grants or discriminate against granting funds to Cornell.

What part of this presidential administration gives you the impression that it will abide by the terms of a deal it signed?

It can still conduct investigations. At best, they'll say "hey we found more nonsense, fuck you, pay me."

[Snowball]

https://statements.cornell.edu/2025/documents/cornell-settlement-agreement.pdf


Blech.

Seems like the best case scenario given the state of things.

Appeasement is rarely the best case scenario.

The alternative is financial ruin. I'll take modest appeasement over my university being destroyed.

Kudos to Kotlikoff for being pragmatic and getting this done.

[Dafatone]

On second thought, in light of Trump pardoning Darryl Strawberry for his tax evasion conviction, I'm now fully on board with this presidential administration.

[BearLover]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

The terms the of the deal provide that the government cannot stop additional grants or discriminate against granting funds to Cornell.

What part of this presidential administration gives you the impression that it will abide by the terms of a deal it signed?

It can still conduct investigations. At best, they'll say "hey we found more nonsense, fuck you, pay me."

Cornell could take them to court and win. I agree this administration isn't trustworthy, but this is still the clear best outcome IMO.

[ugarte]

so embarrassing. signing this deal as the administration looks weaker than ever.

[Dafatone]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

The terms the of the deal provide that the government cannot stop additional grants or discriminate against granting funds to Cornell.

What part of this presidential administration gives you the impression that it will abide by the terms of a deal it signed?

It can still conduct investigations. At best, they'll say "hey we found more nonsense, fuck you, pay me."

Cornell could take them to court and win. I agree this administration isn't trustworthy, but this is still the clear best outcome IMO.

Cornell could also take them to court instead of agreeing to terms. I believe that is what Harvard did.

[BearLover]

If you fall for, like, a sextortion scam, paying the scammer doesn't stop them from demanding more money.

The terms the of the deal provide that the government cannot stop additional grants or discriminate against granting funds to Cornell.

What part of this presidential administration gives you the impression that it will abide by the terms of a deal it signed?

It can still conduct investigations. At best, they'll say "hey we found more nonsense, fuck you, pay me."

Cornell could take them to court and win. I agree this administration isn't trustworthy, but this is still the clear best outcome IMO.

Cornell could also take them to court instead of agreeing to terms. I believe that is what Harvard did.

Harvard is going to end up settling for a far bigger amount than Cornell did, or otherwise they are going to be litigating this for years while the Trump admin hits them harder and harder. They're in a terrible position in large part because they've chosen to fight. Harvard is also orders of magnitude richer than Cornell and can afford to keep fighting.

Cornell needed to restore the grants and end the investigations ASAP. Getting extorted sucks but $30m over three years is worth saving the university and all the people who get to keep their jobs now.