Cornell Expert Quotes

Cornellians weigh in on current events in the news
“The need for assistance [in Puerto Rico] is now so dire it is impossible to ignore – to do so would precipitate a humanitarian disaster even greater than the one already in progress.”

Steven C. Kyle

associate professor, macroeconomics policy expert

To find an expert, please contact the Media Relations Office.

Topic Name Date
Law and Policy , Cornell in DC
Rob Scott

Executive Director of the Cornell Prison Education Program

Scott says:

“The Florida proposition restoring the vote to felons is for those who have completed parole/probation, are not currently incarcerated, and do not have a murder or sexual offense crime. I would expect this to take the number of eligible felons down to 1 million. I'm seeing about 400,000 in jail, prison, parole, or probation and estimate that another 100,000 will have sex-related or murder/manslaughter type charges. 

“The next thing is to ask whether the Republican controlled house will encourage them to vote, or whether there will be statutes passed to expand parole and probation in order to disenfranchise the newly enfranchised voters.

“On bulk, I think the measure is very positive. Enfranchising a million voters is nothing small. It is a big deal and a shift in American criminal justice policy thinking in relation to the concept of rehabilitation and second chances.”
Media: Rachel Rhodes rer252@cornell.edu 202-434-8036
Related Tip Sheet: Florida felons earned the right to vote, but will they be allowed keep it? (11/07/18)
Law and Policy , International , International Reach , Arts and Sciences , Cornell in DC
Associate Professor of Government at Cornell University
Jessica Chen Weiss

Associate Professor of Government at Cornell University
"Tillerson’s ouster is a sign of continued turbulence in U.S. foreign policy. A potential silver lining is that the State Department will fare better under someone who has Trump’s ear."
Media: Media Relations, Media Relations Office mediarelations@cornell.edu (607) 255 - 2059
Related Tip Sheet: Tillerson ouster may mean more of the same for China, Asia (03/13/18)
Law, Government & Public Policy , Industrial and Labor Relations , Business, Economics & Entrepreneurship , Cornell in DC
Associate Professor of Labor Relations, Law & History at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Shannon Gleeson

Associate Professor of Labor Relations, Law & History at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations
The racist focus on border militarization and no holds-bar deportation follows no logic of security, and is terrorizing immigrants and their families across the country and threatening the economic stability, educational opportunities, and mental and physical health of the communities in which they live and work.
Media: Rebecca Valli rv234@cornell.edu 202-434-8049
Related Tip Sheet: Trump border wall investment and deportation policy ‘terrorizing immigrants’ (02/13/18)
Law and Policy , Arts and Sciences , Cornell in DC
Professor Rooks is an associate professor in Africana Studies and Feminist, Gender, Sexuality Studies
Noliwe Rooks

Professor Rooks is an associate professor in Africana Studies and Feminist, Gender, Sexuality Studies
As we all wait to find out the substance of President Trump’s remarks during the State of the Union address, many Americans will be listening hard to hear if he makes any mention of public education. Anticipation is particularly high in that regard because today brought with it the news that the Koch brothers, Trump backers and fellow billionaires have set their sights on ‘transforming,’ to the point of dismantling, America’s public education system.
Media: Rebecca Valli rv234@cornell.edu 202-434-8049
Related Tip Sheet: Education and the State of the Union: What’s in store for K-12 (01/30/18)