Cornell Defends Record on Africana Center

Peter Lepage, dean of arts and sciences at Cornell University, on Wednesday released a letter in response to recent allegations by alumni of the Africana Studies and Research Center that the university is treating the center in ways that are "regressive and colonial in nature." Lepage said he wanted to assure alumni that the center would soon launch searches for three to five faculty members over the next two years (building on a faculty of eight), and that funds would be provided to create a Ph.D. program. Lepage said he wanted to provide "reassurance and optimism" about the center's future.