Earlier this year, Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning announced that the chair of the architecture department would be renamed the Richard Meier Chair of the Department of Architecture, stemming from an endowment made by the architect and alumnus. Yesterday, following The New York Times' publication of several accounts of sexual harassment by Meier, the college's dean posted a note on the school's website, saying "the reported behavior is unacceptable" and as a consequence, the school "will decline his new gift."
The full statement is copied below:
Dear Members of the AAP Community,
I am deeply disturbed to learn of the allegations of sexual misconduct by Richard Meier (B.Arch. '56), which were reported in an article in today's New York Times. As one of our most well-known alumni, Richard Meier has been associated with Cornell University and the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning through his gifts that support students and faculty. Although he has apologized, the reported behavior is unacceptable.
Therefore, we will decline his new gift to name the chair of the Department of Architecture, and we are cancelling the event that had been planned for next week to celebrate the gift. We will swiftly explore what additional actions are appropriate with regard to endowments for professorships and scholarships previously donated to Cornell.
Sincerely,
Kent Kleinman
Gale and Ira Drukier Dean of Architecture, Art, and Planning
