The class, entitled "BIPOC Rock Climbing," was originally restricted to "people who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color," before its description was edited to state that the class is "designed to enable Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, or other people of color underrepresented in the sport of rock climbing to learn the sport and to feel included and supported."
The course’s original description, noting the class’s race-based enrollment restriction, is still visible, courtesy of an internet archive.
According to the new description, posted on Cornell’s website, the class will provide a "high degree of individual attention" and a "supportive space" where students will discuss "BIPOC individuals and groups in rock climbing." The new description states that the class is now "open to all" students who are "interested in learning rock climbing with this special focus."
The total price for students taking the course is $1,890—including the standard cost of a one-credit course, $1,575, and an additional mandatory "course fee" of $315.
When asked for comment, John Carberry, Cornell’s Senior Director of Media Relations and News, issued a statement to Campus Reform claiming that "all Cornell students" are "welcome" to enroll in the course, contradicting the original course description.
Carberry insisted that the course’s original description reflected an "intentional focus" on "outreach and inclusion," but that there was "never" any intention to exclude students that don’t identify as BIPOC.
"All Cornell students are welcome to enroll in this course. While the original description of the course represented an intentional focus on outreach and inclusion, there was never an intent to exclude non-minority students. The description of the course has been adjusted accordingly," Carberry said.