Cayuga's Waiters alumni released an official statement on Tuesday regarding the recent dismissal of their group by Cornell University due to allegations of hazing.



"Cayuga's Waiters Alumni and our Advisory Board stand with Cornell University in condemning hazing in all its forms. Our alumni were shocked and saddened when the allegations against group members came to light. The incidents in question largely represent the actions of a few former members, who have been expelled from Cayuga's Waiters Alumni. We appreciate the University's direct response to these actions, however, we remain concerned about the following issues:

Over a number of years, requests for help in changing group culture made by Cayuga's Waiters to Cornell through its official hazing reporting channels went unanswered.

• The judicial process punished on-campus group members who were themselves victims of hazing, and who had to defend themselves at great expense and under emotional duress.

• Cayuga's Waiters, the Advisory Board, and Cornell administrators were working on a plan set forth by Cornell to get the group back on track when the initial disciplinary finding was appealed and overturned by request of the Judicial Administrator's Office.

• It is important to note that Cayuga's Waiters Alumni are not denying the allegations of hazing, but rather seek to rebuild the group after proportional discipline. 

"Last fall, Cayuga's Waiters Alumni and the Advisory Board put forward a disciplinary plan that included a lengthy suspension for the on-campus group, development of new governance structures in partnership with Cornell, and reinstatement of the on-campus group under the supervision of the Advisory Board. To date, Cornell has refused this outreach. Cayuga's Waiters Alumni still hope to implement such a plan in partnership with Cornell."

The full statement is available on CayugasWaiters.com.

Cayuga's Waiters Alumni and the Advisory Board:

Cayuga's Waiters Alumni are an association of 321 Cornell alumni around the world who performed with Cayuga's Waiters, the oldest a cappella group at Cornell University. Waiter alumni continue to perform at Cornell events, the annual Cornell Reunions that take place in Ithaca each June, and at social and charity events across the country. The alumni group "Cayuga's Waiters of the 1950s" were featured in a 2016 documentary short, "Old Men Singing" (View the trailer at http://www.cayugaswaiters.com) The Advisory Board was formed in 2016 at the request of the University Hearing Board (UHB) of Cornell to help overhaul group governance and lead Cayuga's Waiters re-establishment on campus after a UHB-mandated disciplinary probation. Cayuga's Waiters Alumni plans to continue its mission of outreach to preserve the spirit of fellowship and music that is the lasting legacy of Cayuga's Waiters.

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