The Cornell University Police Department detained 17 pro-Palestine students protesting the event. Loewen said he is excited to see students from a diverse range of majors and backgrounds share their opinions. “Given the cross-disciplinary nature of this subject, Arts & Sciences is the perfect home for this kind of course that’s open to all undergraduate students,” Loewen wrote to The Sun. She said she hopes that the course will offer her more knowledge of the contentious topics explored in class. Scholars from outside Cornell will join the conversations too, including Ross Douthat, New York Times opinion writer, and professors from the National University of Singapore, Stony Brook University, Vanderbilt University and George Mason University.