At the end of WWI, patriotic Americans harbored intense disdain for all things Germanic. But on the Hill, Cornellians took pride in their acceptance of people of all nations. Thus, in December 1919, a Bailey Hall audience welcomed an Austrian violinist to the stage. Despite a boycott urged by Ithaca's mayor, the 2,000-seat auditorium filled to overflowing.

Then in mid-concert, 80 protestors cut the lights and surged into the building. Students held their ground as Cornell President Jacob Schurman climbed up on stage beside the soloist and someone held a flashlight for the accompanist. The musicians played on above the melee.

Subsequent Bailey Hall events have been less contentious, including lectures by film director Spike Lee, Tibet's Dalai Lama, and comedian Dave Barry.