The president of Cornell University has claimed he faced “harassment and intimidation” after an incident where he was accused of hitting a person with his car during a dispute over free speech on campus. This incident was highlighted on April 30, after President Michael Kotlikoff launched a debate series about Israel and Palestine, which was supported by several student groups.
According to Kotlikoff, as he was heading to his car, he was followed into a parking lot by a mix of students and non-students known for previous disruptive behavior towards faculty. He mentioned that two individuals in the group had previously been banned from campus due to their conduct during protests.
He described the situation: “These people followed me from the event space, loudly asking questions and filming me. After answering some, I expressed my wish to disengage and asked them to stop recording.” His request, however, was met with refusal, and they continued to surround his vehicle, banging on the windows and blocking his path. He waited for a clear spot and then cautiously maneuvered his car out using its safety features.
In contrast, Aiden Vallessillo, a member of the Cornell Students Democratic Party, contended that students were only trying to address Kotlikoff peacefully. He noted, “I saw the president in the hallway and started asking him questions about the campus’s free speech issues.”
Surveillance footage reportedly shows Kotlikoff’s vehicle backing out while the group stood behind it. Vallessillo alleges that the president hit a student and ran over his leg while leaving. Kotlikoff maintained that the group aggressively surrounded his car.
Sophia Arnold, the student body president who witnessed the incident, expressed her disappointment regarding Kotlikoff’s response. “I was shocked and angry; I would have been more cautious if I had seen someone in a parking lot.” She disputed the university’s narrative, emphasizing that they didn’t actively try to block Kotlikoff’s vehicle and that he did not communicate with them at that moment.
As of now, it’s unclear if the incident was reported to campus police. Cornell University has been contacted for comment regarding the events.
