A Cornell University professor who called the Oct. 7 Hamas attack “energizing” has returned to class without facing disciplinary action.
After making the comments at a rally in October, Rickford faced backlash from students, lawmakers and the public and ended up taking a “voluntary” leave of absence for the remainder of the academic year. According to University officials told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Rickford's comments, as reported by the New York Post, were “reprehensible” but still fell under the protection of free speech.
“Last October, Professor Russell Rickford made some horrifying statements at an off-campus rally in downtown Ithaca. Then-President Pollack and Board Chair Keiser attention “His comments at the time were reprehensible and showed a complete disregard for humanity,” Cornell Vice President Joel Malina told DCNF. “Professor Rickford has apologized for his comments and has taken a voluntary administrative leave of absence for the remainder of the academic year.” (Related: Elite university vandalized with pro-Palestinian graffiti on first day of classes)
More than 1,200 people have been killed and hundreds kidnapped in Hamas attacks. Rickford said at the rally that the attacks were “exhilarating and invigorating,” adding that he found them “exhilarating.”
“In accordance with established principles of academic freedom, Cornell University has a process for considering whether public comments, such as those made by Professor Rickford at an off-campus political rally, fall within the scope of protected speech or, rather, demonstrate prohibited bias, discrimination or harassment,” it added. “Given that Professor Rickford's comments were made as a private citizen on his own time, the university's academic leadership has concluded that Professor Rickford's conduct in this incident does not meet that high standard.”
Rickford's return to teaching at Cornell has drawn criticism from the Jewish community, who condemn the university's policies, The New York Times reported.
“It’s absurd,” Amanda Silverstein, vice president of Chabad of Israel-Cornell, told the New York Post. “If we let his actions go unpunished, other professors will follow suit with no repercussions. [Rickford] And other professors indoctrinate students in the classroom.”
Cornell Professor Russell Rickford talks about Hamas terror attacks: shameful @Cornell. pic.twitter.com/xv1dTqGymy
— Sam Aberman (@samaberman) October 15, 2023
According to the NYP, Rickford will teach “African American Perspectives” and “Socialism in America” at Cornell University in the fall semester of 2024.
“I don't think someone who makes statements like this should be teaching students,” Benjamin Malacken, executive director of the Student Center for Jewish Life at Cornell University, told the New York Post. “It's inappropriate for him to be teaching.”
The October 7 attack sparked an explosion of anti-Israel protests at universities across the United States.
At Columbia University, a professor who was reportedly blocked from entering campus during anti-Israel protests in April said on Twitter that the university could not guarantee his safety.
“Cornell's policy is laughable at best,” Silverstein told the New York Post.
Rickford did not immediately respond to DCNF's request for comment.
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