Cornell University Artwork Sparks Controversy
A controversial piece of art published by Cornell University’s student newspaper has ignited significant backlash. The artwork depicted a bloody Star of David alongside the Nazi “SS” symbol, being scrawled on the backs of Palestinians.
The Cornell Daily Sun has since removed the disturbing graphics, which many condemned as anti-Semitic. This incident has raised concerns about broader cultural issues within the university.
William Jacobson, a law professor and founder of the conservative publication Legal Insurrection, expressed his views on the situation, stating, “To me, this reflects the normalization of Holocaust reversal both on the Internet and on Cornell’s campus.”
He continued, “The graphics are especially concerning among the bloody Jewish stars. It doesn’t even reflect that it’s related to Israel, and clearly pursues the idea that Jews are the new Nazis. This is obviously very offensive.”
The “SS” insignia was historically associated with Adolf Hitler’s secret police, the Schutzstaffeln, renowned for their horrific acts against Jews during the Holocaust.
In light of the controversy, Professor Karim Ali Kassam, who authored a paper titled “A Thousand and One Things in the Eye,” accused Israel of seeking revenge in Gaza. His commentary was published shortly after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that initiated the Gaza conflict.
Kassam stated in his article that the Israeli government and its supporters regard Palestinians as unworthy of “human rights and protection under international law.” He further indicated that this mentality mirrors the rhetoric used by Nazis to justify genocide.
This sparked immediate backlash from various groups, including anonymous accounts on social media. Following the uproar, Kassam expressed his regret, stating, “I am very saddened to learn that this part of the work has been interpreted by some as anti-Semitic. That was not my intention, and I learned from this experience.”
The Cornell Daily Sun quickly retracted the article and republished it without the offensive imagery. In a later column, Kassam defended his position, asserting he did not mean to equate Israel with Nazi Germany, while also issuing an apology on behalf of the newspaper.
Jacobson raised further concerns, reflecting on how a professor could feel comfortable sharing such graphic content. “If a professor feels comfortable sharing a graphic like this, the Daily Sun, at least initially, was a comfortable place to operate, and I think that reflects a very toxic campus culture,” he remarked.
He concluded by emphasizing the need to understand campus culture rather than resort to censorship, as this incident highlights serious underlying issues.
The Cornell Daily Sun has reached out to Cornell University for comments.
Additionally, Jacobson, affiliated with the Equal Protection Project, mentioned plans to file a civil rights lawsuit related to a separate whistleblower complaint by a student against a retired professor, alleging discrimination based on national origin.
This complaint led the Cornell University’s Office of Civil Rights to publish findings that supported the student’s claims.
