Incident at Cornell University Involving President

Protests erupted after an incident involving President Michael Kotlikoff at Cornell University, where it’s alleged that he ran over a student’s foot following a debate about the Israel-Gaza conflict on campus.

On April 30, prior to a discussion organized by the Cornell Political Alliance, a group of students, along with some non-students, reportedly confronted Kotlikoff and surrounded his vehicle. According to a statement made on May 1, students from the Cornell Democratic Party, including Sophia Arnold and Aiden Vallecillo, followed the president after the event, inquiring about “freedom of expression” on campus. Vallecillo commented on this interaction, which was captured on video, showing Kotlikoff’s car being surrounded before he allegedly backed into at least one individual.

A video posted on social media depicts a female student questioning Kotlikoff about the university’s treatment of students while a male student captures the exchange on camera. Kotlikoff responded by suggesting that the event was about respecting free speech, at one point accusing the students of having a specific agenda.

In another clip shared online, as Kotlikoff prepares to leave the parking lot, the same male student continues filming. The footage suggests that some students were behind his car, and when it began to reverse, the student exclaimed, “He just ran over my leg!”

Cornell University released a video that confirmed the incident occurred in the Day Hall parking lot, noting that after Kotlikoff’s departure, some students remained. A statement from the Cornell Democratic Party claimed that Kotlikoff struck one student and ran over another’s leg. Reports suggest that Vallecillo and another student were hit when Kotlikoff backed up.

In his May 1 statement, Kotlikoff explained that he had been approached by groups of people—both students and non-students—known for their previous questionable behavior toward university staff. He described them as having a history of abusive conduct and claims that their actions on that occasion weren’t acceptable in an academic setting.

Kotlikoff noted that he attempted to disengage from the situation after a few questions, expressing a desire for them to cease recording. He maintained that their continued presence constituted harassment.

However, Asas, one of the students involved, clarified that not everyone was shouting. “There was only really one person trying to have a conversation,” he asserted, questioning whether the interaction could be labeled harassment, especially since it contradicted Kotlikoff’s stated commitment to open discussion.

After the incident, students reached out to the Cornell University Police, who came to collect statements. No formal accusations have been made, though Vallecillo expressed feeling scared in that context.