Cornell Student Expelled Over Confrontation with University President

A Cornell University student activist has been expelled following an incident involving the school’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, after a debate on Israel-Palestine.

Aiden Vallessillo, who recently graduated, received a one-year ban from attending events at the Ithaca campus. This decision came after he was part of a group that surrounded and photographed Kotlikoff on April 30, as they pressed him for discussions with university administrators while he was heading to his car. Reportedly, Vallessillo was notified of the expulsion on May 28, just days after graduation.

Vallessillo expressed his belief that the university’s timing was deliberate. He suggested that they chose this moment, when students were mostly away, to avoid public scrutiny, stating, “They did it at a time when national media attention had faded.”

He also claimed that Kotlikoff was infringing upon free speech rights by not addressing questions regarding campus policies on free expression.

However, the university accused the group of harassing Kotlikoff after a discussion series organized by various student groups. The university’s Board of Trustees found that the behavior exhibited by the students was inconsistent with the institution’s policies on respectful conduct and safety.

This group had already gained a negative reputation on campus for verbally confronting university staff both online and in real life, culminating in a ruckus in the parking lot.

Kotlikoff has been the president since March 2025 and defended prior debate events as “lively and civil,” emphasizing the importance of open discussions in an academic setting. He stated, “In a community and a democracy, exercising that freedom comes with a responsibility to respect that same right for others.”

Vallessillo and other students alleged that Kotlikoff struck them while departing. Security camera footage and videos recorded by Vallessillo revealed students attempting to jump into the back of Kotlikoff’s car as he tried to leave the lot. Vallessillo was heard exclaiming, “Oh, you just ran over my foot,” while filming the ground.

Despite multiple students alleging they were hit, they all declined medical attention and did not pursue police reports. No criminal charges have been filed in the aftermath of the event.

Kotlikoff later stated that he did not realize students were positioned behind his car when he backed up and admitted that school officials should have waited for police assistance instead of driving away. He reflected on how the incident might have appeared differently when viewed through the lens of video snippets shared online, acknowledging that he should have taken further precautions during the situation.