Jewish students, parents, and professors Ithaca, New YorkCornell University expressed disgust after President Martha E. Pollack expressed “thank you” to anti-Israel agitators and thanked them for “remaining peaceful and nonviolent.” expressed.
The outrage from students, parents and professors came after Pollack, who recently announced his retirement, thanked protesters after the encampment was voluntarily cleared.
“While we do not condone encampments that clearly violate university policies, we note that, in contrast to what has taken place at other universities, participants here remained peaceful and nonviolent throughout. “I would like to acknowledge and thank them for their efforts. In most cases, they tried to minimize the disruption caused.” he wrote in a letter to the student body on Tuesday.
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Cornell University President Martha Pollack (left) and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul (center) visit students at the Cornell University Center for Jewish Life on October 30, 2023 in Ithaca, New York. (Lindsay France/Cornell University)
students speak out
Cornell student Amanda Silverstein told Fox News Digital that Pollack’s letter was “embarrassing and symptomatic of the broader anti-Semitism at Cornell.”
“Her letter is an embarrassment and a symptom of a broader epidemic of anti-Semitism at Cornell, which the school’s silence and false moral equivalency have exacerbated and amplified. “We’re creating an atmosphere where not only hate speech is tolerated, but even explicit calls for violence against Jews are tolerated,” Silverstein said. “In her letter, I was called a ‘slut, a Zionist pig, a motherfucker,’ and countless times we were called ‘baby killers,’ ‘colonists,’ ‘Nazis,’ etc. There is no mention of what has been labeled, nor of the constant calls for violent violence against Israelis and Jews, echoed by both professors and students, reflecting Hamas’ clear and unambiguous aims. I haven’t even touched it.”
“The administration has consistently failed to enforce its own policies intended to protect Jewish students in favor of students who flout the rules,” Silverstein said. “Under the banner of free speech, Cornell University has become a hostile and dangerous environment for Jews. The illegal protests and violent rhetoric are ultimately the product of the university’s inaction.”
Talia Dror, a Jewish student at Cornell University and vice president of finance at Cornell University for Israel, shared a response to Fox News Digital following Pollack’s letter.
“The very students you thank and defend are terrorizing students and suppressing dissent,” Dror wrote in part. “They pretend to be peace-loving and shout phrases calling for the genocide of Jews. They support terrorism. But I don’t even have to say that. You have free speech. However, if such a thing were to take place and a threatening environment existed, only those who were willing to sacrifice their careers and reputations would have that right. It will be given to you.”
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Dror concluded her letter by saying she would not attend Cornell’s graduation ceremony because of Cornell’s “indoctrination” of its students.
“Thanking our detractors for their continued nonviolence is proof that double standards have been created and upheld,” Dror said. “I will not attend graduation ceremonies at ILR schools because I refuse to celebrate investing my life’s savings to attend an institution that indoctrinates its students with anti-Western rhetoric and hatred of the free world. is.”
Students in front of Cornell University’s Goldwin Smith Hall in Ithaca, New York (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Parent’s reaction
Sarah Cohen, a parent of a Cornell University freshman, told Fox News Digital in response to Pollack’s letter.
“There’s so much hatred against Israelis on campus. You all know about them, but you choose not to mention them. We’re called ‘Nazis,’ ‘Zionist pigs,’ ‘baby killers.’ ”, “colonialist”, and “death”. Cult,’ and the list goes on,” Cohen said. “These words were used not once, but repeatedly. The call for an intifada was constant.”
“Yet you implicitly accused Israelis of creating a non-inclusive environment at Cornell University,” she said.
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William A. Jacobson, a clinical professor who joined Cornell Law School in 2007, called on Cornell’s Board of Trustees to support Jewish students. (Getty/FOX)
‘Stockholm syndrome’
William A. Jacobson, Cornell University Professor of Law and Founder EqualProtect.orgtold Fox News Digital that Pollack’s comments were “an insult to the entire code-abiding Cornell University community.”
“Outgoing President Martha Pollack’s campus-wide statement expressing ‘thank you’ to the anti-Israel students who set up encampments in violation of Cornell University’s policies is a reminder to the entire rule-abiding Cornell University community, especially the Jewish It was an insult to students and pro-Israel students. “I endured seven months of constant harassment, insults, defamation and threats,” Jacobson said. “It’s embarrassing that Pollack praised the students at the camp for not becoming violent. Have we set the bar so low on campus that not hitting people deserves praise from the president?”
Jacobson said Pollack’s comments of praise and gratitude toward anti-Israel protesters were “some variation of Stockholm Syndrome.”
“The president’s statement reflects a variation on Stockholm Syndrome, with campus hostages using loudspeakers in study areas, marches that included genocidal chants directed at Israeli Jews, vandalism of university property, and more. “We are praising the students who supported the faculty who put Mr. Pollack on a mock trial on conspiracy charges during the massacre,” he said. “The encampment was just the final step in a months-long siege of the campus:
“Mr. Pollack’s claims that the encampment was not destructive were belied by the university, which closed the encampment for the disorder, suspended six students, issued a statement from the university president regarding the disorder, and said, ‘ A statement from the university has been issued condemning the slogan, “There is only one solution.” “The Intifada Revolution.” ;”
Mr. Jacobson asked Mr. Pollack to “leave immediately.”
“Cornell University is currently a rudderless ship, and this statement makes the problem even worse,” he said. “President Pollack has announced that he will step down from office on June 30th. To avoid further harm to the Cornell University community, Pollack should resign immediately.”
A prominent Cornell University professor has called on the school’s board of governors to take action after a series of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incidents have left Jewish students feeling uncomfortable on campus. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Another Cornell professor, who requested anonymity, shared his reaction to Pollack’s letter with Fox News Digital, saying her comments expressing support for anti-Israel agitators “hurt me to the core.” .
“I read your last email and am shocked. I can’t believe you sent that email. It hurt me to the core,” the professor said. “There are so many things I want to mention about your email. Still, I wanted to write something now, so I’ll keep it short and mention only one thing.”
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“There is so much hatred against Israelis on campus. You know so much about them, but you choose not to mention them. “Killers,” “colonists,” “death cults,” and the list goes on,” the professor said. “These words were used not once, but repeatedly. Calls for an intifada were being made all the time. And yet you implicitly accused the Israelis of creating a non-inclusive environment at Cornell University. .”
Campus leaders and Jewish voices are sounding the alarm about anti-Semitism at American universities in the wake of Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians. A Cornell University law professor is calling on the school to assess anti-Semitism on campus following anti-Israel events on multiple college campuses across the country. (Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe via Getty Images/Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
Retirement is next
On May 9, Mr. Pollack announced that he would retire on June 30.
Craig H. Kaiser, chairman of the Cornell University Board of Trustees, said in a prepared statement that President Michael I. Kotlikoff will become interim president starting July 1, and that Mr. Pollack will be nominated by the Cornell University Board of Trustees at that time. He said he will be given the title of honorary president.
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“It has been an incredible privilege to serve as president of Cornell University. Few roles offer so many opportunities to make a positive difference in the world,” Pollack said in a statement announcing his resignation. “After seven fruitful and satisfying years as president of Cornell University, and after a 50-year career in research and academia, I am ready to begin a new chapter in my life. I am very grateful for the continued support of our faculty, students, staff, and alumni for their words of encouragement during my time as president, especially throughout this past academic year.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Cornell University for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner contributed to this report.
