Cornell Criticizes Students After Its President Bumps Them With His Car
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Cornell University trustees attributed the April 30 incident involving President Michael Kotlikoff bumping his vehicle into students to a small group of students whose actions violated university policies on expressive activity.
- The incident occurred after a campus debate on free speech and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, when students questioned Kotlikoff about suspensions of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and then surrounded his SUV.
- Video footage showed Kotlikoff reversing his vehicle and making contact with one student, Hudson Athas, while another student, Aiden Vallecillo, claimed his foot was run over.
- The university decided not to discipline the students, and the local district attorney declined to press criminal charges; the trustees supported Kotlikoff’s leadership and did not directly criticize his actions.
- Kotlikoff stated he was unaware he had hit anyone at the time and only realized it after seeing video clips the following day.