Cornell backs university prez held hostage in his car by student radicals after Israel-Palestine debate series
Cornell University's board of trustees has expressed support for President Michael Kotlikoff after he was surrounded by students following an Israel-Palestine debate. An investigation concluded that the students' actions were inconsistent with university policies. Kotlikoff, who has been president since March 2025, has not pursued complaints against the students involved.
- ▪Cornell's board found that the students' actions on April 30th violated university policies on expressive activity and safety.
- ▪The Tompkins County District Attorney's office determined that no criminal charges were warranted against those involved in the incident.
- ▪Kotlikoff described the debate series as a vigorous and civil example of open discourse within the academic community.
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US News Cornell backs university prez held hostage in his car by student radicals after Israel-Palestine debate series By Ryan King, Carl Campanile and Chris Nesi Published May 17, 2026, 6:00 p.m. ET Cornell University’s board of trustees said it’s standing by the Ivy League school’s president Michael Kotlikoff after a group of students followed him to his car and surrounded him following an Israel-Palestine debate series last month. “The Committee has found that the actions taken by these individuals on April 30th, which included following President Kotlikoff from an evening event into a parking lot and impeding his ability to leave, are inconsistent with university policies governing expressive activity and our standards for respectful conduct, safety, and the prohibition of…
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