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NEW DELHI: Students at Cornell University have been left shaken following anonymous online threats targeting Jews. These threats were posted on a digital forum dedicated to discussions about fraternities and sororities. This incident coincides with a surge in antisemitic comments on social media, fueled by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The threats, which emerged over the weekend, have been so alarming that some students felt compelled to leave the Ithaca campus of the Ivy League institution.They expressed concerns about their safety, with many too apprehensive to sleep in their dormitories. Molly Goldstein, the president of the college’s Center for Jewish Living, conveyed the palpable fear among students. She mentioned that several students had reached out, questioning the safety of returning to their rooms. “We’ve had people who are too scared to sleep here tonight. So they’ve gone to other places in Ithaca for their safety,” Goldstein said.
In response to the threats, New York governor Kathy Hochul visited Cornell’s Center for Jewish Living on Monday. She assured that state police would be actively working to identify and take action against those responsible for the online threats. Emphasizing the importance of student safety, she said, “No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm or their dining hall to a classroom.” She further added that when speech escalates into hate speech and hate crimes, it’s crucial to ensure students are protected.
The Cornell University Police Department is actively investigating the matter and has informed the FBI. They have ramped up patrols and are providing additional security measures for Jewish students and organizations, both on and off-campus.
The origin of these threats was traced back to Greekrank, a platform that ranks and discusses fraternity and sorority chapters at various colleges. The posts contained explicit threats against Jewish students, including a shooting threat at the Center for Jewish Living.
The campus has witnessed several demonstrations in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with most supporting Palestine. The situation was further inflamed when a Cornell history professor publicly described the Hamas attacks on Israel as “exhilarating” and “energizing.”
President Joe Biden’s administration on Monday condemned what it says is an alarming increase in antisemitic incidents at US schools and colleges. A statement from the White House says the departments of Justice and Homeland Security have been hosting calls with campus law enforcement officials to offer support and address threats.
“There’s no place for hate in America,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during Monday’s press briefing. “We’re thinking of you and we’re going to do everything we can … at Cornell and across the country to counter … antisemitism.”
Education secretary Miguel Cardona and Domestic Policy Adviser Neera Tanden plan to visit a university campus this week to hold a roundtable discussion with Jewish students, the White House said. Education Department officials have been visiting campuses across the country to address antisemitism in recent weeks, with more planned this week in New York City and Baltimore.
(With inputs from agencies)
The threats, which emerged over the weekend, have been so alarming that some students felt compelled to leave the Ithaca campus of the Ivy League institution.They expressed concerns about their safety, with many too apprehensive to sleep in their dormitories. Molly Goldstein, the president of the college’s Center for Jewish Living, conveyed the palpable fear among students. She mentioned that several students had reached out, questioning the safety of returning to their rooms. “We’ve had people who are too scared to sleep here tonight. So they’ve gone to other places in Ithaca for their safety,” Goldstein said.
In response to the threats, New York governor Kathy Hochul visited Cornell’s Center for Jewish Living on Monday. She assured that state police would be actively working to identify and take action against those responsible for the online threats. Emphasizing the importance of student safety, she said, “No one should be afraid to walk from their dorm or their dining hall to a classroom.” She further added that when speech escalates into hate speech and hate crimes, it’s crucial to ensure students are protected.
The Cornell University Police Department is actively investigating the matter and has informed the FBI. They have ramped up patrols and are providing additional security measures for Jewish students and organizations, both on and off-campus.
The origin of these threats was traced back to Greekrank, a platform that ranks and discusses fraternity and sorority chapters at various colleges. The posts contained explicit threats against Jewish students, including a shooting threat at the Center for Jewish Living.
The campus has witnessed several demonstrations in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with most supporting Palestine. The situation was further inflamed when a Cornell history professor publicly described the Hamas attacks on Israel as “exhilarating” and “energizing.”
President Joe Biden’s administration on Monday condemned what it says is an alarming increase in antisemitic incidents at US schools and colleges. A statement from the White House says the departments of Justice and Homeland Security have been hosting calls with campus law enforcement officials to offer support and address threats.
“There’s no place for hate in America,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during Monday’s press briefing. “We’re thinking of you and we’re going to do everything we can … at Cornell and across the country to counter … antisemitism.”
Education secretary Miguel Cardona and Domestic Policy Adviser Neera Tanden plan to visit a university campus this week to hold a roundtable discussion with Jewish students, the White House said. Education Department officials have been visiting campuses across the country to address antisemitism in recent weeks, with more planned this week in New York City and Baltimore.
(With inputs from agencies)
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