Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack expressed her horror upon learning that a Muslim student from Cornell was spat upon in Collegetown. In a firm statement issued Tuesday, she emphasized the university’s zero tolerance for such Islamophobic behavior and assured that if the perpetrator is identified as a Cornell community member, they will face full accountability.
This incident adds to a series of unsettling events linked to the Cornell campus following the conflict that erupted in early October after an attack on Israel by Hamas militants, which has resulted in significant casualties over the past five months. Among these were a “hateful social media post” in January and threats against Jewish students last fall, leading to the arrest of a Cornell student.
Pollack highlighted the filing of a police report with the Ithaca Police Department and mentioned Cornell Police’s support for the investigation. She reaffirmed the university’s commitment to combating Islamophobia and fostering a sense of belonging for all members of the community, especially during challenging times.
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