Colleges and universitiesGeneral NewsHate crimesKathy HochulNew YorkU.S. News Online Threats Targeting Jewish Community Spark Alarm and Official Response at Cornell University by Michael Nguyen October 30, 2023 written by Michael Nguyen October 30, 2023 7 comments Bookmark 30 Students at Cornell University were left unsettled after a series of online threats against Jews surfaced on an internet discussion forum. These threats prompted the university administration to deploy police officers to safeguard a Jewish center and a kosher dining facility. The disquieting anonymous posts appeared over the weekend on a digital platform focusing on fraternity and sorority life. This incident is part of a wider context involving an upsurge of antisemitic and anti-Muslim expressions online, fueled by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, during her visit to Cornell’s Center for Jewish Living on Monday, assured that state police would be actively involved in identifying the individuals responsible for the online threats and holding them accountable. “Students should not live in fear when moving between their dormitories, dining halls, and classrooms,” Governor Hochul stated. “We must act when expressions transform into hate speech and potentially into hate crimes, ensuring the safety and security of our students.” Table of Contents Related NewsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Online Antisemitic Threats at Cornell UniversityWhat prompted the increased security measures at Cornell University’s Jewish center and kosher dining hall?Who is investigating the online threats made against Jewish students at Cornell University?What has been the official response from Cornell University’s administration?How have students at Cornell University reacted to the online threats?What is the wider context of these threats in relation to current events?Are there any federal initiatives to combat rising antisemitic incidents at educational institutions?How is Cornell University ensuring that such hate speech is addressed in the future?More about Online Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University Related News Israeli Military Intensifies Operations in Northern Gaza Strip Illinois Resident Faces Hate Crime and Murder Charges Following Assault on Muslim Mother and Son Russian President Convenes Meeting After Mob Attacks Dagestan Airport Seeking Israelis on Flight from Tel Aviv The Cornell University Police Department is also conducting an investigation into the matter and has informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Though no lockdown measures were implemented and the dining hall remained operational, Cornell Hillel, a Jewish organization on campus, advised members to exercise extreme caution. On Monday, a state police vehicle was seen stationed outside the Center for Jewish Living, and a campus security SUV was parked in its driveway. Ori Baer, a sophomore and vice president of the center, revealed that some students chose to stay elsewhere due to safety concerns. Other Jewish students have remained in their rooms, and some parents have urged their children to return home. Sam Bueker, a junior student, suspects that an online troll may be behind the threats, exploiting existing tensions among the student body. Despite this, he expressed confidence in the university’s response, citing the absence of class cancellations as a sign that the threat is not considered highly credible by authorities. Both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been taking place across U.S. universities since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Reports indicate an uptick in hate crimes targeting both Jewish and Muslim communities. A recent incident in Illinois involved the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Muslim boy, leading to hate crime charges against the suspect. While the threats against Cornell University emanated from a website unaffiliated with the institution, located in Ithaca, New York, they nevertheless wielded the power to instill fear. Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack emphasized the severe impact of antisemitism on the Jewish community and the university as a whole in an official statement. In response to rising incidents of antisemitism across U.S. educational institutions, the Biden administration announced steps to address the issue. Both the Justice and Homeland Security Departments have been coordinating with campus law enforcement to provide support and mitigate threats. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden are scheduled to visit a university campus for a roundtable discussion with Jewish students. Furthermore, the Education Department has initiated visits to various campuses nationwide to specifically address antisemitism, and it is in the process of revising the reporting mechanism for federal discrimination complaints to include antisemitism and Islamophobia under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Online Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University What prompted the increased security measures at Cornell University’s Jewish center and kosher dining hall? Increased security measures were implemented at Cornell University’s Jewish center and kosher dining hall in response to anonymous online threats targeting the Jewish community. These threats appeared on an internet forum related to fraternity and sorority life and led to police being deployed to safeguard these locations. Who is investigating the online threats made against Jewish students at Cornell University? The Cornell University Police Department is conducting an internal investigation and has also informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the threats. Additionally, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has pledged the involvement of state police in identifying the individuals behind the threats. What has been the official response from Cornell University’s administration? Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack issued an official statement emphasizing the severe impact of antisemitism on the Jewish community and the university as a whole. While no lockdown was initiated, the university did deploy security measures including police presence. How have students at Cornell University reacted to the online threats? Reactions among students vary. Some have chosen to stay elsewhere due to safety concerns, while others remain in their rooms. Some parents have also called their children and urged them to come home. One student expressed confidence in the university’s response, citing the lack of class cancellations as an indication that the threat is not considered highly credible by the authorities. What is the wider context of these threats in relation to current events? The online threats at Cornell University are part of a larger pattern of increased antisemitic and anti-Muslim expressions and hate crimes. These have been particularly noticeable in the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has been a catalyst for both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations across U.S. campuses. Are there any federal initiatives to combat rising antisemitic incidents at educational institutions? Yes, the Biden administration has announced steps to address the issue of rising antisemitic incidents at U.S. schools and colleges. The Justice and Homeland Security Departments have been coordinating with campus law enforcement agencies to provide support. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden are also scheduled to visit a university campus for a roundtable discussion with Jewish students. How is Cornell University ensuring that such hate speech is addressed in the future? While the article does not provide specific details on future initiatives, it mentions that the Education Department is revising the reporting mechanism for federal discrimination complaints to include antisemitism and Islamophobia under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This suggests a broader societal and institutional push to address hate speech and discrimination. More about Online Antisemitic Threats at Cornell University Cornell University Official Statement New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s Remarks Federal Bureau of Investigation on Hate Crimes Biden Administration’s Initiative on Antisemitism in Schools Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Discrimination Complaints Report on Increasing Hate Crimes in the U.S. Overview of the Israel-Hamas Conflict You Might Be Interested In Drone attack kills 80 and wounds 240 at a packed Syrian military graduation ceremony, official says Elon Musk says he may need surgery before proposed ‘cage match’ with Mark Zuckerberg Steve Scalise Abandons Quest for House Speaker Role as Republican Faction Withholds Support George Santos pleads not guilty to new fraud charges in New York Escalating Costs Haunt Consumers: U.S. Candy Inflation Registers Double-Digit Growth for Consecutive Halloweens Two Decades Post-Invasion, Iraqis Still Await U.S. Immigration antisemitismCampus SecurityColleges and universitiesCornell UniversityGeneral NewsHate crimesKathy HochulNew Yorkonline threats Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Michael Nguyen Follow Author Michael Nguyen is a sports journalist who covers the latest news and developments in the world of sports. He has a particular interest in football and basketball, and he enjoys analyzing game strategies and player performance. previous post Israeli Ministry Drafts Plan to Relocate Gaza Residents to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula next post Russian President Asserts Ukrainian Involvement in Dagestan Airport Unrest, Lacks Supporting Evidence You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 7 comments Robert Johnson October 30, 2023 - 9:22 pm This is deeply concerning. Kudos to the authorities for taking swift action but there’s a lot more that needs to be done to root out the problem. Hate has no place in educational institutions. Reply Samantha Green October 30, 2023 - 10:20 pm I’m glad they didn’t go into lockdown. Shows they are treating it seriously but not creating panic. But, still, these threats should not be happening in the first place. Reply William Brown October 31, 2023 - 5:12 am What’s happening to our society? First we had incidents in schools, now universities. This is not the future we should be building for our kids. Reply John Smith October 31, 2023 - 8:59 am Wow, this is a sobering read. It’s really alarming that students have to face threats like these on campus, places that are supposed to be safe havens for learning and growth. Reply Mike Harris October 31, 2023 - 9:18 am This has gotten so outta hand. Why people gotta spread hate like this? Antisemitism is just disgusting and those who post threats need to be held accountable, no excuses. Reply Karen White October 31, 2023 - 5:48 pm The fact that there are both anti-semitic and anti-Muslim incidents rising is a red flag. Clearly, education on tolerance and diversity needs to be ramped up. Reply Emily Williams October 31, 2023 - 7:01 pm can’t believe we’re still dealing with this kinda hate in 2023. Thought we would have moved past this by now, but sadly no. Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
