One month ago, the Ad Hoc Special Committee of the Board of Trustees reviewed the events of April 30 and found President Kotlikoff not guilty of any wrongdoing. In this statement, the committee detailed their review of evidence provided by the Cornell University Police Department and a “sworn statement” by the president himself. When The Sun contacted a University spokesperson as to where these documents could be found or when a public investigation report would be released, we were referred to the committee’s previous statement.
This investigation was not independent. It was conducted by CUPD who are accountable to Kotlikoff and therefore cannot investigate their boss independently “without any bias or undue influence.” But don’t you worry, “The Committee thanks CUPD for its professionalism and diligence in its independent investigation.”
How can we as students trust the results of this investigation without any public reports and only an understanding that Kotlikoff allegedly “recused himself”?
When former president of Harvard University Claudine Gay was investigated for plagiarism, the University released an eight-page paper of its review process. Former president of Stanford University Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne was investigated by the Stanford Board of Trustees and a scientific panel gathered by an external law firm for falsified data and released a 95-page report. Cornell got a vague email statement.
While Kotlikoff’s actions on April 30 do not parallel plagiarism or falsified data, his investigation warranted a public report, especially when the Cornell Board of Trustees closed off their statement clarifying that Kotlikoff will “continue to lead with integrity,” after supposedly investigating him. In the same email statement finding him not guilty, he is also praised for his “steadfast commitment to Cornell’s values and principles.” Where is the integrity in this whole ordeal?
Amid the front-facing statements, Cornell has quietly issued two persona non grata notices. Alumnus Milton Taam ’73 is banned from campus for three years and recent graduate Aiden Vallecillo ’26 is banned for one year. Vallecillo is the student whose foot was allegedly run over on April 30. CUPD officer William Carpenter entered Vallecillo’s off campus apartment without a warrant on May 28. Carpenter clearly violated Vallecillo’s fourth amendment right but in a community that has continually prioritized the administration before its students, this isn’t surprising.
All of this shines light on a selfish administration focused on the PR game. Vallecillo’s notice had to be served after graduation, without attention from students on campus. If Kotlikoff’s investigation lasted as long as Dina Ginsburg’s, 11 months, the University would require another president. Apparently, students can afford to wait an exorbitant amount of time to return to their studies but Kotlikoff is granted swift ‘justice.’
The Fall 2026 semester will be upon us and we will find ourselves on a chilling campus with a selfish administration. Student protest culture at Cornell has fundamentally changed after the Spring 2024 encampment on the Arts Quad. After the Pathways to Peace event last spring, 17 Pro-Palestinian students were arrested or detained. After the Statler Hotel career fair disruption in September 2024, four students were arrested. Student protests are a demonstration of a willingness to change and improve one’s world. Cornell students will know no such campus in the fall.
The Cornell Daily Sun’s Editorial Board is a collaborative team composed of Editor-in-Chief Sophia Dasser ’28, Associate Editor Sophia Romanov Imber ’28 and Opinion Editors Zara Cheek ’28 and Rayen Zhou '29. The Editorial Board’s opinions are informed by expertise, research and debate to represent The Sun’s long-standing values. The Sun’s editorials are independent of its news coverage, other columnists and advertisers.
