A university president should not, when pulling out of a parking space, hit campus protestors and drive away.
A university president should not weaponize campus policies regarding assembly, speech and student and faculty conduct for the purpose of squelching dissent.
A university president should — always — recognize and stand against genocide.
A university president should not smear a legitimate, non-violent protest as undemocratic, specifically protest against genocide and/or the University administration’s own repressive conduct — regardless of how fierce the protest may be.
And in a case where a university president, when pulling out of a parking space, does hit campus protestors with their motor vehicle, they should stop, get out of the car and confirm that no one is hurt or needs medical attention. And too, they should reflect publicly, with humility and honesty, on their own conduct, rather than telling the community that it was all the fault of the protestors.
The Academic Council of Jewish Voice for Peace is appalled by the conduct of Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff. Most urgently, the Council is appalled by Kotlikoff’s refusal to recognize the humanity of Palestinians and the injustice of Israeli state apartheid, occupation and genocide.
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