Cornell Prof. Who Lauded October 7 Attack Back To Teaching

A Cornell University professor who praised Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, calling it “exhilarating” and “energizing,” has returned to his teaching role at the prestigious upstate Ivy League institution, as reported by The New York Post.

History Professor Russell Rickford had been on “voluntary leave” for a year following widespread backlash after he was caught on video expressing support for the Hamas assault at an off-campus protest.

“It was exhilarating, it was energizing… I was exhilarated,” Rickford stated at the rally before later issuing an apology for his remarks, which glorified the killing of innocent civilians.

According to The Post, Rickford is now teaching two courses this semester, African Americans Vision of America and Socialism in America, in addition to leading a seminar.

Cornell University acknowledged in a statement to The Post that Rickford was not disciplined for his inflammatory statements. The institution declined to comment on whether he received pay while on leave.

Rickford’s words were condemned at the time by Cornell’s leadership as “reprehensible,” with the administration describing them as reflecting a “complete disregard for humanity.” However, Joel Malina, Cornell’s Vice President for University Relations, explained that Rickford’s right to free speech protected him from disciplinary measures.

“Since Professor Rickford’s comments were made in his personal capacity during his own time, the university leadership determined that his conduct in this case did not meet the threshold required for any disciplinary action,” Malina said.

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney voiced her objections, sending a letter to Cornell’s interim president, Michael Kotlikoff, protesting Rickford’s reinstatement.

“I am deeply appalled by Cornell’s decision to continue employing Mr. Rickford after his horrendous remarks celebrating the murder of innocent people and inciting violence,” Tenney wrote in the letter, which was shared with The Post.

“No matter one’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, describing the death of human beings, including women, children, the elderly, and Holocaust survivors, as energizing’ or exhilarating’ is indefensible,” Tenney continued.

“Rickford’s role at the university gives him the power to shape and influence the minds of young people. This position comes with a higher expectation of conduct, one that rejects antisemitic rhetoric and open endorsement of terrorism. By spreading such vile views, Rickford has not only violated his ethical duties as an educator but has also endangered the Jewish community and damaged Cornell’s reputation,” Tenney concluded.

In its statement, Cornell emphasized that Rickford had apologized and voluntarily stepped away from his position for the remainder of the academic year.

However, the university maintained that under the framework of academic freedom, Rickford’s comments did not meet the criteria for disciplinary action. “In accordance with well-established principles of academic freedom, Cornell follows a process to determine whether public remarks like those made by Professor Rickford at an off-campus political event fall under the umbrella of protected speech or cross the line into prohibited bias, discrimination, or harassment,” Malina wrote.

This controversy surrounding Rickford is just one of several antisemitic incidents that have taken place on Cornell’s campus in the past year.

In the most severe case, a student was arrested after threatening to kill Jewish students on campus.

The threats were posted on an online forum about fraternities and sororities in October, prompting concern among students and leading to warnings for Jewish students to avoid the campus’s kosher dining hall.

The student, Patrick Dai, later admitted to posting the threats and was sentenced in August to 21 months in prison.

Cornell University President Martha Pollack stepped down in May, though she insisted that her resignation was unrelated to the protests against Israel or the incidents of antisemitism on campus.

{Matzav.com}