Cornell University Cancels Classes Over Antisemitic Threats

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The Facts

  • Cornell University has canceled its Friday classes due to a state of "extraordinary stress" on campus, after a student was federally charged with making antisemitic threats.

  • In an email to students and staff, the University said that "faculty and staff will be excused from work, except for employees who provide essential services."


The Spin

Narrative A

While Dai's threats have turned out to be unsubstantiated, the University is within its rights to protect students' emotional well-being from anyone who spreads antisemitic threats of violence to harm, kill, or stoke fear and anxiety throughout its campus community.

Narrative B

Cornell should have done more to protect its Jewish students, who comprise at least 22% of the student body. Ignoring that antizionism is inherently linked to antisemitism is a naive and irresponsible oversight of the university's administrators. If a different minority were threatened with the same type of bigotry and discrimination, Cornell would likely have responded more seriously.


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