Police at the campus of Cornell University are investigating a series of weekend threats against Jewish students, university President Martha Pollack said in a statement Sunday.
The threats were specifically made against a Jewish student organization and come amid a wave of antisemitic activity on college campuses. The impetus for the increase in antisemitism was a series of Oct. 7 attacks by the terrorist group Hamas against Israel that pro-Palestinian student groups in the United States have described as an act of resistance. The attacks and Israel's subsequent military response have claimed thousands of lives.
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In her statement to the university community, Pollack said that the threats were posted on a website that is "unaffiliated with Cornell" and specifically mentioned the address of the Center for Jewish Living, the Jewish student group. Law enforcement, she said, is investigating the threats.
"Threats of violence are absolutely intolerable, and we will work to ensure that the person or people who posted them are punished to the full extent of the law. Our immediate focus is on keeping the community safe; we will continue to prioritize that," Pollack said. She also noted that the Cornell police have notified the FBI of a possible hate crime.
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Ivy League colleges like Cornell have been under a national spotlight over the past month as student groups and faculty at the schools have repeatedly expressed support for Hamas. University presidents have also faced scrutiny for their response to the campus activity. Pollack, who has issued several statements condemning antisemitism, made a point to again condemn antisemitism in her latest statement.
"We will not tolerate antisemitism at Cornell," Pollack said. "During my time as president, I have repeatedly denounced bigotry and hatred, both on and off our campus. The virulence and destructiveness of antisemitism is real and deeply impacting our Jewish students, faculty and staff, as well as the entire Cornell community. This incident highlights the need to combat the forces that are dividing us and driving us toward hate. This cannot be what defines us at Cornell."