Who's to Blame When an Ivy League President Drives into His Students?
3 hours ago
- #Free Speech
- #University Governance
- #Cornell Controversy
- It is fundamentally wrong to hit people with a car, regardless of provocations like blocking paths, touching the car, political disagreements, or rudeness.
- Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff backed his Cadillac into students Hudson Athas and Aiden Vallecillo after a debate, running over one's foot, then drove away without checking on them.
- Kotlikoff claimed in an email that students harassed and intimidated him by shouting and banging on windows, but multiple videos show they only asked questions calmly and surrounded the car without touching it or him.
- Cornell's Board of Trustees formed a committee that supported Kotlikoff, blamed the students, and ignored video evidence, reflecting a governance model where boards prioritize financial interests over student welfare.
- The incident highlights a crisis in American higher education, where universities are run by boards of trustees focused on endowments and business interests, often hostile to students, faculty, and free speech principles.