Identity of Speakers
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Michael Kotlikoff
Faculty/Staff
OtherCornell University Interim President
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Other
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In December 2024, Cornell University’s interim president, Michael Kotlikoff, faced criticism after an email he sent about a planned course titled Gaza, Indigeneity, Resistance was leaked. The course was to be taught by Eric Cheyfitz, a Jewish professor. In the email, Kotlikoff described the course as antisemitic and suggested it could incite violence against Israeli and Jewish students. The leak of this email prompted public backlash and concern from academic organizations.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) publicly condemned Kotlikoff’s actions, stating that his interference violated principles of academic freedom by encroaching on faculty autonomy in curricular decisions. These organizations emphasized the importance of protecting faculty rights to determine course content without administrative pressure.
