I am disappointed with how President Kotlikoff handled this situation.
2 Likes
It has made the national news: Cornell president accused of backing car into protester says he was victim of 'harassment'
Which part? Hitting the kids or lying about it?
He should be fired
3 Likes
He’s a victim?
Hello, DARVO 
As if the president of the university doesn’t have all of campus security at his disposal to escort him and clear a path for his car, if need be.
2 Likes
Op-ed by a Cornell law professor (and a highly reasonable fellow, and an old friend of mine).
This is not a difficult case. University administrators should not endanger the physical safety of community members, and they should be honest and candid in their communications with the University community. A president who cannot respect these basic standards of non-violence and integrity lacks the moral authority to hold other Cornellians to them. If President Kotlikoff is unwilling to live by the rules the rest of us must follow, he should resign and give up the presidency to someone who can.
4 Likes
Both parties were in the wrong. The kids were also acting unlawfully.
3 Likes
Perhaps. I assume that will be determined.
But even if you’re correct, the guy who makes a million dollars a year to run the entire university, and who has all the power and resources he needs to support him if things get tense, has higher standards to live up to than whatever bar the students set.
3 Likes
While true, who is more to blame?
The prefrontal cortex finished developing at around 25, so the kids have at least something to rationalize - even if they can’t justify. Michael Kotlikoff is 74; what’s his excuse?
I’m not saying he has an excuse. If he’s to be punished, that’s fine. But the kids should also be facing punishment as well. My two cents.
3 Likes
They would’ve been more likely to face the appropriate punishment if he hadn’t handed them the leverage of a legitimate lawsuit against the university and its president. 
2 Likes
Yes, both parts. Agree he should be fired.
1 Like
Agree the kids were obnoxious.
3 Likes
Posted before seeing aquapt’s post.
The President makes some $900k per year. He should set a good example. Not give in to his emotions, then use University e-mail to hide his actions.
Cornell had a great President back in the day, who cared about students, Frank Rhodes. Even with the protests to divest from South Africa, i don’t believe President Rhodes would ever have treated protesters the way Kolitkoff did.
President Rhodes was the best!
We weren’t there but if he was surrounded and harassed, what is he to do ?
I don’t think we know enough to assign blame but I don’t care if you make a mil or $50k, if you’re threatened, you take action. It is odd he had no escort.
3 Likes
In the videos that are circulating, no one seems to be shouting, hitting the car, or acting in a threatening way. He easily could have called campus police if he felt threatened instead of backing into the students.
9 Likes
Call the CUPD
6 Likes
I wasn’t there - none of us were and I haven’t seen the video and as @momofboiler1 says, it might be telling.
But sometimes you don’t have time to call the police. When one feels endangered, and I don’t know if he truly did or he’s just saying he did, sometimes you need to take action.
3 Likes
Unlike you, I did see the video. And assuming it’s real, it’s not supporting Kotlikoff’s version of events. So I’m buying that there was no time to call the police or that moving his car was his best option.
5 Likes
*not buying
1 Like