We're gonna be in the news again

[BearLover]

These kids are total fools but I'd be surprised it Kotlikoff gets out of this one given he drove over a kid's foot and apparently lied about it.

[stereax]

How do these people have nothing better to do than bother him? It's always so bizarre to me when people treat university employees like celebrities. Just because his title is President doesn't mean he's anything special

Well, he's the President, so that means he gets to decide all the important things. Like divesting from Israel. And the people who hate Israel are VERY loud about it. And think they're right. So...

[stereax]

These kids are total fools but I'd be surprised it Kotlikoff gets out of this one given he drove over a kid's foot and apparently lied about it.

My thoughts exactly. If you're gonna do a protest or whatever, do a protest, don't just scream at a guy when he's trying to get to his car.

But also, don't run over a kid's foot. Thought this was common sense.

[Iceberg]

How do these people have nothing better to do than bother him? It's always so bizarre to me when people treat university employees like celebrities. Just because his title is President doesn't mean he's anything special

University presidents, particularly at a school like Cornell, have pretty damn important roles and can be very high profile individuals. I'm surprised he didn't have his own driver. That's not uncommon with quite a few university presidents at places like Syracuse, for example

[George64]

Here's the NY Times article

[George64]

Video of altercation at Day Hall parking lot.  Draw you own conclusion.

[chimpfood]

How do these people have nothing better to do than bother him? It's always so bizarre to me when people treat university employees like celebrities. Just because his title is President doesn't mean he's anything special

Well, he's the President, so that means he gets to decide all the important things. Like divesting from Israel. And the people who hate Israel are VERY loud about it. And think they're right. So...

He does not decide if we divest from Israel

[stereax]

How do these people have nothing better to do than bother him? It's always so bizarre to me when people treat university employees like celebrities. Just because his title is President doesn't mean he's anything special

Well, he's the President, so that means he gets to decide all the important things. Like divesting from Israel. And the people who hate Israel are VERY loud about it. And think they're right. So...

He does not decide if we divest from Israel

I know he doesn't. Was being facetious. Even though he did strongly reject that proposition a few months ago from the student assembly about cutting ties with that Israeli university of tech.

[Dafatone]

Video of altercation at Day Hall parking lot.  Draw you own conclusion.

It feels like a bad sign if your organization has "statements.[organization].[in this case edu]" as a url.

Personally I'm on team students here. They were being annoying, but I don't think they were being threatening.

[marty]

How do these people have nothing better to do than bother him? It's always so bizarre to me when people treat university employees like celebrities. Just because his title is President doesn't mean he's anything special

University presidents, particularly at a school like Cornell, have pretty damn important roles and can be very high profile individuals. I'm surprised he didn't have his own driver. That's not uncommon with quite a few university presidents at places like Syracuse, for example

Queen Shirley was chauffeured and had 24 hour protection at RPI. The current president ditched all that crap and her drivers and security were displaced.

[George64]

Video of altercation at Day Hall parking lot.  Draw you own conclusion.

The video has been since been enhanced to focus on the students and Kotlikoff's car.  For those of you who still have to go to work, the incident got about 30 seconds on Good Morning America.  No context, no mention of Kotlikoff responding to students as he walked from Goldwin Smith to the Day Hall parking lot. 

I don't get their free speech issue here.  The CPU had representatives of both sides in the debate.  Norman Finkelstein last Friday, Benny Morris a week earlier. That's what universities are about.  Hear different viewpoints, weigh the arguments, decide for yourself. I commend CPU for initiating the debate.  I commend Cornell for limiting protests that interfere with the functioning of the University or harass individuals.  I think these particular students were just being jerks.