Cornell University has established a special committee of its Board of Trustees to oversee a review of an April 30 incident involving university president Michael Kotlikoff and a group of students on campus.
According to the university, the Ad Hoc Special Committee is made up of the chair and vice chairs of Cornell’s Board of Trustees and will oversee an investigation being conducted by the Cornell University Police Department.
University officials said the investigation will follow existing police department policies and procedures and will help inform the board’s review of the events and any related decisions.
Cornell said Kotlikoff has recused himself from any involvement in the board’s review process or university decisions connected to the incident in order to ensure an independent review. Officials added that university employees who normally report to Kotlikoff will instead report to the board chair on matters related to the case.
The incident gained widespread attention after a video circulated online, appearing to show Kotlikoff backing his vehicle in a campus parking lot while surrounded by a group of students. At one point in the video, the vehicle appears to strike a student, while another student allegedly had a foot run over during the confrontation.
Students involved said the encounter followed a campus debate involving Israel and Palestine and began as an attempt to question the university president about free speech issues on campus.
In a previous statement, Kotlikoff said he was followed, recorded, and blocked in by individuals he described as disruptive. He characterized the situation as harassment.
Cornell officials said the board is committed to conducting a fair and thorough review guided by university policies and the interests of the campus community. The university said it does not plan to provide additional public comment while the review is ongoing.
