A history professor at Cornell University who praised Hamas’ terror attack on Israel, describing it as “exhilarating” and “energizing,” has faced no disciplinary action from the institution and is now teaching again. Russell Rickford was on voluntary leave for the past year following public outrage over his comments made during an off-campus anti-Israel rally. At the event, Rickford cheered Hamas’ October 7, 2023 invasion that killed 1,200 Israelis and said he felt “exhilarated” by it before later apologizing for celebrating the mass murder of innocent civilians.
Rickford is now teaching at least two courses this semester at Cornell – African Americans Vision of America and Socialism in America – as well as a seminar. The university confirmed that no disciplinary measures were taken against him, although it did not reveal whether he was paid during his leave.
Cornell stated that Rickford’s comments were protected by his free speech rights, given they were made as a private citizen outside of work hours. In an official statement, Cornell VP of University Relations Joel Malina said the university’s academic leadership has concluded that Professor Rickford’s conduct in relation to this incident did not meet the high bar for otherwise warranting disciplinary measures.
Amanda Silberstein, a 21-year-old junior and vice president of Chabad and Cornellians for Israel, criticized the decision, saying that allowing his actions to go unpunished would allow other professors to follow suit without repercussions. She further added that the policy was “laughable at best.
Cornell receives $127 million in state funding to help fund the four State University of New York schools it operates, according to a previous Post analysis. Antisemitism has been widespread on New York’s college campuses since the Mideast war began, prompting Governor Kathy Hochul to order an independent review of the situation.
Upstate Representative Claudia Tenney expressed her outrage in a letter sent to Cornell interim President Michael Kotlikoff, stating that she is deeply disgusted by the university’s decision to continue employing Rickford after his horrific statements that celebrated the murder of innocent people and incited violence.
Benjamin Malaken, president of the student Center for Jewish Life at Cornell, also criticized the decision, saying, “I don’t think someone who makes those comments should be educating students.” Mark Treyger, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, called the decision to allow Rickford back into the classroom “outrageous and unacceptable” and demanded that he never works with students again.
In response to an inquiry from The Post, Governor Hochul expressed her condemnation of the Hamas terror attacks but did not directly address the issue of Rickford’s return to Cornell. Malina noted that Rickford apologized for his comments and took a voluntary leave of absence for the remainder of the academic year. However, the university ultimately determined that his hateful comments did not warrant disciplinary action.
Rickford declined a request for comment from The Post. Last year, Cornell faced antisemitism and anti-Israel protests on its campus, along with other campuses in the state. Anti-Israel vandals defaced a campus building on the first day of classes last month.
