The recent controversy surrounding Cornell University’s Interim President Michael Kotlikoff and his comments on the course “Gaza, Indigeneity, Resistance” has sparked a heated debate about academic freedom, objectivity, and the integrity of higher education. CAMERA on Campus firmly supports President Kotlikoff’s stance and his commitment to fostering a balanced and rigorous academic environment.
The course, taught by Professor Eric Cheyfitz, has faced criticism for its promotion of a one-sided perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Faculty, students, and the broader community have raised concerns regarding Cheyfitz’s incendiary rhetoric and problematic course description.
The course bases its analysis on the proposition that “Indigenous people are historically involved in a global resistance against an ongoing colonialism,” focusing on claims such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) allegedly finding “plausible” the assertion of “genocide” in Gaza. However, this claim is factually inaccurate; the ICJ has made no such finding. This reliance on misrepresentations and unsupported assertions leads to false and biased conclusions, undermining the academic rigor expected at Cornell.
What makes this narrative even more egregious is the historical truth it ignores. The Jewish people are indigenous to Israel, a nation that has borne the same name, spoken the same language, upheld the same faith, and resided on the same land for 3,000 years. Yet, it is this very nation that the course accuses of “settler colonialism,” with the implication that it has no right to exist. This contradiction underscores the troubling bias inherent in framing Jews as colonizers in their ancestral homeland.
While academic freedom is a cornerstone of higher education, it must be balanced with academic integrity. President Kotlikoff’s private comments, shared in an email correspondence with Professor Menachem Rosensaft, reflect a valid concern for Cornell’s mission to provide a truthful and well-rounded education. In his email, Kotlikoff highlighted the importance of courses that “provoke thought and present multiple viewpoints, rather than transmit pre-formed views of a complex conflict.”
President Kotlikoff’s concerns about the course are both legitimate and necessary. His efforts to ensure a rigorous and open academic environment demonstrate leadership and a dedication to the values of higher education. CAMERA on Campus commends him for taking a principled stand against academic misinformation and bias.
Academic freedom is not a license to propagandize. It is the responsibility of university administrators to ensure that courses educate, not indoctrinate, and that all students feel safe and respected. We urge the academic community to support President Kotlikoff in his efforts to uphold these principles.
