ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Cornell University Board of Trustees has cleared President Michael Kotlikoff of wrongdoing.
The board’s special ad hoc committee announced its findings on May 15, supporting Kotlikoff’s actions on April 30.
The group had been investigating the campus incident in which Kotlikoff was accused of backing into a student protester with his car. In a statement, the committee found the actions of the students involved are “inconsistent with university policies governing expressive activity and our standards for respectful conduct, safety, and the prohibition of intimidation.”
After a review with the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office, it was determined that no criminal charges were warranted against any individuals involved. President Kotlikoff has declined to pursue a complaint against the students involved.
The decision comes 10 days after the Cornell Graduate Students United Local 300 publicly called for Kotlikoff’s resignation. You can read the full statement from the Ad Hoc Special Committee of the Cornell University Board of Trustees here.
The students involved released a statement through the Students for a Democratic Cornell organization. In it, they claim the board’s statement contains inaccuracies, refuting the claim that Aiden Vallecillo refused medical treatment after his foot was run over. Valecillio says he was evaluated by a Cornell University EMS team, who determined no additional treatment was required.
According to the statement, the students involved requested that the Ithaca Police Department investigate the incident on May 1. However, they were told that IPD could not initiate an investigation unless the Cornell University Police Department ceded its jurisdiction. They declined to provide information to CUPD for fear it could be used against them in any potential disciplinary proceedings.
The students, who allege that the committee and CUPD’s investigations were biased, are calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
