Cornell University students have been receiving violent antisemitic and homophobic threats using a spoofed email address made to appear as if the messages came from the institution’s president, university officers updated on Monday.
The fake university president's emails targeting the Jewish and LGBTQ communities with “vile antisemitic and homophobic language” first began on Thursday.
Cornell University Police and Cornell Information Technology were “investigating this ugly and threatening email,” Public Safety associate vice president Dave Honan, Chief Information Officer Ben Maddox, and Chief Information Security Officer Bobby Edamala said in a joint statement the same day.
The incident was also reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Menacing content sent to the Cornell student body
Honan, Maddox, and Edamala said on Monday that additional messages had been sent from the fake university president, with “menacing content about individuals and groups at Cornell and in the local community. “
Non-Cornell entities also reportedly received the messages, which allegedly emanated from an overseas account.
The Grinspoon Hillel Center for Jewish Community at Cornell said in a Thursday statement that it was deeply disturbed by the “hateful message” that sought to “sow fear” within the community.
“There is no place for antisemitism, homophobia, hate, or discrimination of any kind on our campus,” said the Hillel representative. “We know our community is stronger than any hate we may receive, and that Cornell is a place where all are welcome.”
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) New York/New Jersey posted on X/Twitter on Thursday that it appreciated Cornell’s swift investigation into the matter, and was grateful for the support provided to students.