WATCH: Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff under fire after running over student’s foot with car on campus following heated altercation; video surfaces

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has responded to allegations that he ran over a student’s foot with his car following a heated exchange on campus. The incident reportedly took place after an April 30, 2026 Israel-Palestine debate at Goldwin Smith Hall, with surveillance footage of the incident later published by the university.

In a statement issued Friday, May 1, 2026 Kotlikoff addressed the incident on the university’s website, saying the event, hosted by the Cornell Political Union and co-sponsored by groups including Cornell Progressives, Cornellians for Israel and Students for Justice in Palestine, was “civil” and reflected the kind of “open discourse that we prize in our academic community” until he exited the building.

“As I left the event room, I was accosted by a group of several individuals in the hall, among them students and non-students,” the university president said in his statement. “These individuals are known to Cornell for their past conduct, including a long history of ongoing verbal and online abuse toward numerous members of Cornell’s administration and staff, as well as disruptive protest resulting, in the case of two individuals, in bans from campus.”


He alleged that as he made his way to his vehicle, a group followed him, recording him on their phones while questioning him about issues raised during the debate.

“These individuals followed me from the event space and across campus, while loudly shouting questions and recording on their phones. After answering a few questions, I let them know that I was not planning to engage further, and asked them to stop recording,” the university president said.

“Their response to this was, “No, we are not going to stop.” They continued to follow me to my car and then surrounded the car, banging on the windows, blocking the car, and shouting. I waited until I saw space behind the car and then, using my car’s rear pedestrian alert and automatic braking system, was able to slowly maneuver my car from the parking space and exit the parking lot,” he further explained.

Kotlikoff dubbed the incident “harassment and intimidation” saying, “The behavior I experienced last night is not protest.” He further said that harassment and intimidation, “has no place in an academic community, no place in a democracy, and can have no place at Cornell.”

Kotlikoff narrates ordeal

In his statement Kotlikoff detailed the incident claiming that the group continued to follow him to his car and then “surrounded the car, banging on the windows, blocking the car, and shouting.”

Kotlikoff said. “I waited until I saw space behind the car and then, using my car’s rear pedestrian alert and automatic braking system, was able to slowly maneuver my car from the parking space and exit the parking lot.”

Cornell University shares surveillance footage

Surveillance video released by Cornell University appears to show a vehicle believed to belong to Michael Kotlikoff with its lights turning on as the engine starts. A small group of individuals is seen standing behind the vehicle, with some continuing to record on their phones.




A cellphone video of the entire incident was obtained by WSYR-TV. In the footage, a student was seen standing behind Kotlikoff’s car and is heard yelling, "You just ran over my f---ing foot!"

Cornell University launches probe

“The University is investigating the events that took place on April 30, 2026, involving a group of individuals and President Kotlikoff," a Cornell University spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE on Monday (May 4, 2026).

"The University will take action, as appropriate, based on the results of the investigation and in line with its policies, which are designed to uphold a safe environment for the Cornell community.”


Student group issues statement, outlines its version of events


The group involved, Students for a Democratic Cornell, shared a statement to social media on Monday, May 4, accusing Kotlikoff of “[hitting] us with his car to avoid answering for his crackdown on students’ rights." They claimed Kotlikoff “failed to drive responsibly,” thus causing injury to two students, as well as "illegitimizing students who oppose the repression of nonviolent protest.”

According to Aiden Vallecillo, a member of Students for a Democratic Cornell (SDC), students initially approached Kotlikoff in a hallway to ask questions about free speech on campus before walking with him toward his car.

“We saw the president in the hallway and started to ask him questions about the repression of free speech on campus,” Vallecillo said, as quoted by WSYR-TV. He added that tensions escalated after Kotlikoff entered his vehicle. “As we were still trying to talk to him, he just immediately started reversing into us,” he said.

According to the news outlet, students allege that Kotlikoff reversed into one student, ran over Vallecillo’s foot and left the scene without speaking, an incident that Sophia Arnold, president of the student group, described as alarming. “I don’t even have the words for it. I was pretty shocked and offended,” Arnold said. “A random pedestrian pulling out of a supermarket parking lot would probably have shown more care.”