Ivy League professor who boasted he was 'exhilarated' by Hamas attack on Israel now on 'leave of absence'



Cornell Professor Russell Rickford is officially on a "leave of absence" after controversy surrounding comments he made at a pro-Palestinian rally.

"Professor Russell Rickford has requested and received approval to take a leave of absence from the university," school officials confirmed to campus newspaper the Cornell Review.

What is the background?

Earlier this month, Rickford spoke at a pro-Palestine rally in downtown Ithaca, New York, where he appeared to celebrate Hamas' barbaric attack on Israel.

"Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence," Rickford said. "[Palestinians] were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And if they weren't exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated."

Cornell Prof. Russell Rickford Speaks at Pro-Palestine Rally www.youtube.com

As Rickford's comments gained national attention and sparked outcry among students, Cornell administrators publicly reprimanded him for his "reprehensible" comments.

"The university is taking this incident seriously and is currently reviewing it consistent with our procedures," said Cornell University president Martha Pollack and Board of Trustees chairman Kraig Kayser in a statement.

One day after the rebuke, Rickford issued an apology.

"I apologize for the horrible choice of words that I used in a portion of a speech that was intended to stress grassroots African American, Jewish and Palestinian traditions of resistance to oppression," Rickford said. "I am sorry for the pain that my reckless remarks have caused my family, my students, my colleagues and many others in this time of suffering."

Rickford, moreover, claimed "some of the language" he used "was reprehensible" and it "did not reflect my values."

Last week, a prominent Democrat joined Cornell students in demanding Cornell administrators terminate Rickford.

"As a person of authority at an educational institution, to celebrate murder, rape and abducting children and slaughtering children, I think he should be fired," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said. "There's certainly no space for pro-Hamas protestors. That is someone who is supporting death, destruction, rape, murder, and slaughtering of innocent children, and families and seniors and holding hostages, so that cannot be supported."

Cornell officials have not said if Rickford will be terminated.

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Cornell professor apologizes after saying Hamas' attack left him 'exhilarated' — but only after university condemns him



Cornell University professor Russell Rickford is apologizing after admitting he was "exhilarated" when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to torture, kidnap, and murder innocent Israelis.

What is the background?

At a pro-Palestine rally in in downtown Ithaca, New York, on Sunday, Rickford appeared to celebrate Hamas' barbaric attack.

"Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence," Rickford said. "[Palestinians] were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And if they weren't exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated."

Cornell Prof. Russell Rickford Speaks at Pro-Palestine Rally www.youtube.com

The comments immediately generated controversy, and thousands of students demanded Cornell administrators fire Rickford. But he unapologetically doubled down in an interview with Cornell Daily Sun.

What is he saying now?

Amid increasing pressure on Cornell to act, Rickford issued a statement apologizing for his comments at the rally.

"I apologize for the horrible choice of words that I used in a portion of a speech that was intended to stress grassroots African American, Jewish and Palestinian traditions of resistance to oppression," Rickford said. "I am sorry for the pain that my reckless remarks have caused my family, my students, my colleagues and many others in this time of suffering."

The history professor acknowledged that "some of the language" he used "was reprehensible," and he claimed it "did not reflect my values."

It's not clear, then, why Rickford used such "reprehensible" language if it did not reflect his values. Communication is, after all, a means through which we transmit to others what we think and how we feel.

The apology came one day after Cornell University president Martha Pollack and Board of Trustees chairman Kraig Kayser released a statement addressing Rickford, condemning his comments as "reprehensible."

"The university is taking this incident seriously and is currently reviewing it consistent with our procedures," they said.

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Cornell professor admits Hamas terrorist attack on Israel left him 'exhilarated': 'It was energizing'



Cornell University professor Russell Rickford is defending himself after admitting he was "exhilarated" when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel to torture, rape, and murder more than 1,400 innocent people.

On Sunday, Rickford spoke at a pro-Palestine rally in downtown Ithaca, New York. During his speech, the history professor appeared to celebrate Hamas' terrorism because the attack upset the "balance of power" in the region.

"Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence," Rickford said. "[Palestinians] were able to breathe for the first time in years. It was exhilarating. It was energizing. And if they weren't exhilarated by this challenge to the monopoly of violence, by this shifting of the balance of power, then they would not be human. I was exhilarated."

Rickford, meanwhile, also claimed he "abhor[s]" violence and the targeting of civilians.

Cornell Prof. Russell Rickford Speaks at Pro-Palestine Rally www.youtube.com

After the controversial remarks generated attention online, Rickford doubled down and compared Israel's leaders to Hamas.

According to Rickford, his jubilation at Hamas' invasion was a reference to the terrorists' ability to break "through the apartheid wall," which he said ushered in a "a new phase of resistance in the Palestinian struggle."

"It really signaled that the Palestinian will to resist had not been broken," Rickford told the Cornell Daily Sun. "In subsequent days, we learned of some of the horrifying realities. I want to make it clear that Hamas is a fundamentalist organization. It's important to note that in some ways, the fundamentalism of Hamas mirrors that of Israeli leadership."

Finally, Rickford without evidence accused Israel of "war crimes" and denounced "the equation of any form of Palestinian resistance with terrorism."

On Monday afternoon, Cornell University President Martha Pollack condemned Cornell faculty and students who have spoken positively about Hamas, though she did not name anyone specifically.

"I am sickened by statements glorifying the evilness of Hamas terrorism. Any members of our community who have made such statements do not speak for Cornell; in fact, they speak in direct opposition to all we stand for at Cornell. There is no justification for or moral equivalent to these violent and abhorrent acts," Pollack said.

"I am outraged by them and, along with senior leadership of the Cornell Board of Trustees, I again condemn them in the strongest possible terms," the statement added.

Still, Cornell students want Rickford fired over what they believe was an "abhorrent" and "offensive" speech that was "against the principles of humanity."

Two separate petitions demanding that the university terminate Rickford have each received more than 2,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

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