Portside

Cornell University has become the first university to suspend a student for pro-Palestinian organizing this semester, putting them at risk of deportation. The suspension was in response to a student-led protest organized by the Coalition for Mutual Liberation (CML), which shut down a career fair at the Statler Hotel attended by defense contractors Boeing and L3 Harris.

The protest, according to the CML, was part of a broader effort to oppose Cornell’s complicity in military and defense industries that profit from violence in the occupied Palestinian territories. 

The suspended student is PhD candidate Momodou Taal, who has been a prominent advocate for Palestinian liberation during his time at Cornell. Taal is an international student from Britain who is attending Cornell on an F1 student visa. He is now facing the possible revocation of his visa as a result of his participation in the protest. If his visa is revoked, he will likely be deported by the end of the week.

According to a CML statement, “Taal was notified by Cornell University Police that his suspension was effective immediately, jeopardizing his visa status and potentially leading to deportation by the end of the week.”

Taal described his suspension as a violation of his rights. “There is a targeted campaign of intimidation and harassment against me from Cornell’s administration and police,” Taal said in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I had no chance to dispute the charges nor see the evidence or appeal. They informed me that I am effectively being deported by the weekend.”

Taal continued, “The repression we are facing for protesting a genocide is unreal.” He added, “Every day we witness the horrors that Israel inflicts on people. And those of us who still have our humanity…are facing so much repression.”

Taal’s suspension has ignited a backlash among students, who argue that Cornell is using repressive tactics to undermine pro-Palestinian organizing on campus. 

Nick Wilson, a student suspended last semester for pro-Palestinian organizing, voiced his opposition to the university’s actions. “Cornell just became the first university of the fall semester to suspend a student for pro-Palestine organizing. They’re intentionally targeting an international student [and] one of the most visible advocates for divestment on our campus—the Cornell community won’t tolerate this,” Wilson said.

In a statement released following the announcement of Taal’s suspension, the CML accused Cornell of “caving to external pressure from powerful donors” and violating Taal’s rights as a student and employee. The coalition has also demanded that Cornell Graduate Students United, the union representing graduate workers, be allowed to bargain over Taal’s status in accordance with a July 2024 Memorandum of Agreement.

According to a joint statement released by Cornell’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and Young Democratic Socialists of America, “This suspension violates Cornell's new three-strike policy and is a denial of basic due process…Cornell must respond to the Graduate Student Union's request to bargain or they will be in violation of labor law.”

A petition demanding that Cornell reinstate Taal to prevent his deportation further explained how Cornell is violating the agreement signed with CGSU, “This  past July, Cornell agreed that they would bargain with the union over the effects of any discipline to a member…Cornell must bargain with the union before any of the negative effects of discipline can actually take place, yet Cornell has already inflicted multiple major changes on Momodou, in addition to effectively threatening to have him deported.”

The petition also explained how Cornell is violating its own due process and administrative procedures. It said that Taal’s suspension violates code of conduct policies, which only allow suspensions in cases of immediate danger to an individual or the community. The code of conduct also requires that suspension be used only when less restrictive measures are insufficient, and must be proportional to the threat posed. According to the petition, the lack of an imminent threat and the disproportionate consequence of deportation suggest the suspension was unwarranted.

“Given these requirements, the suspension of Momodou is a wildly disproportionate response to any alleged violation of the student code,” the petition stated. “The threat of immediate deportation is completely incompatible with notions of proportionality and constraint, as well as Cornell’s own policies.”

The petition continued saying, “It is clear that this is yet another way to suppress protest…[These excessive punitive measures represent an escalating repression of academic freedom and freedom of expression.”

Cornell Interim President Michael Kotlikoff defended the university’s actions, citing the protest's disruptive nature. According to Kotlikoff, demonstrators forcibly entered the Statler Hotel, pushing aside Cornell Police officers, banging cymbals and pots, and using bullhorns to disrupt the event.

“These intimidating tactics have no place in a university and violate our commitments to each other,” Kotlikoff said. “Actions have consequences, on campus and in the criminal justice system.” He continued, “Individuals who entered the Statler and disrupted the career fair face immediate suspension or employment sanctions up to and including dismissal.”

Kotlikoff explained that the demonstrators disrupted the career fair and caused noise that frightened students, staff, and recruiters. He also said that any protesters who engaged in criminal activity would be referred to the Tompkins County District Attorney.

In response to Kotlikoff’s statement, Assistant Professor of Labor and Employment Law at Cornell’s School of International Labor Relations (ILR) Gali Racabi posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Immediate suspension/police referrals should only be utilized in cases of imminent harm to people, not as a punishment for disrupting events.” He added, “Unlike the Middle East, Cornell is not a war zone. The stakes are low and education-oriented; the response should track the stakes.”

In response to requests to comment about if Cornell thinks putting a graduate student at risk of deportation is a proportionate response to being involved in a protest, Vice President for University Relations at Cornell University, Joel M. Malina said, “International students attending college in the U.S. on F-1 visas are obligated to comply with federal requirements to maintain their visa status.” 

Malina continued saying that these federal regulations require universities to terminate the F-1 status for any student who is not permitted to be enrolled due to a disciplinary action. He added, “Universities can disallow enrollment and bar a student from campus, but do not have deportation powers.”

According to Malina, “Any international student administratively withdrawn by Cornell pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct is urged to immediately review immigration guidelines and consult with experts.” However, Cornell has not responded to questions regarding allegations that disciplinary action was taken against Taal in violation of code of conduct policies and an agreement with the CGSU, which Taal is a member of.

Supervising Attorney for New York’s chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), Lamya Agarwala has released a statement condemning Cornell for suspending an international student and putting them at risk of deportation.

“CAIR-NY is deeply concerned about the unjust treatment of Momodou Taal, a dedicated international graduate student who now faces potentially life-changing immigration consequences because of his activism in support of Palestinian human rights and against Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” Agarwala said. “Cornell University's decision to suspend Mr. Taal and effectively revoke his immigration status threatens Taal's academic career and livelihood in the United States.”

Agarwala continued saying, “The university’s decision also sends a chilling message to all international students who wish to engage in peaceful advocacy: speaking out against war crimes and honoring our nation’s tradition of dissent can cost you your education and life here in the United States.” She added, “We stand with Mr. Taal and call for the immediate reversal of this suspension."

Despite the university’s threats, the Coalition for Mutual Liberation is committed to continuing its organizing efforts. CML has organized a rally this Wednesday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. outside Day Hall, which houses the offices of the university president and disciplinary staff.

Matt Dopughertyu is the Managing Editor of the Ithaca Times. He previously wrote for The Legislative Gazette and The River Newsroom. He has also operated an independent media blog called The Bull-Moose Note since 2020.