It is 12:30 on the Arts Quad right now and it appears activities and tensions for the day are finally coming to an end.
After all of the previous events of the morning, the decision was made by IAJ members and other students willing to help to rearrange their black flags into a large peace symbol. The site is now the ground zero of a heated game of back and forth protest (some legitimate and some not) and it certainly shows, as one walks past ripped signs, beaten flags, and scraps of black fabric and sticks which are scattered throughout the scene.
The third police officer to show up to the scene informed Insider reporters that there is not much information at this point regarding the details of the original defacing, and that the Cornell Police will watch over the new flag display throughout the remainder of the day.
In light of the recent events, both parties representing the issue have been quite upset. In response to a Daily Sun quote by Shai Akabas ’09 saying that “[CIPAC (Cornell Israel Public Affairs Committee) and Cornell Hillel] are discussing what the response is going to be, but we haven’t officially planned anything yet,” Cornell Hillel president Jacob Shapiro ’10 said, “there is progress in developing a response. Right now, the concentration is condemning those responsible for today’s events. This is not ok.”
After getting calls this morning by Hillel members and IAJ leaders, Shapiro immediately came to the scene to inspect the disruption and immediately made it clear to those assisting in the repair that he “will help anyone that I can.” In regard to the final construction, he says, “I love peace. Any symbol of peace I will admire. I want to project that [the actions by the individuals overnight] is unacceptable from Hillel’s point of view. ”
When asked what he would say to those who committed the act, he would tell them, “it’s just not kosher.”
Members of the IAJ did not comment on the situation at the site; Cornell Insider is still awaiting response.
