On Jan. 21, the first day of the semester, pro-Palestinian activists vandalized the A.D White statue. The statue was spray-painted with “divest from death” and “occupation=death,” references to Cornell’s refusal to divest from weapon manufacturers and end its close collaboration with Technion–Israel Institute of Technology. Even if Cornell identifies and punishes the activists, recent history shows that these actions will do little to suppress the growing dissent against the university’s actions.

It has been 16 months since protests have mired Cornell’s campus. Cornell has already employed heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent. For instance, on Sept. 18, 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a career fair hosting weapons manufacturers. In response, the university launched a month-long investigation to identify participants. Over 20 students were suspended, myself included. I received a three-year campus ban and faced two misdemeanor charges. A similar suppression was seen in the suspension of

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