Cornell Student Austin Franco Returns to Campus After Anti‑Semitism Incident

Austin Franco, a 19‑year‑old Cornell University student, went viral after refusing a job with a New York startup because the founders were Jewish, telling them he was ‘not interested in working for a Jew.’ The incident was investigated by Cornell’s Office of Civil Rights, but the university said no disciplinary action had been taken. Franco later claimed the school was welcoming him back for the fall semester, while the controversy sparked outrage among Jewish students and faculty, who condemned the perceived tolerance of anti‑Semitism. An undercover probe by the conservative nonprofit Accuracy in Media revealed Franco had received a $25,000 donation linked to the episode, and Cornell reiterated its condemnation of all forms of hatred.