Innocent student interrogated during investigation

The incident comes after a rise in “swatting” calls, in which fraudulent reports are made behind a blocked caller ID so that the authorities, particularly a SWAT team, respond to a location. Reports of such calls have surged in school districts in the state of New York over the past week. The day before the incident, a group of four Black Harvard students were also held at gunpoint because of a “swatting” incident.

Ansari said he was not told that the call was specifically directed to his room, which made him question why he was being interrogated as an Afghan international student.

“I come from this country with this identity. So why did this happen to me? There are millions of others, thousands of others,” Ansari said.

Having dealt with gun violence previously, Ansari reported the incident was particularly triggering.

building’s Residence Hall Director, on behalf of Housing and Residential Life.

“While this call was determined to be uncredible, we recognize that this may have impacted some Jameson residents who are residing in the building over spring break,” Wendel-Crowe wrote in the email obtained by The Sun. “If you need support, please reach out to any of the resources on campus.”

CUPD also apologized for the incident, noting how it may be traumatic for students.

“We appreciate that Student and Campus Life has reached out to students in Jameson Hall to offer support resources, and we also have shared our empathy with the students who were frightened by the investigation,” Bellamy wrote.

“So why did this happen to me?

Ansari also received personal emails offering him support from Wendel-Crowe and from Reba McCutcheon ’96, an Assistant Dean of Students and case manager for Student Support and Advocacy Services.

“It intensifies that feeling of fear, anxiousness and all the emotions you felt when you were traumatized again — and live that for some time again and again,” Ansari said.

The CUPD explained that another incident of this nature had occurred this semester.

“This semester, Cornell University Police responded to two reports quickly determined to be false ‘swatting’ calls. In both cases, officers were dispatched immediately,” Bellamy wrote. “CUPD was assisted by Cornell University Public Safety Communications Center, Cornell Environmental Health and Safety and Cornell EMS, as well as local and regional authorities.”

The rise in these ‘swatting’ calls has received increasing national attention. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shummer (D-N.Y.) called on the FBI to investigate these incidents affecting schools across New York state. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) also released a statement denouncing the incidents.

A few hours following the incident, an email was sent to Jameson Hall residents later that morning by Nicole Wendel-Crowe, the

CUPD is conducting an ongoing investigation into the incident and urges anyone with relevant information to share it with them. They also explained that although there are no current procedures on how to address ‘swatting’ calls, they are working with other local, regional and national law enforcement agencies to address the issue.

“The investigation into these incidents continues and we encourage anyone with information to contact us at (607) 255-1111 or through the Silent Witness program,” Bellamy told The Sun.

Ansari expressed hope that this incident can help make more Cornellians aware of the rising trend in “swatting” calls and that the University will take the appropriate steps to protect students.

“There have to be better safety measures. That’s my concern,” Ansari said. “Whether you’re at Cornell or any other university, you should not be targeted [by] such traumatic incidents and through these false reports.”