A former Cornell University student from suburban Rochester, New York has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for posting threats of violence against Jewish people on campus last fall. The student, identified as Patrick Dai, was accused of making anonymous threats to shoot and stab Jewish individuals on a Greek life forum during a period of heightened tensions related to the war in Gaza. These threats caused alarm among Jewish students at the upstate New York campus.
In April, Dai pleaded guilty to posting threats to kill or injure others using interstate communications. The federal court sentenced him to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The judge, Brenda Sannes, acknowledged Dai's diagnosis of autism, mental health challenges, and non-violent history while also noting that his actions substantially disrupted campus activities and constituted a hate crime.
Despite facing a potential maximum sentence of five years, Dai received a shorter prison term. The Assistant Attorney General emphasized that every student has the right to pursue education without fear of violence based on their identity or beliefs. The Justice Department condemned Dai's antisemitic threats as a violation of this fundamental right.
Dai's mother suggested that his actions were influenced by medication he was taking for depression and anxiety. His public defender argued that Dai, who is pro-Israel, mistakenly believed that his posts would generate support for the country by inciting backlash against what he perceived as anti-Israel media coverage and pro-Hamas sentiment on campus.
At the time of the incident, Dai was a junior at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Following his arrest, he was suspended from the Ivy League institution. The case underscores the serious consequences of making threats of violence, particularly in the context of heightened tensions and discrimination on college campuses.
