ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell University officials responded today (Jan. 29) to an article on a website originating in Los Angeles that reported that Mexican-American students at Cornell are "under siege." The article describes two incidents that occurred on campus Jan. 26 and 27.

The first incident was described in an e-mail written by a female undergraduate student of Mexican descent. In the e-mail, which she distributed to a number of friends, she said that she and another student were victims of verbal harassment and menacing. She said that on Jan. 26 she was walking with the other student shortly after 9:30 p.m. on East Avenue between Tower Road and the Thurston Avenue bridge when a group of men in a pickup truck began to follow them and yell ethnic slurs. The student reported that at one point several men chased her and her friend. They were able to elude the pursuers, she said.

The student did not immediately report the incident to university officials, staff or campus police. The incident came to the attention of university administrators on Jan. 28 when they were contacted by a member of an outside organization, who had read the student's e-mail message, which by then had been circulated on several national listservs. After being contacted by a member of Cornell's bias incident response team, the student gave a report to Cornell police Jan. 28. She informed the university that her e-mail communication had not been intended to be public.

"We are vigorously conducting an investigation into this incident," said Henrik N. Dullea, vice president of university relations. "Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, and most definitely no place in the Cornell community."

Cornell police investigators ask that anyone who has information about this incident contact them at 607-255-1111. They are seeking information about the pickup truck, described as black or dark blue, possibly a 1980s Chevrolet, with lettering on the side. The student said a group of several white males was riding in the bed of the truck. If anyone has information or saw the vehicle, or the incident, please contact Cornell police.

In order to ensure the wellbeing of the other student who was involved in the incident, Cornell police are trying to locate him. The student who made the report said she does not know the last name of the male student who accompanied her on Jan. 26. Police urge the student to contact them.

The second incident was described in the article as a "racially motivated" arrest Jan. 27 of Herbert Cortez, 21, the president of the Latino fraternity Lambda Upsilon Lambda.

At approximately 4 a.m. on Jan. 27, Cornell police and Ithaca city police responded to complaints of noise at the fraternity house. When they arrived at the house, they found a party under way and a large crowd of people in the house. According to their official report, when two Cornell police officers attempted to enter the house, which is owned by the university, Cortez attempted to bar their way, was verbally abusive and shoved both officers. After refusing the officers' requests that he back away, Cortez was pepper-sprayed and placed under arrest. The Ithaca police called for back-up and dispersed the crowd. No other arrests were made, and no injuries were reported.

Cortez was charged with two counts of harassment in the second degree, a violation, and one count of obstructing government administration, a misdemeanor. He was taken to Ithaca city jail and released on $250 bail. He is scheduled for a hearing in city court on Feb.6.

"We are actively reviewing this incident, but we have no reason at this time to believe that the Cornell police officers acted inappropriately," Dullea said. "We have documentation of the warnings given to Mr. Cortez. The police had a potentially dangerous situation to contend with, given the large crowd of students and non-students, and alcohol consumption.

"If anyone has additional information to report about what occurred at the fraternity house, we ask that they come forward," he added.

Dullea noted that the university has strict regulations on serving alcohol on campus, and a policy that regulates how fraternities may serve alcohol.

-30-