ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — Cornell’s interim president faces calls to fire a professor.

Congressman Marc Molinaro sent to a letter to interim Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff questioning the decision to bring back Professor Russell Rickford. Last October, Rickford made comments about the Hamas attack on Israel that were condemned by former President Martha Pollack.

Molinaro says Rickford’s return to campus after a lengthy leave of absence shows a lack of concern from Cornell for Jewish students. In Molinaro’s letter, he wants answers to the following three questions:

  1. Was Professor Rickford paid while on leave?
  2. Will Cornell University update its employee guidelines to prevent other faculty from being allowed to make anti-semitic comments and still keep their job?
  3. What services are you providing to Jewish students on campus to ensure their safety and well being?

Rickford apologized for his comments, calling his word choices “horrible” and condemned anti-semitism. Shortly after last fall’s controversy, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney both asked for Rickford’s firing.