Cornell student’s antisemitic message for Jewish-owned startup sparks outrage
Cornell University student Austin Franco faces investigation after rejecting an internship from Jewish-owned startup VryfID, allegedly stating he’s ‘not interested in working for a Jew.’ The ‘Outnumbered’ panel discusses the ‘shocking’ display of antisemitism. They emphasize the need for parents and institutions to address the growing issue of hate and discrimination on college campuses, questioning the source of ingrained prejudices among today’s youth.
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Cornell University has opened an investigation after one of its students reportedly turned down an internship with a Jewish-owned company, saying he’s “Not interested in working for a Jew.”
Austin Franco, a Cornell University student, rejected an internship interview with New York City startup VryfID because its co-founders are Jewish, according to owners Gabe and Aiden Einhorn. VryfID says it connects renters with landlords while also verifying their identities, which the company says will prevent fraud.
“Hi Austin, I dont think I saw you on the call today. I know Sundays are not the best times for meetings. I would still like to have a quick call and give you more details on the company, as well as what we are building. College students are vital part of helping VryfID grow. As a rising Senior at NYU Stern, I believe fellow students are crucial to the growth and success of what we are building,” Aiden Einhorn wrote.
“Not interested in working for a Jew. Thanks,” Franco reportedly said.
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Aiden Einhorn and Gabe Einhorn founded VryfID. (Gabe Einhorn)
“This kid applied to our job on handshake, we accepted him, and then he responded this,” Gabe Einhorn said.
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Franco reportedly sent the message through Handshake, a job posting board, after applying for a summer internship at the company.
After Gabe Einhorn posted a screenshot of the exchange, Franco said, “I was stating why I was not interested after you had asked to interview 3 times. I found out you were Jewish after the fact.”
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A woman walks by a Cornell University sign in Ithaca, N.Y., on Jan. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
“My experiences with Jews have not been pleasant, both in person and online. This is not to say I havent had positive experiences, but on the aggregate that is not the case,” Franco said. “Obviously, the reactions by your community only serves to further prove my point and indicate your post on X was not done in good faith. I am sure that if you indicated you didn’t want to work for someone who was white or Christian this would not have blown up to the capacity it has here today nor would you have been intimated as I have been.”
Cornell University said in a statement to Digital that it condemns antisemitism, adding that its Office of Civil Rights has opened an investigation.
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“Cornell University learned of a deeply disturbing comment by a student on the Handshake platform in violation of the online job board’s terms of service. This incident has been referred to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights for investigation under university policy,” a university spokesperson said. “Cornell condemns antisemitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination in the strongest possible terms. The university is steadfastly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for every member of our community.”
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Gabe Einhorn told that Franco is just another example of someone who overgeneralizes others.
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“There’s too much hate in the world right now and to overgeneralize one specific religion or one specific race is never a good idea because you see people that are, across the board from different walks of life, that could become friends, do business together, that can build a family together,” Gabe Einhorn said. “So I never think it’s a good idea to overgeneralize in that sense.”
Gabe added that he only shared the initial screenshot on X to expose antisemitism.
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“The goal for me in that initial post was just to show the fact that there is clear antisemitism in the world after seeing people try to deny it and tell me that it doesn’t exist, I was trying to show an example of, ‘look, this is clearly antisemitism, you can’t argue against it,'” he said.
Franco was supposed to be on an X Space Sunday night, but backed out.
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A man walks through the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, New York, on Nov. 3, 2023. The university canceled classes after a student was accused of making violent antisemitic threats. (Matt Burkhartt/Getty Images)
“I know everyone was looking forward to a podcast tonight at 10 PM, but I think it would be best to put this on hold. I would like to see how things develop with Cornell and whether or not I will have the opportunity to attend in the fall,” Franco said. “Regardless of the decisions made here today or in the future, know that even if you disagree with me, I will fight for what I believe is right—not for money, power, or something material, but for the cause itself.”
Digital reached out to Franco for comment.
