A massive fight broke out on the campus of Ivy League school Cornell University that left a visiting college student dead. Police say that the fight occurred during an orientation party held by the Black fraternity Omega Psi Phi. The fight started at around 2 a.m. Sunday morning on campus at Willard Straight Hall, Cornell’s student union.
During the altercation, Anthony Nazaire, 19, a sophomore at nearby Ithaca College, was stabbed to death. Another unidentified student was also slashed but his injuries are not life-threatening. Police reported that several hundred students were at the student-sponsored event but there is no indication as to what started the fight.
Nazaire was a business major at Ithaca College and has been described as an intelligent and gifted student. He was a member of Brothers4Brothers, a student organization dedicated to empowering men of color at Ithaca. HIs family is devastated over the young man’s death and described him as person more willing to break up a fight than being involved in one. He was attending Ithaca College on an academic scholarship and had dreams of becoming a CEO.
According to police, video camera surveillance footage shows a number of students recording the fight on their cellphones. At this time no one has come forward with any video that shows Nazaire being stabbed. The young student was stabbed at least two times and taken to Cayuga Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
“I hope you will hold these students — along with their families, friends, classmates and professors — in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult and tragic time,” said Ithaca College President Tom Rochon in a statement.
A campus vigil for Nazaire will be held at 4 p.m. today at Ithaca’s Muller Chapel.
