A Cornell University student has declined a job interview with a New York City startup after learning the company was founded by Jewish owners, according to a report by the New York Post.
The student, identified as Austin Franco, applied for a summer internship position with VryfID, a rental fraud prevention platform. After being contacted by the company's recruiters, Franco responded in writing: "Not interested in working for a Jew," the Post reported on Saturday.
VryfID was co-founded by brothers Gabe and Aizen Einhorn, who described themselves as "proudly Jewish" in company materials. The startup links renters with landlords using a verification system aimed at preventing fraud.
Cornell University declined to comment on the specific incident when reached for additional context.
What the Left Is Saying
Jewish advocacy organizations have called for accountability following disclosure of the exchange. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and similar groups have documented increases in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 2023, according to their annual reports on hate crimes.
Campus civil rights advocates argue that such hiring discrimination violates federal employment law protections against religious discrimination. They note that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on an individual's religion.
Jewish students and campus organizations have increasingly reported incidents of antisemitism in recent years, prompting congressional hearings and university policy reviews.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators have pointed to the incident as evidence of what they describe as growing hostility toward Jewish students on campuses. Some have called for stronger enforcement of existing civil rights protections in internship and employment contexts.
Others argue that private companies should have full discretion over hiring decisions and note that workplace discrimination claims would need to be filed through proper legal channels if Franco had been hired and then subjected to differential treatment based on the employer's religion.
Some observers have noted that while the student's response was discriminatory in nature, it occurred before any employment relationship was established, limiting potential legal remedies.
What the Numbers Show
The ADL's annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents documented 8,831 antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2023, a 67% increase from 2022. The organization noted that college campuses accounted for 657 incidents during that period.
Federal data on religious discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) shows approximately 3,400 religion-based workplace complaints were filed in fiscal year 2024. Jewish individuals represent a portion of these complainants, though specific breakdowns by religion are not publicly available.
Cornell University reported 47 bias-related incidents during the 2023-24 academic year according to its campus climate reporting system.
The Bottom Line
The incident highlights ongoing tensions around antisemitism in professional and educational settings. While Franco's response represents discriminatory language, legal experts note that discrimination claims typically require an established employment relationship or contractual offer before triggering federal protections.
Jewish advocacy groups continue to monitor such incidents as part of broader efforts to address campus climate concerns. Cornell has not announced any specific actions regarding the reported exchange between its student and VryfID.
The case may prompt renewed discussion about the scope of anti-discrimination protections during the hiring process and whether current laws adequately address pre-employment expressions of bias.