Cornell University student Austin Franco sparked outrage for openly refusing to work for a New York City startup because its founder was Jewish. But now, the fallout has had an unexpected outcome. According to Franco, the controversy not only failed to result in disciplinary action from Cornell but also brought him thousands of dollars in donations.
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The claims surfaced in an undercover investigation by Accuracy in Media, a nonprofit organization, whose investigator posed as someone sympathetic to Franco's views to gain his trust. During the conversation, Franco discussed the backlash, Cornell's response, and why he believes the controversy ultimately benefited him, reports The New York Post.
Austin Franco says Cornell has not disciplined him
In the undercover recording, Franco claimed Cornell University has not taken any action against him following the incident that drew widespread criticism.
"As of now they (Cornell) said there’s not anything going on on their back end. I think because I didn’t say anything that could be classified as hateful. There wasn’t really a leg they could go on," Franco said on how his future at Cornell looks.
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His comments have renewed scrutiny over how the university handled the incident, especially after the undercover footage became public.
Rejected a job offer over the founder's religion
Franco first made headlines after he publicly declined an employment opportunity from a New York City startup, telling the employer he would not work for a Jewish person. Franco later said he believed he was being transparent about his decision.
During the undercover meeting, he admitted he never expected his response to become a national controversy. According to Franco, employers often reject applicants without explaining why, but he chose to explain why he was turning down the position.
