In a shocking turn of events, a Cornell University engineering student, Patrick Dai, has been arrested for allegedly making antisemitic threats on campus. The arrest has brought attention to concerns about Dai's mental health, with his mother expressing her fears for his well-being. The incident occurred against the backdrop of heightened tensions at the Ivy League campus following a series of antisemitic incidents.

According to the New York Post, Dai's mother, Bing Liu, would bring him home on weekends out of concern for his mental health. She spoke tearfully about her worries, explaining that she would pick him up from Cornell every Friday after his lessons and return him on Sunday nights. Liu emphasized that she was deeply concerned about her son's state of mind before his arrest.

Dai, who is 21 years old, was apprehended by federal authorities on Halloween after issuing a threat to shoot up a dining hall catering to Jewish students and harm other individuals of the Jewish faith using an "assault rifle." The threat was allegedly made from Dai's mother's house, where he stayed on weekends.

The incident occurred in the aftermath of several antisemitic graffiti incidents on campus, which began after a professor expressed exhilaration over an attack by Hamas. The campus was on edge due to these events when Dai made his alleged threats.

Liu attributed her son's behavior in part to his use of the antidepressant medication Lexapro, claiming it had worsened his depression. She expressed concern that Dai now faced a bleak future, as he could potentially be sentenced to five years in federal prison for his threats communicated via interstate communications.

Liu criticized the Department of Justice for not acknowledging that Dai later posted an apology in an online message, which described his threats as "shameful" and was signed by "a depressed suicidal person." She questioned why this significant information was not revealed by the authorities or the school.

School officials called for Dai to be fully prosecuted, regardless of his apology. Monica Gebel, the executive director at the Levine Center to End Hate, expressed her concerns about the prevalence of hate speech, particularly targeting Jewish and Muslim students, in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Gebel emphasized the alarming mainstream acceptance of such bigotry.

Amidst this incident, the Anti-Defamation League reported a staggering 388% increase in harassment and assaults targeted at the Jewish community in the United States since the outbreak of the conflict in the region one month ago.

As the investigation into Patrick Dai's alleged threats continues, it highlights the need for increased awareness and support for individuals struggling with mental health issues. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental well-being within educational institutions and society at large.