Four college instructors from Iowa were attacked during a trip to a park in China. Two of them remain in critical condition. The four instructors from Cornell College were stabbed while visiting a park in Jilin City, China, over the weekend. The instructors were on a trip as part of a partnership Cornell has with a university in China, Cornell President Jonathan Brand said in a statement sent to students. Spokesperson Jen Visser told the Associated Press that the partner school is Beihua University near Jilin City in eastern China.”We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution,” Brand wrote. “We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program.”Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.State Rep. Adam Zabner, of Iowa City, told CBS that his brother, David Zabner, was hurt in the attack. He said the group was visiting a local temple when they were attacked by a man with a knife. Adam Zabner said his brother was stabbed in the arm and is recovering from the injury.The other three victims have not yet been publicly identified. U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Mount Vernon, told sister station KCCI Monday night that the random attack was a shock for the unsuspecting educators. Miller-Meeks previously issued the following statement on Monday afternoon:”My office and I are in touch with an impacted Iowa family. We are working through proper channels and requesting to speak with the U.S. Embassy on appropriate matters to ensure that the victims first receive quality care for their injuries and then get out of China in a medically feasible manner,” the statement said. Gov. Kim Reynolds noted on social media that she is in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the U.S. State Department, calling the stabbing a “horrifying attack.””Please pray for their full recovery, safe return and their families here at home,” she added.U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst also took to X, formerly Twitter, to share her well-wishes for the victims.”My team and I are closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China,” the senator wrote. “We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all.”The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to maintain people-to-people exchange to prevent bilateral relations from falling off.Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, while Chinese diplomats say a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department has discouraged Americans from going to China.Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued the Level 3 travel advisory — the second highest warning level — for mainland China, urging Americans to “reconsider travel” there. Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory. Reporting from the Associated Press was used for this story.
Four college instructors from Iowa were attacked during a trip to a park in China. Two of them remain in critical condition.
The four instructors from Cornell College were stabbed while visiting a park in Jilin City, China, over the weekend. The instructors were on a trip as part of a partnership Cornell has with a university in China, Cornell President Jonathan Brand said in a statement sent to students. Spokesperson Jen Visser told the Associated Press that the partner school is Beihua University near Jilin City in eastern China.
Advertisement
“We have learned that four Cornell instructors teaching as part of a partnership with a university in China were injured in a serious incident during a daytime visit to a public park while accompanied by a faculty member of the partner institution,” Brand wrote. “We have been in contact with all four instructors and are assisting them during this time. There were no students taking part in this program.”
Cornell College is located in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
State Rep. Adam Zabner, of Iowa City, told CBS that his brother, David Zabner, was hurt in the attack. He said the group was visiting a local temple when they were attacked by a man with a knife. Adam Zabner said his brother was stabbed in the arm and is recovering from the injury.
The other three victims have not yet been publicly identified.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Mount Vernon, told sister station KCCI Monday night that the random attack was a shock for the unsuspecting educators.
Miller-Meeks previously issued the following statement on Monday afternoon:
“My office and I are in touch with an impacted Iowa family. We are working through proper channels and requesting to speak with the U.S. Embassy on appropriate matters to ensure that the victims first receive quality care for their injuries and then get out of China in a medically feasible manner,” the statement said.
Gov. Kim Reynolds noted on social media that she is in touch with Iowa’s federal delegation and the U.S. State Department, calling the stabbing a “horrifying attack.”
“Please pray for their full recovery, safe return and their families here at home,” she added.
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst also took to X, formerly Twitter, to share her well-wishes for the victims.
“My team and I are closely following reports that personnel from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon were stabbed in China,” the senator wrote. “We are in touch with the college and the State Department, and stand ready to further assist these Iowans. Praying for a speedy recovery for all.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The attack happened as both Beijing and Washington are seeking to maintain people-to-people exchange to prevent bilateral relations from falling off.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled a plan to invite 50,000 young Americans to China in the next five years, while Chinese diplomats say a travel advisory by the U.S. State Department has discouraged Americans from going to China.
Citing arbitrary detentions as well as exit bans that could prevent Americans from leaving the country, the State Department has issued the Level 3 travel advisory — the second highest warning level — for mainland China, urging Americans to “reconsider travel” there. Some American universities have suspended their China programs due to the travel advisory.
Reporting from the Associated Press was used for this story.
