Cornell University has introduced a new policy prohibiting the processing of wild game in community kitchens. This change follows an incident involving two students who went viral for butchering a bear in a campus kitchen.
The updated policy states, “Processing wild/game animals in community kitchens is strictly prohibited.” This rule was enacted in response to a 2025 event where two students brought a black bear they had hunted into Cornell’s Ganędagǫ Hall for preparation.
Aaron Chin, one of the students involved, discussed the incident on a podcast, revealing that he and his hunting partner intended to process the bear at a friend’s house. However, when their friend faced an emergency, they resorted to using the campus facility.
The school updated its laws after a pair of students processed a bear in a dormitory kitchen.
Chin emphasized that he and his partner thoroughly reviewed campus regulations to ensure compliance. “We were really diligent in reading all of the rules and regulations,” he explained on the MeatEater podcast. “We made sure we did everything by the book because we knew we were going to be under scrutiny.”
The incident received significant attention on social media, leading to an investigation by state regulators. A New York Department of Environmental Conservation inspector visited the site but found no regulatory infractions.
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