Cornell University Rector Michael Kotlikoff Issues Video Statement After Jane Doe Rape Allegation
Cornell University rector Michael Kotlikoff issued an eight-minute video statement acknowledging that the institution’s initial response to a reported gang rape has caused concern, according to nos.nl. The statement follows an anonymous civil lawsuit filed 2.5 weeks prior by a student identified in court documents as Jane Doe, who alleges she was assaulted by seven fraternity members in October 2024, nos.nl reported.
“This incident will not just pass,” Kotlikoff said in his first public remarks on the scandal, according to nos.nl. The university subsequently canceled all campus events over the weekend out of respect for the victim, nos.nl reported.
October 2024 Assault Allegations and the Chi Phi Frat House Incident
The 20-year-old second-year student stated she met a man she already knew on an October evening in 2024, after which he provided her with alcohol, marijuana, and lines of ketamine before taking her to the Chi Phi fraternity house, nrc.nl reported. The student reported that she initially agreed to consensual sexual activity with two of the men, but later lost consciousness, according to nos.nl and nrc.nl.
An invitation was then circulated through a house group chat for others to come abuse her while she was incapacitated, nos.nl reported. A transcript obtained by CBS News shows the student told a campus police officer that the subsequent acts involving entering men happened under duress, nrc.nl reported.
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Local Prosecutor Declines Criminal Charges After Incomplete University Report
Three weeks after the assault, the student reported the incident to the campus police, but the local district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges, nos.nl reported. The local prosecutor stated that the university failed to transmit the entirety of the victim’s account, preventing a prosecution, according to nos.nl.
The student’s lawyer noted that the only initial institutional penalties were the suspension of several suspects and assigned community service work, nos.nl reported. Meanwhile, AP called claims that the woman never explicitly told police she was verkracht (raped) “misleading” based on police interview transcripts, nrc.nl reported.
Victim Files Lawsuit as Special Prosecutor Launches Investigation
Public scrutiny escalated significantly after the victim filed her lawsuit last month against seven students and the university itself, volkskrant.nl reported. In response to the widening controversy, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor with broad powers to criminally investigate the case, nrc.nl reported.
Local prosecutor Matthew Van Houten announced the case will be presented to a grand jury to evaluate whether sufficient evidence exists for criminal indictments, linda.nl reported. Cornell University also initiated an independent review of its handling of the case, supporting the state-level oversight, volkskrant.nl reported.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cornell University Investigation
What punishments were initially given to the accused students?
The university initially suspended the Chi Phi fraternity and imposed campus suspensions and punitive work assignments on several suspects, according to nrc.nl and nos.nl. No criminal charges were filed at the time by local prosecutors, nos.nl reported.
Who is leading the new criminal investigation?
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to conduct a criminal investigation into the October 2024 incident, nrc.nl reported. Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten also stated the case goes before a grand jury, linda.nl reported.
What actions has Cornell University taken in response to the public outcry?
Rector Michael Kotlikoff released an eight-minute video statement promising improved communication and an independent investigation into the university’s response, nos.nl and volkskrant.nl reported. The university canceled all weekend campus events out of respect for the victim, nos.nl reported.