Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff announced that the Ivy League institution will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus following an outcry over the school’s handling of a student’s rape allegations, theguardian.com reported. The civil lawsuit, filed on September 16, alleges that a 20-year-old student known as Jane Doe was drugged with ketamine and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity for hours on October 19, 2024, according to bbc.co.uk and itv.com.
President Michael Kotlikoff Video Statement And Greek Life Review
In an eight-minute video statement released on Saturday night, Kotlikoff called the allegations deeply disturbing and acknowledged that the institution must do better, according to bbc.co.uk and itv.com. The university president stated that Cornell would take steps to prevent similar situations by taking a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life, theguardian.com reported.
Kotlikoff stated that the administration would be more transparent about actions related to the 2024 incident, though he did not outline specific new initiatives in his address, theguardian.com reported. The school plans to create additional opportunities in coming weeks for community members to ask questions directly of leadership.
Lawsuit names university and fraternity members over assault allegations
Jane Doe’s civil lawsuit names Cornell University, seven fraternity members, and a local bar, alleging that the school failed to protect her or adequately punish the men involved, theguardian.com and vox.com reported. Legal documents obtained by US media and cited by itv.com reveal that the student told campus police investigators she felt like a sex doll and that her attackers were like lions around her. Lawyers for several of the accused men have denied all wrongdoing, according to theguardian.com and vox.com.
Cornell has defended its handling of the case, stating that it launched a comprehensive investigation, barred the Chi Phi fraternity from campus, and imposed disciplinary measures including expulsions, theguardian.com reported. The victim went to campus police in November 2024, two weeks after the assault, but the Tompkins County district attorney’s office initially declined to bring criminal charges, according to bbc.co.uk and vox.com. District Attorney Matthew Van Houten cited a state law distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary intoxication, according to itv.com.
Governor appoints special prosecutor to investigate campus assault case
New York Governor Kathy Hochul lost faith in the local district attorney’s handling of the case and named state Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations, vox.com reported. Governor Hochul has also pledged to push for changes to New York’s consent laws regarding voluntary intoxication, according to itv.com. The case has drawn intense national attention and sparked frustration on the Ithaca, New York campus, where students expressed frustration over safety procedures, bbc.co.uk reported.
The renewed scrutiny coincides with findings from Cornell’s 2025 state-mandated sexual violence survey, which reported that 35% of female undergraduates experienced nonconsensual sexual contact while at the university, theguardian.com stated. The 2025 survey was the first to explicitly include unwanted choking or strangulation in its definition of nonconsensual sexual contact involving force or incapacitation, according to theguardian.com.
Common Questions Regarding The Cornell Fraternity Investigation
Why were criminal charges not initially filed in the 2024 assault case?
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten declined to pursue charges after reviewing the student’s initial statement, citing a state law that makes prosecuting sexual assaults involving voluntary alcohol or drug consumption difficult, according to itv.com and vox.com.
What legal actions has the victim taken against Cornell University?
The student filed a civil lawsuit on September 16, naming Cornell University, seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, and a local bar, alleging they failed to protect her or adequately punish the perpetrators, according to bbc.co.uk and vox.com.
What disciplinary steps has Cornell University taken against the fraternity?
Cornell defended its handling by stating it launched a comprehensive investigation, barred the Chi Phi fraternity from campus, and enforced disciplinary measures that included expulsions for some involved students, according to theguardian.com.
In October 2024, students at Cornell University received a campus crime alert about a reported sexual assault before the case drew national scrutiny through the September civil lawsuit, vox.com reported.
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