Cornell president pledges transparency after student’s lawsuit alleges gang rape at fraternity house

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff released an eight-minute video statement on Saturday night. He described the allegations as “deeply disturbing.” The video addressed the alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity house and pledged greater transparency amid mounting outrage over how the school handled the case.

Jane Doe was a 20-year-old Cornell student when she says seven men from the Chi Phi fraternity assaulted her for hours on 19 October 2024, in an incident involving alcohol and the drug ketamine. She reported the incident to Cornell University police approximately two weeks after it happened. The department investigated the matter. No criminal charges were laid. Jane Doe has since filed a civil lawsuit against the university and the same seven men, now former students, last month. In her lawsuit, she said she was intoxicated during the alleged incident and could not provide consent. The lawsuit alleges that Cornell failed to protect her or adequately punish those involved. The case has also raised questions about the way investigations were conducted, Kotlikoff said in his video statement.

President calls it a ‘defining moment’

Kotlikoff called the case a “defining moment” in the university’s history, expressing deep sorrow and characterising the past week as one of the most difficult in Cornell’s history, one that would weigh on the university for years to come. “My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,” he said. “It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanisation and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.” He said university leaders need to create an environment where victims of sexual assault feel safe coming forward and are treated with compassion and dignity. He welcomed an independent review by a law firm of how Cornell has handled the matter and said the Board of Trustees would announce details next week. The president called for a “serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life.” “Being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility for our own actions, for how we treat others, or for speaking up when someone may be at risk,” he said. “We must foster a culture in which sexual assault is inexcusable and ensure our community is empowered and understands informed consent.” “We must lead the way, we owe it to Jane Doe and to survivors of assault to get this right. And we must keep each other safe.”

Governor intervenes, citing prosecutor’s loss of confidence

New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to take over the criminal investigation after newly released information undermined her confidence in the local prosecutor, who initially declined to bring charges. Hochul said she would “not allow anyone to sweep this case under the rug.” Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten had cited the voluntary intoxication legal provision in defending his original decision not to pursue charges. The case has renewed scrutiny of a loophole in New York law that makes it difficult to prosecute sexual assaults involving victims who voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs, even if they later became too intoxicated to consent. Hochul said she was “deeply disturbed.” She has pledged to push for changes to the loophole. James has described the case as “an active criminal investigation.” Kotlikoff said he supported the decision to appoint James to lead the criminal investigation.

Students demand resignations at heated assembly

On the university’s campus this week, the BBC saw growing frustration about the situation. At a student assembly hearing on Thursday, several speakers called for Kotlikoff’s resignation. Many students told the BBC they were ashamed of what happened and said the university had failed Jane Doe. “Our administration needs to change and it needs to change drastically and it needs to change fast,” one student told the BBC. “Something like this never should have happened, this is a disgrace.” Kotlikoff said that at the appropriate time, the school would speak about how Cornell will use this moment, this conversation, and this anger to help lead the broader effort to combat sexual assault not only on its campus but beyond it. He also said the university was “committed to investigating” the way the case was handled and that the administration and community “must do better.”