- Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff suspended all fraternity parties and social events for the remainder of the academic year following outrage over gang rape allegations on campus.
- “I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community,” Kotlikoff wrote. “It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe. We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action.”
- The decision stems from a civil lawsuit filed by a former student who alleged she was drugged and raped by seven men at a Chi Phi fraternity party in 2024. Cornell is enlisting New York State Police criminal investigators, hiring additional civil rights staff, and expanding bystander-intervention education to improve student safety.
- Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates is leading an independent probe into Cornell's handling of sexual assault cases, while New York Attorney General Letitia James oversees an active criminal investigation.
- The university previously expelled or suspended several students involved and shut down the Chi Phi chapter, though none of the named men have been criminally charged and all deny wrongdoing.
IN FULL
