Cornell University president vows action on fraternity sexual assault case

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said Saturday that the institution “must do better” as it faces questions over its response to sexual assault allegations involving seven former fraternity brothers.

“What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come. My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,” Kotlikoff said in a video statement to the Cornell community.

Kotlikoff said the case raises questions about sexual assault, campus party culture, alcohol and drug abuse on the Ithaca, New York, campus, as well as the investigation conducted after the allegations were reported.

“I want to acknowledge something that can be difficult for an institution to say we don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves. I believe we as an administration, and we as a community must do better,” Kotlikoff said.

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Kotlikoff welcomed an independent review by an outside law firm into Cornell’s handling of the case and said the university supports Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to turn the criminal investigation over to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

He said Cornell would not wait for those reviews to conclude before making changes to prevention and education, student support, mental health and substance use resources and investigative processes.

“We will act,” Kotlikoff said.

Jane Doe alleges in a lawsuit that seven former Chi Phi fraternity brothers drugged and sexually assaulted her during an October 2024 night at the fraternity house. Doe was a 20-year-old Cornell undergraduate at the time.

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Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., is facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of sexual assault allegations involving seven former fraternity brothers. (TW Farlow/Getty Images, File)

The men have denied wrongdoing, with some maintaining the sexual activity was consensual and others denying they participated. No criminal charges have been filed against the seven men.

Doe filed a 101-page lawsuit last month accusing the former fraternity members of sexual assault and rape and naming Cornell and other entities.

The case came under renewed scrutiny after Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office had not received the full transcript of Doe’s November 2024 interview with Cornell University Police before prosecutors initially declined to pursue charges.

Van Houten reopened the investigation before Hochul appointed the Office of the Attorney General as special prosecutor. James said Friday that her office was conducting an “active criminal investigation.”

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The Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University, left, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul with Attorney General Letitia James, right. James has opened an active criminal investigation into sexual assault allegations stemming from an October 2024 incident at the fraternity house. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Kotlikoff also addressed frustration over Cornell’s communication about its response to the allegations and said the university would make a greater effort to be transparent.

“There are real legal and privacy limits on what we can say, but we will make a greater effort to explain what we can to provide context about the actions Cornell has taken and to be more transparent,” Kotlikoff said.

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Kotlikoff said Cornell would also reexamine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus and support efforts to change New York’s sexual assault laws.

“You have my commitment that this will not be a moment that passes,” Kotlikoff said.

Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.