The Brief Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff addressed the recent scrutiny of how the university handled allegations that a student was raped at a campus fraternity house in 2024. Kotlikoff called the case  deeply disturbing,  and said that the university welcomes an independent review of the university's handling of the case. He also pledged that the university would take  a serious look  at the role of Greek life on campus.



Cornell's president addressed the growing controversy surrounding the university's response to the alleged 2024 gang rape of a student in a campus fraternity house on Saturday, calling the case  deeply disturbing. 

President Michael Kotlikoff also pledged transparency, change, and a  serious look  at campus and fraternity culture.

Cornell president addresses alleged 2024 gang rape

What we know:

In a video shared with the Cornell community on Saturday, Kotlikoff said that he supports an independent investigation into how the university handled the case in 2024, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to reassign Attorney General Letitia James to the criminal investigation.

In a recent lawsuit from a former Cornell student, identified only as Jane Doe, claims that she was sexually assaulted by seven men assaulted in the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024, and that when she reported the incident to campus police, they chose not to press charges.

 My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,  Kotlikoff said of the victim.  It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization, and aspects of party culture, alcohol, and drug use. It also raises questions around the investigations conducted after the allegations were reported. 


President vows campus change

Dig deeper:

Kotlikoff said that the university made changes to how it handles allegations of sexual assault following Jane Doe's claims, but that they need to  have hard conversations about our campus culture and its future, and to find new ways to do more. 

 That broader work should include a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in camp

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