Cornell president admits he learned about alleged frat gang-rape months ago, but will not resign

Cornell president admits he learned about alleged frat gang-rape months ago, but will not resign The university has banned fraternity parties for the rest of the year - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in The president of Cornell University, Michael Kotlikoff, admitted he knew that a student reported being gang-raped at a fraternity in 2024 — but he never followed up on the case. Kotlikoff did not try to learn whether any of the accused men were punished, and didn’t know that the alleged victim had dropped out of Cornell until she filed a lawsuit under the name Jane Doe last month, he toldThe New York Times this week. In the lawsuit, Doe alleges she was drugged and gang raped by seven members of the now-defunct Chi Phi fraternity in Ithaca, New York, in October 2024. None of the men have been criminally charged and all have denied wrongdoing. “The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for,” Kotlikoff said. “And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred.” The case has sparked widespread protests, brought renewed attention to sexual assault on college campuses and prompted calls for greater support for survivors. While Kotlikoff acknowledged that trust in his leadership has taken a hit and there were calls for his resignation, he indicated that he would not step down. “I’ve heard enough from the community that there is a loss of trust,” he told the Times. “People are angry. I understand that anger.” Kotlikoff noted that he had created a task force in February 2025 to address sexual assault on campus as a sign of how seriously his administration takes the issue. “We don’t set up a presidential task force for minor issues,” he said. He added that the panel introduced orientation training on sexual assault and “bystander responsibilities” for all new students this year. Shortly after Kotlikoff’s interview was published Tuesday, Cornell announced that it had banned fraternity parties for the rest of the year and will add sexual assault investigators to its campus police force. “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 in a statement. “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 initiative said that survivors of sexual assault will also receive stronger support with additional staff added to the Cornell Office of Civil Rights. New York State Police criminal investigators will also investigate campus allegations. The Ivy League school will also move to change the “social culture” on campus. “Research has shown that campus sexual assault is not limited to the fraternity system. At its core is the specific context of social behavior and a deeply disturbing prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse,” Kotlikoff wrote. Earlier this month, Cornell appointed former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to lead an independent probe into how the university handles sexual assault claims. On Tuesday, Kotlikoff stressed that officials “cannot wait for these findings to take action.” After Cornell's Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit last month, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten — who initially declined to pursue charges over the alleged rape — reopened the criminal investigation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul then reassigned the case to state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. After Doe reported the alleged rape in 2024, Cornell began an investigation, which involved multiple hearings and resulted in the suspensions and expulsions of some of the students involved. The Chi Phi fraternity was also shut down. “Any suggestion that the University did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false,” the university said in an earlier statement. “A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments