Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the institution must do better as it faces mounting questions over its response to sexual assault allegations involving seven former fraternity brothers, acknowledging that the case has deeply shaken the campus community.
In a video statement to the Cornell community, Kotlikoff said what happened to a student identified as Jane Doe in 2024 was deeply disturbing and would weigh heavily on the Ithaca, New York, campus for years. He said his heart ached when he thought of what she experienced.
The case centers on a lawsuit filed last month in which Doe alleges 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. 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.
Kotlikoff said the allegations raise difficult questions about sexual assault, campus party culture, alcohol and drug abuse, and the investigation conducted after the allegations were reported. He acknowledged that an institution does not always have all the answers but said Cornell is committed to investigating and finding the answers the community deserves.
The university president 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. James said Friday that her office was conducting an active criminal investigation.
The case drew 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.
Kotlikoff said Cornell would not wait for the reviews to conclude before making changes to prevention and education, student support, mental health and substance use resources, and investigative processes. He pledged that the university will act.
He also addressed frustration over Cornell's communication about its response to the allegations, saying the university would make a greater effort to be transparent. He noted that there are real legal and privacy limits on what can be said but promised to explain what is possible and provide context about the actions Cornell has taken.
Beyond immediate changes, Kotlikoff said Cornell would reexamine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus and support efforts to change New York's sexual assault laws. He said the case would not be a moment that passes.
The allegations have revived scrutiny of a little-known New York law on intoxicated victims, adding a legal dimension to a case that has already prompted a state-level criminal investigation and an independent review of the university's conduct. The outcome of both could shape how Cornell and other institutions handle similar allegations in the future.