Cornell President Calls Alleged 2024 Fraternity Gang Rape Deeply Disturbing

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff called the alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity house in 2024 "deeply disturbing" and promised better transparency amid growing anger over how the school handled the case. In an eight-minute video to the university community, Kotlikoff said the past week was one of the hardest in school history and admitted there are troubling questions about the investigations. He said his heart aches for the student and noted the case raises difficult issues about sexual assault, party culture, alcohol, and drug use. He also acknowledged student calls for his resignation during a student assembly hearing Thursday, where students shared concerns and discussed ways to improve the school's response to sexual assault. Kotlikoff backed an independent investigation requested by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and said the Board of Trustees will share details next week. He also supported Hochul's move to shift the criminal investigation to the state attorney general. Scrutiny has grown over the school's response to claims that a woman, named in court papers as Jane Doe, was sexually assaulted by seven former students in 2024. The woman has filed a lawsuit against the university and the former students. Kotlikoff admitted that a lack of communication from Cornell has caused distrust, pointing to legal and privacy limits while promising more openness. He also pledged support for changing New York sexual assault laws. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously pointed to a state law regarding voluntary alcohol or drug use when defending his choice not to file charges. Critics want to close this loophole, and Hochul has promised to push for legal changes.

Context

High-profile sexual assault cases at universities often spark intense public debate about student safety, campus culture, and accountability. Legal definitions surrounding consent and voluntary intoxication frequently present major challenges for prosecutors handling campus-related criminal investigations.