‘We Must Do Better’: Cornell President Addresses Gang Rape Allegations

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has described allegations that a student was sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members in 2024 as “deeply disturbing”, pledging greater transparency as the university faces mounting scrutiny over its handling of the case.

In an eight-minute video message to the Cornell community on Saturday, Kotlikoff said the allegations raised “heartbreaking and troubling issues” surrounding sexual assault, dehumanisation and aspects of party culture, including alcohol and drug use.

The president said the controversy had become one of the most difficult periods in Cornell’s history and acknowledged that questions remained about how the allegations were investigated and handled after they were reported.

The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, has sued Cornell and seven former students. In her lawsuit, she alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at a fraternity house in Ithaca in October 2024.

The allegations have not been established in court, and the men named in the lawsuit have disputed the allegations or denied wrongdoing. Cornell had previously conducted its own investigation, resulting in disciplinary measures against some students, while the fraternity chapter was subsequently banned from campus.

The case has now been transferred to New York Attorney General Letitia James after Governor Kathy Hochul appointed her office as a special prosecutor. Hochul said newly released information had undermined her confidence in the handling of the criminal investigation by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office. James said her office would conduct the investigation based on the facts and the law.

Kotlikoff said Cornell would cooperate with the independent review of the university’s handling of the case. He said the university’s Board of Trustees would provide details of the external review next week.

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

The president also acknowledged criticism that Cornell had not communicated sufficiently with students and the wider community. He said there were legal and privacy restrictions on what the university could disclose, but pledged more transparency and greater opportunities for students, parents and others to engage with university leaders.

The controversy has also intensified debate over New York’s sexual assault laws. The original local investigation became particularly contentious because state law distinguishes between people who are physically helpless or incapacitated without their consent and people who become highly intoxicated after voluntarily consuming alcohol or drugs. Critics have argued that the law can make some cases involving intoxicated victims difficult to prosecute.

Kotlikoff said Cornell would support efforts to change the state’s sexual assault laws and called for a broader examination of fraternity and sorority life on campus.

He said Greek organisations can provide friendship, mentorship and a sense of belonging, but stressed that membership in a group should never reduce an individual’s responsibility for his or her actions or for intervening when another person may be at risk.

Cornell has previously taken steps to examine sexual assault on campus. A presidential task force established in 2025 issued recommendations in March 2026 calling for improved communication, greater student empowerment, stronger accountability and changes to campus sexual-assault policies.

The latest developments have placed renewed attention on how universities, campus police and law-enforcement agencies respond to sexual-assault allegations, while the independent university review and the state criminal investigation proceed.