Cornell President Says University Must Do Better on Assault Case

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the school "must do better" as it confronts mounting scrutiny over how it responded to sexual assault allegations involving seven former fraternity brothers. In a video message released to the Cornell community on Saturday, Kotlikoff said the case has raised painful questions for the university and acknowledged that the institution does not yet have all the answers.

"What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come. My heart aches when I think of what she experienced," Kotlikoff said. He added that the matter has forced the university to examine sexual assault, campus party culture, alcohol and drug abuse in Ithaca, New York, and the investigation that followed the allegations.

Kotlikoff said Cornell is committed to finding answers and improving its response. "I want to acknowledge something that can be difficult for an institution to say we don't have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves," he said. "I believe we as an administration, and we as a community must do better."

Independent review and state investigation

The university president said he welcomes an independent review by an outside law firm into Cornell's handling of the case. He also backed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's decision to transfer the criminal investigation to Attorney General Letitia James.

James said Friday that her office is conducting an "active criminal investigation." Before that move, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office had not received the full transcript of Jane Doe's November 2024 interview with Cornell University Police before prosecutors initially declined to bring charges. Van Houten later reopened the investigation, and Hochul then appointed the Office of the Attorney General as special prosecutor.

No criminal charges have been filed against the seven men. They have denied wrongdoing, with some saying the sexual activity was consensual and others denying they took part.

Lawsuit details and campus response

Jane Doe alleges in a 101-page lawsuit filed last month 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. Her lawsuit names the former fraternity members as well as Cornell and other entities.

Kotlikoff said Cornell will not wait for the outside review or the criminal investigation to finish before making changes. He said the university plans to act on prevention and education efforts, student support, mental health and substance use resources, and investigative processes. "We will act," he said.

He also addressed criticism of Cornell's public communication about the case. According to Kotlikoff, the university will try to be more transparent while still observing legal and privacy limits. "There are real legal and privacy limits on what we can say, but we will make a greater effort to explain what we can to provide context about the actions Cornell has taken and to be more transparent," he said.

In addition, Kotlikoff said Cornell will reexamine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus and support efforts to change New York's sexual assault laws. He framed the moment as one that should lead to lasting reforms rather than a short-lived response to public pressure.

"You have my commitment that this will not be a moment that passes," Kotlikoff said.