Cornell president says university must do better after rape lawsuit

In an eight-minute video statement released on Saturday night, Cornell University interim leader Michael Kotlikoff addressed the allegations raised by a female student, identified as Jane Doe, calling them deeply disturbing. He noted that the incident has brought intense scrutiny to the campus culture surrounding drug and alcohol use, as well as how internal investigations were managed.

The alleged assault took place on October 19, 2024, when Jane Doe, then 20 years old, stated she was assaulted for hours by seven men from the Chi Phi fraternity in an incident involving alcohol and ketamine. She reported the matter to university police two weeks later, but no criminal charges were filed at the time.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Last month, the survivor filed a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League institution, alleging that Cornell failed to protect her or adequately penalize the perpetrators. Kotlikoff stated that the administration must foster a campus culture where sexual assault is entirely inexcusable and ensure students fully understand the concept of informed consent.

Frustration has grown visibly on campus this week. At a public student hearing regarding the alleged gang rape, attendees voiced shame and accused the university of failing Jane Doe. Meanwhile, New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed deep concern over the initial handling of the case and appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead an official review.