Cornell President and NY Officials Respond to Alleged Fraternity Gang Rape

“This is a defining moment in the history of Cornell,” Michael Kotlikoff, president of Cornell University, said in a video statement addressing public outrage over the university’s handling of an alleged October 2024 group rape at a campus fraternity house. The statement arrived on Saturday as New York state officials stepped in to take over the criminal inquiry from local prosecutors.

Michael Kotlikoff Breaks Silence on University Handling

Facing mounting criticism from students, faculty, and state leaders, Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff described the accusations made by the student, identified in legal proceedings as Jane Doe, as “deeply perturbing” in his video address. Kotlikoff stated that the university’s board of directors will announce an independent review next week, to be conducted by an outside law firm, examining how the institution handled the initial 2024 report. He acknowledged that the university does not possess all the answers and must improve its prevention and response mechanisms regarding campus sexual assault.

Tompkins County Prosecutors Rejected Additional Evidence

In November 2024, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office declined to review additional evidence gathered by campus police, including extra interviews, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. Prosecutors relied solely on a six-page statement signed by Jane Doe, concluding that no criminal charges would be filed. A Cornell police investigator documented in call notes that prosecutors showed no interest in supplementary materials because their decision was already finalized based on that initial, shorter statement.

Discrepancies Emerge in Victim Statements and Transcripts

The legal counsel for Jane Doe stated that his client initially experienced denial and shame before recognizing that she did not consent to the sexual encounters at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. According to records obtained by CNN from sources close to the investigation, Doe told campus police she was “quite fine” with certain aspects of an initial encounter but did not consent to later activities that night. In a separate November 2024 interview transcript obtained by WCBS, she stated she could say with “100% certainty” that she was raped. Local prosecutors and New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that this interview transcript was never handed over to the district attorney’s office alongside Doe’s initial written statement.

New York State Attorney General Assumes Control

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office has opened a criminal investigation into the allegations, officially supplanting Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten in supervising the case. James stated that while her office faces legal limitations on sharing ongoing investigative details, public updates will be provided as information becomes available. Both Cornell University and Van Houten, who has served as district attorney since 2017, issued statements indicating they support the attorney general’s intervention.

Governor Kathy Hochul Criticizes Initial Investigation

Governor Kathy Hochul voiced sharp criticism on Friday regarding how campus police and local prosecutors handled the initial allegations. “In what world would the police learn from a victim that she had been literally gang-raped while intoxicated by five men in a fraternity house and not elevate those allegations to the district attorney?” Hochul asked during a press briefing. The governor also called for immediate legislative action to close a loophole in New York law that excludes victims of sexual assault who experienced voluntary intoxication. “Voluntary intoxication is not a license for sexual assault or gang rape. Period,” Hochul said.

Cornell Faculty Condemn Administrative Response

The Cornell chapter of the American Association of University Professors issued a scathing critique of the administration’s actions. “We are deeply disturbed by the response and communications of the administration of Cornell University with the community, initially in 2024 and now,” the faculty group wrote, highlighting institutional failures in addressing the crisis. Student groups and faculty members continue to demand total transparency from university leadership regarding campus safety and reporting protocols.

Which Agency Leads the Investigation into the October Assault?

Which law enforcement agency is now leading the criminal investigation? The Office of the New York State Attorney General, led by Letitia James, has taken over the criminal inquiry from the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.

When did the alleged incident take place? The alleged group assault occurred in October 2024 at a campus fraternity house identified in reports as Chi Phi.

What was the stated reason prosecutors gave for declining further evidence in 2024? According to campus police notes obtained by The New York Times, prosecutors declined additional interviews and evidence because they had already decided against filing criminal charges based on the complainant’s initial six-page statement.

What is the next scheduled administrative step for the university? Cornell University’s board of directors is scheduled to announce an independent review conducted by an external law firm next week.