Key facts
- Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff called the 2024 rape allegations "deeply disturbing."
- The university will announce an independent review by an outside law firm next week.
- The Tompkins County District Attorney's Office declined to pursue criminal charges in November 2024.
- New York Attorney General Letitia James has opened a criminal investigation into the allegations.
- The accuser, Jane Doe, alleged she was gang-raped in October 2024 at a Chi Phi fraternity house.
- Cornell police provided prosecutors with a six-page statement from Doe.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff has broken his silence on a student's alleged gang rape, calling the case "deeply disturbing" and a "defining moment" for the university. The allegations, made by a student identified as Jane Doe, involve an incident in October 2024 at a Chi Phi fraternity house.
In a video statement released Saturday, Kotlikoff expressed that his "heart aches" for what the accuser experienced and vowed that the university must "do everything we can to prevent what happened" from recurring. He acknowledged that Cornell does not have all the answers and must "do better" in preventing future sexual violence.
The university faces scrutiny over its handling of the case. The Tompkins County District Attorney's Office declined to pursue criminal charges in November 2024, stating that based on Doe's initial six-page statement, "Criminal charges would not be pursued." Records obtained by The New York Times indicate that prosecutors declined to review additional evidence gathered by campus police, including further interviews.
However, New York State Attorney General Letitia James' office has opened a criminal investigation into the allegations, a move supported by Governor Kathy Hochul and District Attorney Matthew Van Houten. Van Houten stated that he may not have been provided "the full picture" when he made his initial decision.
Cornell's board of trustees is expected to announce an independent review by an outside law firm next week into the university's handling of the 2024 case. Kotlikoff also indicated that the university would reexamine the role of Greek organizations on campus and seek greater transparency in its communications, within legal and policy limits.