Key facts
- Senator Elissa Slotkin criticized Cornell University's handling of an alleged gang rape case.
- Slotkin stated universities can use suspensions or expulsions during legal proceedings.
- Cornell denies its punishments were minimal.
- The alleged victim told Cornell campus police in 2024 she was raped.
- Tompkins County DA's office did not receive the full statement.
- No criminal charges have been filed.
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a graduate of Cornell University, has publicly criticized her alma mater's response to an alleged gang rape case, asserting that the institution failed to protect women and treated accountability as an afterthought. Speaking on Capitol Hill, Slotkin argued that universities possess various disciplinary measures, including suspensions and expulsions, that can be employed while legal proceedings are underway.
Cornell has denied that the punishments issued in the case were minimal. The situation has become more complex with the emergence of a transcript where the alleged victim reportedly told Cornell campus police in 2024, "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped." However, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has stated that his office never received this full statement, and no criminal charges have been filed to date.
Slotkin suggested that even without knowing all the details, the alleged fraternity Snapchat chain alone should have served as a significant warning to Cornell's administration. Drawing on her experience representing Michigan, a state that has dealt with the Larry Nassar scandal at Michigan State University, Slotkin emphasized the repercussions when institutions fail women. She also commended the student journalists at Cornell for their extensive coverage of the story. While stopping short of calling for an end to fraternities, Slotkin concluded that prioritizing the futures of young men over accountability indicates a societal misdirection.