Cornell president says university 'must do better' on handling of sexual assault allegations, tell me about this news today

Cornell University Interim President Michael Kotlikoff issued a video message and statement addressing severe campus and public backlash over the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations, acknowledging that the institution “must do better” and calling it a “defining moment in Cornell’s history.”

CBS News

The key details surrounding the case and statement:

• The Incident & Lawsuit: The controversy centers on an October 2024 incident involving a student (“Jane Doe”) who recently filed a 101-page civil lawsuit against Cornell and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity. The lawsuit alleges she was drugged with ketamine and other substances and sexually assaulted by the men at the fraternity house. The men have denied criminal wrongdoing or claimed the encounters were consensual, and no criminal charges were initially filed.

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• Disciplinary Outrage: Following the university’s Title IX internal investigation, the fraternity chapter was shut down. However, the disciplinary outcomes for the individual studentswhich reportedly included expulsions and suspensions, while two were cleared and one graduated before penalties took effectsparked significant public and student outrage regarding whether the response was sufficiently severe or transparent.

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• Reopened Criminal Investigation: The case received renewed state and national scrutiny after Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten disclosed that his office had not initially received a full transcript of the victim’s interview from the Cornell University Police Department. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed the New York Attorney General’s Office as a special prosecutor, which has launched an active criminal probe.

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• Kotlikoff’s Response: President Kotlikoff acknowledged community anger over how Cornell handled the report and communicated the fallout, noting that while federal privacy laws (such as FERPA) limit what details can be shared publicly, the school must be far more transparent. He announced immediate actions to overhaul sexual assault prevention, student support, and investigative processes without waiting for ongoing internal reviews to conclude. He also called for a fundamental review of the role and accountability of Greek life (fraternities and sororities) on campus.

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