Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff stated Saturday that his school’s administration must do better following intense criticism and fallout over its investigation into allegations that a former student was gang-raped at a fraternity in 2024. In an online video message, Kotlikoff expressed that the administration and community must take every possible measure to prevent such incidents from repeating. The former student, referred to as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit last month against Cornell and seven men, claiming she was drugged and raped in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity chapter when she was 20 years old. Kotlikoff acknowledged that the period has marked one of the most difficult weeks in the institution’s history. In 2024, the Tompkins County district attorney concluded that insufficient evidence existed to support criminal charges, meaning no charges were initially filed. However, District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated he never received the full transcript of the victim’s two-day interview with campus police from November 2024, receiving only a six-page sworn statement instead. While Cornell initially stated its police department provided Title IX investigation results to the DA, an updated FAQ noted that the school shared the sworn statement and a Snapchat screenshot with the district attorney’s office in line with protocol. Van Houten announced plans to reopen the investigation, while New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to lead the probe. Kotlikoff announced that Cornell will hire an outside law firm to conduct an independent review of how the university handled the 2024 matter. He also noted that the Title IX investigation led to two of the accused being expelled and two suspended for at least two semesters, while one had already graduated and two were found not responsible. Acknowledging community distrust over communication limitations, Kotlikoff pledged greater transparency and efforts to explain context where legally possible. He emphasized that the university will create upcoming opportunities for parents, students, and community members to engage directly with school leadership.
Source: cbsnews.com
