Cornell University has prohibited parties at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year following criticism of its handling of an alleged sexual assault involving a student in 2024. According to the BBC, the university’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, announced the measure on Tuesday alongside other steps to address concerns…...
Cornell University has prohibited parties at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year following criticism of its handling of an alleged sexual assault involving a student in 2024.
According to the BBC, the university’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, announced the measure on Tuesday alongside other steps to address concerns over campus safety after a woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit last month, alleging that she was drugged and raped by several men at a fraternity house party in 2024.
In a statement announcing the measures, Kotlikoff expressed regret over the alleged incident, saying, “I am deeply sorry for the harm Jane Doe suffered in 2024, and appalled that this act of sexual violence occurred within our Cornell community.”
He added: “It is clear that women on our campus continue to question whether they are safe. We must meet this moment by acknowledging where we have fallen short and taking meaningful action.”
The university said students who violate the new restrictions on fraternity parties would face suspension.
Cornell also announced plans to strengthen support for survivors of sexual assault, including increasing the number of staff available to help individuals report sexual misconduct and navigate support services.
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Under Title IX, the federal law governing how educational institutions handle sexual assault claims, universities are required to provide support measures to help survivors continue their education following an assault. Doe’s lawyer has said she left the university after the alleged incident.
Reacting to the university’s announcement, Thomas Giuffra, a lawyer representing Doe, said she filed the civil lawsuit “to achieve her aim of improving Cornell and its response to abuse claims”.
“While the steps announced today are helpful to achieve this goal, they are too late to protect Ms. Doe,” Giuffra added.
The university also said it would allow trauma-informed officers from the New York State Police to investigate sexual assault allegations on campus.
According to Kotlikoff, the officers would interview survivors who wish to pursue criminal charges and prepare “comprehensive investigative summaries for the appropriate law enforcement agency”.
Cornell has faced scrutiny over the information it provided to the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office concerning Doe’s allegations.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said his office received only a six-page statement signed by the alleged victim and Snapchat messages in 2024, in which men at the fraternity party advertised a free sexual encounter with Doe. The documents were among hundreds of records from Cornell’s investigation obtained by US media outlets.
State officials have also criticised Van Houten for not bringing charges or personally interviewing victims and witnesses.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed state Attorney General Letitia James to investigate the case.
As part of its response, Cornell plans to engage national experts in sexual violence prevention to review the circumstances surrounding the allegations and recommend measures to improve campus safety.
Kotlikoff said the experts would examine “the factors leading to campus sexual violence and strategies to promote responsible sexual citizenship”.
He described the announced measures as the first steps towards “systematic change” at the university.
Fraternities, which operate as social organisations at universities across the United States, have faced longstanding criticism over binge drinking, excessive partying and dangerous hazing practices.