Cornell Students Protest University’s Response to Alleged Fraternity Gang Rape/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Cornell students, faculty and supporters gathered Monday to protest the university’s handling of an alleged 2024 gang rape at a fraternity house. Demonstrators demanded greater transparency, disciplinary changes and President Michael Kotlikoff’s resignation after damage was discovered at an administration building. New York’s attorney general is taking over the criminal investigation, while Cornell has pledged an independent review and greater openness.
Quick Look
- Campus demonstration: Protesters filled a plaza outside Cornell’s student center before marching to the administration building.
- Assault allegations: A former student identified as Jane Doe alleges that multiple Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted her in October 2024.
- Protester demands: Students called for changes to consent rules, an overhaul of disciplinary procedures and stronger consequences for those involved.
- Property damage: Cornell discovered graffiti and damage to a glass door at its administrative headquarters early Monday.
- University response: Cornell says it expelled some students, suspended others and closed the fraternity chapter.
- Criminal investigation: No criminal charges have been filed; Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed the state attorney general to take over the investigation.
- Denials: Lawyers for two former students denied their clients participated in a sexual assault.
Deep Look
Cornell Protest Draws Students, Faculty and Supporters
ITHACA, New York — Cornell students and faculty gathered Monday to condemn the university’s response to allegations that several fraternity members sexually assaulted a student in 2024.
The demonstration overflowed the plaza outside the student center, with additional spectators watching from nearby paths, windows and a hill.
Participants wore purple ribbons and carried signs reading “support survivors, expel rapists” and “Justice 4 every Jane Doe” in support of the woman identified anonymously in court documents.
“Too often, we are met with silence, we are met with statements, we are met with procedures, but not enough support,” student Athena Holloway told the crowd. “How much does it take for our university to stand with survivors?”
Hispanic studies professor Julia Chang drew applause when she said: “Rape should not be inevitable.”
Demonstrators Demand Kotlikoff’s Resignation and Disciplinary Changes
Speakers criticized fraternities, university trustees and Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff, accusing the administration of placing institutional reputation ahead of student safety.
“Kotlikoff, resign!” demonstrators chanted as they marched toward the administration building to deliver their demands.
Those demands included revising the student code’s definition of sexual consent, restructuring disciplinary procedures and expelling or revoking degrees from all students involved in the alleged assault.
Student Madeline Gage said Jane Doe’s account had exposed shortcomings in prevention and survivor support.
“for all the strong feelings about sexual assault, …. we do not do enough to prevent it, nor to support survivors after it happens,” she said.
As the gathering dispersed, some participants chanted “ban the frats!”
Cornell Investigates Graffiti and Damage to Administration Building
University officials discovered damage at Cornell’s administrative headquarters early Monday.
News photographs showed holes in a glass door and red-painted messages on adjacent walls criticizing patriarchy and the university’s handling of sexual assault cases.
The graffiti was later removed, and the damaged door was boarded up.
Cornell spokesperson Kyle Kimball said the university was investigating. His statement acknowledged Cornellians’ “frustration and strong emotions” but said “damaging property is not the answer.”
Campus police directed questions to Kimball’s office, which declined to provide further details about the incident.
Jane Doe’s Lawsuit Describes Alleged Assault at Chi Phi House
Jane Doe alleges that multiple Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted her in October 2024 after pressuring her to consume alcohol and drugs.
She was a Cornell student at the time.
Her recently filed lawsuit names the university, seven former students, the fraternity and others. It alleges that she became fully incapacitated during the assault and that one man messaged others inviting them to participate.
“I felt like bait. I felt like lions around me. It just was a totally debilitating place to be in,” she told Cornell investigators last year, according to records reviewed by The Associated Press.
Lawyers representing two former students denied their clients participated in a sexual assault. The AP could not reach the other men or their representatives.
Court records indicate that some accused students described the sexual activity as consensual during interviews with university investigators.
Recorded Phone Call Adds to Scrutiny of University Response
Shortly before reporting the allegations to Cornell police in November 2024, Jane Doe recorded a phone conversation with one of the men she says assaulted her.
ABC News aired portions of the recording Monday, featuring only what the network identified as the man’s voice, and described other portions in writing.
“What y’all did would be classified as gang rape,” she told him during the conversation, according to ABC News.
The network reported that Jane Doe provided the recording to Cornell.
Students Challenge Cornell’s Account of Consequences
The lawsuit has intensified scrutiny of the actions taken by Cornell, campus police and the local district attorney after Jane Doe reported the alleged assault.
When she went to campus police in November 2024, she said she “can say with 100% confidence I was raped.”
No criminal charges have been filed.
Cornell says it expelled some students and suspended others, and the university’s Chi Phi chapter was shut down.
In a statement last week, the administration rejected what it called the “false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case.”
Students nevertheless continue to demand clearer information and greater accountability.
Hochul Transfers Criminal Investigation to State Attorney General
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Jane Doe was “failed by people and institutions” including Cornell police and local District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.
Last week, Hochul appointed the state attorney general to take over the criminal investigation, which Van Houten had reopened days earlier.
The governor also called for an independent examination of Cornell’s handling of the case.
Cornell President Apologizes and Promises Greater Transparency
Kotlikoff released an apologetic video Saturday following the week’s developments.
He said Jane Doe’s account “raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
The president reiterated his support for an independent review of the university’s actions.
He also promised greater transparency and a commitment to “finding the answers our community deserves.”
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