Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff has called allegations of a 2024 sexual assault involving a former student “deeply disturbing” and pledged greater transparency, as the school prepares an independent review of its response. New York Attorney General Letitia James has also been appointed special prosecutor to oversee the renewed criminal investigation.
Image credit: Plant Science Building at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Photo by King of Hearts via Wikimedia Commons, shared under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.
Key Highlights
- Kotlikoff said the allegations involving a former student identified in court documents as Jane Doe were “deeply disturbing.”
- Jane Doe alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024.
- Her civil lawsuit names Cornell University, seven former Chi Phi members and other defendants.
- New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor after the local criminal case was reopened.
- Cornell’s president supports an independent review by an outside law firm into the university’s handling of the matter.
- The allegations have not been established in court; the renewed criminal investigation is ongoing.
Cornell President Speaks Out About 2024 Allegations
In an eight-minute video message to the Cornell community on Saturday, October 3, Kotlikoff described the case as deeply disturbing and said the administration and community “must do better.” He said the university did not have all the answers and pledged greater transparency about what it did after the complaint was reported.
Kotlikoff said Cornell’s Board of Trustees would announce which outside law firm will conduct an independent review of all aspects of the university’s handling of the matter. The president’s message came amid criticism from students and others about the university’s response. The Associated Press reported on his statement and the planned review.
Jane Doe’s Civil Lawsuit and the Allegations
The former student, identified as Jane Doe in legal filings, filed a civil lawsuit against Cornell, seven former Chi Phi fraternity members and other defendants. She alleges that she was 20 when she was sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024 after consuming alcohol and being given ketamine.
The allegations are claims in a civil case and have not been proven in court. Cornell conducted a separate Title IX process and imposed university sanctions on some students. The initial criminal investigation was closed without charges, but the local district attorney reopened it in late September after additional information came to light. The Associated Press has outlined what is known and what remains disputed.
Letitia James Appointed Special Prosecutor
Hochul signed an executive order on October 1 appointing the New York Attorney General’s Office, led by James, as special prosecutor for the investigation. The governor said newly released information raised serious questions about the original investigation and said she had lost confidence in the local district attorney’s handling of the case.
James said her office would investigate fully and fairly, guided by the facts and the law. The appointment authorises her office to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute; it does not establish that a crime occurred or determine the guilt of anyone named in the lawsuit. The Attorney General’s Office issued a statement after the appointment.
Debate Over New York’s Sexual-Assault Law
The case has renewed debate over how New York law treats voluntary intoxication when investigators assess whether a person was capable of consenting to sexual activity. Hochul has called for changes to the state’s law, while Cornell has said it supports efforts to amend it. The legal debate is separate from the question of what happened in the case, which investigators must assess based on evidence.
Trump Criticises James’ Appointment
President Donald Trump criticised James’ appointment, saying the accused men would not get a fair shake under her investigation. James has said her office will be guided by facts and law. The political disagreement does not resolve the allegations or determine the outcome of either the criminal investigation or the civil lawsuit.
What Happens Next?
The case now has two separate tracks. James’ office will conduct the renewed criminal investigation and decide whether the evidence supports any charges. Cornell’s external review will examine how the university handled the complaint and its related processes.
Neither process has determined criminal responsibility. The case has also brought renewed attention to campus sexual assault, consent, fraternity culture and the way institutions respond when a complaint is made.
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