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Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the university “must do better” after a woman alleged she was drugged and raped by members of a fraternity. The BBC reported that Kotlikoff described the allegations as “deeply disturbing” in a video statement released on Saturday evening.
The woman, identified in court filings as Jane Doe, says she was a 20-year-old student when seven men from the university’s Chi Phi fraternity assaulted her for hours on 19 October 2024. She alleges that alcohol and ketamine were involved and that she was too intoxicated to consent.
Jane Doe said she reported the incident to Cornell University police two weeks later. The police investigated, but no charges were filed. Last month, she brought a civil lawsuit against the university, alleging it failed to protect her and adequately discipline those involved.
Cornell says it will review its response
Kotlikoff said Cornell was “committed to investigating” how the case was handled. He said the university needed to foster a culture in which sexual assault was “inexcusable” and ensure people understood informed consent.
University leaders, he added, should create an environment where survivors feel safe reporting sexual assault and are treated with compassion and dignity. Kotlikoff also called for a “serious look” at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life, saying group membership did not lessen individual responsibility.
New York officials to examine the case
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she was “deeply disturbed” by the handling of the investigation and appointed state Attorney General Letitia James to lead a review of the case.
Kotlikoff said he supported James’s appointment to lead a criminal investigation and welcomed an independent review by a law firm of Cornell’s handling of the matter.
