Cornell president says university 'must do better' after frat house rape allegations

Cornell University's president notes the school "must do better" after a woman alleged she was drugged and raped by a group of men at a fraternity house.

Key points

• As "deeply disturbing", in an eight-minute video statement published Saturday evening, Michael Kotlikoff described the allegations raised by the woman, identified only as Jane Doe.
• She remarked she had noted the incident two weeks after it happened to Cornell University police.
• Kotlikoff remarked Cornell was "committed to investigating" the way the case was handled, and stated the school administration and community "must do better".
• Jane Doe remarked in her lawsuit that she was intoxicated during the alleged incident and could not provide consent.
• As part of "broader work" that needs to happen, Kotlikoff remarked there should be a "serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life".

Meanwhile, the alleged incident has raised questions around the culture on campus of drug and alcohol employ, and the way investigations were conducted in the case, Kotlikoff stated.

Jane Doe was a 20-year-old student at the university when she notes seven men from its Chi Phi fraternity assaulted her for hours in an incident involving alcohol and the drug ketamine on 19 October 2024.

She remarked she had noted the incident two weeks after it happened to Cornell University police. It investigated, but no charges were laid.

Last month, Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit against the Ivy League university, in which she alleged Cornell had failed to protect her or adequately punish the men involved.

"We must foster a culture in which sexual assault is inexcusable and ensure our community is empowered and understands informed consent, " he remarked.

He continued that university leaders need to create an environment where victims of sexual assault "feel safe coming forward and are treated with compassion and dignity".

"Being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility for our own actions, for how we treat others, or for speaking up when someone may be at risk, " he remarked.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has remarked she was "deeply disturbed" by how the investigation was handled, and has appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James to lead a review of the case.

Kotlikoff remarked he backed the decision to appoint James to lead a criminal investigation, and welcomed an independent review by a law firm of how Cornell has handled the matter.

Taken together, the developments around cornell president says university ' must do better' after frat house rape allegations point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.