Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff has backed an investigation into the institution’s handling of allegations that a female student was raped and sexually assaulted by several fraternity members on campus.
The allegations were made in a lawsuit filed in September, which claims that seven male students attacked the student while she was intoxicated at the Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024.
Questions have been raised over why the district attorney’s office did not investigate the claims. New York Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor in the case.
In a video message, Mr Kotlikoff said he welcomed an investigation into Cornell’s handling of the matter and supported the governor’s decision to appoint Ms James.
He acknowledged that the university’s response two years ago had come under scrutiny and said Cornell needed to do better.
Mr Kotlikoff described the period since the lawsuit was filed as “one of the most difficult weeks” in Cornell’s history, saying students were “angry, sad and struggling”.
“What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come,” he said.
“My heart aches when I think of what she experienced. It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
The president pledged to improve campus culture and ensure students understood consent, adding: “We must do everything we can to prevent what happened to Jane Doe, and everyone before her, and anyone after her, from ever happening again.”
