Cornell University has suspended fraternity parties and social events until the end of the 2026-27 academic year, while giving New York State Police a role in investigating sexual assault allegations on campus.
The measures were announced by Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff amid mounting criticism of the university’s handling of an alleged gang rape involving fraternity members.
Under a new “zero tolerance” policy, fraternity chapters could be suspended immediately for violations. Cornell has more than 20 active fraternities belonging to its Interfraternity Council, although it was not immediately clear whether the restrictions would cover parties held away from campus.
“These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue,” Mr Kotlikoff said in a letter to the university community.
He also pledged to appoint a case manager in the Office of Civil Rights to help people reporting sexual misconduct navigate the process, and to work with New York State Police on criminal investigations independent of the university.
Crimes reported on campus are generally investigated by Cornell’s own police department, which has full law-enforcement powers but is controlled by the university. Its officers investigated allegations made in 2024 and presented their initial findings to the Tompkins County district attorney, who declined to prosecute within weeks of the first report.
New York’s governor removed the district attorney from the case this month following public criticism over the lack of charges. The investigation is now being led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, while Cornell has appointed former US deputy attorney general Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of its response.
The woman at the centre of the controversy alleges in a lawsuit filed in September that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by several fraternity members after attending a party at the Chi Phi house in October 2024. She alleges that she was pressured to take drugs and that other men entered the room while she was incapacitated.
She also claims that Snapchat messages portraying her as sexually available to anyone at the house were circulated among fraternity members without her knowledge.
Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students after an internal investigation, but no criminal charges have been filed. The seven men named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations, saying either that the sexual activity was consensual or that they were not involved.
Andrew Miltenberg, a lawyer for one of the accused men, criticised the new restrictions as an overly broad response to problems extending beyond fraternities. He said parties could simply move off campus, where there would be less oversight, adding: “Changing the address doesn’t change the behaviour.”
The announcement came a day before Cornell’s Faculty Senate was due to consider a motion expressing no confidence in the administration’s ability to deal effectively with sexual assault on campus.
Paul Ortiz, a professor of labour history and the motion’s lead sponsor, welcomed the measures but said it was troubling that action had followed student protests, media coverage and the lawsuit. He said he believed the no-confidence motion was “more important than ever”.
Mr Kotlikoff said sexual violence was not confined to fraternities and that Cornell also needed to address a campus culture of excessive drinking and drug use, while expanding education about students’ responsibility to intervene when others may be at risk.
