Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said the university “must do better” in a weekend video message about sexual assault and its response to allegations involving seven former students. He acknowledged unanswered questions about the investigations that followed a woman’s 2024 report and promised a more transparent account of what Cornell can disclose.
The message came as a separate court ruling brought one part of Cornell’s disciplinary process into public view. A Tompkins County judge dismissed a former Chi Phi member’s challenge to the university’s procedures, according to CNY Central. The man is appealing. The ruling concerns how Cornell handled his case; it does not decide what happened during the alleged assault.
A former student identified as Jane Doe alleges in a pending civil lawsuit that she was drugged and sexually assaulted at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in October 2024. She sued seven former students, Cornell and other defendants. Her allegations have not been proved in court, and no criminal charges have been announced.
What the disciplinary ruling shows
Cornell’s hearing panel found the former fraternity member, identified in court records as John Doe, not responsible for sexual assault or sexual exploitation. It found him responsible for attempted sexual exploitation after concluding he entered a room intending to observe a woman he believed was likely nude or engaged in sexual activity, CNY Central reported.
The sanctions in his case included a one-way no-contact order, a class addressing social media, sexual harassment and bystander intervention, and a reflection paper. Those are the publicly described sanctions for this individual student, not a complete account of the outcomes for everyone named in Jane Doe’s lawsuit.
John Doe argued that Cornell had not adequately notified him that he could be found responsible for an attempted offense when the stated allegations were sexual assault and sexual exploitation. State Supreme Court Justice Mark Masler rejected that procedural challenge, finding that Cornell gave adequate notice and substantially followed its rules, according to CNY Central. His attorney has filed an appeal.
Separate reviews remain ahead
Kotlikoff said Cornell’s Board of Trustees will announce an outside law firm this week to independently review the university’s handling of the 2024 matter. He said the university would not wait for that review to finish before acting where it sees a need to improve prevention, student support or investigations. He also called for renewed discussion of fraternity and sorority life.
The outside review is separate from the criminal investigation. As FingerLakes1 previously reported, Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Attorney General Letitia James’ office as special prosecutor after the Tompkins County district attorney reopened a case he had declined to prosecute in 2024. James’ office will decide what further investigation and, if warranted, prosecution should follow.
Kotlikoff said Cornell will also create opportunities for students, parents and alumni to question university leaders. The scope and timetable of the outside review have yet to be announced.
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