Protesters staged a mock tribunal outside a Cornell University trustees meeting Friday, pressing university leaders for changes in their response to sexual assault allegations involving former fraternity members.
The demonstration began at about 3:30 p.m. in the courtyard at Myron Taylor Hall, according to a news release from the People's University, the group that organized it. WSKG reported from the scene that protesters gathered outside the trustees' meeting and held a mock trial of Cornell administrators and men accused in a former student's lawsuit.
The organizers estimated that about 50 students, staff members, alumni and Ithaca-area residents took part. They said the protest was meant to support a former student identified in court papers as Jane Doe and other survivors of sexual assault.
Jane Doe's lawsuit alleges that seven members of Cornell's Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her in 2024 and that the university mishandled her complaints. The Associated Press reported that all seven men have denied her allegations, saying either that the sexual activity was consensual or that they were not involved.
Protesters press four demands
The group called for the resignation or removal of President Michael Kotlikoff and administrators Ryan Lombardi, Brian White, Robert Harrington, Kavita Bala and Christina Liang. It also demanded that Cornell expel or revoke the degrees of Chi Phi members it says were involved in the alleged assault, end Interfraternity Council Greek life and replace the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards with a democratically run student-conduct system.
The organizers said demonstrators smashed effigies of the seven men and administrators before moving to Barton Hall, where trustees were scheduled to have dinner. The release said protesters chanted and gave speeches outside the building from about 4:45 to 6:30 p.m.
The People's University said it would continue demonstrating over the case and the university's handling of sexual assault complaints. WSKG reported that Friday's demonstration was the fifth protest in Ithaca since details of the lawsuit became public.
Cornell cites sanctions and outside review
Cornell says it has imposed disciplinary sanctions, barred the Chi Phi chapter from campus and created a broader effort to address sexual assault prevention, reporting and support. A special committee of trustees retained former federal prosecutor Sally Yates to lead an independent review of the university's response to the allegations.
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