Cornell president calls alleged fraternity gang rape 'deeply disturbing' and vows transparency
Cornell president Michael Kotlikoff called a reported 2024 fraternity assault 'deeply disturbing' and promised more openness in an eight-minute video to the campus community.
Cornell president calls alleged fraternity gang rape 'deeply disturbing' and vows transparency
The president of Cornell University has labeled a reported 2024 sexual assault inside a campus fraternity as “deeply disturbing” and warned that the affair will cast a long shadow over the New York institution. In an eight-minute video addressed to students and employees, Michael Kotlikoff described the past seven days as among the most painful in the university’s history, according to TV2 Danmark, citing the Associated Press.
Kotlikoff conceded that “worrying questions” surround the inquiry that followed the alleged attack. He said it causes him anguish to consider what the complainant endured and stressed that the episode raises troubling concerns about sexual violence, dehumanization, and the roles played by party culture together with alcohol and narcotics. He pledged that the administration and the wider campus community must improve their response.
The leader also backed calls by New York Governor Kathy Hochul for an independent review of the matter and endorsed her decision to hand the criminal probe over to state Attorney General Letitia James. His remarks follow days of intensifying outrage over how Cornell managed accusations that several members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted a female student during a 2024 gathering.
Court papers identify the plaintiff only as Jane Doe. Her lawsuit contends that Chi Phi members rendered her unconscious with ketamine before subjecting her to abuse and rape by seven individuals. During a student forum on Thursday, attendees aired grievances and proposed reforms to the university’s policies on sexual misconduct. Some participants demanded Kotlikoff step down.
The president recognized that limited disclosure by the school had bred distrust. While pointing to genuine legal constraints and privacy obligations that restrict what can be shared, he nevertheless committed to providing more information going forward.
Cornell, a prominent research university located in the state of New York, has faced mounting pressure since details of the litigation became public.
Source: TV 2 Nyheder