Cornell president labels alleged gang rape 'deeply disturbing', promises review
Cornell's president Michael Kotlikoff has addressed the alleged 2024 fraternity gang rape in a video message, pledging transparency and backing an independent review.
Cornell president breaks silence on alleged fraternity gang rape, vows independent review
Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff described the alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity house in 2024 as "deeply disturbing" on Saturday, acknowledging that the case would weigh on the university for years to come, according to apnews.com.
In an eight-minute video message addressed to the Cornell community, Kotlikoff called the past week one of the most difficult in the institution's history and admitted there were troubling questions surrounding the investigations that followed the allegations.
"My heart aches when I think of what she experienced," Kotlikoff said. "It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use."
The woman at the centre of the case, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, has sued the university and seven former students. Scrutiny of Cornell's response has intensified in recent days, with several speakers at a student assembly hearing on Thursday calling for Kotlikoff's resignation.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, asked at a news conference on Friday whether she believed Kotlikoff should step down, declined to take a position, saying she did not yet have sufficient information.
Kotlikoff reaffirmed his support for an independent review of Cornell's handling of the case — a review Hochul had called for — and said the university's Board of Trustees would announce details the following week. He also expressed support for Hochul's decision to transfer the criminal investigation to the state attorney general.
"I want to acknowledge something that can be difficult for an institution to say," Kotlikoff said. "We don't have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves."
The president acknowledged that Cornell had not communicated adequately, saying that failure had generated distrust. While citing "real legal and privacy limits" on what the university could disclose, he pledged greater transparency and more opportunities for students, parents and others to engage with university leadership.
The case has also reignited debate over a New York state law that makes it difficult to prosecute sexual assaults involving people who voluntarily consume alcohol or drugs, even when they became too intoxicated to consent. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten cited that law when defending his initial decision not to pursue charges, saying the woman's original statement to police described voluntary drug use and sexual activity.
Critics have long sought to close what they refer to as the "voluntary intoxication loophole," which draws a legal distinction between victims incapacitated by substances administered without their knowledge and those who voluntarily became intoxicated. Hochul has pledged to push for legislative changes to close the gap.
Kotlikoff committed the university's support to those legislative efforts. He also called for "a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life," saying Cornell would consult students, alumni and others on how to preserve the benefits of Greek life while strengthening accountability.
"Being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility for our own actions, for how we treat others or for speaking up when someone may be at risk," he said.
Source: Google News MT