Cornell president pledges changes after assault allegations

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said Saturday the university must improve its response to sexual assault allegations involving seven former Chi Phi fraternity members, and pledged to begin changes before external reviews of the case are complete. He also welcomed an independent review of Cornell’s handling and supported New York’s decision to place the active criminal investigation with Attorney General Letitia James’s office. In a video statement to the university community, Kotlikoff called Jane Doe’s account of what happened in 2024 deeply disturbing and acknowledged that Cornell does not have all the answers about its response. He said the case raises questions about sexual assault, campus party culture, alcohol and drug use, and the university’s investigation after the allegations were reported. Kotlikoff said Cornell would act on prevention and education, student support, mental-health and substance-use resources, and investigative processes without waiting for the reviews to conclude. He also pledged a greater effort to explain the university’s actions, while noting that legal and privacy restrictions limit what it can disclose.