Cornell suspends fraternity events through 2026-27

Cornell University has suspended parties and social events at Interfraternity Council fraternity houses through the end of the 2026-27 academic year, as it changes how sexual-misconduct reports are handled following allegations of an assault at a fraternity house in 2024. University President Michael Kotlikoff announced the measures Tuesday, October 13. Cornell said the moratorium is intended to allow a review of fraternity life and whether it can safely continue. Chapters that violate the directive by holding an in-house party or social event face immediate emergency suspension. The university also said it would work with New York State Police on campus sexual-assault investigations and add case-management support in its Office of Civil Rights. The case manager is intended to help people reporting misconduct navigate the process. Cornell has also said it will accelerate recommendations from its sexual-assault task force. The changes follow a civil lawsuit filed in September by a former student identified in court documents as Jane Doe. She alleges that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity drugged and sexually assaulted her at a party in 2024.