Cornell’s president pledged a serious review of fraternities and sororities. Some students had called for his resignation over the handling of the case.
Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff pledged Saturday to take “a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life,” responding to mounting outrage over how the university handled a student’s allegations that she was drugged and raped by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024. Kotlikoff delivered the pledge in an eight-minute video message to the Cornell community, days after several speakers called for his resignation at a student assembly hearing.
“At their best, these organizations can provide students with friendship, belonging, mentorship and a powerful sense of community,” Kotlikoff said. “But being part of a group can never diminish individual responsibility.” He said the university would seek input from students, alumni and others on how to preserve the value of Greek life while strengthening accountability, transparency and a culture in which members understand their responsibility to protect others’ safety. Kotlikoff reaffirmed his support for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the case, which New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had called for, and said the university’s Board of Trustees would announce further details of that review in the coming week. He acknowledged frustration over the university’s communication, saying it had contributed to distrust within the community, and said, “My heart aches when I think of what she experienced.”
Cornell has defended its own disciplinary response, saying it conducted a comprehensive internal investigation, barred the Chi Phi fraternity from campus and imposed a range of sanctions, including expulsions. But the woman’s lawsuit, which names the university, seven fraternity members and others as defendants, alleges the school failed to adequately punish some of the accused students. The accused men have denied all wrongdoing, according to the New York Times. Scrutiny of the case intensified after Hochul said newly disclosed information had undermined her confidence in Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who had initially declined to bring charges, leading her to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor. Kotlikoff said Cornell would create additional opportunities in the coming weeks for the community to ask questions and hear directly from university leadership, though he did not detail specific policy changes. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves,” he said.
This report is based on information from Reuters (via KSL and 93.3 The Drive), Al Jazeera and ABC News Australia.