Cornell suspends fraternity parties amid backlash over sexual assault allegations | American universities

Cornell University announced it was suspending parties and other social gatherings at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year, amid growing backlash over its handling of allegations that a female student was sexually assaulted at a fraternity house in 2024.

The university also said Cornell would involve New York State Police in investigating sex crimes on campus.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff announced the measures Tuesday.

The suspension of all parties and social gatherings in houses governed by Cornell’s interfraternity council is intended to be in effect through the end of the academic year ending in spring 2027 — and it is subject to a “zero tolerance” policy that would lead to the immediate emergency suspension of any chapter found to be in violation, Kotlikoff said.

“These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine if and how it can safely continue,” Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the campus community.

Kotlikoff also committed to adding a case manager to Cornell’s civil rights office to help those who report sexual misconduct to the Ivy League institution navigate the processes. Kotlikoff also pledged to work with the New York State Police to allow its trauma-informed criminal investigators — who are independent of Cornell University — to investigate the allegations.

Such allegations were otherwise handled by Cornell campus police.

A civil lawsuit filed in September by a woman identified as Jane Doe alleges that several men assaulted her at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house after she went there intoxicated looking for a friend.

Two of the accused men were later expelled after an internal investigation by Cornell – while others were allowed to return to their studies after writing an essay, attending a workshop or serving a short suspension.

None were ever arrested or charged by local authorities, and disgust at the treatment of the alleged attackers grew when the woman’s trial was made public.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on October 2 that she was appointing Letitia James, the state’s attorney general, to take over Jane Doe’s case as special prosecutor.

If warranted, James would present evidence to a grand jury that could lead to criminal charges, Hochul said.

Two of the men named in Jane Doe’s lawsuit challenged James’ appointment. Hochul said James’ appointment was necessary because local police and prosecutors who were obligated to protect Jane Doe had “failed.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report