Cornell University to take serious look at fraternities after rape allegations | American universities

Cornell University will examine the role of fraternities and sororities on campus after an outcry over the school’s handling of a student’s rape allegations, the Ivy League school’s president said.

A civil suit filed last month by the woman, who alleges she was drugged and raped in 2024 by several members of the Chi Phi fraternity, has sparked outrage and soul-searching at Cornell about its campus culture at the Ithaca, New York, school.

In a video message Saturday, Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the school would take steps to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future. That included “a serious examination of the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life,” Kotlikoff said.

“At their best, these organizations can provide students with friendship, belonging, mentorship and a powerful sense of community,” he said. “But being part of a group can never diminish “individual responsibility.”

The university will seek input, he said, from students, alumni and others on how to “preserve what is valuable in Greek life while strengthening individual responsibility, transparency and a culture in which each member understands their responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of others.”

The lawsuit against Cornell, seven fraternity members and others alleges that the school failed to adequately punish “some of the accused students.”

The accused men have denied any wrongdoing, The New York Times reported.

Cornell defended its handling of the matter, saying it launched a thorough investigation and banned the Chi Phi fraternity from campus. The school said it imposed a series of disciplinary measures, including expulsions.

But “we have to do better,” Kotlikoff said. “We don’t have all the answers, but we are committed to investigating and finding the answers our community deserves. »

He promised that university officials “would be more transparent” about their actions related to the 2024 incident, but he did not detail specific initiatives the university would take. “In the coming weeks, we will create additional opportunities for members of our community to ask questions and hear directly from university leaders,” he said.

The case has reignited scrutiny of how law enforcement and universities handle sexual assault complaints, with students questioning whether the processes are enough to protect them. It also caught the attention of New York state officials, who appointed a special prosecutor to investigate.