Editor’s note: This article refers to sexual assault.
Sally Yates assured the Cornell community that she is committed to conducting a fully independent review of the University’s handling of sexual misconduct in an email sent Tuesday.
“I assure you that our independence is not a formality,” Yates wrote.
Yates, a former deputy U.S. attorney general, was retained by Cornell’s board of trustees on Oct. 6 to lead an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the alleged 2024 gang rape of Chi Phi and its response to sexual misconduct generally.
Her appointment follows a lawsuit filed in September by a former Cornell student, identified as Jane Doe, alleging she was forced to use drugs and gang raped at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house in 2024. The case led to a national outcry, student protests and scrutiny of the university administration.
“We will follow the facts wherever they lead us with unwavering candour and principled judgment so that this community – and the public – can have confidence in the integrity of our findings,” Yates wrote. “This is our commitment to you.”
Yates, currently a partner at the law firm King & Spalding LLP, served as assistant attorney general of the United States from May 2015 to January 2017.
She will report to a newly formed special committee of the Cornell University Board of Trustees.
In his message to the community, Yates addressed concerns about independence, saying the committee “is committed to providing (his) team with full autonomy.”
She added that the scope of the investigation would be “extensive”.
In addition to investigating the university’s response to the alleged gang rape of Chi Phi in 2024, Yates and his colleagues will examine the “full range” of preventive and disciplinary measures taken by Cornell in cases of sexual harassment and assault.
This will include a review of Cornell’s investigation process, complaint channels, victim support services, the role of the Cornell University Police Department, disciplinary responses, and the University’s oversight of fraternities and sororities.
Yates encouraged community members to share relevant information with his team via a provided email and said they plan to spend time on Cornell’s campus to learn more about the community’s “knowledge and perspective.”
At the conclusion of the investigation, Yates and her team will provide “unvarnished recommendations” to the University on how to improve its handling of sexual assault and misconduct, she wrote. The board plans to make these recommendations and the results of the review public.
“We know that this is a difficult and deeply painful time for the Cornell community and for everyone affected by sexual violence,” Yates concluded. “We also know that many people are counting on us: they are counting on us to tell the truth, they are counting on us to be fair, they are counting on us to get it right. We will dedicate everything we have to live up to those expectations.”
Giselle Redmond is a member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Class of 2028. She is an associate editor for the 144th Editorial Board and can be reached at gredmond@cornellsun.com.
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