Cornell University suspended all parties and social events at Interfraternity Council houses for the rest of the academic year as investigations continue into allegations of sexual assault in 2024.
The university said the restrictions will “provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue.” Any fraternity that violates the ban will face immediate suspension.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said conversations with the university community and campus protests underscored the need for lasting change.
“I have spent the past weeks listening to students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and trustees, who have shared their feelings of deep connection and sympathy with Jane Doe, anger and frustration that this could happen at Cornell, and outrage at the broader prevalence of sexual violence against women in our society,” he said.
“These conversations, and campus protests, have underscored my deep conviction that we must do better: that the time for meaningful and lasting change at Cornell, and at campuses across the country, is now.”
Kotlikoff also said the university will begin working with New York State Police sexual assault investigators on campus allegations.
The announcement comes after Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the investigation into the alleged assault following the filing of Doe’s civil lawsuit in September.
In her complaint, Doe alleges she arrived at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity. She says fraternity members then pressured her to take ketamine, gave her additional drinks, and repeatedly sexually assaulted her.
Her lawsuit accuses Cornell of failing to protect her and respond to her allegations. All seven men have denied the allegations, and one of the men alleged that Jane Doe sexually assaulted him. Two of the seven men accused of involvement were expelled from Cornell, while others received lesser punishments.
The Daily Wire reported on Monday that a defense attorney for one of the accused men asked a judge to restrict public statements by attorneys and others involved in the lawsuit, saying the statements could bias potential jurors.
Jane Doe’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, said the request was an attempt to silence her.
The Daily Wire also reported on text messages in which Doe told one of the men she now accuses, “I don’t think we should feel any shame for the part. Our body our choice asf (as f*ck).”
New York Attorney General Letitia James is taking over the criminal investigation as a special prosecutor at the direction of New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
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