Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff acknowledged the need for improvement in the administration’s handling of a serious allegation involving a former student, Jane Doe, who claimed she was gang-raped at a fraternity in 2024. In a video message, Kotlikoff emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents in the future. Jane Doe has filed a lawsuit against the university and seven men, alleging she was drugged and raped at the Chi Phi fraternity. Although the district attorney initially found insufficient evidence for criminal charges, new developments have led to the reopening of the investigation. The university admitted to only sharing a sworn statement and a Snapchat screenshot with the district attorney, not the full interview transcript. New York Governor Kathy Hochul appointed State Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to lead the investigation. Cornell plans to hire an outside law firm for an independent review of the case. The school’s Title IX investigation previously resulted in the expulsion of two accused individuals.
QUESTION: How might the reopening of this investigation impact the way universities handle similar allegations in the future?
Cornell president says school “must do better” amid criticism of its investigation
