Cornell president calls alleged gang rape ‘deeply disturbing,’ pledges greater transparency

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff described the recent alleged gang rape of a student at a fraternity house as "deeply disturbing" in an eight-minute video message on Saturday. He acknowledged that the incident would weigh heavily on the university for years to come and pledged greater transparency amid growing outrage over the school's handling of the case.

Kotlikoff called for an independent investigation, supported New York Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to transfer the criminal investigation to the state attorney general, and expressed his commitment to supporting legislative efforts to change New York's sexual assault laws. The rape allegations, which allegedly involved multiple fraternity members, have sparked calls for Kotlikoff's resignation and raised questions about the university's response to sexual assault cases.