Cornell president vows review in wake of alleged student gang rape

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff has pledged to conduct an independent review of the institution following the alleged gang rape of a student in 2024. In a video released on the university's website, Kotlikoff stated that he welcomes the review by an outside law firm to examine all aspects of the university's handling of the incident.

The alleged rape occurred when the victim, identified as Jane Doe in legal documents, was drugged with ketamine and allegedly assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, a male social club at the Ivy League school. The civil lawsuit filed last month drew significant criticism against Cornell and New York prosecutors for failing to charge the accused.

Cornell's president expressed deep distress over the incident, acknowledging the anger, sadness, and struggle felt by the community. The criminal investigation into the rape has been reopened by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who appointed Attorney General Letitia James to lead the effort. Hochul criticized the initial investigation, noting that the complainant provided a clear and confident account of the assault.

Despite the reopening of the criminal case, Kotlikoff emphasized that the university will not wait for the investigation and review to conclude before taking action to improve the institution's response to such incidents.