Cornell president vows review in wake of alleged student gang rape

Cornell University president Michael Kotlikoff has vowed to conduct an external review of the institution following a widely criticized alleged gang rape of a student in 2024. The incident came to light through a graphic lawsuit filed last month, which alleged that the victim was drugged with ketamine and raped by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, a male social club.

President Kotlikoff made the announcement in a video shared on Cornell's website, expressing support for an independent review by an outside law firm into all aspects of the university's handling of the case. He acknowledged that the allegations were "deeply disturbing" and would have a lasting impact on the community.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has also joined the outcry, reopening the criminal investigation into the rape and appointing Attorney General Letitia James to head the effort. Hochul criticized the initial investigation, stating that the complainant provided a clear and confident account of the incident, yet no criminal charges were filed against the accused perpetrators.

Cornell has committed to taking immediate action to address the allegations and improve its handling of such cases, despite the ongoing criminal and independent review processes.