A US comedian’s jokes amid the Cornell rape scandal have set off a firestorm

Cornell University has announced it will ban parties and social events at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year following an alleged gang rape incident on campus in 2024. The decision, made by President Michael Kotlikoff, comes after a lawsuit was filed by a former undergraduate, Jane Doe, who alleged that seven men sexually assaulted her during a party.

The university's Interfraternity Council, which oversees the fraternities, has not yet commented on the measure. The ban is part of a broader response to the lawsuit and the broader issue of sexual violence on campus, which has led to student protests, a no-confidence resolution from faculty, and criticism from alumni. Cornell's administration has also faced pressure from Governor Kathy Hochul, who appointed an independent special prosecutor, New York Attorney General Letitia James, to investigate the case.

The university has also reopened the investigation into the alleged gang rape and will work with the New York State Police to investigate incidents.

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