<p>New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on October 1, 2026, that Cornell University President Michael I. Kotlikoff has agreed to an independent investigation regarding the university's handling of allegations made by a female student who claims she was drugged and gang-raped by seven fraternity members in 2024.</p>
<p>Hochul stated her intention to have an independent investigation into Cornell's response to sexual assault reports. The university has faced scrutiny related to the alleged gang rape, prompting the Tompkins County district attorney to reopen the criminal case.</p>
<p>“I want answers,” Hochul said. “I want to know what happened, and that’s why I’ve called for an independent investigation by Cornell University outside counsel hired to ask those questions and more. And I just spoke to the university president. They have agreed. They understand the importance of this, so we’re looking forward to their announcement in fairly short order that this will be occurring.”</p>
<p>Hochul also indicated plans to take action at the state level to ensure that laws are established for colleges to conduct thorough investigations into sexual assault reports.</p>
<p>“As a mom who dropped her own daughter off at college not that long ago, parents deserve to know that the institution that they leave their children at will protect them,” Hochul said. “While we have some of the toughest laws on sexual assault on college campuses right here in New York, I think we can do better. That’s why I’ve directed my team to look at what we can do when the next session of the legislature convenes. This culture has to stop, and it will stop here in the state of New York.”</p>
<p>The woman, identified as Jane Doe, alleges she was sexually assaulted at the Chi Phi fraternity house on October 19, 2024, when she was 20 years old. The initial investigation into the incident had been closed, but Doe filed a 101-page lawsuit on September 14 against Cornell University, several fraternity and sorority organizations, a local bar, and seven current or former students. The Chi Phi members named in the lawsuit as defendants are Jonathan Newell, Matthew Ingalls, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar.</p>
<p>Doe claims that fraternity members pressured her into taking a substance they described as ketamine and sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated. During the assault, one of the fraternity members allegedly sent a Snapchat message encouraging others to join in.</p>
<p>Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten stated that Doe’s allegations in the civil lawsuit are “dramatically different” from the account provided to police two years prior.</p>
<p>However, a CBS News investigation found that Doe had told police, “I can say with 100% confidence I was raped,” according to a transcript obtained by the outlet. When Doe revisited her statement the following day, she expressed being “very confident” about her account of the evening. A Title IX investigator, a victim advocate, and Doe’s adviser were present while she recounted the events.</p>
<p>After Doe reported the incident to the Cornell University Police Department in November 2024, the Chi Phi chapter was barred from campus. However, criminal charges were never filed. The seven Chi Phi members in question faced various consequences, including suspension and expulsion, but most were allowed to continue their education at the university following a months-long Title IX investigation.</p>
<p>A spokesperson for Cornell University stated that the school supports the reopened investigation and disputed claims that there were minimal consequences for the Chi Phi fraternity chapter and its members accused.</p>