Cornell University has announced the suspension of all parties and social events at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year, following allegations of sexual assault involving a female student at a fraternity house in 2024. The announcement was made by Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff on Tuesday, who stated that the New York State Police will be involved in investigating sex crimes on campus. The measures include a new 'zero tolerance' policy for violations, which would lead to the immediate emergency suspension of a fraternity chapter.
Kotlikoff indicated that these actions are intended to allow for a comprehensive review of fraternity life at Cornell to assess its safety. The university has over 20 active fraternities affiliated with its Interfraternity Council, which did not respond to a request for comment.
In addition to suspending fraternity events, Cornell plans to engage students and faculty in discussions about developing safe social alternatives to the current Greek life culture. The university will also allocate funds to support these initiatives. Furthermore, a case manager will be added to the Office of Civil Rights to assist individuals reporting sexual misconduct, and the New York State Police will conduct independent investigations into allegations.
Typically, crimes reported on campus are investigated by campus police, which operates independently from local municipal police. The campus police investigated the allegations of gang rape in 2024 but did not lead to any criminal charges, as the Tompkins County district attorney declined to prosecute shortly after the initial report.
In a lawsuit filed in September, the plaintiff alleged that she was drugged and assaulted by multiple fraternity members after attending a party at the Chi Phi house in October 2024. She claimed that she was pressured to use drugs and that messages circulated among fraternity members on Snapchat, describing her as sexually available without her consent.
Following an internal investigation, Cornell closed the fraternity chapter and disciplined several students, but no criminal charges have been filed. Recently, New York's governor removed the district attorney from the case amid public outcry over the lack of charges. The investigation is now being led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Cornell has hired former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates for an independent review of the university's response.
Kotlikoff's announcement coincided with a proposed resolution by Cornell's faculty senate expressing no confidence in the administration's handling of sexual assault cases. He acknowledged that issues of sexual violence extend beyond fraternities and emphasized the need to address campus culture surrounding excessive drinking and drug use. Additionally, Cornell plans to add victim advocates and enhance sexual violence prevention programs, including education aimed at encouraging bystander intervention. Kotlikoff referred to these measures as 'first steps toward systemic change on our campus.'