Cornell names Sally Yates to review university’s response to rape case

What the report says

Cornell University’s board of trustees has appointed former US Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates to carry out an independent internal review of the school’s handling of sexual assault and harassment complaints. According to Al Jazeera, the review will look at Cornell’s investigations into misconduct reports, disciplinary procedures, campus police response and oversight of fraternities.

The move follows growing criticism of the university’s response to allegations made by a former student identified in court filings as Jane Doe, who says she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024. The matter returned to public attention after Doe filed a civil lawsuit in September against Cornell, the fraternity and seven former students. No criminal charges have been filed. Cornell has said it expelled some students and suspended others after its own investigation, and the Chi Phi chapter was shut down.

Cornell board chair Anne Meinig Smalling said the university should examine itself with the same seriousness it expects from others. President Michael Kotlikoff also said the school is working to find answers for the campus community. Yates, a lawyer at King & Spalding, has previously led other independent investigations, including a 2022 review of sexual abuse and misconduct in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The case has also prompted outside scrutiny: New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a separate criminal investigation after Governor Kathy Hochul appointed her special prosecutor. More broadly, the episode has intensified debate over how universities respond to alleged sexual violence, fraternity misconduct and campus accountability.