Cornell president says university 'must do better' after frat house rape allegations

What the report says

Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff said the school “must do better” after a student alleged she was drugged and gang-raped at the Chi Phi fraternity house. In a video statement reported by BBC World News, Kotlikoff called the claims “deeply disturbing” and said the case has raised broader concerns about campus alcohol and drug culture, as well as how the university handled the investigation.

According to the BBC, the woman identified as Jane Doe said she was assaulted by seven men in October 2024 while she was a 20-year-old Cornell student. She said the incident involved alcohol and ketamine, and that she later reported it to Cornell University police. The BBC reported that no charges were brought at the time. Jane Doe has since filed a civil lawsuit alleging that Cornell failed to protect her and did not adequately punish those involved.

Kotlikoff said Cornell is committed to reviewing how the case was handled and emphasized the need for a campus environment where sexual assault is treated as unacceptable and survivors are met with compassion. He also said the university should take a serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has ordered a review, and Cornell has said it supports an independent examination of the matter.

The case matters because it has become a test of how Cornell responds to sexual violence allegations and whether university systems for reporting and accountability are working as intended.