Cornell University is banning all parties at fraternity houses for the remainder of the academic year following intense backlash over its handling of an alleged gang rape on campus. Last month, a woman identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit claiming she was drugged and assaulted by multiple men at a fraternity party in 2024. In a statement released Tuesday, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff expressed deep sorrow for the harm Doe suffered and acknowledged that women on campus continue to question their safety.
The party ban is part of a broader series of measures intended to address what Kotlikoff described as a need for systematic change. Students who violate the new policy will face suspension, and the university plans to hire additional staff to help survivors report sexual misconduct and navigate available support systems. Cornell also intends to bring in national sexual violence prevention experts to study the underlying causes of such incidents on campus and develop strategies to promote responsible behavior among students.
The sweeping changes come as both the university and local law enforcement face severe criticism over how they managed Doe’s case. Media reports indicate that out of hundreds of documents generated during Cornell’s internal investigation, the local district attorney’s office received only a brief victim statement and Snapchat messages in which fraternity members advertised a free sexual encounter with Doe. The district attorney ultimately chose not to file charges or interview witnesses, prompting New York Governor Kathy Hochul to appoint State Attorney General
