Cornell University has announced the opening of an independent external investigation into its handling of a 2024 gang rape allegation that has sparked outrage across the United States, the university’s president said Saturday.
In a video message posted on the university’s website, Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff said the institution would cooperate fully with the review, which will be conducted by an outside law firm.
“In collaboration with our board of trustees, I welcome the independent review conducted by an external law firm into all aspects of how Cornell handled the 2024 case,” Kotlikoff said. “This week has been one of the most difficult in our history,” he added, acknowledging that the case “will weigh heavily on our community for many years to come.”
Case Reopened After Civil Lawsuit
The Tompkins County district attorney, whose jurisdiction covers the Ithaca campus in New York State, announced Monday the reopening of an investigation into the gang rape allegations dating back to October 2024, after the victim filed a civil lawsuit.
The woman, who was 20 years old at the time, alleges she was raped by seven students, all members of the Chi Phi fraternity, after consuming alcohol and ketamine. Her initial complaint at the time did not result in any prosecution.
District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who was already in office in 2024, said he had not pursued the first complaint because the evidence transmitted by police indicated, in his assessment, that the encounters were consensual.
Governor Criticizes Police and Prosecutor
New York Governor Kathy Hochul sharply criticized how the original investigation was conducted, taking aim at both the university police and the district attorney.
The case has triggered a wave of indignation on the Cornell campus and beyond, with many viewing it as emblematic of a masculinist culture prevailing within fraternities. The reopening of the investigation has reignited a national conversation about how prestigious American universities handle sexual assault allegations involving Greek life organizations.
The external review is expected to examine the university’s response at every stage, from the initial complaint to its interactions with law enforcement and its own disciplinary processes. Cornell officials have not provided a timeline for the completion of the investigation.
