Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff knew in 2024 that a female student had reported being the victim of a gang rape at a fraternity house, but never followed up to find out what happened to her or if any of the accused students were punished.
In an interview with The New York Times published Tuesday, a day before Cornell’s Faculty Senate began debating a resolution to censure his administration, Kotlikoff acknowledged that he did not know until recently that the woman had dropped out of Cornell or that any students had been expelled or suspended following the incident.
LEARN MORE: Cornell president calls gang rape allegations ‘deeply disturbing,’ vows greater transparency
Kotlikoff publicly addressed what he called “deeply disturbing” allegations regarding drug use and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house in a November 2024 message to the Cornell community, saying criminal and academic investigations were ongoing.
He then convened a presidential task force to examine Cornell’s handling of sexual assault, but said this week that he never followed up on the results of criminal or Title IX investigations into the woman’s allegations.
The case attracted national attention and shook the campus
The case has attracted national attention since the woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit alleging that seven Chi Phi fraternity members sexually assaulted or exploited her in October 2024 and that Cornell mishandled her complaints.
On Tuesday, Kotlikoff announced a ban on fraternity parties through the end of the academic year and plans to give state police a role in investigating reports of sexual assault.
WATCH: New details intensify scrutiny of Cornell’s handling of gang rape allegations
Tompkins County Prosecutor Matthew Van Houten initially declined to file charges after reviewing a summary prepared by Cornell University police, but later said he left out key details. He reopened the investigation after the complaint was filed. Gov. Kathy Hochul then removed him from the case, appointed Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor and ordered an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the allegations.
The Cornell Faculty Senate’s proposed resolution, declaring its distrust in the administration’s ability to handle reports of sexual assault on campus, reflects growing concerns among some faculty members that people who report sexual misconduct face institutional barriers and fear retaliation. Some have called for Kotlikoff’s resignation, while others have called for patience while independent investigations progress.
Kotlikoff was scheduled to address the Faculty Senate on Wednesday before members began debating the resolution. The debate was scheduled to continue Oct. 28, followed by an electronic vote by the Faculty Senate, which has about 130 voting members. A simple majority is required for adoption.
A professor who reported harassment says it almost cost her her career
For Ariana Kim, an associate professor of music at Cornell and co-sponsor of the resolution, Kotlikoff’s acknowledgment that he had not acted on the woman’s case was deeply troubling.
“I mean, that’s terrible in itself, isn’t it?” Kim said. “That you don’t know anything about a student who was faced with a horrible crime, that you don’t think to check in.”
Kim, a Grammy-nominated violinist, said she was motivated to act after being struck by Jane Doe’s story, as well as her own personal experiences on campus since starting at Cornell a decade ago as a young scholar in her 20s. She said that when she was bullied and sexually harassed by senior colleagues, Cornell failed to properly document her complaints and she was never clearly informed of what, if any, disciplinary action was taken.
“I was asked what I did to cause this situation,” she said.
WATCH: What the Cornell case reveals about how sexual assault allegations are handled
Kim said she must continue to work alongside colleagues involved in the conflict. She believes the subsequent reporting of the misconduct affected the review of her mandate.
She spent 18 months appealing an adverse occupancy decision, a process during which she lost 20 pounds (9 kilograms) and had difficulty eating or sleeping. A university appeals board ultimately overturned the initial decision, and she got her job.
Now seeking promotion to full professor, Kim said she recognizes that publicly criticizing university leaders could once again jeopardize her career.
“I speak out publicly against this administration which could very well deny me my promotion,” she declared.
Kim said she considered leaving Cornell several times over the years, but was determined to stay and make the university safer for those who come after her.
“If by fighting, it helps make a little difference so that my female students don’t have to go through this in 10 years or my female colleagues don’t have to go through this in five years, then maybe it’s worth it.”
Faculty members wonder if Cornell can investigate itself
Anne Marie Brady, a senior extension associate at Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations and another co-sponsor of the resolution, questioned whether Cornell University police could independently investigate serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
“There does not appear to be any independence between the administration and the Cornell Police Department,” Brady said. She pointed to the way she handled campus protests as one reason for her concerns and said serious criminal allegations should be investigated by outside law enforcement agencies.
WATCH: News Wrap: Cornell Students Protest Handling of Rape Allegations
Brady praised Kotlikoff’s announcement that state police would play a role in sexual assault investigations, saying it showed the administration was listening to faculty concerns. But she questioned the timing, a day before the Senate began debating the censure resolution.
“I’m glad they’re listening – we need a dialogue,” she said. “We need to debate it and discuss it. But I also think it’s a little disingenuous that this is being released right before the resolution.”
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