Cornell president vows transparency amid outrage over fraternity rape case

Michael Kotlikoff expresses deep sorrow over the case, calling it one of the most challenging periods for Cornell.Cornell University’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, has called the alleged 2024 gang rape of a student at a fraternity house “deeply disturbing”, pledging greater transparency amid mounting outrage over how the school handled the case.“My heart aches when I think of what she experienced,” Kotlikoff said in an eight-minute video message to the Cornell community on Saturday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘I want the truth’: NY governor appoints prosecutor in Cornell rape caselist 2 of 3Why has a Cornell rape investigation been reopened?list 3 of 3Cornell rape allegations renew push to change New York sexual assault lawend of listHe characterised the past week as one of the most difficult in the university’s history and said it would weigh on the university for years to come. “It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanisation and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use,” he said.The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, alleges she was sexually assaulted by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024 and has sued the university and seven former students.Scrutiny over Cornell’s handling of the case intensified after New York Governor Kathy Hochul said newly released information had undermined her confidence in the local prosecutor, who initially declined to bring charges.Hochul subsequently appointed state Attorney General Letitia James as special prosecutor to take over the criminal investigation, saying she would “not allow anyone to sweep this case under the rug”.New York Governor Kathy Hochul, left, and New York Attorney General Letitia James attend a news conference in New York City on October 2, 2026, regarding an investigation into alleged sexual assault at Cornell University [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]The case has also renewed scrutiny of the “voluntary intoxication loophole” in New York law that makes it difficult to prosecute sexual assaults involving victims who voluntarily consumed alcohol or drugs, even if they later became too intoxicated to consent.