Cornell president vows transparency amid outrage over fraternity rape case

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkStudents walk through campus at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, on October 2, 2026 [Matt Burkhartt/AFP]By Al Jazeera Staff and APPublished On 4 Oct 20264 Oct 2026Cornell 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.Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten had cited the legal provision in defending his original decision not to pursue charges. Hochul has pledged to push for changes to it.At a student assembly hearing on Thursday, several speakers called for Kotlikoff’s resignation.In Saturday’s video, Kotlikoff reaffirmed his support for an independent review of the university’s handling of the case and said Cornell’s Board of Trustees would announce details next week. He also called for a “serious look at the role of fraternities and sororities in campus life”.James’s appointment has placed the case under a prosecutor whose office has repeatedly clashed with President Donald Trump. She has separately described the case as “an active criminal investigation”.